Expanding Your Skills Through Certificates in Specific Areas of Study

Did you know you can expand your skills by earning a graduate-level certificate or post-graduate certificate in specialized areas of study?  Certificates are one of the fastest-growing postsecondary credential awarded over the past several decades, providing competency-based skills to enhance your knowledge and value to an organization.

Post-Graduate Certificates  For those of you who already have a Master of Science in Nursing degree, our post-graduate certificates are the right option for you expand your skills and advance in your chosen profession. Nursing students may seek a post-graduate certificate for many reasons, including the ability to specialize in multiple areas within the nursing profession without having to pursue a DNP or another advanced degree as a step to taking on a new area of specialty when seeking a additional education. The program of study for the post-graduate certificate is determined by an evaluation of the student's previous course work against the required MS (indirect care only) or BS-DNP competencies, including those specified by external certification and accrediting bodies. Each student’s course work is evaluated on an individual basis. To see what courses are required, view the MS or BS-DNP option for which you are interested in pursuing a post-graduate certificate. You will only have to complete the courses for which you have not yet received credit in your chosen specialty option. Enrollment is on a space-available basis. Graduates of specialty tracks are eligible to apply for national certification by examination. You will learn more about the certification organizations appropriate for this specialty during the completion of your program. Upon successful completion of the certification examination, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwives, and CNS specialties may apply for licensure in all 50 states, including Colorado (visit the Colorado Board of Nursing APRN application forms page), where licensure is granted as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and is required for practice.

Our 12 Specialty Tracks:

• Adult-Gerontology
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Adult-Gerontology
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Health Care Informatics
• i-LEAD Nursing Leadership and Health Care Systems
• Nurse-Midwifery
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Veteran and Military Health Care
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Graduate-Level Certificates consist of academic credit offerings focused on a specialized area of study with defined outcomes. They are designed to provide extended study education to graduate-level and post-graduate-level professionals. The College of Nursing offers graduate-level certificates in the following areas:

• Health Care Informatics Certificate This certificate provides an opportunity for health care professionals, particularly those health care professionals without a BS in nursing, to acquire knowledge and skills in the rapidly progressing field of informatics. With the recent movement toward the adoption of the electronic health record and the need for IT infrastructure to increase patient safety and facilitate evidence-based practice, there is a growing need for more informatics specialists. This certificate provides opportunities for those new to the field and those who may be practicing in the field and need a professional update.
• Nursing Education Certificate  Explore best practices in evidence-based teaching and learning through a flexible, online format. Broaden your nursing career options; take the next step to prepare yourself for a role in nursing education. Combine clinical expertise with nursing education to pursue career opportunities in patient education, nursing education programs, and community education. Program content facilitates learning through evidence-based teaching and learning strategies, focusing on practical nursing application and emerging practices in nursing education. Emphasis is on the knowledge and skills needed to develop curricula, teaching skills, evaluation strategies, and integrating technology in the classroom, clinical, and online environments. Complete the certificate in one year or take as individual courses. The 9-credit Nursing Education Certificate Program consists of three required courses, each 3 semester credit hours.
• Veteran and Military Health Care Certificate Geared to the unique attributes of the veteran and military service member population, this certificate addresses the specific needs of this population including an understanding of veteran and military culture, family dynamics, the invisible and visible consequences of war, service-connected conditions, environmental exposures, diversity, resiliency, reintegration, and making change in federal health care delivery systems. This Graduate Certificate program prepares nurses and other health care professionals to be leaders, care coordinators, and innovators in the Veterans Administration, Military Health System, and civilian community for this vulnerable population.

  The Graduate Certificate curriculum consists of four of the six VMHC specialty courses. All courses are online and are available as stand-alone courses to non-degree students in all professions, as well as current CU degree seeking students. Each course is worth 3 graduate-level credits.

Admissions

For further information, including application deadlines and application link, please visit: https://nursing.cuanschutz.edu/admissions/admission-requirements/post-graduate-certificates-admissions.

