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In a continuing effort to stay ahead of the changing demands of the healthcare industry, the 91��Ƭ�� School of Nursing is launching a new integrated Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) dual degree, in collaboration with 91��Ƭ��’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

The program will launch in the 2026–27 academic year and aims to prepare nurse executives with both advanced clinical expertise and the business skills needed to lead in today’s healthcare environment.

“This has been something we’ve talked about for several years,” says Cathleen Colleran, clinical professor and director of the DNP program. “We serve a lot of nurse executives who are already in leadership roles, and many of them don’t have a formal business background. At the same time, they’re being asked to make decisions that require that knowledge. We wanted to give them the tools they need to be successful.”

Colleran says past DNP students praised the Health Policy and Finance and Business Management courses, and this led to the creation of a graduate certificate for healthcare professionals. As interest in business courses continued to grow, it made sense to offer a dual DNP/MBA option.

“This was born out of student and industry demand,” Colleran says. “It also came from our own assessment of the academic landscape.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for medical and health services managers — including nurse executives — is projected to grow 32% through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Both the DNP and MBA programs are offered online, allowing students to complete coursework while continuing their careers. Students in the dual program will complete 57 total credits, combining the full DNP curriculum with core MBA coursework.  

“We focused on foundational business courses offered through the MBA that we don’t provide in nursing — the kinds of courses nurse executives need to truly sit at the table with their business partners,” Colleran says.

Colleran says their established relationship with Paul College streamlined the development of the new program.

“There was no question of ownership — it just made sense,” Colleran says. “They bring the business expertise; we bring the nursing side. It is a strong collaboration, and the timing was right.”

Victoria Parker, associate dean for graduate education and faculty administration at Paul College, says the new program demonstrates how 91��Ƭ�� responds to evolving workforce needs while highlighting the versatility and value of an MBA.

“We’re seeing a shift where more nurse leaders are stepping into roles that require a deeper level of business acumen. As they move beyond clinical leadership into broader positions at the hospital or system level, they need a wider range of skills in areas like finance, operations, and strategy,” Parker says. “Healthcare is a massive industry — roughly 20% of the U.S. economy — so having leaders who understand both the clinical and business sides is incredibly important.”

Parker notes that Paul College has also expanded its offerings for healthcare leaders in recent years.

The program marks Paul College’s second dual MBA offering, following the MBA/Juris Doctor program, and Parker says the college is always willing to collaborate to meet workforce demands.

Colleran says the program has already generated interest even before its formal launch. Prospective students have inquired about the dual degree through word of mouth. 91��Ƭ��’s existing relationships with healthcare systems — including partnerships with organizations such as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and connections to major Boston hospitals like Mass General Hospital — create a built-in pipeline of potential applicants.

“This really sets us apart,” Colleran says. “It gives us a distinct niche and allows us to better serve the evolving needs of both our students and the healthcare industry.”

Learn more about the program here.