A nurse takes a patient's blood pressure.

Make your passion a vocation

Master of Science in Nursing

Become a Registered Nurse

In the University of St. Thomas Master of Science in Nursing program, you will be prepared to pass the NCLEX-RN© exam to earn your Registered Nurse license and enter this high-demand field. Gain the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to provide high-quality care in a variety of nursing settings.

With our MSN, you'll find a unique emphasis on whole-person health and well-being, the socioeconomic factors that impact health and health equity, gaining an interprofessional education focused on collaboration with other health professions, and advocacy for systems change.

Be prepared to find your niche in nursing, across settings in acute care, community health and public health. Start your journey today.

Why St. Thomas?

The new Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing at St. Thomas is designed specifically to help serve the health needs of diverse populations in urban and rural areas by educating nurses who respond to unique cultural needs to foster long-term health and advocate for an equitable health care system.

In our Master of Science in Nursing program, you'll enjoy:

Your coursework will focus on learning collaboration and teamwork with all members of the healthcare team. You'll develop a skillset to stand out in the field.

Nursing is so much more than acute care. You'll focus on advocacy and big-picture thinking to become a leader in nursing who advocates for a more just approach to health care.

Learn about and gain experience in acute care, public health and other community settings to find the setting where you can focus your passion for improving lives.

MSN Program Completion Pathways

Two-Year Accelerated

The MSN two-year pathway allows students to finish the pre-licensure program in just 21 months. Students can expect to take 8 to 13 credits each semester and have a majority of classes in-person during the day.

Three-Year Hybrid

The three-year program will follow the same pre-licensure course, content and structure as the accelerated program but at a pace that meets the needs of working adults. The distinction is that the 3-year program will offer a mix of in-person and online evening classes. Students can expect to take 6 to 7 credits each term.

Career Opportunities as a Registered Nurse

At St. Thomas, you’ll be prepared to site for the NCLEX-RN© licensure exam to become a registered nurse (RN) who can work in a variety of settings, including public health, community health and acute care settings:

Community health nurses focus on the health of a specific community or individuals within a defined community. They work to improve the health of communities by addressing psychosocial, physical, and socioeconomic factors that may impact quality of life. Community health nurses may find careers in community health care centers, schools, homecare, or health care facilities.
Public health nurses work to improve the overall health of communities, usually through work in government, including at the county, state and federal levels.
Acute care nurses work in facilities providing direct care to patients. These nurses may go on to specialize in a specific field like cardiac care, oncology, surgical care, and more.

The Need for Nurses

Minnesota and the United States more broadly are experiencing a nursing shortage. According to the American Association of Collegiate Nursing (AACN), the number of nurses retiring is expected to double over the next 10 years. The field of nursing needs more professionals who approach health by addressing the many factors that contribute to a person's overall health and well-being.

The number of nurses retiring is expected to double over the next 10 years.

200K

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects on average nearly 200,000 openings for Registered Nurses each year through 2030.

Who Is This Program For?

The MSN program is a pre-licensure program for those with a bachelor’s degree in something other than nursing seeking entry into nursing practice. Students graduating with an MSN will be able to provide nursing care from prevention to treatment and long-term health, and may advance into some practice roles without returning to school for a graduate degree.

Application Requirements

The St. Thomas Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing utilizes a holistic admissions process in its review of applications. Holistic review assesses an applicant’s unique experiences in addition to traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades. The review process ensures St. Thomas nursing students possess the backgrounds, skills, and qualities necessary to provide culturally responsive care that meets the needs of a rapidly diversifying patient population.

Application requirements include a review of the applicant’s academic record, resume, personal statement, and a simulated activity to assess teamwork and collaboration.

Licensure and Accreditation

The master's degree program in nursing at the University of St. Thomas is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The program is also approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Nursing’s Professional Licensure Disclosures provides a link to a document showing whether the MSN program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure in all U.S. states, districts, and territories.