Program Overview |
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Registered Nurses, with an Associate’s Degree or Diploma in Nursing, are eligible to apply directly to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing’s Master’s Program. This option allows nurses interested in advanced practice nursing to move more directly into roles such as certified nurse practitioners, clinical specialists, or nurse managers.
Students choose one of the following advanced practice areas:
The nursing component of the RN-MSN program includes three undergraduate nursing courses, plus 39-42 graduate credits, including courses in the professional, research and clinical cores, as well as the student’s chosen advanced practice area. The three required undergraduate courses must be completed before progressing to the master’s clinical courses.
Full-time and part-time study options are available for master’s students. Once the BSN courses are completed, full-time students normally complete the master’s program in four academic semesters and one summer. Part-time students may complete the master’s program in six semesters with some summer work, depending on the specific advanced practice area of study selected by the student.
A variety of clinical experiences is available in each advanced practice area. Every effort is made to place students in or near their home communities or in settings most desired by the students for their clinical experiences.
Admission
Registered nurses will need to complete 51 college-level credits including specific pre-nursing courses prior to enrollment in the master’s program. (Students may apply prior to completing the courses, with a plan to complete them prior to acceptance. Please call for more specific information.)
Applicants must meet University Graduate School admissions requirements as well as requirements of all master’s applicants to the School of Nursing.
Registered nurse applicants will complete the integrated Graduate School/MSN Application, which requires competitive scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (using only courses that make up the 51 credits required for admission) is expected.
Applicants should also have one year minimum practice as an RN prior to enrollment.
Course Requirements
Applicants will need to complete 51 college-level credits prior to enrollment. These courses may be taken at any accredited college or university. The grade point average used for admission purposes will be calculated using these 51 credits. Below is a list of the prerequisites:
| English Composition | 3 credits |
| Humanities (e.g., history, fine arts, literature, philosophy) | 9 credits |
| Biological Sciences, including Anatomy and Physiology | 12 credits |
| Other Sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics) | 6 credits |
| Human Growth and Development | 3 credits |
| Other Social Sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science) | 12 credits |
| Statistics (must NOT be older than 10 years of matriculation to the RN-MSN Program) | 3 credits |
| Elective (humanities, science or social science) | 3 credits |
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| TOTAL | 51 credits |
RN-MSN Specific Curriculum
RN-MSN students will take the following three undergraduate level courses once admitted to the RN-MSN Program but prior to enrolling in any master’s level clinical course:
NURS
490
Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing Practice (3 credits)
Selected concepts and theories are explored as a basis for making judgments and decisions in nursing practice. Critical thinking skills are developed as an essential component of professional practice.
NURS
491
Improving Nursing Practice: Application of Concepts, Theories and Research (3 credits)
This course emphasizes analysis of clinical problems which affect the nursing care of selected populations. Students also apply the nursing process, therapeutic communication skills, and teaching-learning principles in clinical situations.
NURS
494
Community Health Nursing for the Public’s Health (6 credits)
Prepares RN students for population-focused practice in community health
nursing. Analyses and applications of selected theories, and health promotion/protection
and disease prevention strategies are emphasized.
For a detailed listing of the master’s-level courses required in a specific master’s advanced practice area, visit the page (by clicking a link below) for the specific area:
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Adult Nurse Practitioner | |||
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Health Care Systems | |||
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Children's Health (PNP, CNS) | |||
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Family Nurse Practitioner | |||
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Psychiatric/Mental Health | |||
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Women's Health |
For additional information contact:
Office of Admissions and Student Services
School of Nursing
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carrington Hall, CB #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460
(919) 966-4260
or
nursing@unc.edu
RN Programs Coordinator
Debbie Thompson, RN, EdD
(919) 966-3841
Office of Multicultural Affairs
School of Nursing
(919) 966-7767
