New York MSN Programs

Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health

Adelphi University’s College of Nursing and Public Health offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program to facilitate the transition into advanced practice nursing roles. The program offers several specialization areas:

• Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Administrator
• Nursing Educator

The Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner program prepares graduates as a Nurse Practitioner focused on caring for adult and elderly populations.

The Nursing Administrator program prepares nurse leaders who can operate in a variety of health care settings. It incorporates contemporary management theory and application with essential core competencies for nurse managers.

The Nursing Educator program prepares future educators to function in a variety of education and health care settings. Focus is placed on teaching and learning, instructional design, assessment and measurement strategies, evaluation, and curriculum development.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of New York or be eligible for licensure.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

One South Avenue
PO Box 701
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 877-4510

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American University of Beirut Rafic Hariri School of Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing program offered by American University of Beirut’s (AUB) Rafic Hariri School of Nursing is offered in four specialty areas:

• Adult Care (optional minor in Nursing Education)
• Nursing Administration
• Psychiatry/Mental Health (optional minor in Nursing Education)
• Community and Public Health (optional minor in Nursing Education)

The program requires a total of 36 credit hours. It can be completed on a full-time bases in two years or part-time within four years or less.

Applicants to the program must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from AUB or its equivalent degree from another recognized institution. The applicant’s undergraduate nursing course GPA must be a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale with a cumulative overall GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students entering the program must be licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the country of residence.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
The Debs Center, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(961) 137-4374

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Binghamton University Decker School of Nursing

Several Master of Science in Nursing programs are offered by the Binghamton University’s Decker School of Nursing. Students select a functional role as well as a specialty area. The role/specialty area combinations offered included the following:

• Adult-Gerontological Nursing (Functional roles offered include Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Administrator)
• Family Nursing (Functional roles offered include Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Administrator)
• Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (Functional role offered includes Nurse Practitioner)
• Community Health Nursing (Functional roles offered include (Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Administrator)

Both full-time and part-time study options are available

Applicants to the MSN program should hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE accredited program with a 3.0 or higher GPA. They must hold a current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse. Students should also have completed a statistics course. Applicants are strongly encouraged to have at least one year of full-time employment as an RN before entering the MSN program.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

4400 Vestal Parkway East
PO Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902
(607) 777-2311

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College of Mount Saint Vincent Department of Nursing

The College of Mount Saint Vincent’s Department of Nursing offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing program. They offer a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN Bridge program.

Those entering the RN to MSN Bridge program will complete 17 credit hours of undergraduate course work before transitioning into Master’s level nursing courses. These include undergraduate courses in General Chemistry, Elementary Statistics, Research and Theory in Nursing, Health Assessment, and a Community course that includes 5 weeks of lecture and 60 clinical hours.

Undergraduate nursing students enrolled at the College of Mount Saint Vincent can pursue an accelerated 4 plus 1 BSN/MSN program as well by working closely with their advisor.

MSN programs are offered in the following specializations/roles:

• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Administrator
• Nurse Educator

Those nurses who already hold a BSN can enroll in the program on a part-time basis.

Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge program should hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from a regionally accredited college or university. Graduates of foreign nursing schools are required to have their nursing transcripts evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). Applicants must have a current, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the State of New York.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN program should hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE accredited program with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those with lower GPAs can still enroll as a nonmatriculated student, but will be required to complete four core nursing courses with a 3.0 GPA before being matriculated into the MSN program. Graduates of foreign nursing schools are required to have their transcripts evaluated by the CGFNS. Students should hold a current, unencumbered license as a New York State RN.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

6301 Riverdale Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
(718) 405-3362

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College of New Rochelle School of Nursing

Several pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered by the School of Nursing at the College of New Rochelle. The college offers a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN pathway.

The MSN program is designed to prepare its graduates for selected roles in Advanced Practice Nursing. Students are prepared for the role of either a Family Nurse Practitioner or a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Holistic Nursing.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN program must have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those with a GPA lower than 3.0 may submit a written request for admission based on their portfolio. Those enrolling should hold a New York State license as a Registered Nurse. Completion of an undergraduate Statistics course is also required.

