Nurse with tablet looking out window.
APRN national certification exam first time pass rate for 2019 averaged 96% across specialty tracks.

What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

The master’s degree clinical tracks are 48 semester hours. Completion time depends on part-time or full-time enrollment. A full-time student can complete the program within two to three years. A part-time student may take three to four years.

Where will I take classes?
Atlanta Campus, Online (some courses)

All required coursework to earn a degree can be completed online.

Certain courses also require face-to-face on-campus experiences and information about this will be announced.

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

Nursing, M.S.

Talk to a faculty member
Seth Allan Lee, PhD, APRN, NP-C
Clinical Assistant Professor
Program Director
404-413-1196

The Georgia State online master of science in nursing (M.S.) provides a path to becoming an advanced practice nurse and prepares you for specialized care settings and leadership roles. If you seek to advance, this program will prepare you to implement and evaluate innovative nursing and healthcare information approaches, including interprofessional care coordination, patient quality teams and safety teams at all levels.

Choose your nurse practitioner specialty area:

We invite applicants with bachelor’s degrees in nursing and offer an R.N. to M.S. bridge program.

Earning a master's degree in nursing opens new career avenues for registered nurses and expands their impact on the U.S. healthcare system. You will learn alongside expert clinicians and systems administrators to prepare for advanced practice nursing roles and leadership positions.

Georgia State’s School of Nursing is the only nursing college in Georgia that offers the full spectrum of nursing education, from associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Although you will learn primarily online, our downtown campus location and the extensive healthcare network will be highly advantageous. We know you are working full-time and balancing many obligations as you consider returning to school. Our commitment to you is that your success matters to us. We will support you every step of your journey.

Program Details

The master’s program in nursing is open to registered nurses who wish to continue their education by obtaining an advanced degree. There are two admission options: RNs with a baccalaureate degree in nursing and RNs prepared at the associate or diploma level that have had outstanding practice experience and professional involvement. RNs who do not have a baccalaureate degree in nursing must complete additional undergraduate course work as prerequisites to master’s course work.

The following are unique admissions requirements for the Master of Science degree in nursing program:

  • Two letters of recommendation: the letters should be from individuals knowledgeable of your academic and/or professional abilities and include contact information. If the applicant has been out of nursing school for less than five years, a former faculty member must submit one letter.
  • Resume: include education, work experience, professional development, professional, community and volunteer activities, and research and publications.
  • Statement of purpose/goals: include a statement of your educational and career goals.
  • Writing sample‐-a two-page position paper on a social or health issue written in APA format, including references. Type in 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11” paper with one-inch margins on all sides.
  • Transcripts: submit official transcripts from each college or university attended. Transcripts are required regardless of the length of stay or if the grades appear on another school’s transcript, including hospital schools of nursing.
  • Entrance exam: The GRE is not required if you have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, are a post-master’s certificate applicant or have a graduate degree in a non-nursing field (ie, MEd, MBA, MPH). The GRE score should be sent directly to Georgia State from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The institution code is 5251. If you have an official copy of your GRE scores, send a photocopy with your application to expedite application processing. Visit the GRE website or call 1‐800‐GRE‐CALL for information and registration. The entrance exam is waived for MS nursing applicants who hold a graduate degree in a non‐nursing field (i.e., MEd, MBA, MPH, etc.), Post‐master’s certificate applicants OR if you have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
  • Experience required: one to two years of clinical practice as a registered nurse. (Note: For clinical specialties, clinical practice should be in an area related to the specialty track chosen for the master’s program (for example, one to two years in medical‐surgical nursing practice to apply for adult health or family nurse practitioner specialty track.)
  • International Applicants
    Additional requirements may apply if you are an international applicant. Learn more about the requirements for international applicants.
  • Official TOEFL scores: for applicants whose native language is not English, include a copy of your TOEFL score in your application packet. Scores cannot be more than two years old from the desired term of entry.
  • Certificate of immunization is required for accepted applicants who have never attended Georgia State. Upon admission, print the form found at www.gsu.edu/health and submit to Georgia State Health Services before registration.
  • Citizenship verification: please review the requirements to verify lawful presence in the United States.
  • RN to MS applicants must take the GRE or MAT exam to apply.

