Online Master of Science in Nursing

Applicants to the MSN program must provide the following information for admission:

• A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or from an internationally recognized institution
• Your official transcripts, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Verification of your current, unrestricted registered nurse (RN) license to practice in the United States
• A valid, government-issued form of photo identification
• An admission application (no application fee required)
• A background check

Applicants to the RN-to-MSN program must provide the following information for admission:

• A minimum of 135 completed undergraduate quarter credits or 90 completed undergraduate semester credits
• Your official undergraduate transcripts, with a grade point average of 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Verification of your current, unrestricted RN license to practice in the United States
• A valid, government-issued form of photo identification
• An admission application (no application fee required)
• A background check

Applicants for our FlexPath self-paced learning option will be evaluated for admission with a holistic review; applicants with a GPA of less than 2.8 (recommended minimum) may be required to submit additional documents for review; contact an enrollment specialist to learn more about the FlexPath admission requirements.

GRE and GMAT are not required for admission.

• Care Coordination
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Nursing Leadership and Administration
• RN-to-MSN Care Coordination
• RN-to-MSN Nursing Education
• RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics
• RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration

Our MSN degree begins with core courses that lay the foundation for your program and strengthen your skills in key areas of nursing theory and practice. From there, you’ll move into the coursework for your chosen specialization to grow your expertise and advance toward your final project.

Inquire for more information on available degree programs in nursing. 

Capella University School of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty members have designed curricula to enable our students and graduates to impact patient, systems and population outcomes. We do this by maintaining close collaborative relationships with our colleagues in practice to ensure we are appropriately focusing on current and emerging needs. In addition, our school curriculum framework focuses all programs on developing competencies in the critical areas of interprofessional teamwork, quality improvement, evidence-based practice and information management.

Our rigorous online competency-based coursework is designed to engage the student and make learning immediately applicable. All our courses incorporate real-world assignments that reflect the challenges of the practice environment. Our goal is to give students the opportunity to demonstrate competencies using real tools, processes and practices. Learning takes place in a highly supportive environment enriched with multiple resources aimed at assisting with success.

With FlexPath, you can take courses at your own speed and move on to the next one when you’re ready. Our self-paced learning format helps put you in control.

The FlexPath learning format offers flexibility – and support – to help you fit earning a degree into your busy life. Set your own deadlines. Use what you already know to progress at your own pace. And take advantage of one tuition fee every 12-week billing session to help lower costs. Books, supplies and other fees apply.

Compare that with our GuidedPath learning format, which offers structured learning with the flexibility of 24/7 access to the courseroom. Set deadlines help you stay focused and motivated. You’ll engage with peers for weekly discussion posts, and instructors provide regular check-ins and feedback on assessments. Tuition is billed on a pay-per-credit model for 10-week courses. So, you can plan out your degree to fit your schedule and budget.

The Master of Science in Nursing offers coursework exclusively online in both GuidedPath (in all programs) and FlexPath (in select programs) learning formats, while practicum and in-person requirements are recommended to be completed in your local community.

For more information on the specific requirements of the available specializations, visit the specialization pages:

• Care Coordination
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Nursing Leadership and Administration
• RN-to-MSN Care Coordination
• RN-to-MSN Nursing Education
• RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics
• RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration

To learn more about the requirements of the MSN degree program, speak with an enrollment specialist today.

If you have an MSN and want to pursue a career in the nurse practitioner field, Capella offers the Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs. Upon successful completion of a certificate specialization, graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

MSN graduates who want to expand their leadership role in nursing while deepening their knowledge and skills related to healthcare delivery, patient advocacy and healthcare policy can pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Capella University offers degrees ranging from bachelor’s to doctorates. But what if you just need a specific class? Capella might be able to help you whether you’re looking for undergraduate or graduate courses. 

We spoke with enrollment specialists Rey Bayl and Terry Metoxen to get their insights on how individual courses work and what you can expect from the experience. Read their blog post: Yes, you can take an individual college course >>