Applicants to the RN to MSN program should have graduated from an accredited Associate’s program in nursing or nursing diploma program. They should have completed all required liberal arts and science requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.5. They must also hold a New York State license as an RN.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

29 Castle Place
New Rochelle, NY 10805
(914) 654-5803

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College of Staten Island – CUNYDepartment of Nursing

The Department of Nursing at the College of Staten Island – CUNY offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree program to prepare nurses with advanced practice skills as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and/or a Nurse Practitioner.

Preparation for the following specializations/roles are offered through the Department of Nursing’s MSN programs:

• Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist/Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Graduates are also prepared to be a Nurse Educator.

Applicants to the MSN program should hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA in the nursing major. They should provide evidence of successful completion of undergraduate course (or the equivalent learning experience) in Statistics, Nursing Research, Health Assessment/Physical Examination, Management in Nursing, General Chemistry, and Phramacotherapeutics. Applicants should hold a current New York State license as an RN with a minimum of one year of full-time work experience as an RN (or its equivalent).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)

2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 982-3810

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Columbia University School of Nursing

Columbia University offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing through its School of Nursing.

The university offers a traditional BSN to MSN program for those RNs seeking certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse or to prepare for doctoral studies. Several specialties and subspecialties are offered including the following:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Nurse Midwifery
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Additional subspecialties that can be added to the above programs include:

• Addictive Behaviors
• Genetics in Advanced Practice
• HIV/Aids
• Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Palliative and End of Life Care
• Women’s Health

The university offers a Degree Completion BSN to MSN program for those RNs with a Bachelor’s in nursing who are already certified as an Advanced Practice Nurse. They are given up to 15 hours of credit for their APRN certification. This reduces the number of required additional credit hours to 30. The program is designed specifically for those holding certification as a Certified Nurse Midwife, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

Additionally, the Columbia University offers Direct Entry (Entry to Practice or ETP) MSN programs. These are accelerated programs designed to prepare those holding a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing for a career in nursing. There are two phases of study. The pre-licensure study phrase prepares students by developing basic competence in professional nursing. Once the student gains licensure as a Registered Nurses, they advance into the post-licensure specialty curricula to prepare the student for their chosen Advance Practice Nursing role. They are offered the same specialties and roles as the traditional BSN to MSN students.

Applicants for BSN to MSN programs must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and be registered as an RN in the State of New York.

Applicants to the Direct Entry MSN programs must hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and must already have completed certain undergraduate courses including Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Statistics, and a few courses in Social/Behavioral Sciences and Humanities. They must also score satisfactorily on the Graduate Review Exam. Additional courses may be required for specific specializations.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

630 West 168th Street
Mail Code 6
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-5756

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Daemen CollegeDepartment of Nursing

The Department of Nursing at Daemen College offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree: a traditional MSN to BSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN accelerated pathway. It should be noted that students graduating from the RN to MSN program will not receive a BSN in addition to the MSN.

BSN to MSN programs are offered in the following specialty roles:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Education
• Nursing Executive Leadership

Only the Adult Nurse Practitioner program can be pursued by students entering via the RN to MSN pathway.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN program must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale from all colleges/universities attended (those with lower GPAs can be admitted on a provisional basis). They must also have completed a Statistics course with a grade of “C” or better. Students must hold New York State licensure as a Registered Nurse and have one year of medical-surgical clinical experience (or the equivalent).

Applicants to the RN to MSN accelerated program should hold a nursing diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing with a 3.25 GPA or better. They must meet all other admission requirements of the BSN to MSN program except for the possession of a Bachelor’s degree in nursing).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)

4380 Main Street
Amherst, NY 14226
(716) 839-8387

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Dominican College of Blauvelt Division of Nursing

The Division of Nursing of Dominican College of Blauvelt offers a BSN to MSN program which prepares graduates as an Advanced Practice Nurse. The program is offered to those seeking a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Most classes are held on campus in the evenings 1-2 nights per week. However, some are offered in a hybrid format with portions of the content delivered online. Nurses can continue their employment while attending school. The program requires 750 clinical hours in addition to the course work. The program must be completed within five years of entering it.

