Nursing - M.S.N.

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Science in Nursing degree meets the educational eligibility requirements for national certification in the respective area of study. The degree program can be completed in four to five semesters (two full academic years) for full-time students. Part-time students typically take three to four years to complete the program. Completion of a thesis is optional.

The Nursing major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration allows students to attain advanced practice nursing competencies in providing evidence-based care to adults and older adults with complex acute and chronic illnesses. Clinical experiences occur in a variety of acute care settings, including general medical care, emergency care, critical care and specialty practice. Through clinical practicums, students provide direct patient care in collaboration with a team of health professionals to diagnose and treat patients across the continuum of health care services.
• The Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration fosters acquisition of the needed competencies to care for patients spanning the entire adult to older-adult spectrum. Class and clinical experiences focus on providing advanced nursing care across the health continuum, from wellness to acute care. Students develop competencies across the three spheres of impact: patient/direct care, nurses/nursing practice and organizations/systems.
• The Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration allows students to develop advanced practice nursing competencies in health promotion, risk detection, illness prevention and management of acute and chronic illnesses in adults and older adults. Clinical experiences involve direct care in collaboration with other health professionals to maximize the effectiveness of community and health care system services. Clinical practicums include primary care offices, such as internal medicine and family practice clinics, managed care offices, emergency departments, free clinics and long-term care and occupational health settings.
• The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration allows students to acquire advanced practice nursing competencies to provide continuity of health care to persons across the life span, as well as to maximize the effectiveness of community and health care system services through collaboration with other health professionals. Clinical experiences are offered in a variety of ambulatory care settings and specialty clinics in primary care offices, including family practice, internal medicine, managed care offices, emergency departments, long-term care facilities and academic and occupational health settings.
• The Nurse Educator concentration allows students to develop in-depth knowledge and expertise in selected areas of nursing practice and the role of the nurse educator. Emphasis of the nurse educator role focuses on best practices in curriculum development, instruction and evaluation that prepare students for teaching within a variety of learning environments in academic and staff professional development settings. Students engage in individualized practicum experiences where they apply content learned throughout the graduate curriculum in both their area of nursing practice and the nurse educator role.
• The Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership concentration integrates management, leadership and nursing knowledge for students to develop skills and competencies in administration, systems leadership and advanced nursing.
• The Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration focuses on health promotion, illness prevention, risk identification and acute and chronic care of infants, children and adolescents in the primary care setting. Practicum experiences take place in outpatient primary care and specialty settings; the experiences offer the opportunity for students to provide individualized and culturally competent advanced practice nursing care to children within the context of their families.
• The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration builds on core advanced practice nursing knowledge. The program focuses on knowledge and skill development in mental health assessment and diagnostic reasoning, prescribing and medication management and advanced therapeutic modalities such as individual, group and family psychotherapy.
• The Women's Health Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares students to provide the highest level of primary nursing care for women involving health promotion and disease prevention. Students gain competency in advanced nursing management of common acute and chronic conditions. Students practice in direct care and in collaboration with other health care professionals. Practicum experiences foster development of clinical judgment and primary care skills through faculty mentorship and clinical preceptors in a variety of ambulatory care settings and specialty clinics.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

The Nurse Educator and Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership concentrations have an optional licensure that is not required in any state.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration are not being accepted at this time.

• Bachelor's and/or graduate degree from an accredited registered nursing program¹
• Minimum 3.000 undergraduate/graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (starting with spring 2026 admission term, minimum 2.750 GPA is required)
• Completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a minimum C grade (starting with spring 2026 admission term, requirement is eliminated)
• Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which clinical coursework will be completed
• Curriculum vitae (including activities such as national nursing certifications, professional organizations, clinical ladder, PI/QI projects, research, publications and military experience if applicable)
• Essay (two pages double spaced, 500 words) describing professional preparation and rationale for seeking the master's degree in the identified specialty along with professional goals and any experience as a nurse caring for the under-served, high risk or vulnerable populations (starting with spring 2026 admission term, the essay is eliminated)
• Admission essay is required starting with spring 2026 admission term responding to the following questions (two pages, double spaced, 500 words):
  • How do you plan to contribute to the nursing profession and healthcare community after earning your M.S.N. degree?
  • How has your experience, professional development and service within the profession contributed to your readiness for graduate education?
  • What experience do you have working as a nurse caring for the underserved, high-risk or vulnerable populations?

• Three professional letters of reference from healthcare professionals, either a supervisor and/or an advanced practice nurse who can speak to the applicant's professional capabilities
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 83 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 55 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

Admission to the M.S.N. degree is competitive and never guaranteed. Priority will be given to candidates with:

• Strong academic record
• Strong references
• Demonstrated experience in the area of interest
• National certification in a specialty as a nurse
• Membership in a professional nursing organization or military
• Documented community service
• Participation in an agency's Clinical Ladder, PI/QI Projects, research, publication or similar programs/projects
• Experience as a nurse caring for underserved, high risk or vulnerable populations

An additional interview video may be required. Students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet the College of Nursing's Clinical Compliance Policy.

¹

Applicants with an RN license and a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, or with a bachelor's degree in nursing from an institution outside the U.S. will be considered based on faculty review of a portfolio submitted with the application.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: March 1
• Spring Semester
  • Priority deadline: October 1
• Summer Term
  • Priority deadline: March 1

Applications submitted by these deadlines will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Meet standards for advanced practice certification or other advanced professional distinction.
2. Demonstrate competencies based on professional standards to assume advanced roles in nursing, and for leadership and career advancement, including doctoral study.
3. Communicate, integrate and apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to provide equitable, evidence-based, inclusive nursing care and promote quality outcomes in nursing and health care.

Dual Degree

Dual Degree with Master of Business Administration

Student have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration and the M.S.N degree in Nursing. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.

The M.B.A./M.S.N. dual degree is for experienced nurses whose career goals include assuming middle or executive management positions in health services agencies or in health-related companies, or who are interested in starting their own businesses. It combines the strengths of advanced nursing preparation with the practical management knowledge needed to develop significant leadership capabilities.

Dual Degree Requirements

¹

MGMT 68051 is required for students who have not worked a minimum of two years, full-time, since obtaining their bachelor's degree. Students waived the course may graduate with 57 credit hours.

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Fully online (concentrations Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator, Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner)
  • Mostly online (concentrations Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner)
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Applications to the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration are not being accepted at this time.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nursing degree at Kent State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.