M.S.N. role specialization and CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Nursing Graduate Program offers the M.S.N. advanced nursing education in two role specializations:
- Comprehensive M.S.N. (Major Code 5703)
The online Comprehensive M.S.N. program prepares students to function at an advanced nursing practice level in complex environments. This program allows students to tailor their nursing education with a variety of elective courses. Students will take the advanced clinical nursing courses of Pathophysiology, Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Assessment to enhance clinical practice at an advanced level. Praxis coursework is personalized to address each student's specific learning objectives.
Graduates work in hospitals, outpatient settings, administrative positions, educator positions, and in collaborative practice with physicians and other health care providers, and schools of nursing. This program of study is available all online.
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) M.S.N. (Major Code 5708)
A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced education who is able to assess, diagnoses (nursing and medical), manage (including prescribing), and evaluate care for persons who are ill, injured, and / or have chronic diseases. Health promotion and disease prevention are integral in the FNP's practice. The FNP practices independently and autonomously within the nurse practitioner's scope of practice, and collaboratively with physicians and other health care providers.
The WTAMU FNP specialization program prepares students for advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) providing primary healthcare in diverse areas (e.g. underserved areas, clinics, occupational settings, independent practice.) This results in improved access to primary healthcare. Successful graduates are eligible to sit for the Advanced Practice Family Nurse Practitioner Exam. This specialization is available in a hybrid format with clinical experiences in Texas only.
- POST Master Family Nurse Practitioner M.S.N. (Major Code 5702)
The Post M.S.N. FNP education is designed as a certificate course of study that enables a practicing nurse who holds an M.S.N. degree to prepare for credentialing as an FNP. Upon completion of the prescribed course of study, the student's transcript indicates that he/she has completed the educational preparation as regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing. Successful students are eligible to take a national FNP certification exam.
MSN admission information
- Application to the M.S.N. program requires two separate applications. One to the Graduate School and the second application to the Department of Nursing.
- Application Deadlines:
- The priority application deadline for the Comprehensive M.S.N. is March 1 for a summer or fall start into the program, and a September 1 for a spring start. That online specialization accepts late applications if the cohort has availability. Please call before submitting.
- The application deadline for the FNP specialization is March 1 for a fall start, or a September 1 deadline for a spring start.
- Additional application process information:
- The eligible applicant will have an unencumbered (RN) nursing license in the U.S.
- Please provide one official copy of all transcripts to the Graduate School (WTAMU graduates are excluded).
- The applicant must have a cumulative GPA for the last 60 hours of college credit of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Failure in any nursing coursework will be taken into consideration. A Nursing GPA will also be calculated and taken into consideration. If you do not have the minimum GPA, please contact the Nursing Department for additional options for consideration.
- The eligible applicant will submit a resume.
- The eligible applicant will provide the Department of Nursing contact information for two (non-academic) clinical supervisory references.
- The eligible applicant will write a goal statement that will be evaluated based on:
- Clear focus related to a goal statement
- Supportive detail regarding the goal statement
- Organization of goal statement (clear introduction, body and conclusion)
- Clarity, grammar and punctuation
- Goal statement is typed with a word count of between 500-750 words
- The applicant will be scheduled for a phone interview with the Associate Department Head for Nursing Graduate Programs or a designee once application paperwork is complete.
- Post applicants follow the same admission process as traditional M.S.N. applicants.
degree options/ future
Comprehensive M.S.N. elective focus includes:
- Nursing Administration/Management
- Nursing Education
FNPs practice in the following areas:
- Primary Health care
- Underserved access to healthcare areas
- Clinics
- Occupational settings
- Independent practices
career close-up
MSN Wage Range (WTAMU) - $40,000 - $90,000
Median MSN Wage (TX) - $80,000
FNP Wage - $97,000 (TX Panhandle) to $110,000 (State Mean).
PLAN of study
For program requirements and details, consult the M.S.N. Graduate catalog:
University catalog.
contact us
For more information on the Nursing Graduate Program, please contact
Deanna Moore at 806-651-2654 or dmoore@wtamu.edu.
For more information on the Graduate School, please contact 806-651-2730 or GraduateSchool@wtamu.edu.
PROGRAM COSTS
Accelerated rn to msn program
For qualified WTAMU RN to B.S.N. students who desire an advanced nursing education, an accelerated RN to B.S.N/M.S.N. program may be a good option. This program reduces the number of required RN to B.S.N. courses from 30 (for the BSN), to 21 for RN to M.S.N. admission eligibility. Upon completion of the M.S.N. education, dual degrees, B.S.N./M.S.N., are awarded.
Application to the M.S.N. program is completed at the appropriate time for optimal transition. Qualified RN to M.S.N. applicants are guaranteed admission to the online Comprehensive M.S.N. upon completion of the admission process. Competitive admission into the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization is also considered.
