College of Nursing
Online master's nursing degrees
Online learning with real-world experience: Programs combine online coursework with concentration-specific practicum experiences or supervised clinical hours that include in-person learning. Select programs also require a five-day on-campus residency. Practicum and clinical experiences take place in approved healthcare or practice settings, which may include a student’s workplace or local community. View the Nursing Student Handbook (PDF) for program details.
Make a greater impact as a nurse leader
Position yourself for clinical nurse leadership positions with an online master’s nursing degree.[1] Choose your path with concentration options like nurse education, informatics, or nurse administration, or advanced practice nursing options such as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. No matter which path you pick, the master’s nursing degree (MSN) helps you apply advanced practice strategies to many healthcare environments.
Is your bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline? Our Nurse Bridge program can help you pursue your master’s degree in nursing. If you have an active RN license and a bachelor’s degree in any other field, our Nursing Bridge Program helps experienced nurses earn a MSN degree while saving time and money. You’ll start with three Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) courses, then move into the master’s nursing program specialty that fits your career goals.
Busy life? There’s good news. Most of our master’s nursing classes are online and only 6-8 weeks long. Plus you’ll have up to 8 opportunities throughout the year to begin your classes, depending on the program you choose This gives you the flexibility to start school when it fits into your schedule, while adding to skills and expanding career opportunities as you progress.
[1]This degree program has some required in-person practical experiences.
Let's get started
Find the nursing master's degree for you
*The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)/Nurse Education, MSN/Informatics, MSN/Nurse Administration degrees require 36 credits to complete. The MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner degree requires 48 credits to complete; the MSN/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner requires 52 credits to complete.
^The published program length for The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)/Nurse Education, MSN/Informatics, MSN/Nurse Administration degrees are 21 months. The MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner degree program is 28 months and Master of Science in Nursing/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degrees’ program length is 30 months.
Watch our Master's Q&A Webinar
ý understands that life happens and that schedules are fluid. But no worries, because we recorded the Master’s Q&A Webinar so you can watch it when it fits your busy life. We encourage you to check it out and learn about important topics and commonly asked questions that many potential master’s students have.
Skills you’ll develop with core master’s nursing degree courses
MASTER OF Science in nursing with a concentration in nurse education
- Leadership
- Information systems
-
- Advocacy
- Advanced nursing practice
MASTER OF Science in nursing with a concentration in informatics
- Leadership
- Information systems
-
- Advocacy
- Advanced nursing practice
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING WITH A CONCENTRATION IN NURSE ADMINISTRATION
- Leadership
- Information systems
- Research
- Advocacy
- Advanced nursing practice
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING/FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER
- Advocacy
- Nursing practice
- Planning
- Problem solving
- Research application
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING/PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
- Problem solving
- Research application
- Planning
- Advocacy
- Nursing practice
- Quality and safety
Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years
Get value from your education before you even graduate. Update your resumé and LinkedIn profile with learned skills when you complete every 5- or 6-week course in our associate, bachelor's and master's programs.
Outlook for workers with a master's degree in nursing
The BLS Projected Growth for 2024-2034 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ý students or graduates.
Master’s nursing degree course requirements
Master of Science in Nursing/Concentration in Nurse Education
There are 11 core, program-specific courses that can help sharpen your advanced practice, leadership and teaching skills. Graduates may be eligible to sit for the Nurse Educator Certification Exam and should contact the National League for Nursing for eligibility requirements. Core courses include topics like: innovative curriculum design, educational assessment and evaluation, contemporary nursing practice and more.
Master of Nursing/Concentration in Informatics
There are 11 core, program-specific courses to help you build the confidence and skills to analyze data that supports effective decision-making and patient outcomes. Core courses include topics like: nursing research, data analysis and management, information workflow and more.
Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Administration
There are 11core, program-specific courses to help you build the knowledge, confidence and skills to pursue a future as a hospital, health system and clinical nurse leader. Core courses include topics like: interprofessional leadership and management, health law, policy, ethics, and global trends, organizational dynamics and systems thinking and more.
Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner
ճ 11 core, program-specific courses to help you build the knowledge, confidence and skills to prepare to take charge as a nurse practitioner. Most of the coursework is online, but an intense 5-day in-person residency is required as part of your degree program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC) credential or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified (FNP-C) credential. Core courses include topics like: clinical applications of theory and research, Health policy and role of the advanced practice nurse, advanced pathophysiology and more.
Master of Science in Nursing/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
There are 12 core, program-specific courses to help you prepare as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specializing in neuropsychiatric care and treatment. Most of the coursework is online, but an intense 5-day in-person residency is required as part of your degree program. Graduates of the MSN/PMH program are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) PMHNP national certification examination. Core courses include topics like: health policy and role of the advanced practice nurse, advanced health assessment, neuropsychiatric disorders and more.
Tuition and financial aid
Affordable, locked-in tuition
Ways to pay — and save. Explore your options.
From scholarships to transfer credits and federal financial aid for those who qualify, there are a variety of ways to pay for school and save on tuition.
Student experience
Over 1 million alumni have earned their degrees while balancing work, school and life. So can you.
How to apply for your master’s nursing degree program
Once you’ve selected your degree program, choose your start date from our calendar, apply for free and register before the deadline (usually one week before the program starts). Then you'll speak to an enrollment representative to begin class.
- No application fee — no obligation!
- No SAT, GMAT or essay required
Meet your college deans
Our college deans focus on developing a career-relevant curriculum. They bring industry experience to the classroom and lead a faculty of academic professionals with one goal in mind—to help you earn the skills you need to pursue your career.
Raelene Brooks, PhD, RN
Dean, College of Nursing
Linnea Axman, DNP, DrPH, RN
Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, College of Nursing
Programmatic accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice PROGRAM at ý are accredited by the , 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Frequently asked questions about the nursing master’s degrees online
Most online master’s nursing programs can be completed in about 16 to 30 months, depending on the program.
Estimated Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program lengths include:
- MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): approximately 28 months
- MSN/Informatics: approximately 16 months
- MSN/Nurse Administration: approximately 16 months
- MSN/Nurse Education: approximately 16 months
- MSN/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): approximately 30 months
Actual completion time may vary based on transfer credits, course load and whether a student takes breaks during the program and/or is enrolled in the nursing bridge program.
A master’s degree in nursing can help nurses build advanced clinical knowledge, leadership skills and specialized expertise.
Many nurses pursue an MSN to prepare for roles in nursing leadership/administration, informatics, education or advanced practice. Graduate nursing education can also help nurses strengthen skills in evidence-based practice, healthcare systems, collaboration and patient care management.
Eligible transfer credits may apply toward a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. The transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution.
An enrollment representative can review prior coursework and help determine whether transfer credits apply to a specific MSN concentration or Nurse Practitioner (NP) program.
Master of Science in Nursing coursework is completed online and paired with a specialization-specific practicum or supervised clinical hours and an on-campus residency. The in-person practicum and supervised clinical hours take place in approved healthcare or practice settings, which may include your workplace or community.
View the Nursing Student Handbook (PDF) for program details and requirements.
Different Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) specializations include different types of site-based learning requirements.
MSN programs in Nurse Administration, Informatics and Nurse Education include practicum-based learning experiences. Nurse practitioner programs, such as the Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, include supervised clinical experiences and a required five-day on-campus residency in ý, Arizona.
The MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and MSN/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs require an in-person residency in ý.
The residency requirement gives nurse practitioner students the opportunity to complete hands-on learning experiences connected to advanced clinical practice competencies.
Practicum and clinical experiences for the nursing master’s degrees online take place at approved healthcare, community or professional practice sites that align with the program specialization.
The type of in-person or site-based learning experience depends on the Master of Science in Nursing track and may include healthcare organizations, community settings or supervised clinical practice locations.
