MSN
Master of Science in Nursing
About the Program
The Master of Science in Nursing Program prepares nurses for advanced specialty practice with a degree as a primary care nurse practitioner or as a nurse educator. The MSN Program is primarily online, but is considered a hybrid program, as students are required to be on campus at specific times for intensives.
Auburn utilizes a variety of state-of-the-art online and distance learning technologies and techniques to facilitate the program and enrich the student learning experience.
Important
Effective Fall 2025, students admitted in Fall 2025 and beyond will be required to be on campus for intensives each semester which include various requirements and may extend up to one week per intensive.
Overview Revisions
The Master's of Science in Nursing Program prepares nurses for advanced specialty practice with a degree as a primary care nurse practitioner or as a nurse educator. The MSN Program is primarily online, but is considered a hybrid program, as students are required to be on campus at specific times. Auburn utilizes a variety of state-of-the-art online and distance learning technologies and techniques to facilitate the program and enrich the student learning experience.
***Effective Fall 2025, students admitted in Fall 2025 and beyond will be required to be on campus for intensives each semester which will include various requirements and may extend up to one week per intensive.
Admission to the MSN Program is competitive and enrollment is limited. The MSN Program offers two tracks, the primary care nurse practitioner track or the nurse educator track.
***Effective Fall 2025: The MSN Nurse Practitioner and MSN Nurse Educator programs will implemented a revised curriculum/plan of study.
***Effective Fall 2025, full-time students will be admitted in fall semester only
Applicants applying for Fall 2025 and beyond should contact Mrs. Jennifer Edwards, Academic Programs Administrator, for more information.
Upon successful completion of the MSN Primacry Care Nurse Practitioner Program, graduates will sit for the family nurse practitioner certification exam.
The GRE is not required to apply to the MSN Program and the Graduate School will waive this requirement on the application.
*** Out of state applicants should contact the Administrator of Academic Programs at jlr0012@auburn.edu or the MSN Coordinator at rls0080@auburn.edu regarding the availability of clinicals within their state.
1. Follow the Graduate School Application Instructions
2. All items listed below need to be uploaded with your application:
Request all transcripts from every college attended to be sent directly to the Graduate School, 106 Hargis Hall Auburn University, AL 36849. Do not send transcripts to the College of Nursing.
Three professional references for online recommendation form – Choose the online option within your application. Letters will not be reviewed.
Professional Resume (uploaded with your application)
Unencumbered registered nursing license (must be located within the United States and proof of licensure uploaded with application) Applicants may upload a screenshot from the Board of Nursing website which includes name, license number, expiration date, and that there are no actions against the license.
Professional Goal Statement - This 5750 word statement will include reasons for pursuing this degree and program option, past experiences, career goals and past achievements. Keep this at a 5750 word maximum.
3. The College of Nursing Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee reviews all completed applications. You will receive an email from the College of Nursing notifying you of the admission decision which will include a letter of intent. The letter of intent should be returned by the deadline specified in the email.
4. The College of Nursing will notify the Graduate School regarding admissions decisions. The Graduate School will then notify you of that admission decision. You must log into your application and accept or decline enrollment. If you decline, the Graduate School will withdraw your application. The acceptance information letter from the Graduate School will be posted to your application and will include your Banner ID number as well as and information needed to set up activate your AU Access account and email address. Auburn email is the official method of communication once you accept enrollment and we will not use any other email address.
5. Once you have returned the College of Nursing Letter of Intent and accepted enrollment into the Graduate School, the College of Nursing will email you instructions for your next steps and compliance requirements. All requirements must be completed prior to course registration.
Applicants must have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an accredited Nursing program or approved waiver request (see College of Nursing Specific Admission and Progression below).
Applicants must provide proof of current, unencumbered RN license in the United States in the state in which you plan to participate in any clinical experiences (must show name, license number, expiration date; may upload screenshot from BON website). *** Out of state applicants should contact the Administrator of Academic Programs at jlr0012@auburn.edu or the MSN Coordinator at rls0080@auburn.edu regarding the availability of clinicals within their state. ***
Applicants must have earned a minimum Nursing GPA of 3.0 (ADN, if applicable, and BSN nursing courses used to calculate nursing GPA).
Applicants must have good academic standing from the last university you attended.
Applicants must have successfully completed (C or better) an undergraduate statistics course.
Applicants must provide three professional references for the online recommendation form. References must use the online form. Letters will not be reviewed. References should be qualified to judge your abilities to be successful in graduate studies.
Applicants must submit a Professional Goal Statement of approximately 5700 words. This statement will include reasons for pursuing this degree and program option, past experience, career goals, and past achievements. The statement will be uploaded with your application in the state application system.
Applicants must submit all official transcripts to the Graduate School, 106 Hargis Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849. Transcripts sent to the College of Nursing will not be forwarded.
