The RN-MSN program is designed for associate degree or diploma-prepared registered nurses interested in graduate nursing education and preparation for an advanced nursing practice role. The program builds on the student’s prior learning and requires three years of practice experience. Students in consultation with a faculty advisor develop a plan of study that is based on prior learning and the student’s selected graduate study major.
The program of study includes the completion of required undergraduate courses, including all non-nursing courses, an advanced practice nursing role transition course (NURS 451 ), and selected fourth-year clinical nursing courses. Students, after successful completion of the required undergraduate courses, are provisionally admitted to the graduate nursing program. After successful completion of 12 hours of graduate course credits, credit for the validated undergraduate courses is posted and students are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Students, at this point in their program of study, are granted full admission into the graduate program. After successful completion of the remaining required graduate nursing courses, students are awarded the Master of Science in Nursing degree. Additional information about the RN-MSN program is available at health.usi.edu.
Admission Requirements
- completion of an associate degree or diploma from an accredited program in nursing;
- three years of current clinical experience as a registered nurse;
- unencumbered RN license (no action or pending action against license);
- completion of a USI Graduate Nursing Program application;
- cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in previous academic work; and
- completion of a USI undergraduate admission application.
Non-native speakers of English must provide an official report confirming a TOEFL score of 525 (paper test) or 71 (Internet based), or APIEL score of 3, or an IELTS score of 6.
After completion of the undergraduate portion of the program, to be considered for admission to the graduate level courses of the RN-MSN program, the applicant must have received a grade of B or above in all upper level USI nursing courses and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies:
- a completed USI Graduate Application Form;
- a $25 non-refundable graduate application fee made payable to USI; and
- one official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended other than USI. Transcripts and other educational records are official if the issuing institution sends them directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. Failure to submit official transcripts from every institution will delay admission. Course work from one institution reported as transfer credit on another school’s transcript does not constitute an official transcript.
RN-MSN Curriculum
A maximum of 64 hours may be transferred from community colleges (36 hours of nursing and 28 hours of non-nursing courses). Credit hours remaining include 31 hours of University Core Courses and 33 hours of nursing courses.
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