Nursing, M.S.N.
For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.
The Associate Dean for Academic Programs reviews the credentials of each applicant in collaboration with faculty from each specialty area. Exceptions to the requirements can be made on the recommendation of the faculty. The Associate Dean for Academic Programs forwards the admission recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Education who makes the final decision.
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
Applicants to the Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration program must have or provide the following:
- To help ensure a diverse and equitable admission process UNCG School of Nursing utilizes a "holistic admission" process that considers a number of factors for admission that may not be captured in a traditional admission process (such as prior experience as a nurse and involvement with professional and community organizations)
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing science from a U.S. college or university accredited by an institutional accrediting association or completion of a bachelor's that is equivalent to a U.S. degree from an international college or university recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education or Commission responsible for higher education in the country where the degree is earned.
- Current unrestricted RN license. If not NC RN, license or compact state license, applicants would need to acquire NC RN license prior to start of the program.
- Current/updated resume/CV
- Three professional recommendations that attest to applicant’s academic ability, readiness for graduate school, professional competency, and character with at least one reference from a healthcare provider (RN, DO, MD, NP, PA).
- Transcripts from each institution where applicant earned (or will earn) a degree, studied for one semester or more, earned 12 or more credit hours, or took classes related to graduate study interests
- Any applicant who has never studied at a U.S. institution must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Scores must not be more than two years old. The UNCG School of Nursing will consider IELTS score of 7.0 or a minimum TOEFL score of 100 (Internet-based test) with minimum sub-scores of 22 in Reading, 22 in Listening, 26 in Spelling and 24 in Writing.
Nursing Leadership and Management Concentration
Applicants to the Nursing Leadership and Management Concentration must have or provide the following:
- Current unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse in one of the fifty states or validated credentials by CGFNS for international applicants. Residents of North Carolina must hold unrestricted North Carolina licensure as a registered nurse.
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
- Minimum of one year clinical experience full time.
- A personal statement is required for consideration of admission.
- An interview is required for selected applicants.
- Nonresidential international students are required to participate in a telephone interview.
Prelicensure Entry-Level Concentration
This option is available for qualified students who have previously earned a baccalaureate degree, or higher, in disciplines and areas that are non-nursing, who are not Registered Nurses, and who are interested in pursuing an M.S.N. degree and being eligible to take the National Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to obtain a Registered Nurse license. This is a 24-month program.
Admission Requirements
- Previously earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution with a GPA of 2.70 or greater. Priority will be given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
OR
Completion of a bachelor’s that is equivalent to a U.S. degree from an international college or university recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education or Commission responsible for higher education in the country where the degree is earned. - Must be a non-nurse.
- Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the M.S.N. Prelicensure Entry-Level Concentration.
- Prerequisite courses may be repeated only one time. However, no more than two of the above prerequisite courses may be repeated to earn the minimum grade of C or above.
- Applicants must apply to UNCG and meet all the University’s requirements.
- Applicants must apply through the Graduate School online portal.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP).
- Applicants who are unable to demonstrate English proficiency may apply for conditional admission and earn their proficiency through Interlink International Institutes.
Prerequisites for Admission
Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing and who wish to apply to the Prelicensure Entry-Level Concentration must complete the following prerequisite courses or their equivalent prior to enrollment, with a grade of C or better. Only two prerequisite courses may be remaining and in progress at the time of application submission.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 271 & 271L | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory * | 4 |
| BIO 277 & 277L | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory ** | 4 |
| BIO 280 & 280L | Fundamentals of Microbiology and Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| STA 108 | Elementary Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| HDF 111 | Human Development Across the Life Span | 3 |
| PSY 121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| CHE 104 | General Descriptive Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHE 110 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| NTR 213 | Introductory Nutrition | 3 |
- *
KIN 291 Clinical Human Anatomy
and KIN 291L Clinical Human Anatomy Laboratory can be accepted in place of BIO 271 and BIO 271L.
- **
KIN 292 Clinical Human Physiology and KIN 292L Clinical Human Physiology Laboratory can be accepted in place of BIO 271 and BIO 271L.
Please refer to the current University Catalog for information about prerequisites for BIO 271, BIO 277, and BIO 280.
Additional Information
- Contact hours for each semester are normally 35-40 hours per week.
- To meet the University’s requirement for full-time status, students must enroll in a minimum of 9 graduate credit hours during fall and spring semesters and 6 graduate credit hours in summer semesters.
Application Process
- Applicants must submit an application to the Graduate School online portal with the appropriate application fee.
- Applications must include:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Completion of the Community Standards and Campus Safety Questionnaire. The UNC System requires all applicants to answer questions regarding community standards.
- A curriculum vitae or resume that contains your educational degrees and work, employment history, membership or offices in organizations, and community service activities.
