Going back to school has had a tremendous impact on both my professional career and personal life. The RN to MS(N) program allowed me to grow and explore other avenues that would not have been available to me in the traditional work environment. Western Carolina University opened doors to me as a student that were other wise closed.
The distance program provides a structure that connects the entire region together. No longer do our geographical boundaries separate us as students. Being connected to the entire region though your fellow student's has proven to be invaluable. It has allowed us to see not only our differences but our similarities as well.
Diane Fox RN, BSN
Owner of HealthCare Directions and RN to MS(N) student
Read the information on the RN to BSN program first to fully understand this option.
RN to MS(N) early-entry option:
Purpose: to assist selected RNs with good academic records to move smoothly through the RN to BSN curriculum directly into MS(N) study for advanced nursing roles. Normally, the student would take eight semester hours of WCU undergraduate upper-division electives to complete the BSN. These electives could be replaced with up to eight hours of WCU MS(N) graduate-level work, reducing the time needed to complete both degrees by one semester. RN to BSN students may still need to complete 3 hours of upper-division perspective while completing their undergraduate work.
Students interested in this option should consult with both their RN to BSN advisor and the RN to MS(N) advisor, Dr. Linda Comer.
Application requirements for the RN to MS(N) early-entry option:
• Admission to and enrollment in the WCU RN to BSN program.
• Completion of at least 12 of the required 24 hours of WCU RN to BSN NSG courses, with projected completion of the remaining hours before or during the semester of application to the WCU RN to MS(N) early-entry option.
• GRE submitted with acceptable scores
• Statistics course completed from any accredited institution in any discipline
• GPA of 3.00 on last 60 hours or cumulative post-secondary GPA of 2.85
• Professional statement and resume
Enrollment in the RN to MS(N) early-entry option does not guarantee admission to the MS(N) program. Admission of the RN to MS(N) applicant is provisional until the BSN is successfully completed.
If RN students are admitted provisionally to the early-entry option at WCU, this option replaces the WCU undergraduate upper-division electives needed for the RN to BSN with up to eight hours of MSN graduate credits. The BSN is then awarded by WCU. If RN students are admitted provisionally to the early-entry option at WCU but elect not to finish it, they may apply any combination of WCU undergraduate upper-division electives with WCU MS(N) graduate credits for a total of eight hours to complete the BSN. If RN students are not admitted provisionally to the early-entry option at WCU, they may still complete the BSN by taking eight hours of WCU undergraduate upper-division electives/perpectives.
Applications to the RN to MS(N) entry option are accepted 3 times a year: Feb. 15th, April 15th and Oct. 15th.
Available MS(N) tracks include:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nurse Administrator
Students interested in the RN to MS(N) program should contact Sandra Brown, Student Services Manager at: slbrown@wcu.edu