Post-Masters Certificates

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 5981	AGACNP Practicum I 2 Clinical credits, 90 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6600	Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5982	AGACNP Practicum II 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6620	Adult Gero Acute Care NP Diagnostics & Therapeutics 2 Didactic credits	2
NURS 5983	AGACNP Practicum III 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	4
NURS 6610	Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 2 3 Didactic credits	3
Total Hours		18

Total Didactic Credits:     8
Total Clinical Credits:      8
Total Clinical Hours:        360

Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 5971	AGPCNP Practicum I 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6819	AGPCNP Primary Hlth Care I:Hlth Promotion & Prevention 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5972	AGPCNP Practicum II 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6882	Foundational Clinical Skills Adv Pract NP 1 Didactic credit	1
NURS 6829	Primary Care II: Diagnosis and Management I 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5973	AGPCNP Practicum III 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6839	Primary Care III: Diagnosis and Management II 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5974	AGPCNP Practicum IV 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6849	PC IV: DM III Care for Complex Older Adult 3 Didactic credits	3
Total Hours		25

Total Didactic Credits:     13
Total Clinical Credits:      12
Total Clinical Hours:        540

Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 5901	AG CNS Advanced Practicum I 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	1-3
NURS 6740	ADULT-GERONTOLOGY CNS WELLNESS TO ILLNESS 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5902	AG CNS Advanced Practicum II 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	1-3
NURS 6742	Adult-GerontologyCNS AdvancedPractice AcuteCareNursing 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5903	AG CNS Advanced Practicum III 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	1-3
NURS 6746	Adult-Gero CNS Complex patient management 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5904	AG CNS Advanced Practicum IV 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	1-3
Total Hours		13-21

Total Didactic Credits:     9
Total Clinical Credits:      12
Total Clinical Hours:        540

Family Nurse Practitioner

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6640	FNP Hlth Promotion, Prevention, Screening 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6434	FNP Care of the Pediatric Patient 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6739	Ob-Gyn Essentials for the FNP 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5931	FNP Practicum I 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6882	Foundational Clinical Skills Adv Pract NP 1 Didactic credit	1
NURS 6549	FNP Adv. Clinical Skills 1 Didactic credit	1
NURS 5932	FNP Practicum II 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6528	FNP DM Physio & Psych Health I 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5933	FNP Practicum III 4 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	4
NURS 6529	FNP DM Physio & Pysch Health II 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5934	FNP Practicum IV 4 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	4
NURS 6950	Synthesis/Integration/Transition into FNP Practice 2 Didactic credits	2
Total Hours		33

Total Didactic Credits:     19
Total Clinical Credits:      14
Total Clinical Hours:        630

Health Care Informatics

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6794	Decision Support and Data Management	3
NURS 6274	Semantic Representation	3
Select 2 Courses from the Specialty Options below:
NURS 6279	Knowledge Management	3
NURS 6284	Digital Tools for Connected Health	3
NURS 6285	HCI Design Principles	3
NURS 6286	Foundations Informatics	3
NURS 6293	Database Mgmt Systems	3
Total Hours		21

i-LEAD Nursing Leadership and Health Care Systems Certificate 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6790	Systems and Leadership Theory	3
NURS 6793	Relational Communication	3
NURS 6794	Decision Support and Data Management	3
NURS 6973	State of Science: Healthcare Systems	3
NURS 6603	Health Systems and Management	3
NURS 6795	i-LEAD Administrative Internship	3
Total Hours		18

Nurse-Midwifery

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6377	Foundations of Midwifery Care 2 Didactic credits	2
NURS 6376	Reproductive Physiology 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6344	NMW Gynecologic Care 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5941	NMW Advanced Practicum I 4 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	4
NURS 6378	Care of the Childbearing Family I 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6850	NMW Primary Care of Women 2 Didactic credits	2
NURS 6374	NMW/WHNP Adv Clinical Skills - Outpatient 1 Clinical credit	1
NURS 5942	NMW Advanced Practicum II 4 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	4
NURS 6379	Care of the Childbearing Family II 4 Didactic credits	4
NURS 6375	NMW Advanced Clinical Skills - Inpatient 1 Clinical credit	1
NURS 5943	NMW Advanced Practicum III: Integration 8 Clinical credits, 360 Clinical hours	8
Total Hours		35

Total Didactic Credits:     17
Total Clinical Credits:      18
Total Clinical Hours:        720

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6376	Reproductive Physiology 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6344	NMW Gynecologic Care 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5961	WHNP Advanced Practicum I 4 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	4
NURS 6374	NMW/WHNP Adv Clinical Skills - Outpatient 1 Clinical credit	1
NURS 6378	Care of the Childbearing Family I 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6850	NMW Primary Care of Women 2 Didactic credits	2
NURS 5962	WHNP Advanced Practicum II 3 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	4
NURS 5963	WHNP Advanced Practicum III 4 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	6
NURS 5964	WHNP Advanced Practicum IV 4 Clinical credits, 180 Clinical hours	4
Total Hours		30

