DNP Executive/MBA Dual Degree
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OVERVIEW
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Dual degree MBA programs offered through the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Carey Business School prepare graduates who are exceptional at patient care and safety as well as effecting change at the health care leadership and corporate levels. This degree is offered with the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Executive Track.
The DNP Executive/MBA knows what the best clinical care looks like as well as how to make it happen with a unique understanding of the bottom line in nursing and business. You will lead health care teams while providing the evidence, ethical grounding, and business sense that forms the foundation for organizational planning.
The Flexible MBA at the Carey Business School approaches business with humanity in mind. The program focuses on real-world skills and business fundamentals viewed through a lens of integrity and ethics. The part-time program (online, part-time program) is tailored to the demands of your professional and personal life, letting you stay on your career track while earning your degree in as little at 3 years (or take up to 6).
Program Details
Tuition & Fees
Estimated Tuition Cost: $2,057 per credit See Cost of Attendance Details
Financial Aid: There are numerous options for financing your education including grants, scholarships, federal loans, and employment programs. Learn more.
Upcoming Application Deadlines
Summer entry: Nov 1 and Jan 15
Requirements
Admission Criteria
Master’s Degree in Nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign institution
Scholastic GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
RN licensure
Three Letters of Recommendation (2 professional and 1 academic preferred)*
Official Transcripts (from all previous colleges/universities)
Current Resume/CV
Goal statement/project proposal (demonstrating commitment to nursing practice and scholarly pursuit)
Two years of work experience
Interview with faculty (if moved forward by admissions committee)
Applicants who earned fewer than 552 clinical hours as part of their advanced nursing coursework should email [email protected] for information about the best pathway to your DNP**
Students should have an identified clinical/project site for conducting scholarly project at the time of matriculation
Information for applicants with international education
*References should be recent, written for the purpose of your application to this program and from professors who know you as a student or employers who know you as a professional in a job setting preferably in a supervisory role. Personal references from colleagues, friends, or family members do not meet the requirement. It is strongly preferred that at least one of your letters comes from someone that potentially could serve as your organizational mentor.
** Applicants are required to have 375 clinical hours as part of their advanced nursing coursework. Students who have between 375 and 552 clinical hours will have to complete additional clinical hours as part of a practicum. If you have an entry-to-practice Master’s degree, earned fewer than 552 clinical hours as part of your advanced nursing coursework, or hold a Master’s specialty in education, please email [email protected] to discuss your educational background with an Admissions Counselor.
Prerequisites
Graduate Level Biostatistics (3 credits): Demonstrates evidence of statistical literacy and statistical reasoning enabling students to critically read and evaluate healthcare literature. Course must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a letter grade of B or better. Grade of B- will not be accepted.
Most students will need to take MBA Math prior to beginning classes with the Carey Business School. MBA Math is an online math tutorial designed to help reinforce the basic quantitative skills required of a business school student. If admitted, more information will be provided.
International Students
This program does not qualify for F-1 or J-1 student sponsorship. Legal Permanent Residents and non-immigrants who are otherwise physically present in the U.S. and in a status that allows for full or part-time study, may pursue this program.
#1
No. 1 in the nation for its Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (DNP)
#2
No. 2 in the nation for its Nursing Master’s Program (MSN)
#3
No. 3 nursing school in the world, according to 2024 QS World University rankings
Curriculum
This dual degree can be completed in 61 credits with 448 practicum hours.**** For a dual degree, all coursework must be completed before either degree is awarded.
Onsite Dates
The Dual Doctor of Nursing Practice / Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Program’s executive session format can be completed according to the plan of study below. The School of Nursing integrates three on-site immersions of 3-4 days each during the first year with a one-day on-site symposium event the day before School of Nursing graduation. The dual DNP/MBA students will begin coursework in year 2 of their 3 year program.
