Nursing and Interprofessional Master of Science Degrees
The Nursing Master of Science program is not accepting applications in 2025-2026.
The Nursing Master of Science degree program enlarges the focus of nursing, using as its foundation the basic baccalaureate nursing program. The master's program curriculum includes the following components: Common Core, Leadership Core, Research Core, and Specialty Core. Leadership specializations include nursing education, organizational leadership, and public health nursing.
The Nursing Master of Science program is not accepting applications in 2025-2026.
Applications to the Nursing Master of Science degree program are accepted twice a year. April 1st and September 1st are the respective deadlines for fall and spring semesters.
Eligibility Requirements, Nursing Master of Science:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a nationally accredited (NLNAC or CCNE) program
- Current registered nurse licensure in at least one state in the United States
- Minimum of one year of clinical work experience as a registered nurse is recommended
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Potential for leadership and application of scholarship in nursing
- Potential to provide expert service and leadership in functional area
- Completion of a graduate-level statistics course either prior to admission or during first semester of graduate study
- Satisfactory criminal background check, which is completed once an offer of admission has been extended to applicant
English Language Requirements
All applicants for study at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) whose native language is not English must demonstrate an established level of English language proficiency through either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the academic format of the EILTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the first semester of enrollment.
See also Admissions in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Nursing Master of Science Degree
Nursing Education (NE) Specialty (minimum 39 credit hours) - prepares nurses for the educator role in academic and clinical settings to deliver didactic and clinical instruction through a variety of teaching, learning and evaluative methods.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core | ||
| NRSG 748 | Theories for Practice and Research | 3 |
| NRSG 754 | Health Care Research | 3 |
| NRSG 755 | Professionalism in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Leadership and Advanced Practice Core | ||
| NRSG 880 | Organizational Foundations for Leading Change | 3 |
| NRSG 812 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NRSG 801 | Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning | 3 |
| NRSG 813 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NRSG 888 | Clinical Specialty Practicum for Nurse Educators (1 credit hour required) | 1-3 |
| Research Core | ||
| NRSG 898 | Scholarly Project in Nursing | 2 |
| Specialty Core | ||
| NRSG 870 | Designing a Student Learning Environment | 3 |
| NRSG 871 | Curriculum Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| NRSG 873 | Technologies for Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| NRSG 874 | Health Professions Educator Preceptorship | 3 |
| NRSG 877 | Foundations in Education and Learning | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39-41 | |
- New Footnote
The Nursing Education Specialty is 39 credit hours.
Organizational Leadership (OL) Specialty (minimum 37 credit hours) - prepares nurses to assume leadership positions in hospitals and other health agencies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core | ||
| NRSG 748 | Theories for Practice and Research | 3 |
| NRSG 754 | Health Care Research | 3 |
| NRSG 755 | Professionalism in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Leadership Core | ||
| NRSG 808 | The Social Context for Health Care Policy | 2 |
| NRSG 820 | Program, Project, and Communication Planning | 2 |
| NRSG 826 | Global Perspective and Diversity in Healthcare | 2 |
| NRSG 880 | Organizational Foundations for Leading Change | 3 |
| NRSG 885 | Evaluation and Analysis for Healthcare Effectiveness | 2 |
| Research Core | ||
| NRSG 898 | Scholarly Project in Nursing | 2 |
| or NRSG 899 | Thesis | |
| Specialty Core | ||
| HP&M 822 | Health Care Economics | 3 |
| NRSG 881 | Applied Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
| NRSG 886 | Organizational Leadership Practicum | 3 |
| NRSG 891 | Human Resources and Workforce Development | 3 |
| Total Hours | 34 | |
Public Health Nursing (PHN) Specialty (minimum 39 credit hours) - prepares nurses to develop advanced community-based interventions and determine outcomes with emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention strategies for a targeted population.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core | ||
| NRSG 748 | Theories for Practice and Research | 3 |
| NRSG 754 | Health Care Research | 3 |
| NRSG 755 | Professionalism in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Leadership Core | ||
| NRSG 808 | The Social Context for Health Care Policy | 2 |
| NRSG 820 | Program, Project, and Communication Planning | 2 |
| NRSG 826 | Global Perspective and Diversity in Healthcare | 2 |
| NRSG 880 | Organizational Foundations for Leading Change | 3 |
| NRSG 885 | Evaluation and Analysis for Healthcare Effectiveness | 2 |
| Research Core | ||
| NRSG 898 | Scholarly Project in Nursing | 2 |
| or NRSG 899 | Thesis | |
| Specialty Core | ||
| NRSG 811 | Principles of Clinical Epidemiology | 3 |
| PRVM 830 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| NRSG 809 | Health Promotion | 2 |
| NRSG 827 | Advanced Concepts in Public Health Nursing | 2 |
| NRSG 828 | Public Health Nursing: Practicum I | 3 |
| NRSG 829 | Public Health Practicum | 3 |
| Total Hours | 38 | |
Health Informatics (HI) Specialty (minimum 37 credit hours) - prepares students with skills in analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation of information systems that support a full range of clinical and patient care functions. Note: HI specialty is transitioning to the Master of Science, Health Informatics (MSHI, see following section). New students will be considered for admission to the MSHI program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core | ||
| NRSG 748 | Theories for Practice and Research | 3 |
| NRSG 754 | Health Care Research | 3 |
| NRSG 755 | Professionalism in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Leadership Core | ||
| NRSG 808 | The Social Context for Health Care Policy | 2 |
| NRSG 820 | Program, Project, and Communication Planning | 2 |
| NRSG 826 | Global Perspective and Diversity in Healthcare | 2 |
| NRSG 880 | Organizational Foundations for Leading Change | 3 |
| NRSG 885 | Evaluation and Analysis for Healthcare Effectiveness | 2 |
| Research Core | ||
| NRSG 898 | Scholarly Project in Nursing | 2 |
| or NRSG 899 | Thesis | |
| Specialty Core | ||
| IPHI 853 | Abstraction and Modeling of Healthcare Information | 3 |
| IPHI 854 | Knowledge Management in Health Care | 3 |
| IPHI 856 | Health Informatics Practicum | 1-3 |
| IPHI 851 | Transforming Health Care through Use of Information Systems and Technology | 3 |
| IPHI 852 | Health Data Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Total Hours | 35-37 | |
Note: Health Informatics applicants will be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Health Informatics program.
