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.

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.

How the MS in Nursing Program Works

A smiling male nurse in blue scrubs shakes hands with an elderly patient, creating a warm and caring atmosphere in a bright hospital room.

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.

Female doctor with a stethoscope around her neck smiling at a female patient in a medical office, both sitting.

Graduate assistantships

For more information about becoming a graduate assistant, please contact the graduate enrollment counselor.

Clinical Lab Assistant

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Apply Now

Applying to Southern’s MSN

Female healthcare worker in scrubs and a mask putting on blue gloves in a hospital room.

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.

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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) 

Apply Now
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 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 blog

Read 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 blog

Read 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 blog

Nursing Student Spotlight

Don't just take our word for it—hear directly from our nursing students and alumni about their experiences with Southern and how it helped their nursing careers.

Diana Taylor

Diana Taylor

BSN to DNP, Acute Care

Read More

Julie McBride-1

Julie McBride

BSN to DNP, Psychiactric Mental Health

Read More

Julie McKinney

Julie McKinney

BSN to DNP, Lifestyle Medicine and Family Practice

Read More

Resources for Getting Your Master’s in Nursing at Southern

M.S. Nursing Course Guides

Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

See the course list

Acute Care Adult Ger Nurse Practitioner

M.S. Nursing Course Guides

Nurse Educator

See the course list

Nurse Educator

M.S. Nursing Course Guides

Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

See the course list

Primary Care Adult Ger NP

M.S. Nursing Course Guides

Family Nurse Practitioner

See the course list

Primary Care Family NP

M.S. Nursing Course Guides

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

See the course list

DNP Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Faculty

Frances Johnson headshot

Frances Johnson

Adjunct


Linda Peoples headshot

Linda Peoples

Professor


Jennifer Fisher headshot

Jennifer Fisher

Associate Professor


Tony Lazcano headshot

Tony Lazcano

Associate Professor


Edelweiss von Maack headshot

Edelweiss von Maack

Assistant Professor


Christine Moniyung headshot

Christine Moniyung

Adjunct


Eunice Kim headshot

Eunice Kim

Adjunct


 

 

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