The Empire State University School of Nursing and Allied Health offers a multi-award BS in Nursing and MS in Nursing degree to prepare graduates for practice in complex and evolving healthcare environments. The academic content of the program focuses on achieving core competencies identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021) and National Academy of Medicine (2021) for nurses to reduce health disparities, achieve health equity, and promote well-being.

In this program, students earn both a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a Master of Science degree in Nursing Education or Nursing Administration. This flexible, comprehensive, and evidence-based program is designed for part-time study and can be completed in three to four years depending on specialization. SUNY Empire has an established infrastructure for distance education which supports this fully on-line program. Students complete their clinical practicum experiences in their local communities.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the RN to MS in Nursing program, students must:

• Have an associate degree from an accredited nursing program with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Possess an active, unencumbered NY state registered nurse license.
• One year working experience as a registered nurse.
• Be able to pursue college-level work (as evidenced by essay).
• Demonstrate capacity to develop graduate level academic skills.

The nursing program gives preference in the admission decision to candidates residing within New York state.

Application Requirements

To apply for the RN to MS in Nursing degree program, you must submit:

• An online application and a 500-word essay. Guidelines are provided in the online application.
• An official transcript sent directly from the institution where you earned your A.A.S degree or diploma.
• One letter of recommendation from current supervisor.
• Copy of an active, unencumbered NY state registered nurse license.
• Show completion of an associate degree in nursing with a minimum 3.2 GPA.

Curriculum

The combined RN-MS in Nursing degree program is designed for working registered nurses who wish to earn their BSN and MSN degree at the same time. For part-time students, the program can be completed within four years. Students progress through the program by completing 4-8 credits per term. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.2 and must successfully complete 140-143 credits for the RN to MS in Nursing Education or Nursing Administration degree program. Students will be awarded the B.S.N. and the M.S. in Nursing degree at the completion all degree requirements.  

Please visit the B.S. in Nursing catalog pages and the M.S. in Nursing Education or M.S. in Nursing Administration catalog pages for more information about each program.