The Generalist Entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus in clinical leadership is designed for students with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree or higher. Students receive a generalist education in nursing at the graduate level and are conferred a Master's degree upon graduation. Students are eligible to sit for RN licensure and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification. Students are prepared, not for specialist practice, but rather as advanced generalists who will actively improve the quality of client care across the health care continuum.

Post-baccalaureate nurses can enroll in a part-time, 8 quarter, online program to earn their MSN as an advanced generalist. Students are eligible to sit for Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification.

The advanced specialty practice Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree focuses on clinical specialist and nurse practitioner roles with intensive examination of the biological and behavioral sciences and their application within clinical practice, education and research. A minimum of 55 quarter hours of post-baccalaureate credit is required for the MSN degree. Some programs of study are available entirely online.

An ADN-MSN option is available to qualified, experienced Associate Degree prepared nurses. Students complete 24 credit hours of upper division coursework and then continue with the graduate courses in their chosen area of study. Students may choose advanced generalist or advanced specialty practice.

*There are post-master's certificate options in selected nurse practitioner or clinical specialist programs. These certificate options are for students who have a master's degree in nursing but wish to sit for a certification exam in another area. Applicants for the post-masters certificate programs do not need to submit GRE scores.

** For those students who have earned a post-baccalaureate certificate in Nurse Anesthesia or as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, a post-certificate master's degree may be earned in these areas.

Admission Options

Choosing the appropriate degree option depends on the educational goals and academic background of the student. Students generally come prepared in one of the following five ways:

1. College graduate of a 4-year institution
2. RN with an associate's degree in nursing
3. RN with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing
4. RN with a baccalaureate degree with an upper division major in nursing
5. RN with a master's degree in nursing