MSN at a Glance
Chamberlain College of Nursing’s online Master of Science in Nursing degree program offers you the flexibility needed to pursue a degree while continuing to work.
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Accelerated MSN Option and Accelerated MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership Option
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Become Extraordinary Grant - Receive up to 10% in tuition savings, while funds are still available
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The MSN program can be completed in as few as two years by taking one class each eight-week session
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Seven specialty tracks with 100% online coursework taught by experienced professors to help get you on your best path
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Tuition savings through a partnership with your employer, community college or association for those who qualify
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Now enrolling, classes start every 8 weeks
MSN Specialty Tracks
Choose from two thriving Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner career paths, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track is designed to prepare students to manage the healthcare needs of adolescents, adults and older adults and to sit for national certification as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP). The curriculum includes theory, simulation and clinical experiences that prepare graduates to be proficient, confident clinicians.
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track is designed to prepare students to manage the healthcare needs for adolescents, adults and older adults and to sit for national certification as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP). The curriculum includes theory, simulation and clinical experiences that prepare graduates to be proficient, confident clinicians.
Explore more details on the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program page.
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The FNP curriculum begins with MSN degree core courses in nursing theory, research, leadership, professional role development, healthcare policy and informatics in healthcare. You’ll then move to FNP specialty courses, building on your professional nursing practice and knowledge as you prepare to sit for national certification as a family nurse practitioner.
The practicum courses of the FNP specialty track allow for both hands-on and classroom learning designed to help you become a confident practitioner. We strongly recommend you review the practicum requirements before applying to the FNP Specialty Track.
Explore more details on the Family Nurse Practitioner program page.
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The Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track prepares you for roles* including:
College Health
Family Practice
Health Department
Internal Medicine
Pediatric Primary Care
Retail Clinics
Women’s Health
*Some careers may require several years of experience in addition to educational credentials.
The Healthcare Policy curriculum trains nurses in the research, design and implementation of policies, as well as evaluation of policy outcomes.
Coursework includes the foundations of healthcare policy, principles of healthcare systems, politics, economics and policy, global health, and nursing leadership in the public policy arena.
Explore more details on the Healthcare Policy Track program page.
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The Healthcare Policy Specialty Track prepares you for roles* including:
Director of Nursing
Director of Public Health Policy and Practice Advocacy
Global Health Positions (e.g. World Health Organization)
Health Communications Coordinator
Health Services Consultant
Infection Control Nurse (Entry-Level to Executive)
Legislative Staff Member/Consultant (Full-Time Positions)
Policy Writer/Presenter (Organizations, Companies, Government)
Public Health (Entry-Level to Executive)
Research Project Coordinator
Senior Healthcare Quality Researcher
*Some careers may require several years of experience in addition to educational credentials.
MSN Nurse Educator coursework includes educational foundations, instructional methods, program assessment and evaluation and curriculum development.
Students complete a 144-hour practicum in their own geographic location, allowing them to further develop their skills with the support of an experienced nurse educator.
Explore more details on the Educator Track program page.
New Loan Option Available for Aspiring Nurse Educators
The difference you’ll make as a nurse educator will be big, which is why your loan options should be just as impactful. The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) is a low-interest federal loan repayment program for eligible students in Chamberlain’s MSN Nurse Educator specialty track who intend to pursue a career as nursing faculty. Up to 85% of the NFLP loan may be forgiven after you graduate and begin working in a full-time (or in multiple adjunct positions resulting in full-time equivalency) teaching position. Learn more and see if you qualify.
*Note: Adtalem Global Education Inc. d/b/a Chamberlain University is listed as a FY 2020 Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) Awards recipient on HRSA’s NFLP website. Adtalem Global Education is the parent organization of Chamberlain University.
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The MSN Educator specialty track prepares you for roles* including:
Community Health Leader
Coordinator of Education (Clinical Facility)
Educational Consultant
Educational Entrepreneur
Educational Leadership
Educational Specialist (Drug, Research or Medical Equipment Company)
Nurse Educator/College Professor
Patient Educator (Various Venues)
Staff Development Leader
*Some careers may require several years of experience in addition to educational credentials.
