Master's program overview
The Master of Science is the graduate degree at the master’s level of the College of Nursing. The graduate program in nursing provides a broad range of clinical and classroom-based education with a strong emphasis on patient-centered practice. Several options are available which give students a solid background in theory and foundations of nursing, and expose them to the latest technology and ideas in nursing. By entering our graduate program, you will become a part of one of the nation’s premier research universities. Our students have access to exceptional faculty and research facilities and the support services of a large university, while benefiting from the high degree of personal attention and student interaction usually found in much smaller departments. We encourage you to review the information on our graduate program and the various options available to you as a student in the College of Nursing.
There are two options available leading to the Master of Science in nursing:
The Traditional Master of Science option
The Traditional MS option provides an opportunity for students with a baccalaureate degree in nursing to earn a Master of Science in nursing.
The Graduate Entry option
The Graduate Entry option provides an opportunity for students with a baccalaureate degree in a major other than nursing to earn a Master of Science in nursing.
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Graduate specialties
Graduates of the program are eligible for certification as a Nurse Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Leader, or Nurse Practitioner in a variety of different specialties. A list of specialty tracks is available here.
Graduate minors and specializations
There are many opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary study through minors and specializations, both with the College of Nursing and the Graduate School.
Post-Master’s study option
The Post-Master’s study option provides the opportunity for practicing nurses who already have a master’s degree in nursing to prepare for advanced specialty certification.
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The American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers a guide to graduate nursing that provides descriptions of various nursing roles and options. It's available as a PDF download here.
See MS Trad Introduction See MS GE Introduction
See MS Trad admissions See MS GE admissions
See Graduate specialties
See Graduate minors and specializations
See Post-Master’s study option
