Degree Type

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

The DNAP program at the University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine is a rigorous, full-time professional doctorate that prepares registered nurses for advanced clinical practice in nurse anesthesia. The program integrates basic sciences, anesthesia principles, and clinical application to produce highly skilled Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) capable of providing safe, evidence-based anesthesia care across diverse patient populations and clinical settings.

Program Length

• Duration: 24 months (full-time)

The DNAP curriculum is designed for efficiency and clinical intensity, with coursework and clinical training running year-round over two academic years.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 45 units

Starting Month

August

New student cohorts begin each August, with orientation and foundational coursework in anesthesia science, pharmacology, and patient management.

Application Deadline

Deadline: January 15

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through the NursingCAS system. Interviews are typically held in March, and accepted students are notified by early summer.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university (BSN preferred but not required).
  • Applicants with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees must demonstrate appropriate nursing and science coursework preparation.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience as a registered nurse; competitive applicants typically have an average of 3–4 years.
  • Acceptable ICU experience includes Surgical ICU, Medical ICU, Neurosurgical ICU, Trauma ICU, and Pediatric/Neonatal ICU.
  • PACU and ER experience are evaluated individually for relevance.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Strong performance in science courses is highly recommended.
• GRE Scores:
  • Minimum combined score of 300 (verbal and quantitative) required on the GRE general test.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Conversational Spanish proficiency is strongly recommended for clinical practice in Southern California.
• Prerequisite Coursework:
  • Inorganic, organic, and/or biochemistry (lab not required)
  • Statistics or Nursing Research
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Biology
  • Introductory Physics
  • English comprehension and Health Assessment
  • All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or better prior to enrollment.

Program Overview

The USC DNAP program emphasizes the integration of research, leadership, and clinical expertise in anesthesia practice. Students progress through a combination of advanced science courses, anesthesia-specific didactic instruction, and clinical residencies at affiliated teaching hospitals throughout the Los Angeles area, including Keck Hospital of USC and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center.

Students gain experience in general, regional, pediatric, cardiac, obstetric, and trauma anesthesia, preparing them for autonomous practice in all settings. The curriculum culminates with a Doctoral Scholarly Project focused on improving anesthesia safety, efficiency, or patient outcomes.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
• Clinical Partnerships: Clinical training sites include major medical centers in Southern California, offering exposure to diverse patient populations and complex surgical procedures.
• Research and Leadership: The DNAP curriculum integrates courses in healthcare policy, systems management, and translational research to develop leadership-ready CRNAs.

Contact

University of Southern California – Keck School of Medicine
Department of Nurse Anesthesia
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP #223
Los Angeles, CA 90089

Phone: (323) 442-2037
Email: uscnap@usc.edu