Are you considering the pursuit of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree at a college or university in Arkansas? Perhaps you have career goals that can be only be achieved with an MSN. Or perhaps this advanced degree in nursing is just another step toward a bigger goal of earning a DNP or PhD in Nursing. Regardless, we can help with your search. Below you will find a list of schools in “The Land of Opportunity” offering nationally accredited MSN degree programs.
Arkansas Tech UniversityDepartment of Nursing
Arkansas Tech University’s Department of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. The MSN program is designed to prepare Registered Nurses (RN) in Nursing Administration and Emergency Management. The program requires 39 credit hours for completion. Most courses are offered fully online though some classes require one or two meeting on campus each semester.
Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally (NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE) accredited program with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. They must have completed a course in Statistics. Students must submit recent scores for either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Candidates are required to hold an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
402 West O Street
Dean 224
Russellville, AR 72801
(479) 498-2832
University of ArkansasEleanor Mann School of Nursing
The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a specialization as a Nurse Educator. The program is delivered online and can be completed in fours semesters plus one summer if enrolled full-time. The program must be completed within six calendar years of enrollment.
Those seeking entry into the program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program. They must have completed courses in Health Assessment and Statistics. Students must hold a current unencumbered RN license.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
606 North Razorback Road
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-3907
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing
The College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN Bridge pathway and a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN Bridge program is designed for Registered Nurses who also hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. Students entering the program complete an orientation class and three undergraduate clinical bridge courses totaling 16 credit hours before progressing into the MSN coursework. . No BSN is conferred.
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Administration
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
They also offer a Nurse Educator specialization but only as a double specialty with one of the above.
Those entering the RN to MSN Bridge program must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program as well as a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. Those entering via the BSN to MSN program are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally accredited program. All other requirements are the same regardless of entry pathway.
Students seeking entry via both pathways must have a GPA of 2.85 or higher on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. Those with GPAs between 2.5 and 2.84 may apply for conditional admission. Students must have completed courses in Statistics and Health Assessment. Candidates must hold an unencumbered license as an RN in Arkansas or a compact state. Students must have at least 2000 hours of experience working as an RN prior to registering for Advanced Health Assessment, clinical specialty, or nursing administration practicum courses.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
4301 West Markham Street, Slot 529
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 686-5374
University of Central ArkansasDepartment of Nursing
Two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered by the Department of Nursing at the University of Central Arkansas. They offer an RN to BSN/MSN pathway and a traditional MSN pathway.
MSN programs are offered in the following roles/specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Nurse Leader
Applicants to the RN to BSN/MSN program are required to have a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN accredited program. Those graduates from programs not accredited by the NLNAC/ACEN will be considered on a case-by-case basis. They must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Students must have completed all non-nursing prerequisite courses with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Candidates must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as an RN in Arkansas. Those who earned their diploma or Associate’s in nursing more than a year ago are required to have at least 1000 hours of nursing employment within the last year.
Applicants entering via the traditional MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC/ACEN accredited nursing program with an overall GPA of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale or a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 credit hours earned. Students must have completed course in Statistics with a grade of “C” or higher. GRE scores must be submitted. Applicants must hold a current and valid, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse. Candidates should have one year of direct care nursing experience within the last three years before enrolling in clinical courses.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
(501) 450-3119