Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Master's of Science in Nursing

Nurse Practitioner

Course Delivery

Online

Total Credits

47 Credits

About the MS in Nursing Practice Program

Bridging Your Practice for the Future.
No Campus Visits Required

The UCCS Master of Science in Nursing Practice (MSN) program at UCCS prepares professional nurses to work in primary care or behavioral health care settings such as family practice, internal medicine, senior clinics, mental health sites, and other primary care clinics.

This online MSN program is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of baccalaureate-prepared nurses. The program is founded on evidence-based practices and embraces ethical principles and culturally sensitive care.

Accreditation for the program is provided by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Student Learning Outcomes: 

Upon completion of the MSN program, the graduate will be able to:

  • Apply theories and scientific evidence to provide holistic care to the individual
  • Provide leadership within clinical and organizational settings to provide high quality, safe patient care
  • Apply clinical reasoning to promote health and prevent disease for the individual, family, and community
  • Critically appraise and apply current evidence in a clinical setting to ensure quality patient outcomes
  • Use technology in the clinical setting to enhance safe and effective patient care
  • Evaluate emerging trends, policy issues, and programmatic problems to improve health care delivery
  • Use therapeutic, patient-centered communication in the delivery of health care
  • Collaborate in inter/intra-professional care teams
  • Provide patient-centered, culturally competent healthcare to diverse patient populations
  • Use an ethical framework for clinical practice and clinical expertise to care for patients

This program will prepare you to work in primary health or behavioral/mental health care settings such as family practice, internal medicine, senior clinics, mental health and college health. This program is not intended to prepare you for emergency room or urgent care settings as these are best suited to preparation via an acute care nurse practitioner program.


Focus of Study

The focus of study for the Master in Nursing program is to prepare students for an advanced practice role in a clinical setting.

The graduate nursing program builds upon and expands the knowledge, values and skills of the baccalaureate prepared nurse. The Johnson Beth-El offers three options of advanced study leading to a Master of Science in Nursing degree:

  • Primary Care Adult-Gerontology (adult/gero) Nurse Practitioner
  • Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

In addition to specialty courses which prepare for expanded clinical roles in adult/gerontology health, family health, or psychiatric-mental health; the student gains experience with research, health care policy, nursing theory, clinical problem solving/critical thinking and creativity.


Program Admissions Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with an upper division major in nursing
  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on the baccalaureate level
  • Curriculum vitae or resume
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Current unrestricted Registered Nurse license from the state where you practice during practicum rotations
  • Passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English
  • Submission of all required application material by posted deadlines

 

Note: Applicants with course-work from any foreign college to submit a course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation by a NACES or AICE member. (Please note: Official evaluations received directly from SpanTranWES and ECE credential agencies may enable more efficient review and processing of transfer credit by UCCS.)

* Upon the successful completion of your online application, you will receive a private link to upload each foreign post-secondary transcript from institutions you have attended. These transcripts must include all courses and grades, must be issued in the original language, and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable.


This service is provided at no cost for UCCS applicants.
More details will be communicated to you via email. Please make sure to check your email for the uploading instructions.

Application Process

The Master in Nursing program at the Graduate Nursing Department offers a rolling admission cycle for the MSN and DNP programs, giving you the flexibility to apply at any time. Our dedicated Graduate Option Coordinators review completed applications each month, ensuring a timely and efficient process. Whether you're looking to start in the Spring, Summer, or Fall, we have options available to meet your needs and goals.

Deadlines

Completed applications will be considered up to January 5th for the Spring term, up to May 5th for the Summer term, and up to August 5th for the Fall term.

Notification

An applicant can expect to receive a decision within two weeks of their completed application being submitted


Specialization Track Options

Primary Care Adult-Gerontology (Adult/Gero) Nurse Practitioner
The Primary Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to manage the unique needs of the aging population.

Students will gain competence to manage acute and chronic health conditions while promoting optimal health for the gerontology patient. The option prepares students to meet the requirements for national certification and prescriptive authority.

Primary care-based clinical hours are found by the student where they reside.


Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
The Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills across their lifespan.

Students will gain competence to manage acute and chronic health conditions while promoting optimal health for families. The option prepares students to meet the requirements for national certification and prescriptive authority.

Primary care-based clinical hours are found by the student where they reside.


Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to manage clients with psychiatric disorders and substance abuse both in the primary care and acute care setting.

The option prepares students to meet the requirements for national certification and prescriptive authority. 

Psychiatric mental health clinical hours are found by the student where they reside.