Total Didactic Credits:     11
Total Clinical Credits:      15
Total Clinical Hours:        540

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 5923	AC PNP Advanced Practicum III 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6500	Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner I 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6450	Advanced Pediatric Physical Assessment 1 Didactic credit	1
NURS 6510	Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 2 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6456	Advance Pediatric Clinical Skills 1 Didactic credit	1
NURS 6520	Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 3 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5924	AC-PNP Practicum IV 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 5925	AC PNP Advanced Practicum V 2 Clinical credits, 90 Clinical hours	3
Total Hours		20

Total Didactic Credits:     11
Total Clinical Credits:       8
Total Clinical Hours:        360

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 5911	PNP Advanced Practicum I 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6450	Advanced Pediatric Physical Assessment 1 Didactic credit	1
NURS 6478	Primary Care of Children: Well Child Care 4 Didactic credits	4
NURS 5912	PNP Advanced Practicum II 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6456	Advance Pediatric Clinical Skills 1 Didactic credit	1
NURS 5913	PNP Practicum III 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6488	Pediatric Minor and Acute Illness 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5914	PNP Advanced Practicum IV 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6496	Pediatric Chronic Illness and Disability 3 Didactic credits	3
Total Hours		24

Total Didactic Credits:     12
Total Clinical Credits:      12
Total Clinical Hours:        540

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6664	Integrated Behavioral Healthcare & Common Psychiatri 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6659	Adv Assess,Neurobiology&Psychopharm AcrossLifespan 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5991	PMHNP Advanced Practicum I 2 Clinical credits, 90 Clinical hours	2
NURS 6661	Diagnosis and Management/Adults PMHNP 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 6665	PsyTherapy, BehavioralChange & HP Lifespan 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5992	PMHNP Advanced Practicum II 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 6662	Diagnosis and Management/Children and Older Adult PMHNP 3 Didactic credits	3
NURS 5993	PMHNP Advanced Practicum III 3 Clinical credits, 135 Clinical hours	3
NURS 5994	PMHNP Advanced Practicum IV 6 Clinical credits, 270 Clinical hours	6
Total Hours		29

Total Didactic Credits:     15
Total Clinical Credits:      14
Total Clinical Hours:        630

Veteran and Military Health Care

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6018	Home from the Battlefront: Psychological Health Care 45 Didactic Hours	3
NURS 6023	Veteran and Military Health Care Systems 45 Didactic Hours	3
NURS 6015	Women & War 45 Didactic Hours	3
NURS 6017	On the Home Front: Supporting Vet & Military Families 45 Didactic Hours	3
NURS 6019	Wounds of War: Military & Veteran Disability Evals 45 Didactic Hours	3
NURS 6024	Caring for Veterans: Aging, Chronicity, & End of Life 45 Didactic Hours	3
NURS 6025	Veteran and Military Health Care Admin Internship 90 Practicum Hours (including seminar)	2
Total Hours		20

Total Didactic Hours:     270
Total Practicum Hours: 90    

Graduate Certificates

Health Care Informatics Certificate - 16 credits required for the certificate.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6794	Decision Support and Data Management	3
NURS 6274	Semantic Representation	3
Total Hours		6

Specialty Options (Select 2)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6279	Knowledge Management	3
NURS 6284	Digital Tools for Connected Health	3
NURS 6285	HCI Design Principles	3
NURS 6286	Foundations Informatics	3
NURS 6293	Database Mgmt Systems	3

Veteran and Military Health Care Certificate - 12 Credits required for the certificate.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 6018	Home from the Battlefront: Psychological Health Care 45 Didactic hours	3
NURS 6023	Veteran and Military Health Care Systems 45 Didactic hours	3
NURS 6015	Women & War 45 Didactic hours	3
NURS 6017	On the Home Front: Supporting Vet & Military Families 45 Didactic hours	3
NURS 6019	Wounds of War: Military & Veteran Disability Evals 45 Didactic hours	3
NURS 6024	Caring for Veterans: Aging, Chronicity, & End of Life 45 Didactic hours	3
Total Hours		18

Nursing Education Certificate - 9 Credits required for the certificate.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURS 7865	Outcome-focused Curriculum and Program Evaluation	3
NURS 7862	Best Practices to Enhance Teaching and Learning	3
NURS 7864	Evolving Nursing Educ Sci and Nurse Educator Roles	3