Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a degree that focuses on advanced knowledge in a particular focus area. ETSU offers specialty concentrations in Nursing Administration, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, and the Family Nurse Practitioner.

• Admission Criteria

   Admissions Criteria

  Applicants seeking admission to the MSN program must fulfill all requirements for admission to both the ETSU Graduate School and the ETSU College of Nursing.

  Admission to the program will be based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants who meet the admission requirements. All applications will be reviewed by the College of Nursing Graduate Admissions Committee. 

  The Graduate School requires that all students submit the following materials:

  • Completed application with payment of nonrefundable application fee
  • Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework
  • A written essay - instructions will be provided within the application

  College of Nursing Admission Requirements:

  Refer to the Graduate Catalog for the most current specific College of Nursing admission requirements [Available by clicking here]

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  Requirements for the RN-MSN Bridge Program
  

  Please click here for additional RN-MSN Bridge Program information.
  

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  Admissions Process

  All candidates must apply to ETSU. The ETSU application for admission may be submitted online at https://etsuapply.force.com/app

  Once the application file is complete, it will be forwarded to the College of Nursing and reviewed by the admissions committee. Applicants will be notified by E-mail of the admission decision 4 - 6 weeks after the deadline.

   

• Application Details

   

  • Out of State Applications

    • Students who reside outside of the state of Tennessee are responsible to contact their State Board of Nursing to confirm whether the course or program meets online degree program requirements in their state of residence prior to application.

    • Continuation in the Graduate Nursing Program for students who relocate outside the state of Tennessee is dependent on the State Board of Nursing where the student is physically present.

    • It is the student’s responsibility to notify ETSU College of Nursing and ETSU records office with a change in physical residence.  

    • The College of Nursing has determined that its Master of Science in Nursing program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the the states listed on our Home page, in the drop-down for this program. (You may open the Home page by clicking here.)
  • Application Deadlines

    Application Deadlines:

    Application deadlines (dates for all materials to be received by the Graduate School) are:
    
    

    Semester	Regular Deadline
    Fall	February 1 - Preferred May 1 - Final Concentrations: FNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Nursing Education Nursing Administration
    Spring	September 1 Concentrations: FNP

    Click here to apply for ETSU admission

   

• Contact Us

  
  

  College of Nursing

  Erica Seals

  
  423-439-4066 / sealsel@etsu.edu 
  Nicks Hall Room 2-230

  Office of Student Services

  423-439-4578 / nursing@etsu.edu
  Nicks Hall Room 2-230

  ETSU Office of Admissions

  423-439-4221 / gradadmissions@etsu.edu 
  Burgin-Dossett Hall Room 309

• FAQs

  What concentrations/programs does ETSU offer for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)?

  ETSU College of Nursing offers four (4) concentrations/programs of study for the MSN degree:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Administration
  • Nursing Education
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

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  What is the application deadline for the MSN program?

  See the Application Deadlines section above (Under Application Details tab)

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  What is the application deadline for the Post-Graduate certificate program?

  See Post-Grad Application Deadlines

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  Can I be admitted to the MSN or Post-Master of Science certificate program in any semester?

  See the Application Deadlines section above (Under Application Details tab)

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  How long does it take to earn the MSN degree?

  Full-time students can complete the MSN degree in as little as five (5) semesters. There is also a part-time option. Students will complete a total of 540 clinical hours within their program of study for Nurse Practitioner concentrations/programs, 420 hours in the nursing education concentration, and 540 hours in the nursing administration concentration.

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  Can I enroll in courses that are not included in my concentration/program?

  Once you are admitted to a concentration/program, you must follow that Program of Study. You can enroll in non-concentration courses only if the program of study allows for a non-directed elective as part of your declared concentration/program. Enrollment in courses outside of your program of study will not be financial aid eligible.

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  Can I change to a different concentration/program?

  A student who wishes to change concentrations/programs after acceptance within a specific program must formally apply to the new graduate program/concentration. Please note that application for a new graduate program/concentration does not guarantee admission to the new graduate program/concentration. The student will be evaluated with the applicant pool. Students who apply to change programs will not be considered within the semester that the application is submitted.

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  Do you offer online classes for this program?

  The majority of the program is online. Students may be required to be on campus for certain classes or assessments, including clinical proficiencies/competencies.

• Outcomes

  What can you do with a masters in nursing?  The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program is designed to focus on advanced nursing knowledge in a specialty focus area.
  
  Specific program objectives are to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values to::

  1. Synthesize specialized knowledge and theories from nursing and related disciplines as an advanced practice nurse;
     
     
  2. Practice advanced nursing in collaborative interprofessional relationships and in partnership with communities;
     
     
  3. Manage the health care of clients within current legal, ethical, and professional standards;
     
     
  4. Design health promotion strategies across the life span and among diverse cultures to improve the health of a community;
     
     
  5. Apply research findings in advanced nursing practice and the delivery of health care services; and
     
     
  6. Use leadership skills to effect health policy and promote change.

  
  

   

• Plans (Full-time)

   MSN Program Plans by Concentration
  
  

  FNP Fall Start	FNP Spring Start
  FNP	FNP

   

  Psych/Mental Health	Nursing Admin	Nursing Education
  PMHNP	Nursing Administration	Nursing Education

