Nursing (MSN) Degree Requirements

Master of Science

SNHU's Master of Science in Nursing five specialty tracks provide students with real-world learning experiences to help them in their future roles as advanced practice nurses. All tracks share five common core courses that set a foundation for future advanced practice nurses to lead change in complex healthcare delivery systems, translate scholarship and evidence to improve care outcomes, provide high quality, culturally sensitive, safe, cost-effective, person-centered care, impact public policy to ensure healthcare access and equity, utilize innovation and information and communication technologies to advance the practice of nursing, advocate for the underserved, generate new knowledge to improve and transform health care, and demonstrate professionalism and build interprofessional partnerships to address the needs of individuals and populations. MSN.FNP Family Nurse Practitioner Track Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Science in Nursing program, Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN.FNP) track is based on professional nursing standards and guidelines. The MSN program promotes advanced practice knowledge across the lifespan and is grounded in evidence-based practice, interprofessional leadership, and global health awareness. In this FNP track, students will develop the skills to assess, diagnose, create treatment plans, and manage the health of individuals across the lifespan with a variety of health needs in alignment with the role of an FNP. The track fosters advocacy for vulnerable patients and populations to ensure health equity for all persons. Upon successful completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner track, graduates will have met the educational requirements to sit for a Family Nurse Practitioner national certification examination. Graduates of the track will be able to employ various clinical technological tools and applications, collaborate with a diverse group of healthcare professionals, and provide primary care services to individuals, families and populations across the lifespan, consistent with independent practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). In addition to the online coursework, students in the FNP track will be required to complete 750 clinical practicum hours in a variety of settings and participate in an in-person immersion experience to demonstrate their skills. MSN.HQS Healthcare Quality and Safety Track Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Science in Nursing program, Healthcare Quality and Safety (MSN.HQS) track, is based on professional nursing standards and guidelines. The MSN program promotes advanced nursing knowledge across the four spheres of care, and is grounded in evidence-based practice, interprofessional leadership, and global health awareness. In this Healthcare Quality and Safety track, students will develop the skills to design, implement, and evaluate healthcare quality improvement initiatives guided by critical thinking, data-driven decision making, and evidence-based-practices. The track focuses on developing leaders in healthcare quality and safety capable of advocating for and leading policy change to improve healthcare outcomes and promote a continual state of readiness. Graduates of the Healthcare Quality and Safety track will apply best practices to evaluate system efficiencies, promote a culture of safety, and determine the necessary resources for healthcare quality improvements. In addition to the online coursework, students in the Healthcare Quality and Safety track will be required to complete 135 supervised, clinical practicum hours in a healthcare setting, providing an opportunity to apply theory to practice. MSN.NEL Nurse Executive Leadership Track Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Executive Leadership (MSN.NEL) track is based on professional nursing standards and guidelines. The MSN program promotes advanced nursing knowledge across the four spheres of care and is grounded in evidence-based practice, interprofessional leadership, and global health awareness. In this Nurse Executive Leadership track, students will develop advanced leadership and business skills necessary for championing healthcare processes that support regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, quality improvement and improved outcomes. The track focuses on developing interprofessional nursing leaders capable of capitalizing on new technology and markets and navigating teams through today's complex healthcare environment. In addition to the online coursework, students in the Nurse Executive Leadership track will be required to complete 135 supervised, clinical practicum hours in a healthcare setting, providing an opportunity to apply theory to practice. MSN.NSE Nursing Education Track Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing Education (MSN.NSE) track is based on professional nursing standards and guidelines. The MSN program promotes advanced nursing knowledge across the four spheres of care, and is grounded in evidence-based practice, interprofessional leadership, and global health awareness. The Nursing Education track focuses on developing innovative nursing educators capable of leading and teaching the next generation of nursing professionals. In this track, students will explore teaching and learning strategies, the curriculum development process, and accreditation and regulatory standards to design and deliver high-quality nursing education. Graduates of the Nursing Education track will utilize best practices to create innovative learning experiences that integrate new technology and model professional practice. In addition to the online coursework students in the Nursing Education track will be required to complete 135 supervised, clinical practicum hours, divided between an academic and advanced nursing practice setting, providing an opportunity to apply theory to practice. MSN.PHC Population Healthcare Track Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Science in Nursing program, Population Healthcare (MSN.PHC) track is based on professional nursing standards and guidelines. The MSN program promotes advanced nursing knowledge across the four spheres of care and is grounded in evidence-based practice, interprofessional leadership, and global health awareness. In this Population Healthcare track, students will develop the skills to compassionately lead, coordinate and manage healthcare across populations. This track focuses on the establishment of effective interprofessional partnerships, data-driven decision making, and examines accessibility, epidemiology, socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental factors that impact the health outcomes of groups of people. Graduates of the Population Healthcare track will lead teams to secure resources and create conditions that promote health, prevent disease events, and improve population outcomes. In addition to the online coursework students in the Population Healthcare track will be required to complete 135 supervised, clinical practicum hours in a healthcare setting, providing an opportunity to apply theory to practice.

