COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Nursing Entry-to-Practice program has comprehensive admission requirements and a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students for professional nursing practice and future leadership roles in healthcare. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and maintain a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0. In addition, students must complete specific prerequisite courses within the last ten years with a minimum grade of B-. These prerequisites include Human Anatomy and Physiology with laboratory components, General Chemistry with lab, Microbiology with lab, and Statistics that includes both descriptive and inferential statistics. The 72-credit curriculum combines nursing theory, clinical practice, leadership development, healthcare management, research, and advanced healthcare technologies. Core requirements focus on essential nursing competencies such as pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, health assessment, foundational nursing practice, psychosocial care, adult nursing, pediatric nursing, women’s and family health, and preparation for professional success. Additional graduate-level courses strengthen leadership, communication, healthcare systems management, population health, research, evidence-based practice, healthcare informatics, organizational analysis, and quality assessment skills. Several advanced courses can later be applied toward advanced standing in a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, providing students with opportunities for continued education and career advancement. The program also includes experiential learning through clinical experiences, administrative practicums, simulation labs, and community-based healthcare activities that help students apply classroom learning in professional healthcare settings. Students can choose between two academic program plans: a Fall Start six-semester option or a Summer Start seven-semester option, both structured to gradually build clinical knowledge, leadership skills, and professional competence. Coursework is distributed across fall, spring, and summer semesters to ensure balanced progression through foundational nursing education and advanced graduate-level studies. Topics such as healthcare communication, mental health, leadership synthesis, health promotion, organizational leadership, research methods, and healthcare information systems prepare students for the complex demands of modern healthcare environments. Overall, the program provides extensive academic preparation, clinical training, and leadership development for individuals seeking to become registered nurses and future advanced practice healthcare professionals.