salemstate.edu/graduate
THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES OFFERS A MASTER OF NURSING (MSN) WITH TWO TRACK OPTIONS
MSN GENERAL (NO SPECIALIZATION)
Baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses can advance their practice without specializing.
MSN ADULT-GERONTOLOGY PRIMARY CARE NURSE PRACTITIONER (AGPCNP)
Students who successfully complete this program are eligible to sit for board exams and earn a certification to be licensed to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
MSN PROGRAM FEATURES
• Course modality: Courses are offered online (asynchronous and synchronous) or hybrid in the evening, with the exception of the field experience.
• Small class sizes: Courses have between 10 and 15 students.
• Low residency program: Two in-person Saturdays during NUR 812 Advanced Health Assessment and a standard patient training (additional cost) in Worcester
• World-class faculty: Faculty teaching the courses are nationally certified nurse educators with extensive teaching experience and research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Faculty also have office hours for more support.
COST
For Massachusetts Residents, each credit costs $529.70*, which includes tuition and fees. For non-Massachusetts residents, each credit costs $627.60.* The MSN program is 30-45 credits (excluding prerequisites).
For assistance funding your graduate education, options such as financial aid, graduate assistantships, employer reimbursements, tuition remission, and veteran’s benefits may be available.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change.
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
• Official transcript from all institutions attended
• Transcripts should show a minimum undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and completion of a basic statistics course with a grade of C or better.
• Transcript should show Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an NLN or CCNE accredited nursing program. Experienced and licensed registered nurses who have a U.S. bachelor’s degree in another discipline are also eligible to apply.
• If you graduated from an RN to BSN program, you must also submit a transcript from your associate’s degree nursing program. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA in both programs in order to be eligible to apply to the MSN program.
• Applicants with equivalent international credentials will be considered for admission. Please review information on degree equivalency procedures.
• Two references
• Statement of purpose, two to three pages in narrative format, addressing the following:
• Discussion of professional experience
• Future professional nursing career goals
• Future scholarship
• Discuss interest in the program track that you are applying to (General or Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner)
• Resume
• Active Massachusetts RN license
• English Proficiency, if applicable
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AGPCNP TRACK
• Interview with program faculty
Our 30-credit program consists of 10 courses, including a 180-hour clinical field experience.
Students can start the program in either the Spring or Fall semester, and choose between two plans of study:
• Accelerated, 12 Months
• Part-Time, 24 Months
Courses are:
• Offered as quarter courses, except Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Practicum, which will remain semester-based.
• Offered asynchronously, with select synchronous components included for engagement and support
MSN GENERAL – 12 MONTHS*
FALL
NUR 817 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
NUR 822 Research for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
NUR 742N Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 credits)
Asynchronous
NUR 845 Healthcare Informatics (3 credits)
Asynchronous
SPRING
NUR 813 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
SUMMER
NUR 865 MSN Field Experience (4 credits)
NUR 814 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits) Asynchronous
NUR 812 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
NUR 866 Master’s of Science in Nursing Seminar (2 credits)
NUR 855 Population Health and Policy (3 credits)
Asynchronous
*Subject to change; accurate for the 2026-2027 academic year. Actual course offerings and time to degree may occasionally vary, depending on program enrollment, students’ full-time or part-time status and other factors.
MSN ADULT-GERONTOLOGY PRIMARY CARE NURSE PRACTITIONER (AGPCNP)
Our 45-credit program consists of 14 courses, including three 180-hour clinical field experiences (combined 540 hours total).
Students can start the program in the Spring or Fall semester, and choose between two plans of study:
• Accelerated, 24 months
• Part-Time, 36 months Courses are:
• Offered asynchronously, with select synchronous components included for engagement and support
• Courses are offered in full semester and quarter semester formats.
MSN AGPCNP – 24 MONTHS*
NUR 817 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits) NUR 822 Research for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
NUR 742N Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 credits) Asynchronous NUR 845 Healthcare Informatics (3 credits) Asynchronous
SPRING
NUR 813 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits) NUR 814 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits) Asynchronous
NUR 812 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
SUMMER
Full Semester
NUR 833 Common Problems in AdultGerontology Primary Care (3 credits)
NUR 834F AdultGerontology Primary Care I: Field Experience (4 credits)
FALL 2
Full Semester
NUR 835 Chronic Problems in AdultGerontology Primary Care (3 credits)
NUR 836F AdultGerontology Primary Care II: Field Experience (4 credits)
SPRING 2
Full Semester
NUR 837 Complex Problems in AdultGerontology Primary Care (3 credits)
NUR 838F AdultGerontology Primary Care III: Field Experience (4 credits)
NUR 855 Population Health and Policy (3 credits) Asynchronous
*Subject to change; accurate for the 2026-2027 academic year. Actual course offerings and time to degree may occasionally vary, depending on program enrollment, students’ full-time or part-time status and other factors.