The Nursing (MSN) program contains 34 identified courses across 1 requirement categories. The prerequisite data currently includes 43 known course relationships.

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Requirement Groups

Structured catalog requirement categories, credit thresholds, and nested course rules.

Major Courses

51 Total Credits

Complete all of the following

Core Courses
Credits not specified
- Complete all of the following
  Complete catalog rule text
  Complete:
  Credits not specified
  - IHP 501: Global Health and Diversity
    3 Credits
  - NUR 508: Role Development and Transformation of the MSN Professional Nurse
    3 Credits
  - NUR 520: Epidemiological and Biostatistical Applications in Healthcare
    3 Credits
  - NUR 531: Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare
    3 Credits
  - NUR 550: Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarly Inquiry
    3 Credits
Nursing Tracks
Credits not specified
- Choose 1 of the following
  Complete catalog rule text
  Complete 1 of the following
  Credits not specified
  - NUR 555: Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology
    3 Credits
  - NUR 560: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
    3 Credits
  - NUR 600: Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion
    3 Credits
  - NUR 616: Primary Care of Adults and Gerontological Patients
    3 Credits
  - NUR 626: Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum I
    3 Credits
  - NUR 636: Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents
    3 Credits
  - NUR 646: Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum II
    3 Credits
  - NUR 656: Primary Care of Women
    3 Credits
  - NUR 669: Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum III
    3 Credits
  - NUR 676: Primary Care for Mental Health
    3 Credits
  - NUR 688: Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum IV
    3 Credits
  - NUR 696: Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum V
    3 Credits
  - IHP 604: Healthcare Quality and Improvement
    3 Credits
  - IHP 610: Health Policy and Law
    3 Credits
  - IHP 630: Healthcare Finance and Reimbursement
    3 Credits
  - IHP 670: Program Design, Planning and Evaluation
    3 Credits
  - NUR 659: Healthcare Safety, Just Culture, and Regulation
    3 Credits
  - NUR 675: MSN Seminar: Preparation for Practicum
    3 Credits
  - NUR 689: Healthcare Quality and Safety Practicum
    3 Credits
  - NUR 631: Strategic Skills for Nurse Executive Leaders
    3 Credits
  - NUR 651: Advanced Concepts for Nurse Executive Leaders
    3 Credits
  - NUR 686: Nurse Executive Leadership Practicum
    3 Credits
  - NUR 557: Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
    3 Credits
  - NUR 634: Facilitating Learning and Teaching Innovation in Nursing Education
    3 Credits
  - NUR 653: Population Care Management
    3 Credits
  - NUR 654: Curriculum Foundations in Nursing Education
    3 Credits
  - NUR 690: Nursing Education Practicum
    3 Credits
  - NUR 633: Informatics and Communication Technology
    3 Credits
  - NUR 687: Population Healthcare Practicum
    3 Credits

Course Inventory

Known courses in this degree map with credits and prerequisite links from catalog data.