There are three tracks for the Masters of Science: Organizational Leadership, Public Health Nursing, and Nursing Education. Plans of study vary for each; students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to establish a plan of study that works for them.
Sample Full-Time Masters Plan of Study - Leadership
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NRSG 748 | 3 | NRSG 820 | 2 | NRSG 754 | 3 |
| NRSG 755 | 3 | NRSG 880 | 3 | NRSG 883 | 3 |
| NRSG 808 | 2 | HP&M 822 | 3 | ||
| 8 | 8 | 6 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| NRSG 826 | 2 | NRSG 881 | 3 | ||
| NRSG 891 | 3 | NRSG 885 | 2 | ||
| NRSG 898 | 2 | NRSG 886 | 3 | ||
| 7 | 8 | ||||
| Total Hours 37 | |||||
The Nursing Master of Science program is not accepting applications in 2025-2026 year.
DUAL DEGREES
NURSING DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM
Students who wish to earn master's degrees in both Nursing (organizational leadership [OL] specialty) and Health Services Administration may elect the dual degree option. By combining some course work, the two degrees may be completed in a shorter time frame. Students in the MS, OL/MHSA dual degree program must complete a total of 62 graduate credit hours: 29 credit hours in the School of Nursing and 33 credit hours in Health Policy & Management. If completed separately, the MS in nursing requires 37 credit hours, and the MHSA degree requires 52-54 credit hours.
Master of Science (Organizational Leadership, specialty) (MS)
Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA)
TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION
University of Kansas School of Nursing
I. Introduction
All individuals admitted to the University of Kansas School of Nursing will be asked to verify that they can meet the following Technical Standards, with or without accommodation(s). In courses or programs without clinical components, or involving no direct client care, the Technical Standards may be modified. After acceptance, but before admission to the School of Nursing, students in all programs must be able to document current certification/evidence of completion of a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for healthcare providers. This requires being able to successfully complete both the written and practical test for certification. In addition, with or without accommodation, the following abilities and expectations must be met by all students, undergraduate and graduate, admitted to the School of Nursing.
II. Standards
A. Observation/Sensory-motor: Applicants must be able to observe demonstrations and learn from experiences in the basic sciences, including but not limited to, physiology and pharmacology, microbiology and pathophysiology laboratory situations. Applicants must be able to observe and learn from experiences in the clinical nursing laboratory such as the following examples: accurately read gradients/calibrations on a syringe; measure medications accurately; accurately recognize color changes on chemical reaction strips; assess heart, breath, abdominal sounds; assess normal and abnormal color changes in the skin; observe pupil changes; and observe digital or waveform readings.
B. Communication: Communications include not only speech but also reading, writing, and computer usage, including handheld digital access. Applicants must be able to communicate accurately and effectively with patients, caregivers, physicians, other health professionals, clinical facility staff, faculty and staff, peers, and the community in general in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications.
C. Psychomotor: Applicants should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. Applicants should be physically able to collect specimens and perform basic tests (such as glucose finger stick, urine dipstick). Applicants should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of nurses are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administration of intravenous medication, application of pressure to stop bleeding, and assist in moving and lifting patients using proper body mechanics. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and using tactile and visual senses.
D. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative: Applicants must be able to comprehend and interpret documents written in English. Applicants should have cognitive abilities including measurements, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Critical thinking is the ability to synthesize knowledge and integrate the relevant aspects of a client’s history, physical exam findings and diagnostic studies. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of nurses, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the applicant should be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures in order to understand normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology.
E. Behavioral and Social Attributes: Applicants must possess the emotional health required to utilize their intellectual abilities fully, exercise good judgment, complete all responsibilities attendant to the nursing diagnosis and care of patients promptly, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and their families. Applicants must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal communication skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that should be assessed during the admissions and education process. As a component of nursing education, a student must demonstrate ethical behavior including adherence to the professional nursing and student honor codes. The honor code at the KU School of Nursing is the Professional Integrity System (PROFITS). KU PROFITS is a peer-oriented integrity system to promote an environment where academic honesty is valued and expected.
III. Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who disclose a disability are considered for admission if they are otherwise qualified so long as such accommodation does not significantly alter the essential requirements of the curriculum and the educational program, or significantly affect the safety of patient care or others. When applicants or students disclose a disability, the provision of reasonable accommodations will be considered in an attempt to assist these individuals in meeting these required technical standards. Applicants whose response indicates that they cannot meet one or more of the expectations will be reviewed further by the University’s Office for Academic Accommodations, with applicant and faculty input, to determine if any reasonable accommodations are possible to facilitate successful completion of the nursing curriculum and preparation for the national registry examination.
It is important to give persons interested in enrolling in nursing a realistic view of the vigorous demands of the School of Nursing’s theoretical and practicum curriculum while at the same time investigating reasonable accommodations. Whether or not a requested accommodation is reasonable will be determined on a case by case basis. Interested individuals may schedule an orientation visit to the nursing skills laboratory and actual sites of the University of Kansas Hospital and/or University of Kansas Medical Center. These orientation visits enable persons to assess their interest and ability to function in the actual clinical areas and in learning and demonstrating manual skills.