RN to MSN: Master of Science in Nursing

 

As an RN, advancing your career with an MSN degree from Southern positions you as a highly respected and sought-after leader in the nursing field. Our program has a robust track record of graduating nurses who excel in job placement and certification exams. With MSN nurse employment projected to grow by 30% in the next decade, your MSN from Southern signifies a strategic leap towards future success in healthcare.

How the RN to MSN Program Works

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Graduate nursing 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.


Graduates earn the MSN without receiving a bachelor's degree, though the program includes general-education courses and some nursing courses required for the BSN (view Course guide below).  


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 Emphasis

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) 

    *Available to United States residents only
A male nurse in blue scrubs smiles at an elderly woman in a wheelchair, holding her hands outside a building.

Applying to Southern’s RN to MSN

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Undergraduate requirements

A specific set of general-education and cognate courses are required of RN-to-MSN students. These classes are typically to be completed before registering for graduate-level courses. Your adviser can discuss the parameters for transferring credits from another institution.

RN to MSN Eligibility and Prerequisites

  • Degree or diploma:  Associate’s degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited program
  • GPA requirement:  A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25
  • 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 need to have substantive experience in critical care or a related area and s
Apply Now

Application deadlines

All application steps are to be fully completed by the dates listed.

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Term

U.S. Residents

International

Fall

April 1

May 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 Advanced Nursing Career Paths, Compare Advanced Nursing Degrees, and Hear from Alumni

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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

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Julie McBride

BSN to DNP, Psychiactric Mental Health

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Julie McKinney

BSN to DNP, Lifestyle Medicine and Family Practice

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Resources for Getting Your Master’s in Nursing at Southern

RN to MSN Course Guides

Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

See the course list

RN MSN Acute Care Ger

RN to MSN Course Guides

Nurse Educator

See the course list

RN MSN Nurse Educator

RN to MSN Course Guides

Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology

See the course list

RN MSN Primary Care Ger

RN to MSN Course Guides

Primary Care—Family

See the course list

RN MSN Primary Care NP

RN to MSN Course Guides

Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health

See the course list

RN MSN Primary Care Psych

Faculty

Ronda Christman, PhD headshot

Ronda Christman, PhD

Professor


Holly Gadd, PhD headshot

Holly Gadd, PhD

Dean


Frances Johnson, DNP headshot

Frances Johnson, DNP

Adjunct


Linda Peoples, PhD headshot

Linda Peoples, PhD

Professor


Lilly Tryon, DNP headshot

Lilly Tryon, DNP

Professor


 

 

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