Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner, NP)
Bridging Your Practice for the Future
No Campus Visits Required
The graduate nursing program builds upon and expands the knowledge, values and skills of the baccalaureate prepared nurse. The College 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/gero 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.
Nursing Process ranked the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences Nurse Practitioner Master’s Degree program #5 in Colorado for program and educational excellence.
View the ranking here.
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.
Requirements for MSN degree:
- Completion of a minimum of 46-48 credits at the graduate level
- A graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is required in all required, elective or independent study courses
- Completion of degree requirements within six years
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
- Beginning Spring 2021 any applicant with a BSN GPA of less than 3.5 will be required to submit scores for the GRE along with their application. Any application not meeting this requirement, if needed, will not be reviewed. The minimum required scores are at least 158 for the verbal component, at least 153 on the quantitative component, and at least 4.0 on the analytical (writing) component.
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 SpanTran, WES and ECE credential agencies may enable more efficient review and processing of transfer credit by UCCS.)
Due to individual state regulations, we are accepting students from these states:
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Alaska
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Arizona
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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California
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Colorado
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Idaho
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Montana
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Nevada
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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New Mexico
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Utah
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Wyoming
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Kansas
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Nebraska
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Oklahoma
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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South Dakota
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Florida
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
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Texas
We have determined that our curriculum meets the State educational requirements for certification or licensure.
Students should contact the board directly for additional requirements that may be required to sit for exams such as background checks, fingerprinting and any other additional items.
Application Process
Deadlines
Spring term application deadline is August 15.
Fall term application deadline is March 15. The Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner option is only available as a fall start at this time.
Notification
The Admission Committee will review all completed applications 30 business days after the deadline. You will be notified by email as to your admission status.