Program:
Nursing

Degree Awarded:
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Length of Program:
Full-time: 7-9 semesters
Part-time: 12-14+ semesters

Application Deadlines:
Fall Semester: July 18
Spring Semester: Rolling Admissions
Summer Semester: Rolling Admissions
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Degree Overview

Known for its high caliber and proficiency in online education, the Clarkson College online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program attracts registered nurses from across the U.S. who are interested in experiencing greater challenges, opportunities and advantages in their nursing careers.

Our rigorous and patient-focused MSN program prepares graduates to function independently and collaboratively in designing, implementing and evaluating complex health care strategies in a variety of advanced-practice nursing roles.

Students in the online nursing program option choose from five specialties:

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Top rated Graduate Nursing program for the 13th year in a row.
Join the success.

Nursing Healthcare Administration

Educating nurses who wish to become nursing health care administrators (i.e., executives or managers).
Degree plan 

Nursing Education

Educating nurses who wish to become academic or clinical nurse educators.
Degree plan 

Family Nurse Practitioner

Educating nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care of the individual and family in primary care settings. 
Degree plan

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Educating nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care to the adult and gerontological patients in acute care settings.
Degree Plan

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Educating nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care for patients in mental and/or behavioral health settings.
Degree Plan

Although the MSN program is offered entirely online, students enrolled in any of the Nurse Practitioner options are required to complete one on-campus visits. Refer to the Graduate Nursing Handbook for current details. At the completion of the MSN program, students who elected a Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialty will be prepared to sit for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program National Certification Examination.

State Authorization & Licensure Information

Admissions Requirements 

Applicants must first meet all basic admissions criteria for Clarkson College to have your file reviewed by the committee:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a professional institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
  • Valid state unencumbered RN license effective in the state of practice or where clinical experience will occur.
Begin the Application Process

Nurse Faculty Loan Program

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) provides financial assistance to nurses enrolled in the Clarkson College Doctor in Healthcare Education & Leadership (Ed.D.) program or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Education program option. The NFLP aims to assist registered nurses as they complete their education to become qualified nursing faculty. Recipients are required to teach for at least four consecutive years following graduation to be eligible for loan forgiveness through NFLP.

Learn more about the Nurse Faculty Loan Program

Awards and Recognition

How we prepare
the best

  • Theory coursework 100% online
  • Flexible course scheduling
  • Clinical/Practicum sites in or near your hometown
  • Compassionate, highly experienced faculty
  • U.S. News & World Report ranked Clarkson College as one of the Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs in the nation for the twelfth year in a row

Required Courses for Master of Science in Nursing

Major Courses for All Options
Courses Semester Hours
GR 798 - Essentials of Scholarly Writing 1
GR 847 - Applied Statistics 3
◊ NS 803 (NRS 803) - Healthcare Delivery Systems and Managed Care 2
NS 805 (NRS 805) - Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing 2
NS 807 (NRS 807) - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles 3
◊ NS 808 (NRS 808) - Nursing Law and Ethics 3
NS 812 (NRS 812) - Research Design and Methods 3
NS 813 (NRS 813) - Research Design and Methods II 2
IPE 301 - Interprofessional Education 0
Total Semester Hours 19
Major Courses in Nursing Healthcare Administration

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become nursing health care administrators (i.e., executives or managers). The curriculum encompasses systems, leadership and organization information, including theoretical models and concepts that are relevant to the role of nursing health care administrator. Learners will review and evaluate several health care settings and identify strategies to manage those areas. This program option prepares the learner to engage in evidence-based, data-driven decision making while pursuing high quality health care that is safe, affordable and results in positive outcomes.