Applicants must be a graduate of a fully accredited Bachelor’s degree in nursing with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate nursing and natural science courses. Students must hold a license to practice registered professional nursing in the State of New York (or be eligible to hold same). Applicants should also have at least one year of professional experience as a licensed RN.

Note: Those without 1 year of experience or who cannot meet the GPA requirements can be admitted as conditionally matriculated students.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

470 Western Highway
Orangeburg, NY 10962
(845) 848-6051

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D’Youville College School of Nursing

D’Youville College’s School of Nursing offers several MSN programs. Programs are offered in the following specializations:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (Concentrations available in Management, Nursing Education, and Advanced Clinical)
• Informatics
• Care of the Homeless Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• Pediatrics Nursing
• Gerontological Nursing
• Adult Health Nursing

Applicants to all MSN programs must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university program. Students must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They must have an undergraduate course in Statistics as well as Computer Science (or the equivalent). Applicants should have a current license to practice professional nursing in New York State or Ontario. They must also have a current certification in CPR.

Additionally, those entering the Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program should have completed undergraduate courses in Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology (or their equivalent). It is also recommended that they have at least one year of practice as an RN.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

320 Porter Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 829-8000

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Excelsior CollegeSchool of Nursing

Excelsior College’s School of Nursing offers three Master of Science in Nursing programs. Students can choose from three specializations including:

• Clinical Systems Management
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics

The MSN programs at Excelsior can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis, but you are required to take at least two courses or 6 credit hours per enrollment year. The programs must be completed within 7 years of initial enrollment.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an approved school of nursing in their country of education. They should have a current, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse (or its equivalent if licensed in a foreign country).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)

7 Columbia Circle
Albany, NY 12203
(888) 647-2388

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Hunter College – City University of New York Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing

The Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing at Hunter College CUNY offers quite a selection of specializations for those who are seeking a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Specializations offered include the following:

• Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Clinical Nurse Leader
• Community/Public Health Nursing
• Community/Public Health Nursing and Master of Urban Public Health (dual degree)
• Gerontological/Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Administration and Master of Public Administration (dual degree)
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They should hold a current license as a Registered Nurse in New York State. Students should have completed a basic Statistics course (can be admitted conditionally and take during their first semester if this requirement has not already been fulfilled at time of application).

Note that there may be additional requirements for some specializations. The MSN in Community/Public Health Nursing programs, the Nursing Administration program, and Gerontological/Adult Nurse Practitioner program require an additional course in Nursing Research (or its equivalent).

Students applying for full-time study with at least two years of prior relevant clinical experience as well as those applying for part-time study with at least one year of prior relevant clinical experience who plan to continue to work while accumulating credits may be given preference when applying for either of the Nurse Practitioner program.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

425 East 25th Street
Room 530W
New York, NY 10010
(212) 772-4000

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Keuka College Division of Nursing

Keuka College’s Division of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing program with a specialization as a Nurse Educator. Graduates are prepared for Nurse Educator roles in a variety of clinical and academic settings.

Applicants to the MSN Nurse Educator program must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (you may be conditionally admitted if you cannot meet this requirement). They must hold a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in New York State. They must also be currently working as an RN either full-time or part-time.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Center for Professional Studies
One Keuka Business Park, Suite 208
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(866) 255-3852

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Le Moyne College Department of Nursing

The Masters of Science in Nursing programs at Le Moyne College’s Department of Nursing prepares graduates for two specialized roles:

• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Administrator

There are two pathways to earning the MSN degree at Le Moyne College. They offer a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as RN to MSN pathway.

