About
Do you have a passion for helping others, saving lives, and promoting health? Do you desire to teach others or develop leadership skills?
The College of Nursing at East Carolina University offers a master of science in nursing degree with specialty concentrations in clinical nurse specialist, nursing leadership, nursing education, neonatal nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery, and nurse anesthesia. Post-master’s certificate options are also available.
The master of science in nursing program prepares graduates for advanced practice nursing and for leadership roles in a variety of community based or acute care provider agencies. The MSN program offers seven concentrations:
Part-time study is available. Certificate programs are available for post-master's study in selected areas.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036; phone 202-887-6791.
The nurse midwifery concentration is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) formerly called the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation, 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1550, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 240-485-1802, fax 240-485-1818.
The nurse anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068; telephone 847-692-7050.
ECU Advantage
East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing has been named a Center of Excellence for 2011–2015 by the National League for Nursing (NLN) and has been ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 10 out of 72 master’s programs in the country. Many of our courses are o line.
The College of Nursing is part of the health sciences division, which houses the Brody School of Medicine including basic sciences. We are located next to Vidant Medical Center, a magnet designated hospital serving 29 counties in eastern North Carolina. We offer many opportunities for interprofessional education, practice and research. A master of science in nursing degree prepares you for a variety of career choices and prepares you to enter the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) or doctorate of philosophy in nursing (PhD) also offered in the College of Nursing at East Carolina University.
As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.
What You Will Study
Admission to the Nursing, MSN program requires the student to meet the minimum admission requirements for graduate study as established by the university and the following requirements established by the College of Nursing.
The College of Nursing may allow nondegree graduate students to be enrolled in Nursing, MSN core courses as space permits. A student with interest in taking nursing graduate courses prior to applying or being accepted into a graduate nursing program should apply to the ECU Graduate School as a nondegree student. Once accepted as a nondegree student, the student may request registration from the core concentration director. Acceptance as a nondegree student and completion of core courses does not imply acceptance into any nursing graduate program.
Applicants for the nurse-midwifery concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year of hospital RN experience (labor and delivery preferred), demonstrate a commitment to practice with under-served populations, and must have at least one reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant's nursing practice. Midwifery applications for the Nursing, MSN program are only accepted in the fall for spring enrollment.
Applicants for the adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year of current practice experience and must have at least one of the three references from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant's nursing practice.
Completed applications for the adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist concentration will be considered for fall and spring admission.
Applications for the neonatal clinical nurse specialist concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have two years of current practice experience and provide one of the three references from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant's nursing practice.
Applicants for the neonatal nurse practitioner concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have the equivalent of 2 years of full-time clinical practice experience (within the last 5 years) as a registered nurse (RN) in the care of critically ill neonates or infants in critical care inpatient settings is required before a student begins clinical courses. Students may enroll in preclinical courses while obtaining the necessary practice experience and may be required to provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the student's nursing practice while practice experience is accrued.
Applicants for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner concentration are accepted for admission to the 11-week summer session.
Applicants may take core courses while gaining the required RN experience for admission into selected concentrations.
Completed applications will be considered as they are received, with the exception of neonatal nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and nurse-midwifery.
Applicants for the nursing education, health systems leadership, and adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist concentrations must have a minimum of one year RN experience prior to enrolling in specialty courses.
Applicants for the health systems leadership concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant's nursing practice.
Applicants for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have psychiatric nursing experience and one of the three references must be a nurse practitioner.
For application deadlines, please visit the College of Nursing website.
- a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program
- a minimum GPA of 2.7 in undergraduate studies and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in nursing major
- currently hold a nonrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in North Carolina or a NCSBN compact state
- a statement describing the applicant's interest in graduate study, career goals, and the Nursing, MSN relationship to those goals
- two or three professional references (see concentration-specific requirements)
- a personal or digitally recorded interview with the graduate faculty
- a current resume is required for the nurse-midwifery application
Students are required to earn a grade of "B" or above in the clinical courses listed below and are required to earn a "C" or above in all other required courses. Students also must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher in accordance with the ECU Graduate School standards.
NURS 6889, NURS 6910, NURS 6911, NURS 6959, NURS 6960, NURS 6961, NURS 6962, NURS 6993
NURS 6977, NURS 6978, NURS 6993
NURS 6420, NURS 6422, NURS 6889, NURS 6959, NURS 6960, NURS 6961, NURS 6962, NURS 6993
NURS 6417, NURS 6418, NURS 6419, NURS 6420, NURS 6421, NURS 6422, NURS 6423, NURS 6424, NURS 6425, NURS 6993
NURS 6112, NURS 6113, NURS 6115, NURS 6116, NURS 6117, NURS 6119, NURS 6993
NURS 6903, NURS 6904, NURS 6905, NURS 6908, NURS 6909, NURS 6993
NURS 6993, NURS 7501, NURS 7502, NURS 7503, NURS 7510, NURS 7511, NURS 7520, NURS 7521, NURS 7530, NURS 7531
Depending upon the concentration area chosen within the degree program, the Nursing, MSN requires 37-53 s.h. as follows. Concentrations are clustered as administrative, clinical, and education.
