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Health Leadership at KSU

Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership - Graduate Certificate

Kent State's Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership certificate 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.

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More About This Program

In this concentration, students are exposed to a holistic approach to leadership and management. Courses cover essential managerial/executive competencies, with a unique emphasis on health care policy and the legal and regulatory issues facing the healthcare leader.

Practicum experiences pair students with healthcare administrators, managers, and executives from top organizations in the region for mentoring and development. Since there are two practicum courses, students can explore multiple leadership paths under the guidance of their faculty advisor.

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Program Information for Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership - Graduate Certificate

Learning Outcomes

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 and inclusive nursing care, and to promote quality outcomes in nursing and health care.

Admissions for Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership - Graduate Certificate

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

  • Master's degree in nursing or a doctorate in nursing practice from an accredited nursing program
  • Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s) of all previous graduate coursework1
  • Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which practicum hours will be completed
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Goal statement (no more than 250 words) describing reasons for seeking the certificate in the identified specialty and professional goals (starting with spring 2026 admission term, goal statement is no longer required)
  • 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?
  • Syllabi of all courses to considered for transfer in the gap analysis
  • 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 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

For applicants who have not practiced as an advanced practice registered nurse within the two-year period preceding application to the certificate, completion of graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment must not be greater than five years old at the time of the student's first semester of course registration in the certificate.

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

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by these deadlines will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Coursework

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
NURS 60014LEADERSHIP IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT 3
NURS 60016ADVANCED ASSESSMENT, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY FOR THE NURSE LEADER 3
NURS 60020LEGAL AND REGULATORY MANAGEMENT FOR NURSE ADMINISTRATORS 3
NURS 60024HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION, STRUCTURE AND BEHAVIOR 3
NURS 60315BUDGETARY AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT FOR NURSES 3
NURS 64002PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION FOR NURSE ADMINISTRATORS 3
NURS 64292NURSING ADMINISTRATION AND HEALTH SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP I PRACTICUM 2
NURS 64302NURSING ADMINISTRATION AND HEALTH SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP SEMINAR 2
NURS 64392NURSING ADMINISTRATION AND HEALTH SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP II PRACTICUM 2
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 3.000
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online

Learning Outcomes

MSN/Post-graduate Certificate

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  • Acquire educational eligibility to meet standards for advanced practice certification or other advanced professional distinction.
  • Acquire competencies based on professional standards to assume advanced roles in nursing, and for leadership and career advancement, including doctoral study.
  • Communicate, integrate and apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to provide evidence-based, culturally sensitive nursing care and promote quality outcomes in nursing and health care.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Graduates of the program will be able to:

  • Use critical thinking skills to apply analytical models and concepts to make business decisions.
  • Present business knowledge and decisions individually and as a team.
  • Understand the ethical and legal implications of business decisions.
  • Understand the impact of globalization on business decisions.

* For the MSN/MBA, the cost of business courses depends on your primary degree selection. Consult with your advisor.  
**This program is only offered in select states.  See the Admissions section for more information.  

Why Kent State?
  • Expert faculty. Students receive mentorship and advising from faculty who bring unique perspectives grounded in clinical and management experience, and bring excitement and interest to their teaching and research.
  • Excellent online courses. Classes are held 100% online and delivered by expert nurses and business professionals via leading edge instructional technology.
  • Maximum flexibility. Start in the fall or spring semester and complete the program full or part-time.
  • Affordability. The program costs only $536 per credit hour*, no matter where you live.**
    ( +12/credit hour for online classes and $10/credit hour online program fee for online programs.)
  • Credibility. Kent State’s graduate nursing and business programs are recognized by employers and universities around the world for their excellence.
  • Hands-on learning. Students complete 300 practicum hours with healthcare administrators, managers, and executives in the state in which they reside.
Meet the Faculty

Learn more about the Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership course instructors:

Photo of Kimberly Cleveland

Kimberly Cleveland
JD, MSN, RN, C-MBC
Lecturer

Photo of Karen Mascolo

Karen Mascolo
DNP, RN
Associate Professor
Coordinator

Our Commitment to Online Learning

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

SEE IF a PROGRAM IS OFFERED IN YOUR STATE

 

Frequently Asked Questions

View a list of our frequently asked questions.

Accolades & Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nursing at Kent State is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Kent State is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in business and accounting – an accreditation earned by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide. Kent State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Kent State University College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Education and approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing to award the Baccalaureate of Nursing Degree. Graduates of this program meet educational eligibility requirements to take the National Certification and Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). For specific state RN licensure, students should contact the states in which they are interested in working. See the National Council of State Boards website and the Kent State Professional Licensure website for specific information about each state.

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.

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