Master of Science in Nursing
Pursue advanced nursing skills, shape the future of healthcare, and elevate your career to new heights of accomplishment and success with a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Southern Adventist University.
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Graduates with an MSN degree from Southern are highly respected and sought after in the workplace. Our graduate nursing students have a significant job-placement record in their chosen fields and an excellent certification-exam pass rate. And with the employment for MSN nurses projected to grow 30 percent over the next 10 years—much faster than other occupations—you'll be positioned for success.
Classes meet on Tuesdays to accommodate students who are combining work, home, and school. Full-time and part-time enrollment options can be customized to fit your life.
Any student wishing to complete clinical experiences outside the State of TN must verify that State is a member of NC-SARA and seek permission from that State Board of Nursing. Clinical placements in some States may not be able to be accommodated due to specific State Board of Nursing regulations.
MSN Emphases
We have five areas of emphasis to choose from:
- Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology NP (AGACNP)
- Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology NP (AGPCNP)
- Nurse Educator (Fully Online)
- Primary Care—Family NP
- Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health NP (Fully Online)
Online MSN — Nurse Educator emphasis
The MSN is also offered completely online for the Nurse Educator emphasis.
Want to learn more about the differences between the DNP and MSN and the career paths you can follow with each? Read our blog: MSN vs. DNP: Exploring the Paths to Becoming an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Graduate assistantships
For more information about becoming a graduate assistant, please contact the graduate enrollment counselor.
MSN Eligibility and Prerequisites
- Bachelor's degree: A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program
- GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Course in statistics: An undergraduate or graduate course in statistics (3 credit hours)
- Licensure: Current RN licensure in the state or country of practice
- Work experience: A minimum of two years (4,000 hours) of current nursing experience
- Acute-care emphases: Applicants should have substantive experience in critical care or a related area and submit documentation of critical-care skill set with application.
Application deadlines
All application steps are to be fully completed by the dates listed.
Term
U.S. Residents
International
Fall
July 1
March 1
Winter
October 1
August 1
How to Apply
Submit a graduate application (with non-refundable fee of $40)
Submit official college and university transcripts. Many institutions subscribe to the convenient transcript-request service at National Student Clearinghouse, or you may also contact your institution directly. Have your transcripts sent to the Graduate Studies office (gradtranscripts@southern.edu). If you earned your prerequisite degree at Southern, you do not need to complete this step.
Submit three recommendation forms (completed by work supervisors or professors). This should be done as part of the online application process.
Submit a statement describing your purpose and goals for pursuing this degree. Your statement should be thoughtfully written to demonstrate your writing skills. It should be submitted through your Application Status Page.
Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page.
Schedule a faculty interview after completing your Graduate application from your Application Status Page.
Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are considered international students and must meet additional requirements for admission.
I’ve Been Admitted to the RN to MSN Program! Next Steps:
Before enrolling, we will need acceptable documentation of these items. Upload them through your Application Status Page.
- Personal Health Assessment and Physical Exam Download form
- Criminal background check Download Form
- Medical-information disclosure consent Download Form
- Drug-Screen
- Current health information and immunizations Download Form
- CPR/BLS certification from the American Heart Association
- Current Nursing License
Explore MSN Career Paths, Compare Advanced Nursing Degrees, and Hear from Alumni
Check out our blog posts for information on the world of nursing, which career paths you can take with different degrees that Southern offers, and what our Alumni found most valuable about their experiences.
Read our blog
What Are the Five Types of Nursing Degrees?
If you’ve ever thought about pursuing a career in nursing, this is a great time to start that journey. Nurses are in great demand and the U.S. Bureautrue
Access the blogRead our blog
Alternative Careers for Registered Nurses: Finding Renewed Purpose
Over the past few years, perhaps no job has been more challenging than being a nurse. It’s one of the most demanding careers: helping people overcometrue
Access the blogRead our blog
What is Lifestyle Medicine and How Can it Support My Nursing Career?
Lifestyle medicine is one of the fastest-growing disciplines in the healthcare community. As people start to understand the importance of treatingtrue
Access the blogMSN
Choose your area of interest.
M.S. Nursing Course Guides
Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
M.S. Nursing Course Guides
Nurse Educator
M.S. Nursing Course Guides
Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
M.S. Nursing Course Guides
Family Nurse Practitioner
M.S. Nursing Course Guides
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Request More Information
Want to learn more about the education programs at Southern? Just fill out the form to receive additional program resources and insights.
Jamie Thompson
Graduate Program Manager
jlthompson@southern.edu
423.236.2957
Let's Talk About You!
Welcome! My number-one goal is to help you reach yours, so give me a call, send me an email, or just stop by my office. Whether you’d like to explore program options, schedule a campus visit, or just need to ask about application deadlines, no question is too big or too small. Let’s work together to help you accomplish your dreams!