Looking for an Online MSN Program? 

Southern California University of Health Sciences (www.scuhs.edu) is in the process of developing an online Master of Science in Nursing degree program for nurses who plan to pursue careers as Family Nurse Practitioners.  The MSN program will be designed for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and an unencumbered RN license.  SCU is gathering interest in the program while the final approvals are being obtained. 

Information about the SCU online MSN program and the status of its implementation is available on SCU’s website.  If you have questions, or if you would like additional information about the SCU online MSN program, fill out the “Request Information” form found at http://www.scuhs.edu/Forms/Inquiry/MSN.aspx?ekfrm=1575 and an enrollment counselor will contact you. 

To contact an enrollment counselor directly, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (866) 570-1722.  

Looking for a place to start your MSN Degree?    

Excelsior College (www.excelsior.edu) offers master’s-level nursing core courses, which are part of their MSN program. The college is nationally accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). 

Students may be admitted to the Excelsior College MSN program as non-matriculating (or non-degree-seeking) students. This option is for students who wish to start an MSN program but are not decided on a specific institution for completing a degree. 

While Excelsior College does not offer a Master of Science in Nursing degree with the Family Nurse Practitioner focus, it offers core nursing courses in the Master of Science in Nursing program that are common core courses in graduate nursing programs across the country.  Each college and university has its own policy for accepting transfer credit.  While there is no guaranty that Excelsior College credits will transfer to any institution, the core graduate nursing courses such as those offered by Excelsior College reflect the core competencies for graduate nursing education published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in its Essentials of Graduate Nursing Education.  Excelsior College’s nursing programs are accredited by two very well-respected accrediting agencies, increasing the likelihood that your credit will transfer.  Please review the transferability of credit disclosure, below, and contact the institution to which you want to transfer these credits to find out for sure.
 

Students who graduated from the online PHSSN BSN program and have a RN license may take MSN core courses while making final decisions about a specific MSN-FNP program.  

Interested students are invited to make application to the Excelsior College Master of Science in Nursing program.  Courses begin March 2010.  Course registration CLOSES February 26, 2010.  Courses fill up quickly, so early registration is encouraged.   

Common core graduate courses that Excelsior College is offering include: 

• NURS 502 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice – 3 credit hours
• NURS 512 Professional Role Development and Ethics – 4 credit hours
• NURS 513 Research and Evidence-Based Practice – 4 credit hours
• NURS 531 Health Care Delivery Systems: Social, Political and Economic Influences – 4 credit hours
• NURS 541 Community Nursing: Human Diversity and Public Health – 4 credit hours

Course descriptions, syllabi overview and additional details are available on the Excelsior College website at www.excelsior.edu by clicking on Graduate under Programs, and then Master of Science in Nursing under School of Nursing. 

An advantage of taking courses includes continuing your educational program without gaps between your BSN degree and your MSN degree.  

If you have student loans you should contact your lending institution to determine if taking any core courses maintains your student status. 

To learn more about the Excelsior College core courses and the application process, access the Excelsior College website, as follows: 

MS in Nursing FAQs:  Go to 

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/MS_in_Nursing_Degree/MS_IN_NURSING_FAQ 

Application Process:   

1. Access the Excelsior website:  www.excelsior.edu
2. From the list of schools in the bar on the left hand side, select Nursing.
3. On the next screen, from the list of programs in the school of nursing, select MS in Nursing Degree.
4. On the next screen, from the list of MS in Nursing Forms and Files on the right side of the screen, select Course Registration Form for Graduate Nursing Course (for students NOT enrolled in MS program).
5. On the next screen, from the left side select Create a MyEC Use Account. This account will be required in order for you to be enrolled in any course. When you have completed the registration process, you will receive an email from Excelsior College acknowledging your registration and issuing you a student identification number. PRINT THE E-MAIL AND KEEP THIS INFORMATION HANDY.
6. Once you have created a user account, go back to the page with the list of MS in Nursing Forms and file and print a copy of the application form.
7. Complete the form, make a copy of your transcript from Hardin-Simmons University confirming the awarding of the baccalaureate degree (unofficial copy is acceptable), and make a copy of your RN License.
8. Mail the application, copy of the transcript, and copy of your RN license to:

Admissions Office

Excelsior College

7 Columbia Circle

Albany, New York 12203-5159 

Direct specific questions regarding the Master of Science in Nursing courses to:

MS in Nursing Program

Contact:  Christine McIlwraith

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone:  888-647-2388 or 518-464-8500 (Press 1-3-1-7 at the automated greeting.)

Fax:  518-464-8777

(Please direct technical questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .)   

What Mid America Learning Does for Excelsior College 

Excelsior College is not a client of Mid America Learning.  Mid America Learning does not perform any service for Excelsior College and will receive no compensation from Excelsior College for referring students to it.   

Transferability of Credit Disclosure: Credits earned at Excelsior College may or may not transfer to another educational institution.  You should contact any educational institutions that you may want to transfer credits earned at Excelsior College to determine if such institutions will accept credits earned at Excelsior College prior to beginning classes.  The ability to transfer credits from Excelsior College to another educational institution may be very limited.  Your credits may not transfer and you may have to repeat courses previously taken at Excelsior College if you enroll in another educational institution.  You should never assume that credits will transfer to or from any educational institution.  It is highly recommended and you are advised to make certain that you know the transfer of credit policy of any other educational institutions you may in the future want to transfer the credits earned at Excelsior College before you begin classes. 

Accuracy of Information Disclosure:  Institutions with which Mid America Learning works may change policies, amounts, times or limitations without informing Mid America Learning.  Information provided on this website about any other institution is subject to change without notice.  Mid America Learning makes an effort to ensure that information is reasonably accurate at the time such information is posted, but it makes no representation, warranty or guaranty of any kind or nature whatsoever about its accuracy or truthfulness.