North Carolina MSN Programs
Duke University: RN to MSN Program Review
Duke University, 138 Campus Drive, Durham, NC 27705
Duke University is a private research-focused university based in Durham, North Carolina. Established in1838, the university can trace its founding to Methodists and Quakers who founded the institution in the city of Trinity.
Nursing masters programs at Duke University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The MSN programs offered at Duke University are flexible in nature, low-residency and offered on a full or part-time basis. Most courses in the MSN program are offered online at least once during the school year. Though select NP specializations, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Healthcare and Leadership and Nursing Education tracks are offered online, on-campus segments are also necessary.
In addition to the specific tracks in which one can focus their nursing masters program at Duke University, nursing students may also choose to enroll in the nine-credit Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner concentration. Nursing students must apply separately to this concentration.
Specialization options available in the Duke University nursing masters program include the following:
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Nurse Practitioner (Family, Pediatric, Adult-Gerontology, Neonatal, Gerontological, Acute Care)
Nurse Anesthesia
Nursing and Health Care Leadership
Nursing Informatics
Nursing Education
It is not an entrance requirement, though it is recommend that nurses have at least one year of career experience as a nurse prior to applying to Duke University’s nursing masters program. Certain RN to MSN tracks will require more specialized career experience. Applicants to the nursing program with a 3.4 or higher GPA are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam.
East Carolina University: RN to MSN Program Review
East Carolina University
1001 E 5th St
Greenville, North Carolina 27858
East Carolina University is a public university based in Greenville, North Carolina that serves over 20,000 students. The university was established in 1907 with the purpose of being a teacher education institution, more commonly known as a Normal School.
An RN to MSN program, traditional nursing master’s program and Alternate Entry MSN for students with a degree in a field other than nursing are offered at East Carolina University. Most tracks of the MSN program are offered online, though the Nurse Anesthesia program is campus-based as is the first phase of the Alternate Entry MSN.
The RN to MSN program is for nurses with a current nursing license and an associate degree or diploma in nursing. The RN to MSN program graduates earn an MSN, but not a BSN. The program is competitive and students must earn a 3.0 GPA to be eligible to transition from the RN to BSN to the RN to MSN portion of the course.
Several specializations are offered in the traditional nursing masters track including the following:
Clinical Nurse Leadership
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Midwifery
Nursing Education
Family Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Admission requirements for the nursing masters program include a bachelors degree in nursing, 3.0 or higher nursing GPA, and 2.7 overall GPA. Nursing masters program applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test scores within the past five years. Career experience requirements to apply to the MSN programs vary according to the nursing specialization track, but are listed in detail on the school’s website.
Gardner-Webb University: RN to MSN Program Review
Gardner-Webb University
110 N Main St
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
Gardner-Webb University is a private, liberal arts university based in Boiling Springs, which is located less than 50 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The university was founded in 1905 as Boiler Springs High School designed to serve as a Christian educational institution for youth in the area. In 1928, the institution became Boiler Springs Junior College.
Gardner-Webb University offers an RN to MSN and traditional MSN program, which is offered online or campus-based. Students in the RN to MSN program are first admitted to the RN to BSN program. If successful, nursing students will earn a BSN and continue to the nursing masters program to complete an additional 30 credit hours of study before earning the MSN degree.
The traditional MSN program at Gardner-Webb University was created with the working nurse in mind and at least two specializations are offered online. Students can choose from a specialization in Nursing Education, Nursing Administration or a dual degree MSN/MBA program. The latter dual degree nursing masters program requires students to apply to the business school and nursing program. Gardner-Webb University also offers a Family Nurse Practitioner program which prepares nurses to sit the FNP certification exam.
Admission requirements for the nursing masters program at Gardner-Webb University include a BSN degree, current nursing license, a 2.7 overall GPA and acceptable scores on the Miller Analogies Test or Graduate Record Exam for the dual degree program. Nurses with a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing may also apply to the MSN programs at Gardner-Webb University.
