Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Education Online
Develop the educational expertise you need to play a vital role in preparing the next generation of nurses.
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Program Overview
Why Consider the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education Online at USM
Prepare to teach in entry-level nursing programs in both didactic and clinical courses with our Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Education online program at the University of Southern Maine (USM). Designed to be flexible for working nurses, this efficient degree plan features undergraduate coursework provided by the University of Maine at Fort Kent and graduate coursework from USM.
As a student, you will focus on integrating nursing, humanities, and education theory to facilitate learning and improve nursing across diverse settings. Graduate coursework for this advanced nursing program meets the educational criteria for the National League for Nursing (NLN) Nurse Educator Certificate while providing a foundation for continued professional development as well as for doctoral study. Save time and money—and take fewer courses than if you were to earn your BSN and master's separately—by earning this CCNE-accredited RN to MS in Nursing online in as few as 24 months.
The baccalaureate courses in this program emphasize the clinical reasoning that drives a culture of safety while developing your ability to use evidence-based practice to make decisions for quality outcomes. This portion of the program prepares you for graduate-level work, which teaches you to:
- Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of nursing, humanities, and education theory and integrate this knowledge to facilitate learning and improve nursing across diverse settings
- Demonstrate teaching effectiveness to improve patient outcomes and leadership skills to implement change in practice and education systems
- Create learning experiences that support cognitive, psychomotor, and affective development
- Utilize technology in the teaching-learning process to support delivery of high quality and safe patient care
- Translate research into practice through critical appraisal of existing evidence to resolve education and practice problems, disseminate results, and develop evidence-based teaching, assessment, and evaluation practices
- Synthesize broad ecological, global, epidemiological, cultural, and social determinants of health in order to integrate evidence-based population principles into nursing curricula
- Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of nursing, humanities, and education theory and integrate this knowledge to facilitate learning and improve nursing across diverse settings
- Demonstrate teaching effectiveness to improve patient outcomes and leadership skills to implement change in practice and education systems
- Create learning experiences that support cognitive, psychomotor, and affective development
- Utilize technology in the teaching-learning process to support delivery of high quality and safe patient care
- Translate research into practice through critical appraisal of existing evidence to resolve education and practice problems, disseminate results, and develop evidence-based teaching, assessment, and evaluation practices
- Synthesize broad ecological, global, epidemiological, cultural, and social determinants of health in order to integrate evidence-based population principles into nursing curricula
As a graduate of this RN to MS in Nursing online program, you will be prepared to make an impact in educational roles such as:
- Nursing Instructor
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Educator
- Nursing Faculty
- Adjunct Instructor
- Nursing Instructor
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Educator
- Nursing Faculty
- Adjunct Instructor
Accreditation
The nursing programs at the University of Southern Maine are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 665 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC, 20001, 202-887-6791.
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Call 888-728-7054
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Tuition
Our Budget-Friendly Tuition is Affordable and Competitive
Our goal is for you to earn a high-quality degree that will help improve your career and income without taking on considerable financial debt.
Tuition breakdown:
Program | Per Program |
---|---|
RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education | $23,364 |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Jot Down These Key USM Dates and Deadlines
The RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education online program offers a flexible course calendar, with multiple start dates each year to accommodate your professional and personal schedules.
Now enrolling:
Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline* | Last Class Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spring 1 | 1/16/24 | 12/27/23 | 12/27/23 | 1/16/24 | 1/15/24 | 3/1/24 |
Spring 2 | 3/18/24 | 2/28/24 | 2/28/24 | 3/18/24 | 1/15/24 | 5/3/24 |
Summer 1 | 5/13/24 | 4/24/24 | 4/24/24 | 5/13/24 | 5/15/24 | 6/28/24 |
Summer 2 | 7/1/24 | 6/12/24 | 6/12/24 | 7/1/24 | 5/15/24 | 8/16/24 |
Fall 1 | 9/3/24 | 8/15/24 | 8/15/24 | 9/3/24 | 8/15/24 | 10/18/24 |
Fall 2 | 10/28/24 | 10/9/24 | 10/9/24 | 10/28/24 | 8/15/24 | 12/20/24 |
* The payment deadline for the second session of each term is the same as the first session deadline or ten days from the date of registration.
Now enrolling:
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Admissions
Read the Admission Details for the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education
The RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
- 3.0 Minimum GPA
- Statement of Purpose
- Online Application
- Unencumbered Nursing License
- Online application
- ADN/ASN from an accredited university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA OR diploma in nursing
- Current, unencumbered nursing license
- One statement of purpose/essay (in the online application)
- An undergraduate course in introductory statistics that includes descriptive and inferential statistics completed with a grade of C or higher
- Official transcripts (submitted directly from the granting institution) from all colleges/universities attended
- Students with a minimum undergraduate or diploma cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above may be directly admitted to the RN to MS in Nursing program if all admission criteria is met. Progression to the Master's program requires that the student maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average, for all undergraduate courses taken at the 300/400 level.
- Students interested in the MS in Nursing programs with an undergraduate or diploma GPA of 2.5-2.99 should apply directly to UMFK RN to BSN program. Conditional admission to MS in Nursing program may be granted upon successful completion of 12 credits of 300/400 level courses with a grade of B or better. Progression to the Master's program requires that the student maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average, for all undergraduate courses taken at the 300/400 level.
- Upload your essay in PDF format in the online application or email your essay to [email protected]
- Demonstrate your understanding of the nurse administrator/educator role and reasons for becoming a nurse leader
- Explain your professional goals that will be supported by the Master of Science degree
- Outline the experiences, capacity, and abilities brought to a master's program
- Document your reasons for choosing USM for this program
Official transcripts (submitted directly from the granting institution) and other supporting documents may be mailed or emailed.
Application Processing Center
University of Maine System
P.O. Box 412
Bangor, ME 04402-0412
Email Address:
[email protected]
This online program is currently offered to students located in the following states: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and South Dakota.
Courses
See the Courses in the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education
For the RN to MS in Nursing – Nursing Education online program, you will complete 24 hours of undergraduate credits and up to 21 hours of General Education credits through the University of Maine at Fort Kent and 36 hours of graduate credits (MSN core courses, Nursing Education courses, and one elective) through the University of Southern Maine School of Nursing.
Students may need up to 21 additional General Education credits, to be determined upon transcript review. A block transfer of 69 credits for General Education courses will be awarded with proof of an active RN license.

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