Master of Science (MS) in
Nursing - Nurse Practitioner Concentration
Primarily Online
Program Overview
Nurse Practitioners fill a critical healthcare need in our society. They are health promotion and disease prevention experts who manage and diagnose common acute and chronic illnesses while maintaining a high quality of care. In rural southeastern areas, health and wellness disparities make these nurses vital to the patients they treat.
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Program Format
Primarily Online -
Credit Hours
53-79 -
Tuition Per Hour
$440
Practice Nursing at an Advanced Level
Through The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing, you can earn your advanced degree without interrupting your career. The convenient blended format combines online courses with face-to-face clinical experiences.
Please note, only baccalaureate prepared registered nurses who are residents of the following states are eligible for admission to NP concentrations: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
The master’s degree program in nursing at The University of Alabama is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Application DeadlineApril 1 for fall admission, September 1 for spring admission, and January 1 for summer admission
- RankingRanked 7th for best online MSN programs for Family Nurse Practitioner by U.S. News & World Report (2022)
- Required For EntranceRN licensure
- PracticumYes
- Other Program SpecificsPart-time or full-time study available for individual concentrations
Curriculum
Select an option below to learn more about each program’s curriculum. Please note that courses are subject to change.
Courses in the Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner dual concentration offer nurses the opportunity to advance their knowledge base and clinical skills. Students in the dual concentration will be eligible to sit for both the psychiatric mental health and family nurse practitioner national certification exams. This concentration can be completed in 11-12 semesters of full-time study.
About the program
- 79 credit hours
- Program progression – 11-12 semesters – Full-time option only
- 1,560 clinical hour requirement
- Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.
Required Courses
- NUR 505: Advanced Health Assessment
- NUR 521: Advanced Pharmacology
- NUR 529: Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 567: Family Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
- NUR 568: Clinical Readiness
- NUR 569: Family Nurse Practitioner I
- NUR 570: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 571: Family Nurse Practitioner II
- NUR 572: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 573: Family Nurse Practitioner III
- NUR 574: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 575: Family Nurse Practitioner IV Review (Didactic) and Clinical Immersion (240 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 591: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
- NUR 592: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner IV Review and Clinical Immersion (240 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 593: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I
- NUR 594: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 595: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II
- NUR 596: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 597: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III
- NUR 598: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 727: Foundations of Implementation Science and Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 733: Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 735: Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 737: Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence
- NUR 740: Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care
About the program
- 53-59 credit hours
- Program progression – Part-time (8-9 semesters) or full-time (7-8 semesters) options
- 780 clinical hour requirement
- Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.
- Upon successful completion of coursework and clinical requirements, students are eligible to take the psychiatric-mental health national certification examination.
Courses
- NUR 505: Advanced Health Assessment
- NUR 521: Advanced Pharmacology
- NUR 529: Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 568: Clinical Readiness
- NUR 591: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
- NUR 592: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner IV Review and Clinical Immersion (240 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 593: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I
- NUR 594: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 595: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II
- NUR 596: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 597: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III
- NUR 598: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 727: Foundations of Implementation Science and Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 733: Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 735: Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 737: Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence
- NUR 740: Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care
About the program
- 53-59 credit hours
- Program progression – part-time (8-9 semesters) or full-time (7-8 semesters) option
- 780 clinical hour requirement
- Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.
- Upon successful completion of coursework and clinical requirements, students are eligible to sit for the family nurse practitioner national certification examination.
Courses
- NUR 505: Advanced Health Assessment
- NUR 521: Advanced Pharmacology
- NUR 529: Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 567: Family Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues
- NUR 568: Clinical Readiness
- NUR 569: Family Nurse Practitioner I
- NUR 570: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical I (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 571: Family Nurse Practitioner II
- NUR 572: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 573: Family Nurse Practitioner III
- NUR 574: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 575: Family Nurse Practitioner IV Review (Didactic) and Clinical Immersion (240 Clinical Hours)
- NUR 727: Foundations of Implementation Science and Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 733: Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 735: Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing
- NUR 737: Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence
- NUR 740: Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care
This program requires a field placement component and it is the student’s responsibility to secure a site for the field placement.
Thesis (Optional): A thesis is an original research project conducted by one student and directed by a graduate committee. Please consult with your faculty advisor. More information can be found by visiting the Graduate Catalog.
Admission
Applications and all required documentation must be submitted by:
- April 1 for fall admission
- September 1 for spring admission
- January 1 for summer admission
Admission Requirements:
- GPA of at least 3.0 overall based on 4.0 grading scale or 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited school of nursing
- Reside and hold a current unencumbered RN licensure in a state approved for admission. Currently, residents of the following 29 states are eligible for admission to NP concentrations: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
- Final admission is contingent upon approved drug and background screen results deemed acceptable by appropriate University officials
If you reside or intend to seek professional licensure outside of the state of Alabama, please review the requirements for that state prior to applying to this program.
MSN/Nurse Practitioner (all concentrations) Application Process:
- Begin your graduate application at the UA Graduate School.
- For “Program Type” select Distance (Online/Blended/Gadsden)
- For “Campus” select Distance Learning
- Request official transcripts following the Graduate School’s transcript instructions.
- Submit supporting documents:
- Statement of Purpose following the Graduate School’s instructions.
- Resume or curriculum vitae.
- Contact information for two references – The references should be professionals who can provide insight regarding your potential for success in the master’s program. The Graduate School will contact these references via e-mail.
- Copy of active RN license from every state in which you are licensed. A screenshot of your online verification is sufficient. Note: Licensure must be maintained throughout the program.
- Interview – Applicants who meet all other requirements will receive instructions on this step once the application is complete and submitted with all of the above requirements.
Contact Vickie Samuel at (205) 348-8163 or vickie.bama@ua.edu for additional questions about the application process.
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Contact Us
Program Information
Sarah Hemphill
Admissions Representative
800-467-0227
sarahh.bama@ua.edu
Admissions Information
UA Online
800-467-0227
online@ua.edu