Nursing (D.N.P.) and Business Administration: Healthcare Industry Option (M.B.A.) Dual Degree
UNH’s dual DNP‑MBA equips nurses with advanced clinical expertise and essential business leadership skills to drive change at the executive level. This flexible, online program builds strengths in evidence‑based practice, quality improvement, systems leadership, finance, operations, and strategic management. Taught by expert faculty from the College of Health and Human Services and Paul College of Business and Economics, the program fits your schedule while preparing you to lead innovation, improve outcomes, and shape the future of healthcare organizations.
The integrated Post-Master's Nursing (D.N.P.) and Business Administration: Healthcare Industry Option (M.B.A.) dual degree pathway for post-master's nurse leaders meets the needs of aspiring nurse executives and leaders who wish to combine their advanced nursing education with formal training in the business/management of healthcare enterprises. The program is available entirely online. The program can be completed in three to four years, depending on how many courses are taken each term.
Dual Degree Requirements
Dual Degree candidates must complete a total of 57 credits as outlined below:
- MBA: Eight (8) required courses (24 credits).
- DNP: Eleven (11) required courses (33 credits).
- Capstone: Students must complete a capstone experience:
- MBA: ADMN 982
- DNP: Publishable scholarly paper based on the student's DNP project.
- Clinical Hours: Students must complete 1,000 documented advanced practice clinical hours, up to 500 of which can be earned in their master's program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration: Healthcare Industry Option (M.B.A.) | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| ADMN 919 | Accounting/Financial Reporting, Budgeting, and Analysis | 3 |
| ADMN 926 | Leveraging Technology for Competitive Advantage | 3 |
| ADMN 930 | Financial Management/Raising and Investing Money | 3 |
| ADMN 940 | Managing Operations | 3 |
| ADMN 950 | Data Driven Decisions | 3 |
| ADMN 960 | Marketing/Building Customer Value | 3 |
| ADMN 970 | Economics of Competition | 3 |
| ADMN 982 | Creating Winning Strategies (Capstone) | 3 |
| Healthcare Industry Option Courses: 1 | ||
| Healthcare Finance Management | ||
| Health Systems Policy, Economics & Financial Planning | ||
| Quality & Safety | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing (D.N.P.) | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| NURS 917 | Biostats and Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURS 960 | Healthcare Finance Management 1 | 3 |
| NURS 964 | Information Systems and Technology Improvement | 3 |
| NURS 966 | Creative Leadership: Embracing Disruption and Innovation | 3 |
| NURS 967 | Evidence Based Practice Methods | 3 |
| NURS 969 | Health Systems Policy, Economics & Financial Planning 1 | 3 |
| NURS 973 | Quality & Safety 1 | 3 |
| NURS 980 | Doctoral Scholarly Project I | 3 |
| NURS 981 | Doctoral Scholarly Project II | 3 |
| NURS 982 | Doctoral Scholarly Project III | 3 |
| HMP 933 | Quality and Process Improvement in Healthcare | 3 |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
Students complete three NURS courses for the Business Administration: Healthcare Industry Option (M.B.A.) which are also required and count towards the Nursing (D.N.P.).
Sample Degree Plan
This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ADMN 919 | Accounting/Financial Reporting, Budgeting, and Analysis | 3 |
| ADMN 970 | Economics of Competition | 3 |
| NURS 960 | Healthcare Finance Management | 3 |
| NURS 964 | Information Systems and Technology Improvement | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 966 | Creative Leadership: Embracing Disruption and Innovation | 3 |
| NURS 969 | Health Systems Policy, Economics & Financial Planning | 3 |
| ADMN 926 | Leveraging Technology for Competitive Advantage | 3 |
| ADMN 950 | Data Driven Decisions | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| NURS 917 | Biostats and Epidemiology | 3 |
| ADMN 930 | Financial Management/Raising and Investing Money | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fall | ||
| ADMN 940 | Managing Operations | 3 |
| ADMN 960 | Marketing/Building Customer Value | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| ADMN 982 | Creating Winning Strategies | 3 |
| HMP 933 | Quality and Process Improvement in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURS 973 | Quality & Safety | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| NURS 967 | Evidence Based Practice Methods | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Fall | ||
| NURS 980 | Doctoral Scholarly Project I | 3 |
| NURS 981 | Doctoral Scholarly Project II | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 982 | Doctoral Scholarly Project III | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 57 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
Integrated application of advanced nursing practice- Graduates will be able to synthesize comprehensive knowledge of advanced nursing practice, integrating scientific principles and clinical expertise to enhance patient outcomes.
- Graduates will be able to facilitate and evaluate effective collaboration with interprofessional teams to improve patient and population health outcomes, fostering a culture of teamwork and communication.
- Graduates will be able to critically analyze the effectiveness of person-centered care on patient outcomes, healthcare systems, and policy development through rigorous assessment and continuous quality improvement processes.
- Graduates will be able to apply analytical tools to solve complex organizational problems.
- Graduates will be able to formulate and evaluate strategies to improve health outcomes for diverse populations, addressing social determinants of health and reducing health disparities.
- Graduates will be able to critically evaluate current research and evidence-based practices in nursing, identifying areas for improvement and innovation.
- Graduates will be able to implement and evaluate quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and care outcomes, utilizing evidence-based practices to minimize risks and optimize healthcare delivery.
- Graduates will be able to analyze and influence healthcare systems to optimize care delivery, advocating for policies and practices that enhance system efficiency and patient outcomes.
- Graduates will be able to synthesize and apply knowledge across business disciplines.
- Graduates will be able to integrate and evaluate informatics and healthcare technologies to improve patient care, utilizing data analytics to inform clinical decision-making and enhance health outcomes.
- Graduates will exemplify professionalism in all aspects of practice, demonstrating ethical behavior, accountability, and a commitment to lifelong learning, AND engage in continuous personal and professional development, demonstrating leadership in clinical practice, education, and healthcare policy.
- Graduates will be able to apply theories and frameworks to effectively lead teams and organizations.
- Graduates will be able to communicate quantitative and qualitative assessments of business information.
- Graduates will be able to identify and evaluate opportunities and challenges in the global business environment.
- Graduates will be able to identify opportunities to strengthen and extend ethical and sustainable business practices; consider and address the relevant range of stakeholders affected by business decisions.
- Graduates will be able to identify opportunities to strengthen and extend diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness in the work environment .