Master of Science in Nursing

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing program has several advanced practice specializations.  The purposes of the program are to provide preparation for advanced nursing practice as a nurse practitioner  and to provide a foundation for doctoral study. Post Master's certificate programs are available to prepare currently certified clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners who want to acquire specialization in any of the above areas of specialization. 

Nursing education at the Master's level builds upon baccalaureate nursing preparation. Program courses and content are organized and courses sequenced in a manner that facilitates the progression of student learning from that of a baccalaureate generalist to that of a specialist. The curriculum has two dimensions: core and specialization. Core courses are taken by all students and include theory, evidence based practice, health policy, information management, and advanced pathophysiology. Specialization courses are specific to advanced practice within a selected role.

• MSN Program Handbook

Questions?

Virtual Information Sessions

Susan Bradford
Phone: 330-972-7555
sb14@uakron.edu

Financial Aid

We are now accepting applications for 2024 Teaching Assistants: 

• Akron Campus - Health Assessment and Nursing Foundations I and II
• Akron Campus - Pathophysiology and Complex & Critical Situations
• Wayne Campus - All nursing courses

Curricula and coursework

Follow the links below for detailed curriculum outlines and coursework descriptions for the MSN program and the advanced practice options, advanced practice specializations, and non-degree certificate programs.

Advanced practice options

• Adult Gerontological Health Nurse Practitioner Track
• Child and Adolescent Health Nurse Practitioner Primary Health Care Track  
• Child and Adolescent Health Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Track
• Child and Adolescent Health Nurse Practitioner Primary/Acute Care Track
• Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track

Admission requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in a nursing program accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or AACN’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a foreign institution must be recognized by The University of Akron.
• 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale for BSN and all previous nursing degrees.
• Three letters of reference from a recent employer; a member of the nursing profession; a former faculty member.
• 300-word essay describing professional goals.
• Current unrestricted State of Ohio Registered Nurse license.
• Applicants for the clinical tracks are required to have a minimum of 12 months registered nurse experience current within the last five years prior to entrance into the graduate program. The RN experience must be relevant to the area of interest.
• Interview prior to admission to the program.

Full Admission. Students admitted to the MSN Program in the School of Nursing are granted full admission with an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for BSN and all previous nursing degrees. No admission test is required for students who are granted full admission (EXCEPTION: applicants for the Nurse Anesthesia track are required to hold CCRN.

Students admitted to the MSN Program in the School of Nursing are considered for full admission with an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for BSN and all previous nursing degrees. No admission test is required for students who are granted full admission (EXCEPTION: applicants for the Nurse Anesthesia track are required to hold CCRN). Applicants with a GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 on a 4.00 point scale may be admitted to the MSN Program in the School of Nursing on a case by case basis.

Provisional Admission.  Applicants with a GPA below 3.00 on a 4.00 point scale may be admitted to the MSN Program in the School of Nursing under provisional status when the GPA is between 2.75 and 2.99 on a 4.00 scale. To move from provisional admission status to full admission requires that the student receive a B or higher in 15 semester credit hours of graduate level course work. After successful completion of these courses, the student must request a change of admission status and the record will be changed to full admission status.

Denial of Admission. Applicants applying for admission to the Graduate Program in the School of Nursing with a GPA of 2.74 or below will be denied admission.

Addressing the needs of the state and the region

The Masters Program in Nursing meets the needs of the state in several ways. The graduates of the  master's program have specialized in an advanced role to become expert clinicians, administrators, or educators.  The majority of graduates remain in the state to pursue their post-degree careers. These professionals advance the practice of nursing and health care to improve clinical and economic outcomes for patients/clients, nursing personnel and organization/network systems both independently and in collaboration with other health care professionals.  Nurse anesthetists are the only providers of anesthesia in 70% of all rural hospitals in the US.  Care provided by nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists has been associated with high patient satisfaction, cost effectiveness, and similar patient outcomes to care provided by physicians.  With a recent Ohio State Medical Association survey indicating 34 percent of Ohio physicians expect to close their practices within the next two years due to rising medical liability insurance, the advanced practice nurses of Ohio are needed now more than ever to enable its population to have access to primary health care and increased years of quality life and to reduce health disparities for diverse and underserved populations of Ohio citizens.

Placement objectives for graduates

Graduates of the Master's Program in Nursing are expected to fulfill positions in nursing and in other fields as advanced health care providers, educators, executives, and consultants.  Advance nursing practice positions are found in a variety of primary, secondary, and tertiary care environments.  The market for graduates with advanced practice roles is exceedingly strong.  Many of these master's prepared nurses will go on to doctoral study and assume a role of nurse researcher in communities, hospitals, and faculty in higher education.