Plan of Study
Statistical Analysis (2) *
Accounting & Financial Reporting (2) *
Marketing Management (2) *
Business Communication (virtual residency required for on-line students) (2) *
Corporate Finance (2) *
Advanced Nursing Health Policy (2)
Business Microeconomics (2) *
Leadership and Organizational Behavior (2) * (no residency)
Business Analytics (2) *
General Business Elective 1 (2) *
Problem Discovery (3)
General Business Elective 2 (2) *
Nursing Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
General Business Elective 3 (2) *
General Business Elective 4 (2) *
Strategic Management (2) *
General Business Elective 5 (2) *
Translating Evidence into Practice (3)
Project Advancement (3)
Negotiation (2) * (virtual residency)
Operations Management (2) *
Analysis and Evaluation of Individual and Population Health Data (3)
General Business Elective 6 (2) *
Project Application (3)
General Business Elective 7 (2) *
Project Evaluation and Dissemination (3)
Clinical Data Management and Analyses (2)
* Courses taken at Carey Business School
** Curriculum, credit hours, and sequencing are subject to change.
*** A minimum of 1000 practice/practicum hours is required for DNP.
**** Some MBA courses may require a residency component. Learn more about the residency requirements at the Carey Business School website.
“I feel like [DNP/MBA degrees] would complement each other and give me a strong foundation to move into nursing or health care leadership … sitting at the table to help make decisions that are impacting us on the front lines.”
Ashley Ramirez, MS, RN
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Tuition & Other Costs
Financial aid
View the costs for the DNP Executive/MBA Dual Degree Program.
2025-2026
Scholarships & Grants: Grants are awards based on financial need that do not have to be repaid. Many students also benefit from scholarships and awards based on merit. Learn more.
Loans: Many students will avail themselves of loans to help finance their School of Nursing education. If necessary, we encourage you to borrow only what is absolutely essential to cover your educational costs. Learn more.
Employment: Many students locate part-time employment to help pay education expenses. Numerous positions are available on campus and within various community based organizations. These jobs provide students with opportunities to gain practical work experience. Most positions are funded through the Federal Work-Study Program. Learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a doctoral degree for nurses at the highest level of nursing practice (https://www.aacnnursing.org/Education-Resources/AACN-Essentials). The three year DNP Executive/MBA dual degree offered through the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School will examine both clinical outcomes and the financial repercussions of those clinical outcomes through students’ scholarly projects.
Yes, our DNP/MBA program has full accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
GRE/GMAT scores not required.
The DNP-Executive track/MBA Dual Degree is designed to fit into the schedule of someone working full time in a clinical setting. The course work and scholarly project are intended to complement their work focus.
A dissertation is not required. A DNP scholarly project will be completed by the end of the program. The DNP final project is the students’ original work that establishes them as a Hopkins Nursing clinical scholar. Examples of scholarly projects can be found on our website here.
All applicants must have earned a minimum of 375 clinical hours as part of their post-licensure Master’s in Nursing program. Nurses who do not have advanced practice licensure should contact the Office of Admissions for an eligibility review at [email protected].
The DNP-Executive/MBA track incorporates business content into the development of the DNP Scholarly Project. Students will take classes exclusively with the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School during the first year of the dual program. Work on the DNP Scholarly Project will commence in the second year of the dual program. Students will graduate with a DNP from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and a MBA from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
There are seven onsite immersions associated with the DNP-Executive/MBA track that are spread throughout the three year program. Onsite visits typically run three days each. Specific onsite immersion dates will be posted on the program website.
You can learn more details about the program curriculum and application process by watching our informational video.
Developing nurse leaders is a specific aim of the program. You do not need to have leadership experience to apply. Students are prepared to excel in current or future leadership opportunities.
Students enrolling in the DNP-Executive track or DNP-MBA have an advanced Master’s degree in Nursing. Many are already Nurse Practitioners. The degree provides students with the knowledge to develop and implement evidence-based change. The program is delivered in an Executive type format, with online coursework and onsite immersions spread throughout the curriculum. The term ’Executive’ distinguishes the DNP-Executive and DNP-MBA tracks from the Advance Practice DNP tracks that lead to Advanced Practice licensure.
Contact Cesar Nuñez, Assistant Director of Recruitment for the DNP Executive tracks, at [email protected] with any additional questions or to schedule a phone call to discuss ways to make your application as strong as possible.
If you are not currently working in a practice environment where a DNP project might be feasible, please contact the Office of Admissions, [email protected], to discuss your options.