Courses in this degree program with known prerequisite links
Course	Title	Credits	Prerequisites
IHP 501	Global Health and Diversity	3	None listed
NUR 508	Role Development and Transformation of the MSN Professional Nurse	3	None listed
NUR 520	Epidemiological and Biostatistical Applications in Healthcare	3	None listed
NUR 531	Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare	3	None listed
NUR 550	Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarly Inquiry	3	NUR 520 — Epidemiological and Biostatistical Applications in Healthcare
NUR 555	Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology	3	None listed
NUR 560	Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning	3	None listed
NUR 600	Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion	3	NUR 555 — Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology NUR 560 — Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
NUR 616	Primary Care of Adults and Gerontological Patients	3	NUR 600 — Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion
NUR 626	Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum I	3	NUR 600 — Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion
NUR 636	Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents	3	NUR 616 — Primary Care of Adults and Gerontological Patients NUR 626 — Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum I
NUR 646	Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum II	3	NUR 616 — Primary Care of Adults and Gerontological Patients NUR 626 — Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum I
NUR 656	Primary Care of Women	3	NUR 636 — Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents NUR 646 — Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum II
NUR 669	Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum III	3	NUR 636 — Primary Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents NUR 646 — Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum II
NUR 676	Primary Care for Mental Health	3	NUR 656 — Primary Care of Women NUR 669 — Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum III
NUR 688	Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum IV	3	NUR 656 — Primary Care of Women NUR 669 — Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum III
NUR 696	Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum V	3	NUR 676 — Primary Care for Mental Health NUR 688 — Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum IV
IHP 604	Healthcare Quality and Improvement	3	None listed
IHP 610	Health Policy and Law	3	None listed
IHP 630	Healthcare Finance and Reimbursement	3	None listed
IHP 670	Program Design, Planning and Evaluation	3	None listed
NUR 659	Healthcare Safety, Just Culture, and Regulation	3	None listed
NUR 675	MSN Seminar: Preparation for Practicum	3	IHP 501 — Global Health and Diversity IHP 604 — Healthcare Quality and Improvement IHP 610 — Health Policy and Law IHP 630 — Healthcare Finance and Reimbursement IHP 670 — Program Design, Planning and Evaluation NUR 508 — Role Development and Transformation of the MSN Professional Nurse NUR 520 — Epidemiological and Biostatistical Applications in Healthcare NUR 531 — Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare NUR 550 — Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarly Inquiry NUR 557 — Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Across the Lifespan NUR 560 — Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning NUR 631 — Strategic Skills for Nurse Executive Leaders NUR 633 — Informatics and Communication Technology NUR 634 — Facilitating Learning and Teaching Innovation in Nursing Education NUR 651 — Advanced Concepts for Nurse Executive Leaders NUR 653 — Population Care Management NUR 654 — Curriculum Foundations in Nursing Education NUR 659 — Healthcare Safety, Just Culture, and Regulation
NUR 689	Healthcare Quality and Safety Practicum	3	NUR 675 — MSN Seminar: Preparation for Practicum
NUR 631	Strategic Skills for Nurse Executive Leaders	3	None listed
NUR 651	Advanced Concepts for Nurse Executive Leaders	3	NUR 631 — Strategic Skills for Nurse Executive Leaders
NUR 686	Nurse Executive Leadership Practicum	3	NUR 675 — MSN Seminar: Preparation for Practicum
NUR 557	Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Across the Lifespan	3	None listed
NUR 634	Facilitating Learning and Teaching Innovation in Nursing Education	3	None listed
NUR 653	Population Care Management	3	None listed
NUR 654	Curriculum Foundations in Nursing Education	3	NUR 634 — Facilitating Learning and Teaching Innovation in Nursing Education
NUR 690	Nursing Education Practicum	3	NUR 675 — MSN Seminar: Preparation for Practicum
NUR 633	Informatics and Communication Technology	3	None listed
NUR 687	Population Healthcare Practicum	3	NUR 675 — MSN Seminar: Preparation for Practicum

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Nursing (MSN) Degree Requirements

Master of Science

The Nursing (MSN) program contains 34 identified courses across 1 requirement categories. The prerequisite data currently includes 43 known course relationships.