Leadership and Strategy in Healthcare - Master of Science in Nursing
Advance your nursing career through strategic leadership, systems thinking and innovation in healthcare.
Leadership and Strategy in Healthcare program at Ohio State
The Leadership and Strategy in Healthcare Master of Science in Nursing program at The Ohio State University prepares BSN-prepared nurses to lead teams, strengthen healthcare systems and drive meaningful organizational change. Designed for working professionals, this flexible online program combines advanced nursing leadership education with strategic decision-making, operational management and immersive experiential learning.
Prepare for leadership in a top-ranked nursing program
Through asynchronous coursework and 525 hours of leadership practicum experiences, students gain hands-on exposure to executive leadership, workforce development, organizational operations and system-level decision-making across diverse healthcare settings. Graduates are prepared to influence patient, clinician and organizational outcomes while advancing into formal nursing leadership roles.
Whether your goal is to become a nurse manager, director, service line leader or chief nursing officer, Ohio State’s nationally recognized faculty and practice-based learning experiences will help you develop the expertise to lead confidently through the complexity, transformation and innovation shaping today’s healthcare environment.
MSN program outcomes
As a student in the Leadership and Strategy in Healthcare MSN program, you will develop the skills to:
- Lead strategic decision-making across complex healthcare environments
- Strengthen organizational leadership and team performance
- Manage workforce development and operational effectiveness
- Improve quality, safety and patient outcomes through evidence-based leadership
- Drive innovation and systems-level change in health care organizations
- Apply financial, operational and resource management strategies
- Lead organizational transformation and practice change initiatives
- Collaborate across interdisciplinary teams to improve healthcare delivery
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Online
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34 credit hours
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4-7 semesters
Admission requirements for the MSN Leadership and Strategy in Healthcare program
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree
- Must be from an ACEN/CCNE/CNEA-accredited institution
- An active RN license
- Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last degree earned relevant to the program of study
- Reside in an authorized state
Program length
- 4 semesters, part-time
- 7 semesters, full-time
Credit hours
- 34
Delivery format
- Online and asynchronous
- 525 hours of in-person practicum experience
Sample schedules, includes courses
Year 1
Autumn
- Nursing Leadership: Workforce Development and Regulatory Compliance (2 credits)
- Healthcare Law and Labor Relations for Nurse Leaders (1 credit)
- Evidence Based Nursing Scholarship (3 credits)
- Informatics and Data Management for Nurse Leaders
Spring
- Resource Management in Healthcare Operations (2 credits)
- Healthcare Innovation (3 credits)
- Service Line Development for Population Healthcare (2 credits; 1 didactic, 1 clinical)
- Nursing Policy for Doctoral Nursing Practice (2 credits)
Summer
- Foundational Knowledge for Nursing and Health System Management I (7 credits; 1 didactic, 6 clinical)
Year 2
Autumn
- Foundational Knowledge of Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety II (8 credits; 1 didactic, 7 clinical)
- Advanced Strategies in Communication, Coaching and Negotiation (2 credits)
Year 1
Autumn
- Evidence Based Nursing Scholarship (3 credits)
- Healthcare Law and Labor Relations for Nurse Leaders (1 credit)
Spring
- Resource Management in Healthcare Operations (2 credits)
- Service Line Development for Population Healthcare (2 credits; 1 didactic, 1 clinical)
Year 2
Autumn
- Informatics and Data Management for Nurse Leaders (2 credits)
- Nursing Leadership: Workforce Development and Regulatory Compliance (2 credits)
Spring
- Healthcare Innovation (3 credits)
- Nursing Policy for Doctoral Nursing Practice (2 credits)
Summer
- Foundational Knowledge for Nursing Health System Management I (7 credits; 1 didactic, 6 clinical)
Year 3
Autumn
- Foundational Knowledge in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety II (8 credits; 1 didactic, 7 clinical)
- Advanced Strategies in Communication, Coaching and Negotiation (2 credits)
Allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on your application status. You can track the status of your application through your Applicant Center.
- Deadline
- The application and all materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Decision
- Four to six weeks after submission of all materials.
- The application status will show as “pending” until a decision is posted. Ohio State graduate transfer applicants can track their application status by emailing nursing@osu.edu.
- All applicants, including Ohio State graduate transfer applicants, will be notified of their admission decision via email.
- Accept
- Prior to the start of spring semester
- If you do not respond to your offer of admission by the deadline you will have your offer cancelled.
- You cannot deter admittance. If you are unable to begin your studies in the term in which you applied, you will be required to reapply in the future.