Queens University of Charlotte: RN to MSN Program Review
Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Ave
Charlotte, North Carolina 2820
Queens University of Charlotte is a private school located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Originally established as Charlotte Female Institute in 1857, the university is now co-educational.
The nursing masters program at Queens University of Charlotte is designed for Registered Nurses with a Bachelors degree in Nursing. The nursing masters program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The MSN program offers the following three specializations:
Clinical Nurse Leader
Health Services Management
Nurse Educator Practices
The Clinical Nurse Leader specialization is offered online. Students in the nursing masters program, also have the option of pursuing an MSN/MBA dual degree program. Students interested in this option should consult the nursing program ahead of time to plan a course of study.
Admission requirements to the nursing program at Queen’s University of Charlotte include a Bachelors degree in nursing from a college accredited by a nursing body earned with a 3.0 or higher GPA. RNs with a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing may be considered on a case-by-case basis. A statement of purpose and current unencumbered nursing license are also required to apply to the nursing masters program.
An RN to MSN program for Registered Nurses enrolled in the RN to BSN program is available. In the first semester of the RN to BSN program, students should apply to the RN to MSN program.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: RN to MSN Program Review
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
209 South Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research institution and part of the University of North Carolina system. Other campuses in the UNC system include Charlotte, Greensboro and Wilmington. With the university holding classes as early as 1795, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is among the oldest institutions in the United States.
Both RN to MSN and traditional nursing masters programs are offered at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Specializations include the following:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (Nurses can further specialize in Oncology)
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Health Care Systems (Nurses further specialize in Informatics, Administration, Outcomes Management, Education, Clinical Nurse Leader or Clinical Nurse Leader/Education)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Students in the Health Care Systems course have the option of earning a dual degree in Information Systems Management or Library Science, an MSN/MSIS or MSN/MSLS respectively.
Admission requirements to the RN to MSN program include at least one year of experience as a Registered Nurse, 51 college credits including nursing prerequisite courses completed with a 3.0 or higher GPA and Graduate Record Exam scores. Admission requirements to the traditional masters program include competitive GRE scores, at least one year of experience as a Registered Nurse, and completion of a nursing program accredited by the CCNE or NLNAC.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte: RN to MSN Program Review
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28223
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is part of the University of North Carolina system including campuses in Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Wilmington. UNC Charlotte is one of the most rapidly growing universities in the University of North Carolina system. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus was established in 1946 and has since grown to serve over 25,000 students. The campus was developed out of a need to create more education centers for World War II veterans.
In addition to an RN to MSN program, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers comprehensive options for traditional nursing masters program. The following are specializatoin options within the MSN program at UNC Charlotte:
Nurse Anesthesia
Nurse Administrator (Nurses can choose a Systems Population Major within this option)
Nurse Educator (Nurses can choose a Systems Population Major within this option)
Community/Public Health Nursing
Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan
A prerequisite course in undergraduate statistics is among the entrance requirements for acceptance into the UNC Charlotte nursing masters program. The RN to MSN program is for nurses with an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing). Admission requirements to the RN to MSN program are the same as those for the traditional MSN, with the exception of the BSN requirements. RNs with an ADN must earn a BSN before applying to the Nurse Anesthesia program.
In general, applicants to the MSN program should have a BSN with a 3.0 or higher GPA. The Graduate Record Exam is required to apply to the Nurse Anesthesia program. Students applying to other MSN concentrations may take the GRE or MAT, though the GRE is preferred.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro: RN to MSN Program Review
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
1400 Spring Garden St
Greensboro, NC 27412
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro began classes in 1891. The university was established in great part due to Dr. Charles McIver’s efforts to provide educational opportunities for women. The university is part of the University of North Carolina system, which includes campuses in Charlotte, Wilmington and Chapel Hill.
