As a purely online Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, this program provides both flexibility and academic rigor. The 37-credit hour MSN degree will accommodate the academic, personal, and career goals of its students and allows flexibility for student lifestyles and geographical locations. This degree prepares registered nurses (RNs) to promote health and provide preventive and curative nursing services for groups or communities under the supervision of a public health agency. Public health nurses look after the entire population, working with communities, educating members of those communities on health issues, and helping health care organizations improve health and safety. This is not an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) degree.

Specific Information about the MSN program is outlined in the Graduate Student Handbook.

WHAT KIND OF JOB CAN I GET WITH THIS DEGREE?
The MSN degree prepares graduates to take on managerial and leadership roles that impact public health initiatives. A MSN degree with a focus on public health allows graduates to have a serious impact on on various groups of clients and patients across the wide range of public health practices. Graduates of this MSN program are qualified to work in the following areas:
* Any general registered nursing position
* Nurse Manager/Director/Chief Nurse Officer/Administrator
* Nurse Educator
* Nurse Infection Preventionist
* Public Health Nurse Specialist
* Disaster Specialist
* Health Services Research Analyst
* Nurse Researcher
* Nurse Author
* Community Health Clinics

PROGRAM CONTENT
This program includes instruction in community and rural health, disease prevention, health education, community health assessment, nursing theory, epidemiology, public health statistics and evidence based nursing practice, public health principles, preventive medicine, public health policy and regulations, public health care services and related administrative functions, public health economics and budgeting, social determinants, and nursing professional standards and ethics.

PROGRAM TRACKS
The program prepares RNs to respond to the complex social, legal, ethical, and public health policy implications affecting the public. The degree is offered as a full-time or part-time track and is available to RNs with a technical nursing diploma, Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The Post-master’s certificate is offered to RNs who have already earned a MS/MSN degree.

RN to MSN Track
RNs entering the program with either a technical nursing diploma or an AASN degree will receive their undergraduate BSN degree at the completion of graduate coursework. RNs choosing this path will receive 39 credit hours held in escrow until completing all undergraduate coursework and the two designated graduate courses (Advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Health Assessment). RNs entering the RN to MSN track will take the same undergraduate BSN courses, except those course will be offered in an online format. Students can finish in 36 months (full-time) or the maximum amount of seven years (part-time). If a student opts to stop and earn their BSN, a change in major will be executed. The BSN degree will only be awarded at the completion of the two previously mentioned graduate courses (Advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Health Assessment).

RN to MSN Prerequisites
RN to MSN Semester Plan Part Time
RN to MSN Semester Plan Full Time

BSN to MSN Track
RNs entering the program with a BSN degree will start graduate coursework during the summer. Students entering this program track can finish in 24 months (full-time) or the maximum amount of five years (part-time).

BSN to MSN Semester Plan Part Time
BSN to MSN Semester Plan Full Time

Post-Master Certificate Track
The Post-Master’s certificate courses are the same courses offered in the MSN in Public Health degree, starting with Phase Two courses. RN’s must have earned their MS/MSN degree and completed the direct care courses (Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Health Assessment) during their graduate program. If the student did not have those courses in their MS/MSN degree, they can take those three courses in our MSN program prior to starting the Post-master’s certificate coursework. Students can finish in two or three semesters, depending on start dates (summer [three semesters] or fall [two semesters]) as long as the three direct care courses were a part of their graduate degree.

Post Masters Certificate Semester Plan

APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
Application to the MSN program begins with submission of the "MSN Electronic Application" by clicking the link below.  The MSN Program Coordinator, Dr. Christine Felts, will follow-up with applicants once the application is received.  Students are then directed to make application to UAM. Click on the "Guidelines for Submission" link below for a list of required documents that must be uploaded with the application. All transcripts should be sent to UAM School of Nursing, attention Dr. Felts (felts@uamont.edu) to complete the application.

APPLICATION
Application deadline is March 1. Any late applications will be considered on space available basis.

MSN Electronic Application 

Guidelines for Submission

To qualify for admission, students must have :
• Unencumbered active RN license in the residential state. The RN must have a compact license with multi-state tag if completing practicum hours in a non-residential state.
• Grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or above (on a 4-point scale). Students with less than a 2.75 GPA may be considered if program space is available. GPA is calculated on the last 60 undergraduate credit hours.
• A letter grade of “C” or better in an undergraduate statistics course
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended should be sent to the School of Nursing. The transcript MUST show conferral of a nursing degree (diploma in nursing, associate degree in nursing, or bachelors degree in nursing).
• Two reference forms completed.  See the Guidelines for Submission link for the form
• Completed electronic application with all required documents uploaded

Call Dr. Christine Felts, Graduate Program Coordinator at 870-460-1168 or email at felts@uamont.edu with any questions.

MSN SCHOLARSHIPS
For information about expenses and general UAM financial aid, visit this webpage:

UAM Financial Aid HomepageA current FAFSA must be on file with UAM prior to scholarships being awarded. The School of Nursing has several nursing specific scholarships available to applicants. After applying to the MSN program, students should then apply for scholarships by clicking the following link:Master of Science in Nursing Scholarship ApplicationA Curriculum Vita is required for uploading as part of the scholarship application.

MSN Accreditation Status

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Master's Degree in Nursing Program (delivered via distance education) holds initial accreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037.   202-909-2487.