The RN to MSN pathway is designed for those RNs with a non-nursing Bachelors degree. It requires that the student take (or receive transfer credit for) five bridge courses after which the student is awarded a certificate of completion (not a BSN). The certificate then allows the student to transition into the actual MSN program.

The BSN to MSN program itself is a 39 credit hour program consisting of 12 credit hours in core courses, 18 credit hours of course work in the chosen functional role (i.e. Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator), and 9 hours in Adult Health and Illness courses. Either MSN program can be completed with full-time enrollment in two years or part-time enrollment in three years.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN programs must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in New York State.

Applicants to the RN to MSN program must hold a nursing diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing and also hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree. They must be licensed as an RN in New York State.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

1419 Salt Springs Road
Science 217
Syracuse, NY 13214
(315) 445-5435

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Lehman College – City University of New York Department of Nursing

The Department of Nursing at Lehman College – City University of New York offers students a BSN to MSN pathway to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The MSN is offered in several roles/specializations including:

• Advanced Nursing
• Parent-Child Nursing
• Adult Health Nursing
• Nursing of Older Adults (Gerontology)
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

The school also offers creative and individualized programs leading to an MSN with specializations as a Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Clinical Nurse, or Nurse Practitioner (Pediatric or Family).

Applicants to the BSN to MSN program at Lehman College should have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a CCNE or ACEN/NLNAC accredited program with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale on both all undergraduate courses as well as specifically all undergraduate nursing courses. They must hold a license as a Registered Nurse in the State of New York. They must also have completed a graduate level Statistics course with a 3.0 or higher grade prior to matriculation.

Note that Lehman’s web site states that if an RN has a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and would like to pursue an MSN then they should contact the department. Combined with the fact that they often create individualized MSN programs to meet the career objectives of their graduates, one might infer that they would be willing to allow such RNs to take some set of bridge courses as a non-matriculated student initially and that once the bridge programs are completed that they might matriculate the student. In other words, it appears that they are open to setting up a customized RN to MSN bridge program.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
T3-201
Bronx, NY 10468
(718) 960-8799

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Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus School of Nursing

Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered through the School of Nursing at the Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. They offer both an RN to MSN Bridge pathway as well as a BSN to MSN pathway.

The RN to BSN pathway is designed for Registered Nurses with an Associate’s degree in nursing who would like to earn both a BSN and MSN degree. The program is a 160 credit hour program leading to a BSN and an MSN in the specialty role of Adult Nurse Practitioner.

The school also offers traditional BSN to MSN programs in the following specializations/roles:

• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Educator

The programs are all offered in a blended format. The Adult Nurse Practitioner MSN program requires 41 credit hours of course work and 600 clinical hours. The Family Nurse Practitioner program requires 49 credit hours of course work and 900 clinical hours. The Geriatric Nurse Practitioner program requires 43 credit hours and 600 clinical hours. And the Nurse Educator program requires 36 credit hours of course work and 60 clinical hours.

Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge program (Adult Nurse Practitioner specialization) must be licensed in the US and at least eligible for licensure in New York State as a Registered Nurse. Them must hold an Associate’s degree in nursing with a 3.0 GPA in both all science and all nursing course work. Applicants should have at least one year of current clinical experience, but they prefer two years.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN programs are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a CCNE or ACEN/NLNAC accredited program with a 2.5 or higher overall undergraduate GPA and a 3.0 or higher GPA on all nursing courses. They must be licensed as an RN in New York State. Applicants should have completed baccalaureate course in Health/Physical Assessment, Statistics, and Nursing Research. They should have at least one year of current clinical experience (two year are preferred).

Note that applicants to the MSN/Nurse Educator program can have the required one year of clinical experience waived.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

One University Plaza, HS401
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 488-1011

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Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus Department of Nursing

The Department of Nursing at the Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus offers two Master of Science in Nursing programs. The programs are offered in the following two specializations/roles:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Education

The Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program is a 46 credit hour program. It is designed for part-time students to be completed in 6 semesters. Graduates are eligible to sit for the New York State Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam as well as to become national board certified through national certifying agencies for advanced practice nursing.