Additional requirements include the following:

  • Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
  • A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. The GPA is based on all undergraduate college-level course work attempted at regionally accredited institutions.
  • Registration as a professional nurse in Georgia or another U.S. state and evidence of application to the Georgia Board of Nursing.
  • One to two years of clinical practice in the specialty area for master’s education is preferred for applicants in the clinical practice specialist.

Master of Science in Nursing Application Checklist

The curriculum consists of a minimum of 48 semester hours of study, 22 hours of core courses and 26 hours of specialty courses. See the following list and description of required courses for each specialty track.

R.N.s without a bachelor’s degree in nursing must complete additional undergraduate coursework before taking master’s courses. See additional information tab.

The master’s program uses The Essentials of Masters Education in Nursing (AACN, 2021) as professional nursing standards and guidelines.  The master’s program outcomes and objectives are congruent with the essentials.

Upon completion of the master’s program in nursing, graduates should be able to:

  • Integrate knowledge of the humanities, evidence-based practice and the distinct perspective of the nursing profession with clinical judgment and person-centered, compassionate care
  • Collaborate and use effective communication strategies with patients, families and interprofessional partners in the provision of care and the promotion of population health
  • Apply scholarship to improve the health-related outcomes of patients, families and populations
  • Utilize activities that maintain and enhance quality and safety, while minimizing risk of harm to patients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance
  • Design collaborative treatment plans, recommendations and referrals that provide equitable care and address social determinants of health for diverse populations
  • Incorporate the use of informatics and technologies with the management of health-related outcomes while utilizing best practices of safe, quality care
  • Demonstrate a commitment to developing and maintaining professional standards and being an advocate for patients, health policy and the nursing profession
  • Expand knowledge of self in the areas of personal growth, professional development and leadership abilities

Required preliminary coursework for the R.N. with an associate degree or diploma

All R.N.s with an associate degree or diploma are required to meet university and College of Nursing requirements for undergraduate non-nursing coursework (courses below) and take two bridge courses NURS 6910 (Caring for Families and Communities – 5 credit hours) and NURS 6930 (Leadership and Management in Nursing – 3 credit hours). Students admitted to the R.N.-M.S. Program and requiring the bridge courses, NURS 6910 and NURS 6930, must work closely with the course administrators. NURS 6910 requires clinical site arrangement ONE semester before registering for the course. If the clinical site arrangement is not made the semester before, students will not be eligible to take NURS 6910.

Students who have not completed an undergraduate health assessment course must complete an online health assessment course. These prerequisites may change without notice. Information about additions, deletions, etc. to this list will be updated and available at the time they occur.

 

Georgia State core requirements

  • English Composition I and II
  • College Algebra or Math Modeling
  • Georgia State institutional options
  • Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language (See notes below)
  • Chemistry I and II with a lab
  • Elementary Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • American Government
  • General Psychology
  • World History, Global Economics or Global Affairs
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II with a lab
  • Microbiology with lab
  • Health & Human Lifespan Development
  • Abnormal Psychology

 

Georgia State institutional options (select two courses)

(The School of Nursing recommends Phil 1010 and Spch 1000.)

  • Phil 1010 Critical Thinking
  • Spch 1000 Human Communication
  • Pers 2001 Perspectives on Comparative Culture
  • Pers 2002 Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems

 

Humanities and Fine Arts (select one course from two of these three categories)

  • Humanities
    World Literature; British Literature; American Literature; Introduction to Philosophy; Media, Culture and Society
  • Fine Arts
    Survey of Art I, II or III; History of the Motion Picture; Jazz: Its Origins, Styles and Influence; Dramatic Music/Renaissance through 20th Century; Survey of Music from Bach to Bernstein; Introduction to the Theatre
  • Foreign Language
    Any foreign language course numbered 1002 or higher.

Description

Careers

Master of science nursing degree graduates work in a variety of healthcare areas such as ambulatory and primary care, hospital and specialty settings. After passing national certification exams, nurse practitioners (NPs) deliver care in rural areas, urban community health centers, college campuses, employee health centers and other locations. NPs also work for health care technology companies, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers, perform health care research, teach in schools and universities and serve in governmental agencies, such as health departments, the military, etc.

Contacts

Admissions and Curriculum Inquiries

Program Director
Seth Allan Lee, PhD, APRN, NP-C
Clinical Assistant Professor
404-413-1196

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Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared here provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For official details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.