Nursing, M.S.N.

Cathy R. Taylor, Dean, College of Health Sciences
Martha Buckner, Associate Dean of Nursing
Linda Wofford, Interim Director, Graduate Studies in Nursing
Erin Shankel, Interim FNP Coordinator

Faculty: Loretta Bond, Steven Busby, Jeannie Giese, Laura Gray, Leslie Higgins, Elizabeth Morse, Erin Shankel, Sarah Thompson, Linda Wofford, Dave Wyant.

Belmont offers an MSN in advanced clinical practice, specializing in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) role. Nursing education at the master’s level builds upon baccalaureate nursing preparation. Program courses and content are organized to facilitate the progression of student learning from that of baccalaureate generalist to that of a specialist. The curriculum has two dimensions: core and specialization. Core courses include Theory, Research, Statistics, Clinical Information Systems, and Issues, Policy, and Economics. Specialty courses prepare students for primary care clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner.

Academic Policies

Policies and Procedures for Admission

A. Minimum Admission Requirements

1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited baccalaureate-granting institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from all undergraduate coursework. A student may transfer up to six graduate hours from another institution upon the recommendation of the Graduate Admissions and Progression Committee. Transfer courses taken more than 5 years prior to application are not accepted.
2. Proof of a current RN license from the student’s state of residence and/or practice. A Tennessee RN license or a license from a state that is in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is required for clinical experiences in Tennessee.
3. A completed application file (per the Application Steps below). Applications will be received until a class is filled and applications will be received until a class is fill and will be open until at least June 1 for fall entry. Candidates are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible, as it may take 6 or more weeks to complete the application and for all credentials to be received and verified through the centralized application service (NursingCAS).

Application Steps 

1. Create an account for your online application at www.nursingcas.org.
2. Log in to your application and complete all sections as directed.
3. As part of your application, enter all previously completed (and yet to be completed) college courses (you will need a copy of transcripts from all colleges attended to do this).
4. As part of your application (in the Colleges Attended section), download Transcript Request Forms for each college attended to arrange for an official transcript to be sent to NursingCAS.
5. As part of your application, complete all sections in the Program Materials area. Click on each tab at the top of the program page for instructions.
6. Submit your completed application to NursingCAS with the appropriate program designated.
7. Wait to hear from Belmont University via email regarding the status of your application. Update your application file as necessary.
8. If selected to interview based on a preliminary review of your credentials, come to campus during one of the Friday interview days listed above. Plan to be available on the interview day for up to 3 hours, typically beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Pre-enrollment Checklist

Once accepted, candidates must complete the following requirements before enrolling:

1. $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit by a specified deadline after acceptance, applied to first semester tuition
2. Final official transcript of BSN degree sent directly to Belmont University, if not previously submitted through NursingCAS
3. RN licensure information, if not already submitted at time of application
4. A background check, as directed by the School of Nursing, with favorable results
5. Required immunizations
6. Proof of health insurance coverage

If any of these requirements are not satisfied, admission to the program may be rescinded.

International Applicants

1. International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official TOEFL scores (required minimum of 550 PBT or 80 iBT) or by successful completion of ELS Language Center Level 112.
2. International applicants with college level course work from foreign institutions must have their transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service such as World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Joseph Silny & Associates (www.jsilny.com).
3. In order to be issued an I-20 for the desired entry term, international applicants must be admitted no later than June 1 in order to begin enrollment in the fall.

B. Admission to Courses for Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students currently enrolled in the Belmont RN-BSN program, and who are within six (6) hours of completing their degree, are eligible to take graduate courses as non-degree seeking students. These courses may not be used as hours toward the undergraduate degree. These students may take up to six (6) hours of graduate coursework prior to completion of the BSN degree. Students with a BSN degree are eligible to take 6 hours of graduate coursework as non-degree seeking students.

C. Limitation on Completion of Requirements

A graduate student in the master’s program must complete all degree requirements within a six (6) year period. Time limits shall be computed from and will include the first semester of credit applied to the degree program.