MSN - Frequently Asked Questions

• MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - Nurse Practitioners provide a holistic approach to primary care for individuals and families of all ages and manage a wide variety of acute and chronic health problems.

• MSN as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Nurse Practitioners provide a full range of services that comprise primary mental health care in diverse settings with a variety of clients/patients.

If you choose the Family Nurse Practitioner track or the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track, you may transfer up to 9 credits to apply toward the completion of the MSN program.

Transfer credits must be earned through graduate level courses that are not part of a conferred degree and are accepted at the discretion of faculty.

The courses are online; however, you do not have to log on at a certain time of day. All tracks require a certain number of practicum hours.

• 660 Practicum Hours - Family Nurse Practitioner
• 660 Practicum Hours - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• 180 Practicum Hours - Nursing Leadership in Healthcare
• Additional on-campus, weekend immersions are required for all tracks.

• PMHNP track requires 5 immersions
• FNP track requires 6 immersions.
• Immersions do not typically start until halfway through the program, with 1-2 scheduled per semester

Yes, our program is designed for working professionals, so the majority of students are able to continue working as they attend full-time.

Once clinical hours start, Faculty have recommended that students work a maximum of 20 hours a week.

You have the flexibility to adjust your progression plan if you feel you cannot attend full-time.

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We are committed to ensuring adequate and robust practicum experiences for our graduate students. Clinical placements are secured through a process shared by staff, program directors, students, faculty and clinical agencies.

Our Clinical Placement Team is dedicated to helping students secure sites and preceptors, as well as with processing contract/legal documentation required to clear students for clinical placement.

As an initial step in the process, students will proactively engage with their local providers to identify potential preceptors. The Clinical Placement Team will work with students to finalize clinical placements and preceptor experiences to meet course requirements.

The Department of Nursing maintains affiliation agreements with many facilities and providers across the western U.S. to support practicum learning experiences.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites and should include this cost when calculating and planning for their educational expenses and scheduling demands.

The cost per credit is competitive at $1,170* per credit for Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner courses. There are some fees associated with the program and you can find that information here.

*Tuition rates are subject to change.