- A list of three academic and/or professional references.
- A personal statement must be attached to your application. Address the following questions in your personal statement:
- How will your prior background contribute to your ability to serve as an entry-level registered nurse? (100 words maximum).
- How will you utilize a nursing degree to address health disparities and care for underserved populations? (100 words maximum).
- What are your strengths and opportunities for growth. You may wish to provide discussion of any part of your application credentials. (100 words maximum).
- The priority application and final application deadlines will be announced annually.
- Two to three weeks after receipt of their applications, qualified applicants will be asked to participate in a 20-30-minute virtual interview.
- Acceptance to the program will be contingent on grades received on any courses that are in progress during the semester prior to the start of the program. No more than two courses may be in progress prior to the start of the program.
- All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the Prelicensure Entry-Level concentration program.
- Acknowledgement of acceptance from applicants with an intent to enroll will be required no later than 15 days from the date of acceptance letters.
Other Information
- All applicants must meet the technical standards required of all nursing students as stated in the University Catalog.
- Students must have reliable internet access and other resources that support online learning, such as a laptop and basic computer literacy. Examples of software applications that will be used include Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Microsoft Teams. The courses will be delivered using a Learning Management System.
- Students should not be employed during this program. This intensive program is full- time, requires full-time dedication, and may require students to attend clinical experiences at nontraditional days and times. Flexibility is needed for clinical rotations that may be held during days, nights, and/or weekends.
- Students may be required to travel an extended distance to a variety of clinicals sites depending on the location of their clinical experiences. Students must have reliable transportation.
- Students must have current American Heart Association Health Care Provider Basic Life Support (AHA BLS) certification, immunizations, and other clinical requirements by the deadlines provided in the admission documents.
- A criminal background check is required; information for obtaining this will be provided in the admission documents.
- Admission is contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory evaluation of the applicant’s physical and emotional health to provide nursing care. This evaluation form will be sent to students who are admitted to the Prelicensure Entry-Level Concentration program and must be signed by the student’s physician. This is a requirement of the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
- Health insurance is required for all students enrolling in 6 or more credit hours each semester.
Degree Program Requirements
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
Required: 44 credit hours
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (42 credits) | ||
| NUR 705 | Scientific Approaches to Advance Healthcare | 3 |
| NUR 708 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 709 | Pharmacologic Interventions in Advanced Practice | 3 |
| NUR 713 | Diagnostic Reasoning and Health Assessment | 3 |
| NUR 713L | Interventional Strategies of Diagnostic Reasoning and Health Assessment Lab | 1 |
| NUR 714 | Foundations of Informatics and Computational Systems | 3 |
| NUR 716 | Management of Child Health in Primary Care | 4 |
| NUR 719L | Family Primary Care Practicum | 3 |
| NUR 810 | Interventional Strategies to Promote Population Wellbeing | 3 |
| NUR 811 | Advanced Primary Care Management I | 4 |
| NUR 811L | Advanced Primary Care Management I Practicum | 3 |
| NUR 812 | Advanced Primary Care Management II | 4 |
| NUR 812L | Advanced Primary Care Management II Practicum | 3 |
| NUR 817 | Negotiating Role Functions in an Advanced Practice Role | 2 |
| Capstone (2 credits) | ||
| NUR 718 | Complex Problems In Family Primary Care | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 44 | |
Nursing Leadership and Management Concentration
Required: 37 credit hours
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (33 credits) | ||
| NUR 540 | Financial Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| NUR 601 | Critique and Utilization of Research in Nursing Administration | 2 |
| NUR 607 | Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Negotiation | 3 |
| NUR 609 | The Role of the Nurse Leader in Advanced Quality and Safety | 4 |
| NUR 614 | Information Technology in Nursing Administration | 3 |
| NUR 620 | Law, Policy, and Economics of Healthcare | 3 |
| NUR 641 | Leadership and Management Essentials in Healthcare: Theories and Roles | 4 |
| NUR 644 | Organizational Leadership and Management | 4 |
| NUR 645 | Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations | 4 |
| NUR 715 | Research Methods in Nursing | 3 |
| Capstone Experience (4 credits) | ||
| NUR 646 | Nursing Leadership and Management Practicum | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 37 | |
Prelicensure Entry-Level Concentration
Required: 72 credit hours
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (72 credits) | ||
| NUR 500 | Fundamental Concepts in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 500L | Fundamental Concepts in Nursing Lab | 1 |
| NUR 501 | Nursing Skills | 2 |
| NUR 502 | Nursing Assessment of Well Individuals | 2 |
| NUR 502L | Nursing Assessment of Well Individuals Lab | 1 |
| NUR 503 | Nursing Care of Individuals with Neurobehavioral Problems across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NUR 503L | Practicum for Nursing Care of Individuals with Neurobehavioral Problems across the Lifespan | 1 |