- Health Systems Leadership - 38 s.h.
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist - 45 s.h.
- Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist - 46 s.h.
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner - 42 s.h.
- Nurse-Midwifery - 53 s.h.
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - 47 s.h.
- Nursing Education - 37 s.h.
- NURS 6080 - Theory for the Practice of Advanced Nursing
- NURS 6081 - Research for the Practice of Advanced Nursing
- NURS 6082 - Influencing Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Policy
- NURS 6083 - Healthcare Finance and Economics
- NURS 6993 - Advanced Nursing Synthesis
- NURS 6050 - Human Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6208 - Concepts of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6610 - Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6611 - Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6971 - Health Policy, Law, and Ethical Decision Making
- NURS 6973 - Contemporary Issues in Human Relations
- NURS 6974 - Financial Management and Decision-Making in Nursing Leadership
- NURS 6208 - Concepts of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6417 - Developmental Physiology for Advanced Practice Nurses Across the Lifespan
- NURS 6418 - Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan
- NURS 6419 - Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan
- NURS 6417 - Developmental Physiology for Advanced Practice Nurses Across the Lifespan
- NURS 6418 - Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan
- NURS 6419 - Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan
- NURS 6050 - Human Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6610 - Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6611 - Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6050 - Human Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6610 - Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6611 - Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6050 - Human Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6208 - Concepts of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6610 - Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6611 - Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6977 - Nursing Leadership Practicum I
- NURS 6978 - Nursing Leadership Practicum II
- NURS 6983 - Theoretical and Operational Perspectives for Systems Leadership
- NURS 6984 - Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6988 - Population Health Leadership
- NURS 6889 - Advanced Evidence-Based Practice for the Clinical Nurse Specialist
- NURS 6910 - Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Practice Management
- NURS 6911 - Acute and Chronic Concerns for the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- NURS 6959 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Theory and Role Development
- NURS 6960 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I
- NURS 6961 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum II
- NURS 6962 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III
- NURS 6420 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research and Theory I
- NURS 6422 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research and Theory II
- NURS 6889 - Advanced Evidence-Based Practice for the Clinical Nurse Specialist
- NURS 6959 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Theory and Role Development
- NURS 6960 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I
- NURS 6961 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum II
- NURS 6962 - Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III
- NURS 6420 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research and Theory I
- NURS 6421 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum I
- NURS 6422 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research and Theory II
- NURS 6423 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum II
- NURS 6424 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing: Research and Theory III
- NURS 6425 - Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum III
- NURS 6109 - Introductory Nurse-Midwifery Professional Roles and Issues
- NURS 6110 - Reproductive Physiology
- NURS 6112 - Nurse-Midwifery Management: Reproductive Health Across the Lifespan
- NURS 6113 - Nurse-Midwifery Management: Antepartal Care
- NURS 6115 - Nurse-Midwifery Management: Intrapartum Care
- NURS 6116 - Nurse-Midwifery Management: Postpartum Care and Neonatal Care
- NURS 6117 - Nurse-Midwifery Management: Integration Practicum
- NURS 6118 - Integration of Nurse-Midwifery Professional Roles and Issues
- NURS 6119 - Nurse-Midwifery Management: Introduction to the Midwifery Practice of Primary Care
- NURS 6903 - Curriculum Development in Nursing
- NURS 6904 - Educational Concepts, Theories, and Strategies in Nursing
- NURS 6905 - Nursing Education Role Practicum I
- NURS 6909 - Evaluation in Nursing Education
- 3 s.h. elective or cognate
- NURS 7501 - Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 7502 - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role Development
- NURS 7503 - Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders Across the Lifespan in Advanced Provider Practice
- NURS 7510 - Psychotherapeutic Interventions and Treatment of Couples, Families and Groups in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 7511 - Advanced Nursing Practice Practicum and Supervision with Couples, Families and Groups
- NURS 7520 - Diagnosis, Disease Management and Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Adults and Older Adults in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 7521 - Advanced Nursing Practice Practicum and Supervision with Adults and Older Adults
- NURS 7530 - Diagnosis, Disease Management and Psychotherapeutic Treatment in Children, Families and Special Populations
- NURS 7531 - Advanced Nursing Practice Practicum and Supervision in Children, Families and Special Populations
Select one cluster area.
Select the concentration area chosen in 2 above.
Students in the nurse-midwifery concentration who have no labor and delivery experience are required to take an independent study with a clinical rotation in labor and delivery, in addition to required courses.
Students in the nursing education concentration who have limited teaching experience may be required to take NURS 6908 - Nursing Education Role Practicum II .
All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. A comprehensive examination is required for graduation for all MSN degree-seeking students.