The Nurse Educator MSN program is a 33 credit hour program designed to be completed in five semesters of part-time study and one summer session. The program prepares graduates to teach in nursing programs at the LPN, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and even Master’s levels. They are also prepared to serve as staff educators in various health care facilities.

Applicants are required to possess a current New York State license as a Registered Nurse with one year of clinical experience preferred. It is recommended that they candidates have an undergraduate Research course. Though the programs are designed for those who hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, applicants with non-nursing Bachelor’s degrees will be considered. They must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Note that candidates for the Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program are required to have an undergraduate course work in Health Assessment.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

720 Northern Boulevard
Brookville, NY 11548
(516) 299-3065

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Mercy College Department of Nursing

Mercy College’s Department of Nursing offers two pathways to the Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN Bridge pathway.

Those RNs with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field can enter via the RN to MSN Bridge pathway. Students entering the bridge program will be required to complete a series of bridge courses with a “B” or above in each course. Once they have met these and all other requirements of the BSN to MSN program, they can be fully matriculated into an MSN program.

The MSN programs are offered in two specialization areas:

• Nursing Administration
• Nursing Education

The degree programs usually take two years to complete. They are designed to allow students to attend on a full-time or part-time basis. Both MSN programs can be completed in a classroom setting or online.

Both the Nursing Administration and Nursing Education programs are 36 credit hour programs. Students take 12 credit hours of core course work and 24 credit hours applicable to their specialization. 120 practicum hours are required for each specialization.

Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge program must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. and hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN program must be licensed as an RN in the U.S. and hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a professionally accredited program.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

555 Broadway
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
(914) 674-7875

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Molloy College Division of Nursing

Molloy College’s Division of Nursing offers a variety of Master of Science in Nursing programs. The MSN specializations available include the following:

• Nursing Education
• Nursing Administration with Informatics
• Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner

The number of credits required by the programs range from 42 to 48 hours depending on the specialty area.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a professionally accredited program (those from non-accredited programs are considered on an individual basis). They must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.7 with a 3.0 or higher GPA across the upper half of their undergraduate work). They must have a current New York State license as a Registered Nurses. One year of clinical nursing experience is required prior to beginning work on specialization courses. For candidates to the Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist programs, this experience must be recent.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

1000 Hempstead Avenue
Rockville Centre, NY 11571
(516) 678-3656

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Mount Saint Mary College Division of Nursing

The Division of Nursing at Mount Saint Mary College offers two Master of Science in Nursing degrees for those seeking to become a Nurse Practitioner. The MSN program is typically completed in 2.5-3.5 years from matriculation.

MSN program specializations offered include:

• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner

Students in both programs take 15 credit hours of core advanced practice nursing classes.

Those students in the Adult Nurse Practitioner program are required to take an additional 27 credit hours in their specialization for a total of 42 credit hours. 500-600 hours of precepted clinical practice is also required. After graduating, students are qualified to sit for the national certification exam in Adult Health.

Students in the Family Nurse Practitioner program must take an additional 30 credit hours in their specialization for a total of 45 hours of credit. Additionally, 600-700 hours of precepted clinical practice is also required. Completion of the program qualifies the graduate to sit for the nation certification exam in Family Health.

Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE accredited program with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must have a valid New York State license and current registration. Students must have satisfactory completion of undergraduate Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health/Physical Assessment courses. They must also demonstrate computer literacy.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

330 Powell Avenue
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845) 569-3225

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New York University College of Nursing

New York University’s College of Nursing offers two pathways to the Master of Science in Nursing degree: a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN Bridge pathway.