Chamberlain College of Nursing’s MSN Executive Specialty Track promotes skills and knowledge that nurse leaders can implement immediately, as well as use to plan for and achieve change. Coursework emphasizes the application of theory, using real-world scenarios and tools. Key executive skills such as effectively communicating across disciplines, budgeting, staffing, and performance measurement are taught. Students complete a 144-hour practicum in their own geographic area, allowing them to further develop their skills with the support of an experienced nurse leader.
Explore more details on the MSN Executive Specialty Track program page.
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The Executive Specialty Track prepares you for roles* including:
College Nursing Program Dean
Director of Nursing
Educational Leadership
Healthcare Administrator
Nurse Coordinator
Nurse Manager
*Some careers may require several years of experience in addition to educational credentials.
The Informatics curriculum teaches you to interpret, analyze and use electronic health record technology, as well as empowers you to be more efficient and effective in healthcare practices.
Coursework includes the practice of nursing informatics, management of data and information, healthcare information workflow and project management.
Explore more details on the Informatics Track program page.
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The Informatics Specialty track prepares you for roles* including:
Application/Systems Analyst
Clinical Informatics Analyst
Clinical Informatics Project Coordinator/Manager
Clinical/Systems Team Manager
Director of Nursing Informatics/Information Systems
Global Health Positions (e.g. World Health Organization)
Health Outcomes Analytics Manager
Informatics Technology Clinical Nurse
Nursing Informatics Specialist
*Some careers may require several years of experience in addition to educational credentials.
The Population Health Specialty Track focuses on population-level health, wellness, health promotion and disease prevention. This track incorporates critical population health skills such as community and population assessment; complex project/program management; disaster nursing, health services research and health policy analysis.
The Population Health track is designed to prepare future leaders for community and population health nursing with a focus on local, national and international nursing.
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The Population Health specialty track prepares you for roles* including:
Education
Case Management
Clinical Practice
Consultation
Community Outreach
Research
Management/Administration
*Some careers may require several years of experience in addition to educational credentials.
Still have questions?
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Request information to connect with an admissions representative.
Accelerated MSN
Accelerated MSN Option and Accelerated MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership Option
The Accelerated MSN Option and Accelerated MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership Option are designed to prepare nurses for a variety of advanced roles in nursing practice, including those that require skill in delivering direct and indirect care; leading healthcare initiatives; and educating patients, staff and the community.
- Complete the Accelerated MSN Option in as few as 1.5 semesters
- Complete the Accelerated MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership Option in as few as 2.5 semesters
In addition to the 144 hours of required practicum learning in the final required course of the Accelerated Master of Science in Nursing Option, students may choose to complete additional elective practicum hours in two additional 8-week sessions with 144 hours of practicum in each session. This ensures the completion of the 432 practicum hours required to qualify to take the CNL™ certification exam.
View the Accelerated MSN Option curriculum plan
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Admissions
Admission Criteria
- A degree in nursing at the bachelor’s level or higher from an institution accredited by either a regional accrediting agency or an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)*
- A minimum undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree
- Current, active, unrestricted RN license in the U.S. or in a jurisdiction that is an associate member of the NCSBN. Before entering any clinical/practicum courses, students must provide proof of current, active, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state where the student will conduct the clinical(s). Students who fail to maintain an active, unrestricted license throughout their clinical/practicum courses do not meet the clinical/practicum requirements and cannot progress. Students are expected to maintain RN licensure throughout the entire program of study as a professional best-practice.
Our admission representatives are available to answer your questions about admission requirements and walk you through the application process.
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Tuition & Expenses
MSN Program Costs
Chamberlain provides you with individualized support throughout your educational journey beginning with the admissions process. Your admissions representative will work with you to build a schedule that will work with your life and finances, whether that's one class or three. Check out the Net Price Calculator for an estimate of federal and institutional aid.
What types of financial assistance are available?
