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About This Program
Prepare to be an agent of change in today’s dynamic healthcare industry through the online Master of Science in Nursing at American Public University (APU).
APU’s CCNE-accredited master’s degree in nursing is for registered nurses who have earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and have a current, active, and unencumbered license. Our nursing master’s program helps you cultivate and lead collaborative healthcare teams through coursework on population-based healthcare, research and evidence-based practice, health policy, and grant writing. You will choose from two concentrations: Nurse Educator or Nurse Leader.
The mission of the program is to provide quality, affordable, and accessible higher education to professional registered nurses by fostering lifelong learning through a spirit of inquiry in order to prepare students for service and leadership roles in a diverse and global society.
Your program concludes with a 16-week practicum in your community focusing on your professional interest area.
This master's degree program at American Public University System is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
NOTE: This program has specific admission requirements.
What You Will Do
- Apply ethical principles to advanced professional nursing practice
- Demonstrate leadership skills that support safe nursing practices and patient-centered care
- Advocate for healthcare policy improvement
- Apply your knowledge and evidence-based practice to deliver high-quality, safe care to diverse populations in a variety of settings
- Apply data management principles to provide cost-effective care and improve health outcomes
Degree at a Glance

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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program:
The community/public health nursing concentration prepares nurses to serve, protect, and promote the health of communities locally and globally through the application of three core functions of public health: assessment, policy development, and assurance. Students are taught to serve as change agents practicing with a justice approach that is collaborative, promotes health and equity, and engages community gatekeepers and stakeholders. Graduates are equipped to analyze determinants of health using epidemiological data and other evidence. They are also prepared to apply social and behavioral science theories, models, and principles to develop or improve programs to address public health issues and to promote public health policies, programs, and resources that improve health outcomes.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Analyze social determinants of health that affect the health of a community.
- Evaluate prevention strategies of communities to identify opportunities for improvement in health and disease prevention of vulnerable populations.
- Enhance the health of a vulnerable population through interprofessional coordination, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of a public health nursing intervention for a selected community.
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 5349
Course ID: 4507
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3884
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3628
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2831
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 4788
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4789
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4791
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4792
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 5052
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 5350
Admission Requirements
This program is currently not open for admission to residents of Washington.
All APU master's degree and graduate certificate programs require you to have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
In addition, the following is required for admission into this program. All documentation must be provided prior to course registration:
- Official transcripts showing a conferred Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a program accredited by: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)
- Current and active unencumbered registered nurse (RN) in state where practicums will be conducted
- Minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate nursing degree
- Successful completion of an undergraduate level statistics course with a “C” or higher
- Current resume/CV
- Signed statement of understanding (SOU)
- 500-600 word statement of purpose and goals for graduate education is required for admission. Writing style should be scholarly and coherent with no grammatical errors. Your statement should include a description of relevant work experience, and clearly articulated reasons for applying to the master’s program. Long-term goals or professional career aspirations should be included.
ACEN® is a registered trademark of the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
CNEA® is a registered trademark of the National League for Nursing.
Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation including a legible copy of your valid government-issued photo ID (civilian students) or government-issued JST or CCAF transcript (military students).
An APU admissions representative will contact you via email or phone to assist you with the enrollment process, review your documentation, and notify you when you have been admitted into the program and may register for courses.
Note: You must complete this program within 5 years of starting your first nursing (NURS) course.
Need Help?
Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].
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Maryland Residents learn more about costs, completion rates, median debt, and more.
*Cost Per Credit Hour
U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents, receive a tuition grant that caps undergraduate, master's degree, and graduate certificate tuition at $250/credit hour.
See all military student benefits.