Empower your patients to take control of their lives.
Certain populations rely on the expertise of nursing professionals more than others. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, nearly 15% of nurse practitioners practice in communities of less than 10,000 people. AANP’s survey also highlighted the fact that approximately 1 out of every 15 patients that nurse practitioners treat receive charitable care. We know how important it is to care for these populations, which is why our master’s in nursing programs focus on teaching you what to expect and how to improve their care experience.
But underserved populations aren’t the only ones at risk: So many of the issues involved with poor population health are due to poor health literacy. People often don’t know what to avoid, but they do know who to turn to when crisis strikes or chronic illness flares: nurses. But not just any nurse — advanced practice nurses who they can trust when they need relief. Give your patients more than a diagnosis when they come to see you. Empower them to play an active role in controlling their conditions and their outcomes.
At the University of North Dakota, we offer an online Master of Science with a Major in Nursing degree with two specializations so you can focus your expertise and confidently address patient needs. Earn your degree in one of these areas: Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Complete coursework 100% online
3 start dates per year — spring, summer or fall
Specialize in: F.N.P. or P.M.H.N.P.
No GMAT/GRE required
Clinical placement assistance provided
Qualify and prepare for certification exams
Why choose UND’s online Master of Science with a Major in Nursing?
Our College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines produces some of the finest nursing graduates in the nation — and has for more than 100 years. All of our programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, which reinforces our commitment to high-quality nursing education.
In 1911, UND’s distance learning programs took shape and helped aspiring professionals achieve their educational goals from wherever they lived. What started with mail correspondence has evolved into technology-based distance education. For the last 30 years, we’ve been offering technology-based distance education to CNPD graduate nursing students, which means we know how to personalize your experience and make sure you’re ready to perform in the field — wherever you decide to practice.
We’re on a mission to prepare future leaders to advance the well-being and improve quality of life for diverse populations. That’s why we offer innovative, interprofessional education. And as a trusted leader in nursing, medicine, health sciences and social services, we’d like to share our expertise to build upon yours as you pursue your online M.S. degree.
Together we can provide access to health care where it’s needed most.
Master’s Degree Program Outcomes
Upon completion, you will be able to:
- Integrate knowledge from science, humanities, theory and research into evidence-based advanced nursing practice.
- Utilize knowledge of organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement, health care technologies, and policy to ensure high quality patient care.
- Participate as members and leaders of interprofessional health care teams.
- Apply advanced nursing skills in order to plan, manage and coordinate culturally appropriate health care for patient populations.
This program meets the educational requirements for licensure in many U.S. States.
UND is recognized for quality and chosen for excellence:
The master’s degree program in nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of North Dakota are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
What can you do with your Master of Science with a Major in Nursing?
Nurses are the most trusted health care professionals in the United States,* which means you’re in a position to provide relief and understanding to a variety of patients, even entire underserved populations. Gain the skills to offer compassion to those in need and serve as an example for your community and beyond.
Earn your master’s in nursing, and you can:
- Promote ongoing health literacy
- Empower patients to take control of their lives
- Improve patient outcomes with personalized treatment plans
With an online nursing degree, you have options.
Specializing your nursing skills can mean increased flexibility, higher earning potential and greater personal fulfillment. Here are some top roles and average salaries in the field, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners:
Family Nurse Practitioner
$103,181
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
$123,170
*Gallup | **Median salary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Specialized knowledge can impact more lives.
As the number of primary care physicians has started to decrease, the role of an advanced nurse practitioner in the delivery of patient-centered care has grown increasingly important.
Quality care relies on a well-educated nursing workforce — one with specialized expertise and diverse health care industry experience. In fact, research has shown that lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors and positive outcomes are directly linked to nurses prepared at the graduate degree level.*
Learn with us, and we’ll deepen your understanding of what it means to be an advanced practice nurse today.
*American Association of Colleges of Nurses
Family Nurse Practitioner M.S.
Sharpen your ability to assess patients, order and interpret tests, establish diagnoses and manage treatment plans. Then use that knowledge to provide family-focused acute, chronic and preventive care to patients across the lifespan on a long-term basis.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner M.S.
Learn how to work with individuals, families, groups and communities to assess their mental health needs. In addition to diagnosing and treating psychiatric disorders, you can contribute to policy development, practice evaluation and health care reform.
Do more than learn from our expertise. Build your own.
Our low student-faculty ratio means you can work closely with experts in the field and graduate equipped with the insights to lead and the tools to make a tangible impact.
Admission Requirements
To qualify for the online Master of Science with a Major in Nursing program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Earn a four-year baccalaureate degree or higher in nursing from an accredited institution
- Complete coursework in statistics
- Achieve a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study
- Current unencumbered R.N. license; valid in the U.S.
- One year of work experience as an R.N. required — specialty-specific experience desired*
- Reside in a state in which the University of North Dakota is approved to deliver the graduate nursing program
In addition, you must provide the following:
- Online application and $35 nonrefundable application fee
- Official transcripts from every institution attended
- Nursys license verification report
- Professional resume or curriculum vitae
- Statement of goals (two-page summary describing professional goals and why you’ve chosen the specialty area in which you are interested)
- Three letters of recommendation**
- If enrolled in a previous graduate nursing program, a letter of good standing from program director, unless a degree was conferred
Upon offer of admission, the following will be required:
- Successful passage of criminal background check and drug screen
- Satisfaction of current health and immunization policy of the Department of Nursing
Note: An interview may be required on a case-by-case basis.
For international students:
- Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English language proficiency requirements
- International applicants who have received their bachelor’s degree or higher from a recognized institution where English is the primary language of instruction in the United States and U.S. Territories, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), England, Ireland, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Wales, Commonwealth Caribbean or New Zealand are not required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS.
*If you pursue the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specialization we require that you have one year of experience as a psychiatric nurse.
**Reference providers are notified as soon as they are added to the application and can be added before the application is submitted.
Application Deadlines
Application Deadline | Classes Begin | |
Summer 2023 | 2/28/2023 | 5/15/2023 |
Fall 2023 | 6/30/2023 | 9/5/2023 |