- Requirements
- A conferred BSN degree or Master's of Nursing
- Valid unrestricted RN license
- On-campus students must provide proof of Ohio RN licensure
- Online students must provide proof of RN licensure in the state where they anticipate clinicals will be performed
- Penelope Gorsuch, Director
- Kristin Browning
- Todd Tussing
- Jacalyn Buck
How to apply to the Master of Science in Nursing program
Complete online application at Ohio State’s Graduate and Professional Admissions office website. A $60 fee is required at the time of submission of the application.
In the online application, select:
- Nurse Leadership
- full-time or part-time
Please note that Spring 2027 will admit for part time only.
Internationally educated applicants can find additional information on Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions website.
You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have previously attended at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes transcripts for any post-secondary courses taken during high school or of coursework that appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Transcripts from The Ohio State University do not need to be submitted.
Transcripts should be submitted directly by the sending institution by mail or electronic transfer to be considered official. Request that your transcripts be sent early so they arrive before the deadline. Transcripts can be sent to gpadocs@osu.edu or by mail to:
The Ohio State University
Graduate Admissions Office
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004
You may upload a copy of an official transcript at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader. Documents submitted in this manner are considered unofficial but will suffice for the purposes of your application. Web based documents, online grade reports and related materials are not acceptable. If you are admitted, you will be required to supply official transcripts sent directly from your previous institution(s).
For details regarding these methods of submitting transcripts, visit The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions and direct all transcript related questions to their office at 614-292-9444 or to gpadmissions@osu.edu.
Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) should be in a similar format as a job application. Include your previous education, professional experiences, community service, volunteer activities, publications, research and leadership experiences. Submit this document at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader.
An opportunity to introduce yourself, to express your interest in advanced nursing practice and to demonstrate your writing skills. Here are some recommended questions to consider and to address when composing your statement:
- What specifically are your academic and career goals?
- How did you decide to seek graduate education in this specialty area?
- How have your life experiences prepared you for a master’s degree and/or to be an advanced practice nurse in your selected specialty?
- How do you see yourself as a leader and advocate for patients in your future practice setting?
Your statement should not exceed three pages and use a standard format of single-spaced, 12-point font, with one-inch margins. You may submit this document at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader.
You are required to complete an interview through an online portal called HireVue. You will answer a few questions and your responses will be recorded. This interview can be completed at any time during the application window, however, we ask that you do so only after you have completed and submitted your application.
You must complete the recorded online video interview before the application deadline. Video details and instructions.
During the application process, you will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of three recommenders. Once the application is submitted, an email will be automatically generated and sent to your recommenders with further instructions on how to submit their letters. We encourage you to submit your application far in advance of the deadline so that your recommenders have ample time to upload their letters. Letters of recommendation should not be mailed, and you may not personally submit letters of recommendation.
It is suggested that at least two of the three letters of recommendation come from academic sources. We suggest providing your recommenders with information in advance on the degree and specialty to which you are applying and with a copy of your purpose and goals statement. Ask that they address your potential for success in a rigorous graduate program and what attributes and experiences they feel will allow you to excel as an advanced practice nurse in your chosen specialty. Finally, make them aware of the submission process and the application deadline.
If you completed the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree or higher at an institution outside of the United States, you must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation that verifies U.S. degree equivalency and includes a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.
The evaluation must be completed by an approved credential evaluation agency and sent directly to the university by the agency. Our preferred agency is TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International) as TruMerit credential evaluations are also required by the Ohio Board of Nursing for RN licensure.
You can find additional information on Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions website.
We will also accept evaluations from the following approved agencies:
- World Education Services (WES)
- SpanTran (The Evaluation Company)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
- International Education Evaluations (IEE)
- Josef Silny & Associates (JS&A)
- International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
- International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
The course-by-course credential evaluation must include:
- Verification of U.S. degree equivalency
- A list of completed coursework with credit hours and grades
- Calculation of a cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
If you are currently or have been previously enrolled in a degree granting graduate program at The Ohio State University for any length of time, you would be considered a Graduate Intra-University Transfer Student. Choose the appropriate application for "current or former" Ohio State students after starting your application.
In addition to the online application, you must complete a supplemental application. This separate application must be submitted to the College of Nursing directly at CON-gradrecords@osu.edu.
Choose one to access the supplemental application:
- MS Word Document: Supplemental Traditional Master’s application
- PDF: Supplemental Traditional Master’s application
Applicants must submit all application materials by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline to be considered for admission.
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