   

• Plans (Part-time)

   MSN Program Plans by Concentration
  
  

  FNP Fall Start	FNP Spring Start
  FNP	FNP

  Psych/Mental Health	Nursing Admin	Nursing Education
  PMHNP	Nursing Administration	Nursing Education

   

• Program Documents

   
  

  • Nursing Administration/Nursing and Healthcare Leadership Clinical Placement and Preceptor Selection Guidelines
  • Preceptor Orientation for Nursing Administration/Nursing and Healthcare Leadership

Apply Now

NOTICE: Regulatory requirements governing student clinical vary by state and are subject to change. Clinical placement outside of Tennessee is contingent upon approval by the appropriate regulatory bodies and will be evaluated on an individual basis upon admission to the program.

East Tennessee State University offers many programs of study which lead to the ability to be licensed or certified in a profession by individual states. Each program is listed below with information whether the program's curriculum meets a state's educational requirements for licensure or certification.

• Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing (BSN)

  The College of Nursing has determined that its Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing (BSN) program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:

  
  
  Alaska
  Arkansas
  Connecticut
  Delaware
  Florida
  Georgia
  Hawaii
  Indiana
  Kansas
  Maine
  Maryland
  Massachusetts
  Michigan
  Mississippi
  Missouri
  Nebraska
  New Jersey
  New Mexico
  North Carolina
  North Dakota
  Rhode Island
  South Dakota
  Tennessee
  Virginia
  Wisconsin

   

  
  For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing (BSN) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification.
  These states include:

  Alabama
  Kentucky
  New York
  Texas
  Arizona
  Louisiana
  Ohio
  Utah
  California
  Minnesota
  Oklahoma
  Vermont
  Colorado
  Montana
  Oregon
  Washington
  Illinois
  Nevada
  Pennsylvania
  West Virginia
  Iowa
  New Hampshire
  South Carolina
  Wyoming
  Idaho

  
  Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

  Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
  Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).

• Master of Science in Nursing

  The College of Nursing has determined that its Master of Science in Nursing program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:

  
  
  Alaska
  Arkansas
  Connecticut
  Delaware
  Florida
  Georgia
  Hawaii
  Indiana
  Kansas
  Maine
  Maryland
  Massachusetts
  Michigan
  Mississippi
  Missouri
  Nebraska
  New Jersey
  New Mexico
  North Carolina
  North Dakota
  Rhode Island
  South Dakota
  Tennessee
  Virginia
  Wisconsin

   

   For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification.
  These states include:

  Alabama
  Kentucky
  New York
  Texas
  Arizona
  Louisiana
  Ohio
  Utah
  California
  Minnesota
  Oklahoma
  Vermont
  Colorado
  Montana
  Oregon
  Washington
  Illinois
  Nevada
  Pennsylvania
  West Virginia
  Iowa
  New Hampshire
  South Carolina
  Wyoming
  Idaho

  Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

  Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
  Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

  The College of Nursing has determined that its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:

  
  Alaska
  Arkansas
  Connecticut
  Delaware
  Florida
  Georgia
  Hawaii
  Indiana
  Kansas
  Maine
  Massachusetts
  Michigan
  Mississippi
  Missouri
  Nebraska
  New Jersey
  New Mexico
  North Carolina
  North Dakota
  Rhode Island
  South Dakota
  Tennessee
  Virginia
  Wisconsin

   

  For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:

  
  Alabama
  Kentucky
  New York
  Texas
  Arizona
  Louisiana
  Ohio
  Utah
  California
  Minnesota
  Oklahoma
  Vermont
  Colorado
  Montana
  Oregon
  Washington
  Illinois
  Nevada
  Pennsylvania
  West Virginia
  Iowa
  New Hampshire
  South Carolina
  Wyoming
  Idaho

  Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

  Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
  Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).

• Tennessee Joint Doctor of Nursing Practice (TN Jt DNP)

  The College of Nursing and their partner, Tennessee Tech University Whitson-Hester School of Nursing, has determined that its Tennessee Joint Doctor of Nursing Practice (TN Jt DNP) program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:

  
  
  Alaska
  Arkansas
  Connecticut
  Delaware
  Florida
  Georgia
  Hawaii
  Indiana
  Kansas
  Maine
  Massachusetts
  Michigan
  Mississippi
  Missouri
  Nebraska
  New Jersey
  New Mexico
  North Carolina
  North Dakota
  Rhode Island
  South Dakota
  Tennessee
  Virginia
  Wisconsin

   

  For all other states, the college has not yet made a determination whether the Tennessee Joint Doctor of Nursing Practice (TN Jt DNP) program curriculum meets state specific requirements for licensure and/or certification for the following states:

  Alabama
  Kentucky
  New York
  Texas
  Arizona
  Louisiana
  Ohio
  Utah
  California
  Minnesota
  Oklahoma
  Vermont
  Colorado
  Montana
  Oregon
  Washington
  Illinois
  Nevada
  Pennsylvania
  West Virginia
  Iowa
  New Hampshire
  South Carolina
  Wyoming
  Idaho

  
  Students with questions about licensure or certification should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest.

  Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council of State Boards of
  Nursing (www.ncsbn.org).