The first 20 students in USI’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice program, approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education last year, began the program this month with an “intensive” that includes orientation to the program and course content.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is a practice-focused doctorate that will prepare nurses in multiple roles to make contributions to health care and nursing through scholarly practice, health care leadership, and nursing education.

Instruction is delivered online as well as through the intensives, held over three days on campus in August and April of each calendar year. Course content builds upon the master's degree and includes a minimum of 36 credit hours. The curriculum consists of three years (part-time) of doctoral-level coursework which will culminate in the completion of an evidence-based capstone project.

Information sessions for applicants for the 2009 class will be held on Monday, September 15, and Wednesday, November 12 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Room 1079 in the Health Professions Center. The sessions also will be recorded and posted at health.usi.edu/acadprog/nursing/dnp/, where more information about the program can be found.

Contact Dr. Ann H. White, assistant dean for nursing, at 812/465-1173.