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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.

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


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.
Chemistry | 3 hours |
Communication: Public Speaking | 3 hours |
Computer Literacy/skills | 3 hours |
English Composition I & II | 6 hours |
General: History/ / Government/ Economics, Philosophy, Humanities, Fine Arts, Language or Literature | 3 hours |
History: Elective | 3 hours |
Religion: Elective | 3 hours |
Must be Taken at Southern: |
|
RELT 373 Christian Ethics | 3 hours |
SOCI 349 Acing and Society | 3 hours |
PEAC 225 Fitness for Life | 1 hour |
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
Application deadlines
All application steps are to be fully completed by the dates listed.
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)
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 Advanced Nursing 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.
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What Are the Five Types of Nursing Degrees?
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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
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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
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Choose your area of interest.
RN to MSN Course Guides
Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

RN to MSN Course Guides
Nurse Educator

RN to MSN Course Guides
Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology

RN to MSN Course Guides
Primary Care—Family

RN to MSN Course Guides
Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health

Jamie Thompson
Graduate Program Manager
jlthompson@southern.edu
423.236.2957