The MSN at the University of North Carolina Greensboro is offered in four concentrations in addition to a dual degree program.
Nurse Anesthesia
Nursing Administration
Nursing Education
Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
MSN/MBA in Health Management
The Nurse Practitioner MSN is offered on a full and part-time schedule. The MSN outreach program offers courses in collaboration with the Northwest Area Health Education Center. The course is part-time with classes being held at the Northwest Area Health Education Center.
For other RN to MSN programs, admission requirements include a bachelors degree in nursing earned with a 3.0 or higher GPA. With the exception of the dual MSN/MBA program which requires Graduate Record Exam or Graduate Management Aptitude Test Scores, applicants can submit GRE or MAT scores for admission consideration. Prerequisite courses in statistics and basic health assessment are part of the admission requirements for the MSN program.
It is recommended that students have at least one year of nursing experience prior to applying to the nursing masters program. Nurse Anesthesia applicants are required to have at least one year of experience in a critical care setting.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington: RN to MSN Program Review
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
601 S College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28403
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a public university based just miles from the North Carolina coast. Established in 1947, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system, which includes other campuses in Charlotte, Greensboro and Chapel Hill. The institution was first named Wilmington College.
A Master of Science Family Nurse Practitioner program is offered at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The nursing masters program is offered on a full or part time schedule. The RN to MSN program requires three to four years of full or part time study respectively. Though the MSN FNP program is primarily online, students will be required to make approximately five visits to campus throughout the course of the program.
Entrance requirements to the MSN FNP program including a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test. In addition to the nursing masters application, students will submit references and a writing sample. A BSN from an accredited program with a 3.0 or higher GPA, at least one year of career experience as a nurse post-BSN and prerequisite courses in statistics, nursing research, leadership, health assessment and community health are required. An RN license valid in North Carolina or a compact agreement state is required.
Western Carolina University: RN to MS Program Review
Western Carolina University
1 University Way
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Western Carolina University was established in 1889. The university was established to provide for higher education needs in the Western part of North Carolina. West Carolina University is an affiliate of the University of North Carolina system, which has campuses in Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Wilmington and Greensboro. Western Carolina University was originally established as a secondary school to provide teacher training and youth education. Today the university serves over 9,000 students.
The School of Nursing at Western Carolina University offers both an RN to MS program as well as several Master of Science programs with a major in nursing. The Master of Science nursing programs at Western Carolina University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Nurse Anesthesia masters program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational programs.
The specializations offered in the nursing program include: MS Nurse Anesthesia, MS Nurse Educator, MS Nurse Administration and MS Family Nurse Practitioner. All tracks offer courses online though the Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia tracks do require campus-based courses as well. Nurses applying to the MS Family Nurse Practitioner or MS Nurse Anesthesia programs must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) to meet application requirements. Nurses applying to other nursing masters program tracks may take the GRE or Miller Analogies Test.
Winston-Salem State University: RN to MSN Program Review
Winston-Salem State University
601 S Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
Winston-Salem University is an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) and an affiliate of the University of North Carolina System. Other universities affiliated with the system include UNC campuses in Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Wilmington and Charlotte as well as Western Carolina University. Winston-Salem University was founded in 1892 and serves over 6,000 students. Winston-Salem State University is also commonly referred to as WSSU.
The nursing masters program at Winston-Salem State University offers two specializations, Family Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Nurse Educator. Winston-Salem State University has federal funding to provide students studying in the Family Nurse Practitioner program with financial assistance with tuition, books and living assistance. Nurses can complete the Master of Science in nursing program in as little as two years, though they must do so within six years. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredits the RN to MSN programs at WSSU.
Admission requirements to the nursing masters program at Winston-Salem State University include three letters of recommendation, satisfactory scores for the Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test and a nursing license valid in North Carolina. Students with a nursing license from a compact state are also eligible. A GPA of 2.7 and at least one year of experience as a nurse is required. Students are required to complete their admission application essay on campus.