Courses Semester Hours
MB 800 (HCA 800) - Ethics in Leadership 2
MB 808 (HCA 808) - Healthcare Leadership 3
MB 826 (HCA 826) - Healthcare Strategic Management 3
MB 828 (HCA 828) - Financial Management in Healthcare 3
MB 833 (HCA 833) - Healthcare Quality and Risk Management 3
MB 836 (HCA 836) - Healthcare Project Management 3
NS 898 (NRS 898) - Nursing Healthcare Leadership Practicum 3
MB 837 (HCA 837) - Leading Change OR
MB 846 (HCA 846) - Fundamentals of Informatics
3
3
Total Semester Hours 23
Major Courses in Nursing Education

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become academic or clinical nurse educators. The evidence-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to acquire information about teaching and learning theories and strategies, curriculum or program development, and evaluation or assessment strategies while fostering an ethical perspective. These learners will also encounter technologies being used to deliver nursing education content and experiences, from classroom technologies to skills lab and simulation technologies. The nurse educator assumes the role of mentor, coach, guide and expert, nurturing student nurses and/or providing continuing professional development to registered or licensed practical nurses.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 806 (NRS 806) - Theories of Learning for the Nurse Educator 3
◊ NS 822 (NRS 822) - Curriculum Development for the Nurse Educator 3
NS 823 (NRS 823) - Evaluation Strategies for the Nurse Educator 3
NS 826 (NRS 826) - Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Health Assessment Overview for Nurse Educators 3
NS 827 (NRS 827) - Teaching and Learning Strategies for the Nurse Educator 3
NS 890 (NRS 890) - Nurse Educator Transition to Practice 2
NS 894 (NRS 894) - Nursing Education Practicum 3
Total Semester Hours 20
Major Courses in Family Nurse Practitioner*

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care of the individual and family in primary care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, as well as recognized and evidence-based care standards to deliver family-centered care. The family nurse practitioner (FNP) assumes the role of educator, referral agent and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 832 (NRS 832) - Primary Healthcare I 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 840 (NRS 840) - Primary Care of Children and Adolescent 3
NS 842 (NRS 842) - Primary Care of Women 3
NS 844 (NRS 844) - Primary Healthcare II 3
NS 852 (NRS 852) - Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
Total Semester Hours 30

*The Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time. 

Major Courses in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner*

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care to adult and gerontological patients in acute care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, and will assume the role of educator, referral agent and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 861 (NRS 861) - Introduction to Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 862 (NRS 862) - Applying Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 863 (NRS 863) - Complex Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 864 (NRS 864) - Advanced Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 854 (NRS 854) - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
Total Semester Hours 30

*The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progession through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.

Major Courses for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner*

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care for patients in mental and/or behavioral health settings. The learner will engage in identifying key concepts and theories related to psychiatric-mental health nursing, strategies for communicating clearly with patients, and evidence-based treatment options or plans that meet the unique needs of each patient. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner takes on the roles of educator, communicator and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 855 (NRS 855) - Pharmacology for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 2
NS 856 (NRS 856) - Introduction to Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 857 (NRS 857) - Application of Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 858 (NRS 858) - Complex Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 859 (NRS 859) - Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 860 (NRS 860) - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
Total Semester Hours 32

*The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course maybe be taken at a time.

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2023-24 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Find out more information about costs, tuition, and fees.

Scholarships

Learn which scholarships you are eligible for as an in-coming or current student.
Learn More

Financial Aid

Explore the various loan and grant opportunities available to help fund your education.
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Graduate Tuition

Cost per Credit Hour
$718


Cost per Semester
$4,458 - Full-time (6 hrs)
$2,229 - Part-time (3 hrs)

Tuition
Graduate Tuition $718 / credit-hour
Fees - Included in cost per semester
Enrollment Fee for first time students $150/ each
Degree Specific Fees - Not included in cost per semester
Interprofessional education – IPE Course Fee IPE 301 $124/ student
NS 807 Cultural Assessment Fee $82/ class
MSN: Typhon Only $100/ student
MSN: Graduate Weekend and Typhon (NS 830) $260/ student
HESI Pre-Cert for Nurse Practitioners (NS 852, NS 854, NS 860) $100/ student
Certification Fee - AANP $315/ student
Certification Fee - ANCC $395/ student
Certification Fee - ANCC for HCA $395/ student
Certification Fee for NE only - CNE $500/ student

Career Overview

Median Salary

$93,000
Payscale.com, 2017

Job Outlook

Overall employment of nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 26 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.