Applicants must provide a current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
Applicants must complete an interview via telephone, on campus, or videoconference, if required.
Applicants must meet all criteria listed in the current Auburn University Graduate School bulletin and must meet all College of Nursing admission criteria. Applicants may be admitted under fully approved status, or under provisional or exception status. Approved admissions meet all the criteria listed for the Graduate School and any additional criteria for the department, school, or college. Provisional or exception status admission could possibly be granted for students who do not meet certain requirements for admission. Applicants admitted as provisional or as an exception will be fully admitted to the nursing graduate program only when all requirements for admission have been satisfied. Applicants admitted as provisional or as an exception who fail to satisfy all requirements for admission within the specified time period will be dismissed from the Nursing Graduate Program.
*International Applicants must follow Graduate School criteria found in the following link: Graduate School International Instructions
*For more information regarding international applicants/students, please contact Penny Christopher, Graduate School International Admissions Processing, at pzc0003@auburn.edu or 334-844-7105.
Applicants that meet all criteria (completed application and meet all above requirements) will be considered for approved admission.
If applicant is currently a student in last semester of a BSN program (at time of application), the applicant must submit a request for waiver of the BSN and unencumbered RN license admission requirements to Mrs. Jennifer Edwards, Academic Programs Administrator, at jlr0012@auburn.edu for approval by the Graduate Admissions, Progression and Graduation (APG) Committee. If waiver request is approved and applicant is admitted, the student must complete the BSN in good standing prior to enrollment and must obtain the RN license during the first semester of study. These applicants will be admitted under the exception status until the RN license is obtained. An official transcript indicating completion of the BSN must be submitted directly to the Graduate School and documentation of RN license must be submitted to AU College of Nursing before the student will be a fully approved admission. If a waiver is obtained, these applicants will be considered based on the nursing GPA on their current transcripts.
Applicants may possibly be admitted under provisional status, if otherwise qualified, if the MSN nursing GPA is less than 3.0 on 4.0 scale. Once the student has completed 9 hours of graduate credit with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, the provisional status will be removed. Failure to meet the requirement as stated will prevent progression in the College of Nursing graduate program.
The Professional Goal Statement will be evaluated using a rubric developed by the Graduate Admission, Progression, and Graduation (APG) Committee. Each statement will be evaluated by 2 graduate faculty members. Applicants to the PCNP track will have at least one NP faculty member evaluate the goal statement.
Students must complete the letter of intent form sent by the AU College of Nursing, officially accept enrollment from the Graduate School within their application, and meet all compliance requirements by the deadline indicated on the offer at admission, to remain in the program.
Students are required to provide compliance documentation and must complete a background check and drug screen. All compliance documentation, background check, drug screen, and any other requirements by Auburn University and/or College of Nursing must be completed by the deadline indicated, prior to course registration.
To progress through the program, all AU College of Nursing graduate students must receive a grade no less than "B" in all courses. Students earning any two course grades of less than a "B" will be dismissed from the graduate program.
Applications must be submitted and complete no later than the following deadlines:
Fall Semester Admission: June 1 deadline - ***International applicants should submit all required materials by March 1***
*International Applicants must follow Graduate School criteria found at the following link: International Prospective Student Instructions
*For more information regarding international applicants/students, please contact Penny Christopher, Graduate School International Admissions Processing, at pzc0003@auburn.edu or 334-844-7105.
Applicants follow the Graduate School Application Instructions
*International Applicants must follow Graduate School criteria found in the following link: International Prospective Student Instructions
*For more information regarding international applicants/students, please contact Penny Christopher, Graduate School International Admissions Processing, at pzc0003@auburn.edu or 334-844-7105.
Tuition and fees are the same for Alabama residents and out of state residents. Auburn University College of Nursing Graduate Program tuition is currently $630 per credit hour.
*There are one time clinical course fees for each of the following: NURS 7110, NURS 7330, NURS 7440, NURS 7550, and NURS 7920.
*Effective Summer (May) Semester 2025, clinical course fees will increase. The fees per clinical course will be as follows:
NURS 7110: $600 one time clinical course fee
NURS 7330: $600 one-time clinical course fee
NURS 7440: $600 one-time clinical course fee
NURS 7550: $600 one-time clinical course fee (students admitted Fall 2025 and beyond will not take NURS 7550)
NURS 7920: $600 one-time clinical course fee
Other fees may be incurred prior to enrollment and/or as you progress through the program such as, but not limited to, background check, drug screen, liability insurance, and course specific requirements.
Tuition and Fees are subject to change by the Board of Trustees at the beginning of any term.
For additional information or questions contact:
Jennifer Edwards
Administrator, Graduate Academic Programs
AU College of Nursing Graduate Programs
or
Dr. Rachael Sweeney
MSN NP Coordinator and Assistant Clinical Professor
AU College of Nursing