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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:
Offers a focus in leadership, human resource management, and operational quality. Healthcare business and finance are also covered.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this concentration, you will be able to:
- Apply programmatic objectives to the role of the nurse leader.
- Advocate for business practices that promote healthcare quality and patient safety
- Synthesize knowledge of key business and human resources practices to lead healthcare teams.
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 4995
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 | 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 | Spring 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
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: 5230
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: 5184
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 | 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 | Spring 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
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: 5185
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 | 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 | Spring 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
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: 5186
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 | 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 | Spring 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
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: 5013
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 10/22/23 | Summer 2023 Session A | 16 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 12/24/23 | Summer 2023 Session C | 16 Week session |
Looks at curriculum, instruction, and assessment in nursing education with a focus on teaching and evaluations for nurse educators.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this concentration, you will be able to:
- Apply programmatic objectives to the nurse educator role in clinical or academic settings.
- Create educational and curricular materials for a variety of audiences.
- Evaluate effectiveness of teaching strategies and modalities.
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 4794
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: 5011
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: 4843
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: 4797
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: 4798
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: 5012
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 10/22/23 | Summer 2023 Session A | 16 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 12/24/23 | Summer 2023 Session C | 16 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: 4800
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 |
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.
Program Goals
The goals of the MSN program are to prepare students to:
- Assume service and leadership roles and effectively employ leadership skills to affect practice changes across systems
- Foster a culture of personal lifelong learning and professional development to align the nursing profession with the future of health and healthcare systems
- Cultivate and lead collaborative inter-professional healthcare teams
- Provide a seamless transition for the BSN prepared Registered Nurse to earn an MSN and provide a foundation for doctoral studies in nursing
- Encourage licensed nurses to attain and apply specialized knowledge at the graduate level in the Nurse Educator or Nurse Leader concentration
Materials Cost
Most courses in this program use Open Educational Resources (OER). These teaching, learning, and research materials are made available to you at no cost, meaning there are minimal book costs associated with earning this degree.
Starting March 2021, there will be a one-time $90 fee for the Typhon student practicum tracking software. This fee will be paid directly to the Typhon group.
Technology fee: $85 per course | $0 for active-duty military, National Guard members, and Reservists.
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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Disclosures
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.