Regardless of the pathway by which students enter, they are offered programs in the following areas of specialization:

• Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Acute Care
• Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Primary Care
• Advanced Practice Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
• Advanced Practice Nursing: Mental Health Nursing
• Advanced Practice Nursing: Pediatric Nursing
• Nurse-Midwifery
• Nursing Administration
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics

Applicants to all MSN programs are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (or an Associate’s degree in nursing plus a non-nursing Bachelor’s if entering via the RN to MSN pathway) with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. They must have a New York State nursing license prior to starting their course work. Before beginning their specialty courses, they must have at least one year of full-time clinical experience as an RN. They must also have completed undergraduate courses in both Statistics and Nursing Research.

Note that though they do not state it specifically, applicants with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree entering the MSN program through their RN to MSN Bridge pathway will almost certainly be required to complete some set of undergraduate bridge courses as well as meeting all other MSN admission requirements prior to being fully matriculated into the graduate program.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

726 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 998-5300

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Pace University Lienhard School of Nursing

Students at Pace University’s Lienhard School of Nursing can enter their MSN program via a traditional BSN to MSN pathway, an RN to MSN bridge pathway, or a Direct Entry pathway.

Pace offers a specialized program for those seeking certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The program requires 42 credit hours of course work. An additional 60 lab hours and 660 precepted clinical hours are also required to complete the Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program.

The RN to MSN Bridge program is designed for Registered Nurses with a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. By completing a series of undergraduate bridge courses including Statistics, Nursing Research, and Matrices of Nursing Practice, the student can matriculate into the graduate nursing program.

The Direct Entry MSN pathway is for those with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree who are not currently RNs but would like to pursue nursing as a career. Through the completion of 50-52 undergraduate credit hours in nursing plus a 3 hour elective, students are awarded a BSN, and can be matriculated into the MSN program.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

861 Bedford Road
Lienhard Hall, Room L-28
Pleasantville, NY 10570
(914) 773-3341

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Roberts Wesleyan College Department of Nursing

There are two Master of Science in Nursing programs offered by the Department of Nursing at Roberts Wesleyan College. They offer specializations in:

• Nursing Education
• Nursing Leadership and Administration

Applicants to the MSN program at Roberts Wesleyan College should hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited program (or the equivalent) with an cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students should also have completed a course in statistics with a “B-” or higher grade. Candidates must hold a license as a professional Registered Nurse within the U.S., its territories, or Canada (other licensure evaluated on an individual basis). They should also have the equivalent of one year of full-time employment as an RN.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

2301 Westside Drive
Rochester, NY 14624
(585) 594-6686

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Saint Joseph’s College of Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing degree programs available through Saint Joseph’s College of Nursing prepares graduates for advanced nursing careers in three specialty areas:

• Nursing Administration
• Nursing Education
• Family Nurse Practitioner

They offer a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN Bridge pathway.

The MSN in Nursing Administration is a 42 credit hour program. It can be combined with either a Master of Health Administration or a Leadership MBA degree in a dual degree program. Graduates are qualified to sit for the national Nurse Administration certification exam.

The MSN in Nursing Education is a 42 credit hour program. It can be combined with a Master’s in Education to earn dual degrees. Graduates are qualified to sit for the national Nurse Educator certification exam.

The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner is a 48 hour program. It requires that the student also complete 600-720 supervised clinical hours. Students must receive a grade of B or higher in each FNP course in order to remain in the program.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE accredited program with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. They must have completed an undergraduate Statistics course.

Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge program should be Registered Nurses and hold not only an Associate’s degree in nursing or a nursing diploma, but also a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Note that an audit of all previous course work and experiences will be conducted. And based on the audit, the student will be required to take one or more undergraduate bridge courses before being fully matriculated into the MSN program.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)

206 Prospect Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13203
(315) 448-5040

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St. John Fisher College Wegmans School of Nursing

The Wegmans School of Nursing at St. John Fisher College offers MSN programs in several specialization areas including:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist Maternal/Child
• Clinical Nurse Specialist Adult/Gerontology
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Educator

All programs require 20 hours of core course work as well as a Master’s project or thesis. Courses are offered on weekdays in the evenings.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist programs require an additional 20 credit hours of specialty course work in either Adult/Gerontology Health or Maternal/Child Health as well as 500 hours of precepted clinical practice.

