Utah MSN Programs

Brigham Young University: RN to MS Program Review
Brigham Young University, 1 N University Avenue, Provo, UT 84606
Brigham Young University is one of the largest private universities in the United States. The university was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Brigham Young University was established in 1875 and serves more than 33,000 students annually.

Brigham Young University offers a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited Master of Science degree program with a Family Nurse Practitioner focus. In addition to scholarships, assistantships are available for nursing graduate students to offset the cost of tuition. Students in the nursing masters degree program will participate in clinical practicum experiences in rural and urban settings.

Prior to submitting an application to the nursing masters degree program, nurses should hold or be in the process of obtaining a Utah RN license. Applicants to the nursing masters degree program should have a bachelors degree from a nursing program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Prerequisite courses in statistics and pathophysiology are required. As part of the admission process, applicants are required to complete an admission interview.

The nursing masters degree program is offered both full and part time. The RN to MS program can be completed in two years plus one additional semester of study.

Independence University: RN to MSN Program Review

Independence University

4021 South 700 East

Suite 400

Salt Lake City, UT 84107

Independence University is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The university is an affiliate of Stevens-Henager College, which is also located in Utah. Independence University was originally founded as California College for Health Sciences in 1978. Today, the university continues into offer degree programs in nursing, business and other areas of study. Independence University has operated under its current name since 2005.

A Nursing Education and Nursing Administration degree program are offered through Independence University. Both RN to MSN programs can be completed online. The Nursing Education program is 15 months while the Nursing Administration program requires 16 months of study. A full list of courses offered in the nursing masters degree program is available on the Independence University web site. The Nursing Administration program requires students to complete a thesis project, while students in the Nursing Education MSN track will complete a practicum experience.

Financial aid programs are available for nursing masters students at Independence University. In addition to federal financial aid programs, there also options for students who were formerly in the military. Applicants to the nursing masters degree program should have a GPA of 2.5 or above. A bachelors degree from an accredited program and current RN license are also required for admission to the nursing masters degree program.

Stevens-Henager College: RN to MS Program Review

Stevens-Henager College

383 W Vine St

Salt Lake City, UT 84123

Stevens-Henager College was established in 1891. Stevens-Henager College offers degree programs in various fields of study including nursing. The college was formally named Intermountain Business College. Besides the Ogden branch, other campuses of the college are located in Idaho and various sites in Utah.

An RN to MS program is offered in Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The nursing masters degree programs are offered online. The Nursing Administration track is also offered in campus-based setting in Salt Lake City and Murray. Both nursing MS programs require 15 months of study to complete. The Nursing Administration masters degree program is 83 credits, and the Nursing Education program is 59 credits.

In order to apply to the nursing masters degree program, applicants must provide a copy of their bachelors degree. Applicants to the nursing MS program should also have a valid nursing license. Domestic applicants to the nursing masters degree program should submit a personal essay outlining their personal goals. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 is required for admission to the nursing masters degree program. An applicant’s an undergraduate degree should be from an accredited US institution. If earned abroad, the degree must be evaluated by an agency. In some cases, an admission interview may be required.

University of Utah: RN to MS Program Review

University of Utah

201 Presidents Cir

Salt Lake City, UT 84112

The University of Utah was established in 1850. The university is based in Salt Lake City and is one of the leading universities in the state.

The University of Utah masters program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Students in the Nursing MS program can choose from a Nursing Education or Nursing Informatics specialization. An RN to MS program for nurses without a BSN offers the tracks above in addition to a Care Management concentration. The nursing masters degree program can be completed in two to three years depending on the applicant’s program of study.

Though the Nursing Informatics masters program cannot be completed online in its entirety, several courses are offered online. The Nursing Education masters program is offered online to students in the states of Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Nevada). Utah-based students within an hour of the university are not eligible to enroll in the online course option.

Entrance requirements to the nursing masters degree program include a bachelors degree in nursing from an accredited program, a GPA of 3.0 or above and valid RN license. Required prerequisite courses include statistics and physiology. Applicants with a GPA below 3.2 must submit scores for the Graduate Record Exam no more than five years old at the time of application.

Utah Valley University: RN to MS Program Review

Utah Valley University

800 W University Pkwy

Orem, UT 84058

Utah Valley University is a public university that was founded in 1941 and is based in Orem. Utah Valley University has been named among the top family cities in the USA by Forbes and other publications. The university is the largest public post-secondary institution in the state. More than 33,000 students enroll at Utah Valley University each year.

In order to apply to the MS Nursing program at Utah Valley University, applicants should have a GPA of 3.2 or above in the last 60 credits of their undergraduate nursing program. A BSN degree from a program accredited by a nursing body, Utah RN license, and three letters of recommendation are also required for admission consideration. As for additional academic requirements, Graduate Record Exam scores and a prerequisite course in statistics should also be completed. The MSN application includes an essay question and detailed information about its evaluation is listed on the nursing website.

The RN to MS program ranges from 33 to 37 credits and can be completed in about 4 semesters of study. Students in the program are prepared as nurse educators to work in clinical or academic environments. The nursing masters degree program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. In order to complete the nursing masters degree requirements, students must complete a masters thesis or project.

Weber State University: RN to MSN Program Review

Weber State University

3848 Harrison Blvd

Ogden, UT 84408

Weber State University is a public university based in Ogden, Utah with an additional campus in Layton. The university was established in 1889.

Weber State University’s nursing program offers two concentrations, Nurse Educator and Nurse Administrator. Both RN to MSN programs prepare students to take national certification exams in their area of study. The majority of faculty in the nursing masters degree program hold doctoral degrees. Over 5 million dollars in scholarships are awarded to students enrolled at Weber State University. In addition to university-wide scholarships, specific scholarships are available for students in the School of Nursing.

Admission to the nursing masters degree program at Weber State University is competitive, however, an admission advisor is available to meet individually with prospective applicants. Applicants to the nursing masters degree program should have a 3.0 or above GPA. Nurses should have a bachelor of science in nursing degree or its equivalent from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission on Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education.

Additional documents required for admission consideration include a resume and letters of recommendation. Applicants should have at least two years of career experience as a nurse when applying to the nursing masters program, though applicants with less experience may be admitted on a case-by-case basis. A prerequisite course in statistics is recommend, and all nurses admitted to the MSN program are required to take an advanced writing course.

Westminster College: RN to MSN Program Review

Westminster College

3848 Harrison Blvd

Ogden, UT 84408

Westminster College, also commonly referred to as Westminster, was established in 1875. The private college is based in Salt Lake City and serves over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. More than 15 monuments or national park sites are located within several hours of the university in addition to numerous skiing, snowboarding, hiking and other recreational activity areas.

Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education and Nurse Anesthesia are three nursing masters degree concentrations are offered in the Westminster College MSN program.

The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program is accredited by CCNE. The program is designed with career nurses and in mind, as classes are held twice weekly in the afternoons and evenings. The MSN FNP program can be completed in five semesters and requires 42 credits.

The Master of Science Nurse Anesthesia program (MSNA) is accredited by the Council on Accreditation. The program requires 29 months of study. Clinical practicum experiences for the MSNA program are available in several states including California, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas and Utah.

Students can complete the Nurse Educator MSN program in 30 credits of study over 5 semesters. Upon completion of MSN Nurse Educator coursework, students are eligible to take the certification exam offered by the National League for Nursing. Students can further specialize their program to focus on professional development or academia.

A bachelors degree, Graduate Record Exam scores, three letters of recommendation and personal statement are required for admission to the nursing masters degree program at Westminster College.