Nursing: RN to MSN Pathway

To be admitted to the RN to MSN program at UNCP, you must meet these requirements:

 

Basic Eligibility

• Hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing from an approved program
• Have an unencumbered RN license to practice in North Carolina
• One year of nursing practice is recommended

 

Academic Requirements

• Meet the undergraduate catalog's minimum requirements
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate studies
• Complete 25 hours of RN-BSN coursework before or during your application semester to the MSN program

 

Application Process 

Submit your application to UNCP’s School of Graduate Studies < Admissions > How to Apply > Graduate Students >  in the semester before MSN Enrollment. Your application will include:

• Competitive scores on the GRE or MAT (waived if GPA is 3.5 or higher, and scores must be from within five years)
• Three letters of recommendation, with two from individuals holding a master’s degree in nursing
• A resume or curriculum vitae
• A statement of purpose explaining your experience and goals for graduate study
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• Be ready for an interview if requested (may be by phone)

 

Note: Admission to the RN-MSN Pathway does not guarantee acceptance into a specific MSN specialization.

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Prerequisite Course Requirements

To join the RN to MSN program, you must complete most of the required prerequisite courses before admission. All general education courses must be completed before applying to the MSN program.

 

• You can take these courses at UNCP or any accredited college or university
• Credits are accepted if you earned a C or higher
• There is no expiration date for general education credits

 

Required Courses

You must complete all but 15 credits before admission:

 

• English Composition: 3 credits
• Arts/Humanities (Fine Art, Literature, History, or Logic): 12 credits
• Social Sciences (Economics, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, or Political Science): 9 credits
• Biological Sciences (Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology): 12 credits
• Natural Sciences/Math (Chemistry and College Math): 11 credits
• Statistics (Math, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or Criminal Justice): 3 credits
• Physical Education: 1 credit
• NUR 2020: 1 credit
• Electives: 8 credits

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We’re here to make transferring as smooth as possible for you. Here’s everything you need to know about prerequisites, transcript reviews and what transfers to UNC Pembroke.

H4: 1. Choose the Right Checklist

Use a course checklist to see required courses.

Use the RN-BSN Checklist if you have:

• An associate degree in applied science
• No prior degree

Use the Second-Degree Seeking Checklist if you have:

• An associate degree in arts or science
• Any bachelor's degree

H4: 2. Check Which Courses Will Transfer:

Use the Transfer Course Equivalency Tool:

• Select your state, college and course subject
• Compare your results to the RN-BSN or Second-Degree Seeking Checklists above

H4: 3. Submit Your Transcripts for Review

• Apply and get admitted to UNC Pembroke
• Your transcripts will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions and Registrar’s Office
• Transfer coursework will be added to your UNC Pembroke transcript after orientation

Note: Transcript reviews are not available before admission or orientation

H4: Special Circumstances

I already have a bachelor's degree. What courses do I need to take?

1. Review the Second-Degree Seeking Checklist 
2. Once admitted, contact the McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing for a second-degree audit to determine which courses you still need

A course didn’t transfer in. Why?

If you feel like a course you have taken previously should transfer to UNC-Pembroke, you will need to provide a copy of that course's syllabus to the chair or department head of the equivalent department at UNCP.  The department head will make the final determination for transfer courses.

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Are you ready to teach the next generation of nurses? The Nurse Educator Track prepares you to teach in nursing programs, staff training and community health education. You’ll develop skills to create and lead effective learning programs. With two years of teaching experience, you can also qualify for the NLN Nurse Educator certification exam.

More About this Track

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If you’re passionate about improving community health, this track is for you. You’ll focus on coordinating care and managing cases to help rural populations achieve better health outcomes. This program prepares you for leadership roles in health care settings. After gaining experience, you'll be able to pursue case management certification.

More About this Track

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