The Family Nurse Practitioner program requires an additional 27 credit hours of course work and 600 hours of precepted clinical practice.

The Nurse Educator program requires an additional 17 hours of specialty course work which includes 3 education courses. Students can choose a an Adult/Gerontology focus or Maternal/Child focus.

Applicants to the MSN program should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited program. Students must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health/Physical Assessment with grades of “B” or higher. Candidates must provide evidence of current licensure as a professional Registered Nurse in New York State.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

3690 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 385-8472

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State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing

The College of Nursing at SUNY Downstate Medical Center offers several MSN programs. The programs include the following specializations:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Nurse Midwifery
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Applicants to the MSN programs should hold a BSN from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting organization. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred. Students must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health/Physical Assessment with a grade of “B” or better in each course. Candidates must hold a New York State license as a Registered Nurse. One year of clinical experience is preferred post baccalaureate.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

450 Clarkson Avenue
Box 22
Brooklyn, NY 11203
(718) 270-7600

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State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica-Rome Department of Nursing and Health Professions

The Department of Nursing and Health Professions at SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica-Rome offers a variety of Master of Science in Nursing programs. MSN degrees are offered in the following specialty areas:

• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Administration
• Nursing Education

Applicants to the Master’s program must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE accredited program with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the last 30 hours of undergraduate or graduate level course work. Students must have completed a course in Statistics. Candidates must be licensed or eligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse in New York State and have completed a minimum of one year of full-time work experience as an RN.

Note that applicants entering any of the Nurse Practitioner programs must also have completed an undergraduate Health Assessment course within five years of registering for NUR 566.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

100 Seymour Road
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 792-7500

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State University of New York Upstate Medical University College of Nursing

SUNY Upstate Medical University’s College of Nursing offers a traditional BSN to MSN pathway and an RN to MSN pathway. MSN programs are offered by Upstate Medical University in the following specializations/roles:

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist

Applicants to the RN to MSN program may enter with only a nursing diploma or Associate’s degree. They will be required to complete an additional 60 hours of course work prior to matriculation.

Applicants to the RN to MSN who have a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field can be matriculated into the MSN program once they have completed five undergraduate bridge courses in Health Assessment, Statistics, Management in Nursing, Nursing Research, and Community Focused Nursing.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN programs are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (higher GPAs may be necessary to compete for admission). They should also hold a current New York State license as an RN as well as current CPR certification. Work experience as an RN is not required. The GRE is not required.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 464-4277

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Stony Brook University School of Nursing

A traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN pathway is offered by the School of Nursing at Stony Brook University for entry into their Master of Science in Nursing programs. Through a clinical practice portfolio review, nurses who hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree can be matriculated into the MSN program if they can prove Bachelor’s level competencies based on their clinical experience.

Stony Brook University offers graduate nursing students entering their MSN program several specializations/roles including:

• Nursing Education
• Nurse Midwifery
• Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Perinatal/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

All programs are offered in a Distance Learning format with some on-site requirements. The Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner program can also be taken completely on-site.

Applicants to the MSN programs must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (except those with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree entering via the RN to MSN pathway and a clinical practice portfolio review) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They should have also completed undergraduate courses in both Statistics and Health/Physical Assessment. Candidates must hold a current professional RN license. A minimum of one year of recent relevant experience is preferred.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Health Science Center
101 Nicolls Road
Stony Brook, NY 11794
(631) 444-4000

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The Sage CollegesDepartment of Nursing

The Sage Colleges’ Department of Nursing offers both a traditional BSN to MSN pathway and an RN to MSN pathway.

