MSN FAQs

Please choose a question from the list below:

  • How many graduate credits from another institution can I transfer into the UMKC Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program?
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  • What kind of M.S.N. degrees does UMKC offer?
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  • Are any of the UMKC graduate nursing programs fully online?
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  • Is the GRE required for admission?
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  • What are the admission criteria for the M.S.N. program?
  • Can applicants with a GPA below 3.0 be admitted?
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  • What if my last 60 hours of BSN Coursework is between 3.0 and 3.19?
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  • What are your application deadlines?
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  • Are there scholarships to help me?
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  • How many clinical hours do the practitioner concentration areas include?
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  • Do I have to complete a thesis?
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  • How long will it take to complete the M.S.N. degree?
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  • Can I continue to work while obtaining my M.S.N. degree from UMKC?
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  • Where can I get additional information about MSN nursing programs?
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    Question: How many graduate credits from another institution can I transfer into the UMKC Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program?


    Answer: A maximum of 20 percent of the graduate credit hours appearing on the program of study (rounded up) may be transferred from a recognized graduate school for a master’s degree at UMKC. When attempting to transfer graduate coursework, a copy of the course syllabus to include course description and course objectives must be submitted for each course at the time of application. The courses will be reviewed and equivalence will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Specific information about transfer credits can be found on the UMKC School of Nursing Web site.

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    Question: What kind of M.S.N. degrees does UMKC offer?


    Answer: The UMKC School of Nursing offers master’s degrees in the following concentration areas:
  • Adult Nurse Practitioner (42 credit hours)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (42 credit hours)
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (43 credit hours)
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (43 credit hours)
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (42 credit hours)
  • Nurse Educator (41 credit hours)
  • Nurse Executive (37 credit hours)
  • Post-Master's options are also available
  • Outreach Programs in St. Joseph and Joplin, Missouri


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    Question: Are any of the UMKC graduate nursing programs fully online?


    Answer: The Neonatal and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner programs are currently online. The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator programs will be online beginning Fall Semester 2008. All programs require students to come to campus several times for 2-3 days during their program of study. There are a number of individual courses each semester in all programs that are available online.

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    Question: Is the GRE required for admission?


    Answer: The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is not required for admission to the M.S.N. program; it is required for admission to the Ph.D. in Nursing program (both post BSN and post MSN) and DNP program.

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    Question: What are the admission criteria for the M.S.N. program?


    Answer:
  • B.S.N. from an accredited nursing program
  • GPA of 3.2 or better in the last 60 hours of your B.S.N.
  • Submission of a current resume.
  • Completion of an upper level Statistics course (300 or 400 level from a 4 year institution) with a minimum grade of "B-".
  • Completion of a free standing Health Assessment course with a minimum grade of "B-" (not required for the NNP or Nurse Executive programs).
  • The Neonatal program has additional admission requirements.


    • The grade point average required for admission is a 3.2 (calculated on the last 60 hours of their BSN degree).

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    Question: Can applicants with a GPA below 3.0 be admitted?


    Answer: Highly successful, exceptional applicants may petition the MSN Program Committee for special consideration. Applicants requesting special consideration must submit the following items:

  • Graduate Record Exam results
  • Evidence of certifications obtained
  • A one page essay stating why they feel they will be successful in the master’s program at UMKC
  • Two professional recommendations
  • Evidence of recent nursing practice that demonstrates the applicant’s expertise as a nurse


    • Petition applications including this information will be reviewed by the MSN Committee in May for Summer/Fall admission and November for Winter Admission. The decision of the MSN Committee will be final.

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    Question: What if my last 60 hours of BSN Coursework is between 3.0 and 3.19?


    Answer: Students may be admitted on probation if their grade point average is between 3.0 and 3.19.

  • The probationary status will be removed when the student has successfully completed their first nine (9) hours with a grade of B (not B- or C) or better for each course. Advanced Pathophysiology for 3 credit hours must be included in this nine hours of course work. (Students in the NNP or Executive program must consult with the graduate program director). These first nine hours must be successfully completed the first time. A second attempt is not permitted.
  • Failure to successfully complete these 9 hours will result in dismissal from the program.


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    Question: What are your application deadlines?


    Answer: Priority application deadline for fall and summer semesters is February 1 and the priority application deadline for winter semester is September 1.

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    Question: Are there scholarships to help me?


    Answer: All students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid, and in most cases, a federal financial aid application is required before students can be considered for other scholarships or grant opportunities. Please see the Scholarship section of the UMKC School of Nursing website (http://nursing.umkc.edu/scholarship.cfm) for additional scholarship information.

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    Question: How many clinical hours do the practitioner concentration areas include?


    Answer: The practitioner tracks include 660+ clinical contact hours.

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    Question: Do I have to complete a thesis?


    Answer: The UMKC graduate M.S.N. student has the following research options:

  • Completion of a faculty supervised research project or thesis.
  • Completion of advanced research coursework.


    • More information about faculty research interests is available on the School of Nursing website.

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    Question: How long will it take to complete the M.S.N. degree?


    Answer: It is possible to complete the M.S.N. (master of science in nursing) part-time. This takes approximately 7 semesters to complete. It is also possible to complete the M.S.N. full-time and takes approximately 5 semesters to complete. Many programs require the full-time student to begin coursework in the summer semester.

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    Question: Can I continue to work while obtaining my M.S.N. degree from UMKC?


    Answer: Most master’s level students attend school part-time and continue to work part-time. Sometimes it is necessary to decrease work hours for the final practicum because students will be in clinical rotations two full days per week.

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    Question: Where can I get additional information about MSN nursing programs?


    Answer: Please contact the Student Services Office at:

    UMKC School of Nursing Student Services
    2464 Charlotte Street
    Kansas City, MO 64108
    Voice: 816.235.1700 or 800.499.8652
    Fax: 816.235.6593
    Email: nurses@umkc.edu

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