Advanced Practice & Indirect Care Specialties

Explore Graduate Program Options

The following nursing specialties are available for students in the MS, and BS-DNP​ programs.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing has had more than a century to establish its reputation as one of the best in the country. We are known for our pioneering initiatives, including being the birthplace of the first nurse practitioner program in the world and offering online education many years before other schools. Our master's program is ranked 14th in the nation in the 2024 rankings of graduate schools by U.S. News & World Report.

Also ranked by the U.S. News & World Report is our leadership program (i-LEAD) specialty at 8th in the nation.

Graduates of specialty tracks are eligible to apply for national certification by examination. You will learn more about the certification organizations appropriate for each specialty during the completion of your program. Upon successful completion of the certification examination, Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, and CNS Specialties are eligible 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.

Available Specialty Programs

Students select from 12 different specialties. Past coursework to be applied toward the degree will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The specific courses required for each specialty option are on the specialty pages.