They offer programs with a wide variety of specializations/roles. The specialization/role combinations available to students entering the program include:

• Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Community Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Health Nurse Educator
• Community Health Nurse Educator
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Educator
• Adult Health Nurse Administrator/Executive
• Community Health Nurse Administrator/Executive
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Administrator/Executive

The programs above require 39-49 credit hours for completion (those with a previous Master’s can complete a 2nd Master’s with fewer credits – as few as 30 credit hours). Students can complete them on a full-time or part-time based over 2-7 years.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN programs should hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program (or international equivalent). Those entering via their RN to MSN pathway should hold both a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and an Associate’s degree in nursing (these students are admitted to the program provisionally with additional requirements). A 3.0 or higher GPA on all undergraduate work is preferred, though some candidates with slightly lower GPAs may be admitted on a provisional basis. Students must have completed an undergraduate Statistics course within three years of being admitted to the MSN program. Candidates taking clinical courses must hold a current licensure as an RN and current CPR certification.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

45 Ferry Street
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 244-2384

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University at Buffalo, State University of New York School of Nursing

The School of Nursing at University at Buffalo, SUNY offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree program with a specialization in Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems. The program prepares graduates to assume middle and upper level management positions in various health care systems and settings.

Applicants to the program must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing with an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (if below a 3.0, applicants are required to take either the GRE or MAT exam). Candidates must possess an unencumbered Registered Nurse license in the U.S.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

3435 Main Street
103 Wende Hall
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 829-2537

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University of Rochester School of Nursing

University of Rochester’s School of Nursing offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree: a traditional BSN to MSN pathway, an RN to MSN Bridge pathway, and an accelerated Direct Entry MSN program.

Students who are not currently RNs but would like to become a nurse can enter the university’s Direct Entry MSN program (called the Accelerated Master’s Program for Non-Nurses/AMPNN program) provided they have a Bachelors degree in a non-nursing field. Through AMPNN, non-nurses can earn their BSN in one year of generalist study and an MSN in two additional years of advanced practice study. Students admitted to the AMPNN program are accepted to an MSN Nurse Practitioner program.

Students who are currently RNs and hold a nursing diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing can enter the MSN program via the RN to MSN pathway, saving 19-24 credits depending on the specialty chosen. Students earn a BSN upon completion of 32 nursing credits assuming the Bachelor’s level arts and sciences credit requirements have been met. This allows them to earn both a BSN and MSN degree in as little as three years of study. Students accepted to the RN to MSN program are accepted to an MSN Nurse Practitioner program.

Regardless of whether students enter the MSN program via the Direct Entry MSN pathway, the RN to MSN pathway, or the traditional BSN to MSN pathway, all MSN students can choose from one of the following Nurse Practitioner specialty areas:

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Concentrations available in Cardiovascular or Critical Care)
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Concentrations available in Adult/Family Health or Child/Adolescent Health)

Applicants to the MSN program should hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program (except as noted above for the Direct Entry Bridge pathway or RN to MSN pathway) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must have completed an undergraduate course in Statistics with a grade of “C’ or higher. Candidates must hold an RN license in the U.S. or one of its territories, and have 1-2 years of clinical work experience in specific settings depending on the specialization being pursued.

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

601 Elmwood Avenue
Box SON
Rochester, NY 14642
(585) 275-2375

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Wagner CollegeEvelyn L. Sprio School of Nursing

Wagner College’s Evelyn L. Sprio School of Nursing offers a BSN to MSN pathway to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They also offer essentially an RN to MSN pathway for those Registered Nurses with a Bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing field.

The MSN program at Wagner is offered in two roles and specializations:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Educator

The Nurse Educator and Family Nurse Practitioner program require 44 and 45 credit hours for completion, respectively. Programs can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.

Applicants to the program must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (except for those entering via their the RN to MSN pathway with a non-nursing Bachelor’s which are considered for admission on a case-by-case basis). Students must have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They must have completed an undergraduate course in Nursing Research. Candidates must hold a current license asn a Registered Nurse. Those entering the Family Nurse Practitioner program must also present documentation demonstrating current clinical practice.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)

One Campus Road
Campus Hall, 3rd Floor
Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 390-3440

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