Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program prepares nurses for advanced practice primary care roles in their population of interest. MSN students choose one of two tracks as their substantive area of study: family nurse practitioner (FNP), or adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs). Graduates formulate clinical, administrative, or policy decisions to promote health among patients, families, or communities along the continuum of wellness and illness. The MSN curriculum is based on competencies and guidelines established by the Colorado Board of Nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and the National Task Force for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (NTF). Graduates of the MSN FNP and AGNP tracks are eligible to take the national nurse practitioner certification examinations and are eligible for state licensure as nurse practitioners.

MSN courses are delivered on-line, allowing students to reside in their home communities. However, students travel to complete clinical hours (e.g., rural health). Objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs), and graduate program student intensive (GPSI) sessions are held in both in-person and online formats. Graduates of the MSN program, regardless of track, may also pursue doctoral education (e.g., PhD, DNP, EdD).

Admission to Colorado Mesa University does not guarantee admission to the MSN Program. The MSN Program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

MSN curriculum, regardless of track, includes advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, nursing theory, and evidence-based practice. The FNP track includes coursework in primary care (pediatrics, adults, older adults) and care of rural/underserved populations. The AGNP track includes coursework in primary care (adults, older adults) and care of rural/underserved populations. Students in both nurse practitioner tracks are required to complete a minimum of 750 direct care clinical hours.

MSN coursework ends with a capstone service-learning project during which students partner with health care and/or academic stakeholders to develop, implement, or evaluate a project. Students present their capstone projects publicly prior to graduation. Students are expected to submit their original work for presentation at area conferences.

Admission to the MSN Program

Admission to the MSN-FNP & MSN-AGNP programs is competitive. Students apply through the Centralized Application Service for Nursing at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The MSN programs are rigorous and prepare nurses as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).

  • Earned bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited program.
  • Unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license from a US state or territory. This must be maintained for the duration of enrollment in the Graduate Nursing Program.
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers. This must be maintained for the duration of enrollment in the Graduate Nursing Program.
  • Malpractice insurance as a graduate nursing student. Nurse practitioner students must obtain nurse practitioner student malpractice insurance once they begin clinical coursework. All students must maintain malpractice insurance for the duration of their enrollment in the Graduate Nursing Program.
  • Criminal background check.
  • Drug screen.
  • Current immunizations. This must be maintained for the duration of enrollment in the Graduate Nursing Program. Exemptions are accepted by the program, based on the state of Colorado’s policies. Immunization status may be evaluated by health care organizations prior to student placement.
  • All students must provide proof of training in cultural competency and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) prior to enrollment in clinical courses.

General Policies

Up to nine credit hours may be taken as a non-degree seeking status and later applied to program requirements. Students can transfer up to 30% of eligible credits from another accredited institution provided they meet the general transfer policies of CMU and are approved by the Graduate Program Director. Coursework considered for transfer must be completed with a grade of “B” or higher. Additional information may be found in the graduate transfer credit section of the catalog.

The Department of Health Sciences offers three Master of Science in Nursing cognate options. See the programs below for complete overviews of all requirements, important information, and suggested course sequencing.