Online and Distance Degrees > Degree Programs > MS in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner concentration

Master of Science (MS) in
Nursing - Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Primarily Online

Program Overview

Application deadline for Fall semester extended to March 18. Apply now!

Nurse Practitioners fill a critical healthcare need in our society. They are health promotion and disease prevention experts who manage and diagnose common acute and chronic illnesses while maintaining a high quality of care. In rural southeastern areas, health and wellness disparities make these nurses vital to the patients they treat.

  • Program Format

    Primarily Online
  • Credit Hours

    45-72
  • Tuition Per Hour

    $440

Practice Nursing at an Advanced Level

Through The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing, you can earn your advanced degree without interrupting your career. The convenient blended format combines online courses with face-to-face clinical experiences.

Please note, only baccalaureate prepared registered nurses who are residents of the following states are eligible for admission to NP concentrations: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

The master’s degree program in nursing at The University of Alabama is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

  • Application DeadlineMarch 18 for fall admission; August 1 for spring admission; December 1 for summer admission
  • RankingRanked 7th for best online MSN programs for Family Nurse Practitioner by U.S. News & World Report (2022)
  • Required For EntranceRN licensure
  • PracticumYes
  • Other Program SpecificsPart-time or full-time study available for individual concentrations

Curriculum

Select an option below to learn more about each program’s curriculum. Please note that courses are subject to change.

Courses in the Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner dual concentration offer nurses the opportunity to advance their knowledge base and clinical skills. Students in the dual concentration will be eligible to sit for both the psychiatric mental health and family nurse practitioner national certification exams. This concentration can be completed in less than three years (8 semesters) of full-time study.

About the program

  • 66-72 credit hours
  • Program progression – 8 semesters – Full-time option only
  • 1,080 clinical hour requirement
  • Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.

Required Courses

  • NUR 500: Population Health
  • NUR 503: Informatics in Healthcare
  • NUR 505: Advanced Health Assessment
  • NUR 507: Organizational and Systems Leadership
  • NUR 514: Research and Evidence-Based Practice
  • NUR 519: Health Policy and Finance
  • NUR 521: Advanced Pharmacology
  • NUR 529: Advanced Pathophysiology
  • NUR 567: Family Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
  • NUR 569: Family Nurse Practitioner I
  • NUR 570: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 571: Family Nurse Practitioner II
  • NUR 572: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 573: Family Nurse Practitioner III
  • NUR 574: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 591: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
  • NUR 593: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I
  • NUR 594: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 595: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II
  • NUR 596: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 597: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III
  • NUR 598: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)

About the program

  • 45-51 credit hours
  • Program progression – Part-time (8 semesters) or full-time (5 semesters) options
  • 540 clinical hour requirement
  • Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.
  • Upon successful completion of coursework and clinical requirements, students are eligible to take the psychiatric-mental health national certification examination.

Courses

  • NUR 500: Population Health
  • NUR 503: Informatics in Healthcare
  • NUR 505: Advanced Health Assessment
  • NUR 507: Organizational and Systems Leadership
  • NUR 514: Research and Evidence-Based Practice
  • NUR 519: Health Policy and Finance
  • NUR 521: Advanced Pharmacology
  • NUR 529: Advanced Pathophysiology
  • NUR 591: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
  • NUR 593: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I
  • NUR 594: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 595: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II
  • NUR 596: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 597: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III
  • NUR 598: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)

About the program

  • 45-51 credit hours
  • Program progression – part-time (8 semesters) or full-time (5 semesters) option
  • 540 clinical hour requirement
  • Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.
  • Upon successful completion of coursework and clinical requirements, students are eligible to sit for the family nurse practitioner national certification examination.

Courses

  • NUR 500: Population Health
  • NUR 503: Informatics in Healthcare
  • NUR 505: Advanced Health Assessment
  • NUR 507: Organizational and Systems Leadership
  • NUR 514: Research and Evidence-Based Practice
  • NUR 519: Health Policy and Finance
  • NUR 521: Advanced Pharmacology
  • NUR 529: Advanced Pathophysiology
  • NUR 567: Family Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
  • NUR 569: Family Nurse Practitioner I
  • NUR 570: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 571: Family Nurse Practitioner II
  • NUR 572: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
  • NUR 573: Family Nurse Practitioner III
  • NUR 574: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)

This program requires a field placement component and it is the student’s responsibility to secure a site for the field placement.

Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.

Admission

Applications and all required documentation must be submitted by:

  • March 18 for fall admission
  • August 1 for spring admission
  • December 1 for summer admission

Admission Requirements:

  • GPA of at least 3.0 overall based on 4.0 grading scale or 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work
  • Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited school of nursing
  • Reside and hold a current unencumbered RN licensure in a state approved for admission. Currently, residents of the following 29 states are eligible for admission to NP concentrations: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
  • Final admission is contingent upon approved drug and background screen results deemed acceptable by appropriate University officials

 

If you reside or intend to seek professional licensure outside of the state of Alabama, please review the requirements for that state prior to applying to this program.

MSN/Nurse Practitioner (all concentrations) Application Process:

  • Begin your graduate application at the UA Graduate School.
    • For “Program Type” select Distance (Online/Blended/Gadsden)
    • For “Campus” select Distance Learning 
  • Request official transcripts following the Graduate School’s transcript instructions.
  • Submit supporting documents:
    • Statement of Purpose following the Graduate School’s instructions. 
    • Resume or curriculum vitae. 
    • Contact information for two references – The references should be professionals who can provide insight regarding your potential for success in the master’s program.  The Graduate School will contact these references via e-mail.
    • Copy of active RN license from every state in which you are licensed. A screenshot of your online verification is sufficient. Note: Licensure must be maintained throughout the program.
    • Interview – Applicants who meet all other requirements will receive instructions on this step once the application is complete and submitted with all of the above requirements.

Contact Vickie Samuel at (205) 348-8163 or vickie.bama@ua.edu for additional questions about the application process.

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Hannah Homan
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800-467-0227
hannahh.bama@ua.edu

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