Receive up to 10% in tuition savings with our Become Extraordinary Grant, while funds are still available. See Scholarships & Grants to learn about eligibility and additional scholarship opportunities. View tuition and expenses information for the MSN degree program.
Chamberlain grad? Save on tuition
Earning your MSN is closer than you think, Chamberlain alumni are eligible to save $100 per credit hour, for a total savings of $3,600.
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Join a Proudly Accredited Institution
Master of Science in Nursing FAQs
A specialty track is a concentration. You must select one of seven specialty tracks in the MSN degree program (Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Educator, Executive, Family Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Policy, Healthcare Policy and Informatics). When you graduate, you will earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree with the specialty of your choice. Specialty track availability varies by state. See which tracks are available in your state.
It is possible to change MSN specialty tracks within all non-nurse practitioner tracks (Educator, Executive, Healthcare Policy and Informatics). If you wish to change tracks, we recommend that you do so while you are in your core courses because credits completed in the original specialty track will not transfer to a different specialty track. Switching into the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner or the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track is subject to Dean approval and availability.
Students who enroll in the Accelerated MSN Options will not be eligible to transfer to the traditional MSN program.
Your admissions representative can help identify if you qualify for tuition savings through a partnership with your employer, community college or association. Alternatively, you may qualify for a scholarship or grant.
Call 877.751.5783 or request more information to learn more about financial assistance.
You will be responsible for finding your own preceptor or mentor, which includes the site where they work. Your practicum coordinator will provide guidance on how to locate a mentor or preceptor and a site. Once you've identified where you would like to complete your practicum your coordinator will begin to secure the necessary contracts on your behalf.
You may complete your practicum with your current employer as long as it is in a different department than you currently work in and your mentor or preceptor is not your current supervisor. Please see the MSN Practicum Handbook, MSN AGACNP Practicum Handbook, MSN AGPCNP Practicum Handbook, or MSN FNP Practicum Handbook for more information.
If you’ve tried to find a preceptor, but despite your best efforts, it hasn’t worked out—don’t worry. Chamberlain’s Preceptor Matching Service can help you identify an available practicum location and preceptor. You may be eligible* if you meet the following requirements:
- You have participated in at least two coaching calls with the Practicum Coordination Team
- You can document at least five sites that have denied your practicum requests
- You submit your case to a Practicum Coordinator no later than three sessions before the start of the practicum course
*This service is for post-licensure nursing degree and certificate program students only, specifically RN to BSN Online Degree Completion Option, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Science in Nursing Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN-AGACNP), Master of Science in Nursing Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN-AGPCNP), Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP), Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner (GC-FNP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
We recommend you take one class per session. Sessions are eight weeks long and our nursing students average about 12-15 hours per week toward their studies when taking one class per session. If after your first course you feel you can successfully manage more than one course at a time, contact your student services team and ask to discuss an accelerated plan of study.
All MSN classes will have no more than 20 students per class.
Communicating with your professors is vital to your success in your MSN program. In addition to all graduate faculty members being doctorally prepared, they also participate in an extensive training program to prepare them for online teaching and to provide you with the support and care you deserve. The following are the avenues for contacting your professors:
- Email and phone: Professors will provide their contact information in the syllabus. They are required to provide you with their email address and most provide their phone numbers with office hours. Professors typically respond within 24 hours on the weekdays and 48 hours over the weekend..
- Q&A forum: You will have a Q&A forum in every class you attend to post comments and questions that can be answered by anyone in the class, including the professor.
- Threaded discussions: Professors are very good at participating in threaded discussions throughout the week and driving conversations to gain insightful information.
Chamberlain has several resources that can help you become acclimated to the online classroom. Once you apply you will have access to Chamberlain Care Student Success Strategies, which provides information on time management, scholarly writing, using the library and more. You can also ask your admissions representative for a personal tour of the online environment in which you will be taking classes or you can view the Online Classroom Demonstration Video Series to learn about what you can expect when you log into your class.
We are dedicated to supporting you throughout your educational journey. To further support your success, a Student Online Readiness Assessment is designed to help assess the skills needed for success in online courses. You will see the assessment listed as a task in the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) course.