The University of North Carolina Board of Governors gave its approval Feb. 8 for Western Carolina University to begin offering the doctor of nursing practice degree, and the first students are expected to start the program in the fall.

The DNP program will be offered jointly by WCU and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, with face-to-face courses taught at UNCC and at WCU’s new instructional site at Biltmore Park Town Square in Asheville.

The DNP will be WCU’s third doctoral-level academic program. The university already offers doctoral degrees in educational leadership and physical therapy.

Judy Neubrander, director of WCU’s School of Nursing, said the new program would offer specialties in family nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesiology and nursing administration. The DNP will ...