| NUR 504 | Nursing Care of Individuals with Chronic Physiological Problems | 3 |
| NUR 504L | Practicum for Nursing Care of Individuals with Chronic Physiological Problems | 2 |
| NUR 508 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nursing I | 3 |
| NUR 509 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nursing II | 2 |
| NUR 510 | Health and Illness in Older Adults | 3 |
| NUR 510L | Practicum for Health and Illness in Older Adults | 2 |
| NUR 607 | Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Negotiation | 3 |
| NUR 609 | The Role of the Nurse Leader in Advanced Quality and Safety | 4 |
| NUR 611 | Health and Illness in Infants, Children, and Adolescents | 3 |
| NUR 611L | Practicum for Health and Illness in Infants, Children, and Adolescents | 1 |
| NUR 613 | Childbearing and Reproductive Health | 3 |
| NUR 613L | Practicum for Childbearing and Reproductive Health | 1 |
| NUR 614 | Information Technology in Nursing Administration | 3 |
| NUR 617 | Nursing Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NUR 618 | Population Health Nursing | 4 |
| NUR 618L | Practicum for Population Health Nursing | 1 |
| NUR 619 | Nursing Care of Individuals with Acute Physiological Problems | 3 |
| NUR 619L | Practicum for Nursing Care of Individuals with Acute Physiological Problems | 2 |
| NUR 620 | Law, Policy, and Economics of Healthcare | 3 |
| NUR 621 | Senior Capstone | 4 |
| NUR 622 | Synthesis of Nursing Concepts | 2 |
| NUR 705 | Scientific Approaches to Advance Healthcare | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 72 | |
General Information
Graduates of the M.S.N. in Nursing, Prelicensure Entry-Level Concentration program are eligible to apply for examination and licensure as a registered nurse. Applicants for initial licensure in North Carolina must have a criminal background check and finger printing at the time of application for the licensure examination. See the website for the NC Board of Nursing (www.ncbon.com/) for requirements for licensure.
Clinical Information
- Nursing majors are required to purchase uniforms; estimated cost is $180. Uniforms are required for clinical activities in most nursing courses. Students usually purchase uniforms at the beginning of their first semester.
- Students enrolled in all courses with a clinical component are responsible for their own transportation to and from the agencies used for clinical activities/practicum experiences. Car owners are reminded that current liability insurance is required by North Carolina law.
- Students in the School of Nursing are required to complete a panel drug screening and provide results 30 days prior to the first day of classes. This test includes cannabis, methamphetamines and other drugs and must be completed at a School of Nursing designated lab. There is a space in the drug screen system to note that you are on prescription medications and for a doctor at the service to verify those medications. A confirmed positive drug test will likely result in a student being unable to enroll, resulting in dismissal from the program as consistent with local, state, and federal law.
- Students must show evidence of having all immunizations identified on Parts A and B of the UNCG Health History and Immunization Form excluding the meningococcal vaccine.
- Students must have current American Heart Association Health Care Provider Basic Life Support (AHA BLS) certification.
-
The criminal background check, drug screening, CPR certification, immunizations, and other clinical requirements must be completed by the deadlines provided in the admission documents.
Required Withdrawal
Withdrawal from the program will be recommended if the student:
- Fails to register for two consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring) in the nursing curriculum.
- Has earned a B- or below in more than 6 credits of course work.
- Has earned a B -or below in any nursing specialty course.
- Has earned a failing grade in any course.
- Has a GPA that indicates the inability to meet the 3.0 required for graduation.
- Does not complete requirements for the degree within the time limit (5 academic years).
Accelerated B.S.N. to M.S.N. in Nursing
Application and Admission
Qualified UNC Greensboro undergraduate students who are pursuing a prelicensure B.S.N in Nursing may apply for admission to the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Leadership and Management.
The completion of 30 credit hours and an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 at UNC Greensboro is required. Applicants must have completed at least 60 pre-health credits and may not apply for admission to the AMP before they have been admitted to the School of Nursing.
Standard application requirements for the M.S.N. in Nursing apply to the AMP.
Applicants must also submit the AMP admission form available from the School of Nursing Student Affairs Office and a written personal statement describing why the applicant is interested in the AMP program leading to the M.S.N. in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Leadership and Management. An interview with the M.S.N. faculty is required.
Courses
Admitted students may apply the following 6 credits of graduate-level course work toward completion of both the undergraduate and graduate degree, provided that they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in the course and fulfill graduate-level requirements:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 614 | Information Technology in Nursing Administration | 3 |
| NUR 715 | Research Methods in Nursing | 3 |
Please consult with your advisor to determine how the course taken at the graduate level will meet requirements in the bachelor's degree program. All degree requirements for the M.S.N. in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Leadership and Management remain the same.