Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

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Nursing is an exciting profession with many paths and possibilities

Kent State's Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program prepares registered nurses for roles in advanced practice, education, and health care administration. Students in this program develop a foundation for further post-graduate and doctoral-level study in nursing.

We offer both full- and part-time curriculum plans, allowing you to continue working while you are in the program. Many courses are online, giving you the flexibility to do coursework around your busy schedule. In addition, some concentrations are 100% online and can be completed remotely by nurses living in any eligible state.

Enjoy our guidebook on our graduate nursing programs:


Master’s Degree Concentrations

Explore our concentrations below and see where a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from Kent State can take you.
 

 

100% Online Programs

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (100% Online)

Kent State's Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) program will prepare you for a unique, multi-faceted role in advanced nursing practice.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) play an essential role in healthcare. Similar to their Nurse Practitioner (NP) colleagues, many CNSs provide specialized advanced nursing care. However, CNSs also work behind-the-scenes to ensure that patients in their units and across their organizations are receiving the highest quality care.

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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (100% Online)

Kent State's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner master's concentration will prepare you to provide advanced psychiatric nursing care to individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan.

Today, many Americans do not have access to mental health services, in part due to a lack of qualified mental health professionals. Nurses who become Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) help bridge this gap and provide holistic care to those who are struggling with mental illnesses and addictions.

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Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (100% Online)

Kent State’s Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) program will prepare you to provide the highest level of primary nursing care for women involving health promotion and disease prevention. 

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) students gain competency in advanced nursing management of common acute and chronic conditions.

You will learn how to practice directly or in collaboration with other health professional to provide continuity of health care and to maximize the effectiveness of community and health care system services. You will also learn clinical judgment and primary care skills through faculty mentorship and clinical preceptors in a variety of ambulatory care settings and specialty clinics.

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Nurse Educator (100% Online)

Kent State's Nurse Educator program will prepare you to teach, mentor, and develop both nursing students and practicing nurses.

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 will prepare students for teaching within a variety of learning environments in academic and staff professional development settings.

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Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership Program (100% Online)

Kent State's Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership concentration will prepare you for mid- to upper-level management, administrative, and leadership positions in a variety of healthcare settings.

The 100% online Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership MSN/Post-graduate Certificate concentration integrates management and nursing knowledge for students to develop skills and competencies in management, health care leadership, and advanced nursing. The 100% online Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership MSN/Post-graduate Certificate concentration integrates management and nursing knowledge for students to develop skills and competencies in management, health care leadership, and advanced nursing.

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Courses are 100% online – students are never required to come to campus.

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Hybrid/Partially On-Campus Programs

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Kent State's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration will prepare you to provide advanced nursing care to adults with complex, acute and chronic illnesses.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP) students learn a wide variety of procedures and gain experience in moderate to high-acuity clinical settings where patient care requirements include complex monitoring and therapies.

 

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Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Kent State's Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner master's degree concentration will prepare you to give broad, comprehensive care to adults across the lifespan.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP) students 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.

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Family Nurse Practitioner

Kent State's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master's degree concentration will prepare you to provide comprehensive primary health care in an outpatient setting for patients of all ages.

Family Nurse Practitioner students acquire advanced practice nursing competencies to provide continuity of health care to persons across the life span and to maximize the effectiveness of community and health care system services through collaboration with other health professionals.

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Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Kent State's Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner master's concentration will prepare you to provide comprehensive primary health care in an outpatient setting for newborns through late adolescence.

Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (referred to as PPCNPs, CPNP-PCs, or PNPs) are primary care providers who offer preventative health services, health education, and disease management to the pediatric population. They specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing illness for acutely ill and chronically ill children. They also provide thorough wellness exams for healthy pediatric patients.

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The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Kent State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Kent State University College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.  Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) concentrations within the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and APRN Certificates, along with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-to-DNP) program qualify graduates to sit for national APRN certification and APRN licensure in Ohio.  States other than Ohio may have additional requirements to apply for or obtain an APRN license, including but not limited to specific state examinations, letters of recommendation, or proof of completion of an accredited nursing program. The College of Nursing is in the process of collecting information from all states and has not yet made a determination whether graduates from the Kent State University College of Nursing MSN, Certificate, and BSN-to-DNP programs meet the requirements for APRN licensure outside the state of Ohio.