Program Coursework

MSN Core Courses

NURS 6100 Philosophical Foundations in Nursing Practice

3

NURS 6110 Advanced Nursing Practice in Healthcare

3

NURS 6120 Research and Knowledge Translation in Nursing

3

NURS 6280 Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics

3

NURS 6730 Advanced Health Assessment

3

NURS 6740 Advanced Pathophysiology 

3

 NURS 7024 Research Analysis and Application (4) OR NURS 7000 Thesis (5)

OR 5

TOTAL MSN CORE CREDITS

 

22 or 23


Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Focus

Adult/Gero NP

Family NP

NURS 6915 Primary Care of Acute Health Conditions

5

NURS 6900 Primary Care of Pediatric Patients

5

NURS 6925 Primary Care of Chronic Health Conditions

5

NURS 6915 Primary Care of Acute Health Conditions

5

NURS 6950 Primary Care of Geriatric Patients and Families

5

NURS 6925 Primary Care of Chronic Health Conditions

5

NURS 6960 Gender Health in Primary Care 

2

NURS 6960 Gender Health in Primary Care 

2

 NURS 6980 Synthesis Practicum - 360 contact hours

8

NURS 6980 Synthesis Practicum - 360 contact hours

8

TOTAL ADULT NP SPECIALTY CREDITS

 

25

 

TOTAL FAMILY FNP SPECIALTY CREDITS

 

25

  Adult/Gero NP = 47 Total Credits (includes 630 contact hours) | Family NP = 47 Total Credits (includes 630 contact hours)

 

Psychiatric-Mental Health Specialty Focus

Psychiatric Mental Health NP

 

N6800 Mental Health Assessment and Interventions Across the Lifespan

3

N6801 Adult Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management for the PMHNP (135 contact hours)

6

N6802 Geriatric Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management for the PMHNP (135 contact hours)

6

N6803 Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Diagnosis and Management for the PMHNP (135 contact hours)

6

N6985 Synthesis Practicum for the PMHNP- 225 contact hours

5

TOTAL PMHNP CREDITS

26


For program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.


See the Bursars Office website for a tuition and fee estimate. 

Additional costs:
There are additional costs besides tuition that are incurred when obtaining licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse.  

The estimated costs below may include but are not limited to an application fee (70.00-350.00), transcripts (15.00) and fingerprinting and background check (30.00-58.00). Certification board examination fees (see links below) along with professional liability insurance (600.00-1500.00). These are estimates based on the states we admit from and can change at any time. You should use the links below to find the specific state Board of Nursing (BON) website where you plan to apply for licensure in order to find the most current information.  


Post Master's Certificate Options

Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate

The post-graduate certificate program builds upon and expands the knowledge, values, and skills of the Master's prepared nurse. Johnson Beth-El offers the option of advanced study for Primary Care Nurse Practitioner leading to a Post Master's Certificate.

In addition to specialty courses which prepare for expanded clinical roles in adult and gerontological health, family health, or psychiatric/mental health, the student is prepared for prescriptive authority in advanced pathophysiology, assessment, and pharmacology.

The program is 100% online and primary care based practicum hours are set up where you reside.


Approved States

United States Map of States We Accept Scudents From

 

 

 

Due to individual state regulations, we are accepting students from these states

 

Due to individual state regulations, we are not accepting students from these states

   

 

Department of Education Required Licensure Disclosure Information 

State

Our curriculum meets educational requirements for MSN certification or licensure.

Our curriculum does not meet educational requirements for MSN certification or licensure

Alabama

X

 

Alaska

X

 

Arizona

X

 

Arkansas
Must have practiced as an RN for at least 2000 hours. prior to applying

X

 

California

X

 

Colorado

X

 

Connecticut

 X

 

Delaware

 X

 

Florida

 X

 

District of Columbia (D.C.)

 X

 

Georgia

 X

 

Hawaii

X

 

Idaho

X

 

Illinois

X

 

Indiana

X

 

Iowa

X

 

Kansas

X

 

Kentucky

X

 

Louisiana

X

 

Maine

X

 

Maryland

 

Massachusetts

X

 

Michigan

Human trafficking/implicit bias training.
 

X

 

Minnesota

X

 

Mississippi

X

 

Missouri

X

 

Montana

X

 

Nebraska

X

 

Nevada

X

 

New Hampshire

X

 

New Jersey

X

 

New Mexico

X

 

New York

Complete online course work on NY and Federal Laws Governing Prescriptions & Record Keeping.

X

 

North Carolina

X

 

North Dakota

X

 

Ohio

X

 

Oklahoma

X

 

Oregon

X

 

Pennsylvania

Complete 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting.

 X

 

Rhode Island

X

 

South Carolina

X

 

South Dakota

X

 

Tennessee

X

 

Texas

X

 

Utah

X

 

Vermont

X

 

Virginia

X

 

Washington

X

 

West Virginia

X

 

Wisconsin

X

 

Wyoming

X

 

American Samoa

 

 X

Guam

X

 

Northern Mariana Islands

X

 

Puerto Rico

 

 X

Virgin Islands

 X

 


Contact Us

Debbie Schultze

Academic Services Professional

(719)255-4458

dschult3@uccs.edu


Accreditation