Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree
Advance your career with a specialized degree.
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program in the Berkeley College School of Health Studies is designed to help you expand your career options and increase your earning potential. You’ll be able to tailor your studies through specialization tracks in some of today’s most in-demand areas of nursing:
- Family Nurse Practitioner - 46 credits
- Leadership and Management - 37 credits - (currently not accepting applications)
- Nurse Educator - 36 credits - (currently not accepting applications)
- Public Health and Emergency Management - 37 credits - (currently not accepting applications)
The Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization program at Berkeley College is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
You may be eligible for 25% off tuition* in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialization track for the fall 2023 semester starting September 5. This is in addition to any tuition assistance offered by your employer.
The MSN program offers many benefits:
- Executive format designed for working nurses
- The programs can be completed in as little as two years** through part-time study
- Up to 9 credits can be transferred from other MSN programs
- 100% online synchronous coursework***
You’ll learn from experienced professionals who offer personal attention, and comprehensive support services and resources are available, including career assistance for graduates.
* Grant cannot be combined with any other form of Berkeley College institutional aid. Applies to fall 2023 applicants only. Berkeley College scholarship awards are determined before all Post-9/11 GI Bill® amounts have been applied, not to exceed the remaining tuition amount.
**The Family Nurse Practitioner track can be completed in as little as 2.25 years.
*** In the Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator tracks, some classes/simulations must be taken at our Woodland Park campus, with off-site clinicals.
Related Resources
MSN Admissions RequirementsMSN Program Learning ObjectivesMSN SpecializationsMSN Course DescriptionsMSN Program Tuition and FeesMSN FAQsMSN Healthcare SupplementUpcoming MSN Information Session EventAdmissions Contact
Colleen M. Fuller, MS
Director of Admissions, MSN program
Colleen-Fuller@BerkeleyCollege.edu
MSN Program Locations
Curriculum Quality and Professional Relevance
The MSN program is designed around career preparedness and the development of specialization-specific competencies. It integrates the educational standards established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing.
Capstone and Practicum experience
The integrated capstone allows students to apply what they’re learning in the field, and each practicum involves on-site supervised training. The capstone course, paired with the practicum experience, allows the student to work with an organization to solve real-world challenges that they will face in their career as advanced practical nurses by using the best available evidence.
Admission Associates
Our Admissions Associates are dedicated to supporting you. They’ll help you navigate the Admissions process, and answer all your questions about Berkeley College.
Faculty
Our faculty is passionate and committed to helping you succeed in your field. All faculty members in the MSN program have doctoral degrees. Students benefit from their professors’ extensive academic and professional experience from nursing and different public service settings.
Academic Advisors
Our Academic Advisors will provide you with the tools to achieve your goals and help make sure you stay on track to meet program requirements.
Career Services
Our Career Services team works with students, alumni, and partner employers, providing job placement, identifying career opportunities, developing career search strategies, personal branding, and an overall career development plan for lifelong success.
Berkeley College reserves the right to add, discontinue, or modify its programs and policies at any time. Modifications subsequent to the original publication of this document may not be reflected here. For up-to-date and detailed information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu and view our catalogs at BerkeleyCollege.edu/Publications
Testimonials
“The entire staff, especially the professors and advisors, are not only knowledgeable and professional, they’re also very caring. They’re very supportive in providing you with the tools you need to succeed.”
—Leisa Murray, LPN to BSN graduates, MSN student
“I graduated with a BSN from Berkeley College in 2018 and had a wonderful experience. Obtaining my Family Nurse Practitioner degree has always been my dream, so when I heard about Berkeley offering the MSN program, I did not hesitate to apply. The education I’m receiving is preparing me to be a strong leader and provider.”
—Edna Nwosu, LPN to BSN graduate, MSN student
Frequently Asked Questions: MSN
By earning a master’s degree in nursing, you have more options for upward mobility. Nurses possessing their MSN degree have the ability to:
- Achieve higher entry-level earnings
- Continue their education and carry out research
- Enter a stable career path that has many job opportunities
- Secure leadership roles
- Become an expert in the field while gaining the respect of your workplace colleagues
- Achieve personal fulfillment
The Berkeley College Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program offers nurse professionals the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge of nursing theory, research, informatics, and health policy. You will care to diverse populations and cohorts of patients in clinical and community-based systems, and implement safe and quality practices in a variety of settings and roles.
The Family Nurse Practitioner track does require professional work experience reflecting a minimum of one year of full-time work experience as a Registered Nurse within the last three years. At the time of application, individuals must be employed in direct patient care settings.
Yes. All students wishing to apply to the MSN program are required to possess a current RN license, regardless of the specialty area. Make sure your license is current prior to submitting your application.
Students are required to have a BSN degree from an accredited college or university including courses in statistics, research, and physical assessment. Applicants for the MSN program are expected to possess a solid academic foundation in the health sciences and extensive clinical preparation.
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program at Berkeley College is open to licensed professional nurses who possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Applicants must also show proof of having completed courses in statistics, research, and physical assessment. Please see the MSN Admission page for additional information on Admission requirements.
Applications for the Family Nurse Practitioner program are considered for admission to the Woodland Park and Online MSN program for the fall, winter, and spring semesters. The application deadline is one week before classes begin. All admissions documents must be submitted by that date.
Applications are accepted on a rolling admission for all options. An offer of admission will be valid for 12 months from the start date of the program. Applicants denied admission will be allowed to reapply after 180 days.
To accommodate varying schedules and work time commitments, the MSN program is offered in a variety of formats. Students may take classes in a hybrid format on-site at the Woodland Park campus and online.
Students enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialization must complete the direct core courses and FNP Clinical Component courses on-site at the Woodland Park campus. The program is composed of 670 clinical hours which are to be completed at off-site facilities.
No, the Program does not require applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores.
The amount of time to complete the program will depend on your course load per semester and area of specialization. The sample program sequences provide more detailed information on the number of semesters necessary to complete each specialization track of the MSN program.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Chronic Pain Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Case Manager
- Nurse Researcher
- Nurse Advocate
- Nursing Director/Manager/Coordinator
To learn more about funding your education, read our Guide to Financial Aid.
The structure of the MSN specialization tracks are designed to allow the working nurse to advance in her/his MSN degree while continuing to work within the community. With the various course offering delivery formats, students can incorporate their course and student schedule into their professional life.
The Family Nurse Practitioner track requires 630 clinical practice hours and simulation training that will be conducted both on campus and virtually.
Yes, the MSN Capstone courses require students to complete a project related to their specialization. The project will incorporate a variety of weekly deliverables that measure the student’s progress toward meeting the program outcomes.
Related Resources
MSN Admissions RequirementsMSN Program Learning ObjectivesMSN SpecializationsMSN Course DescriptionsMSN Program Tuition and FeesMSN FAQsMSN Healthcare SupplementUpcoming MSN Information Session EventAdmissions Contact
Colleen M. Fuller, MS
Director of Admissions, MSN program
Colleen-Fuller@BerkeleyCollege.edu
