A general MS in Nursing program prepares nurses for a broader range of advanced practice roles like clinical leadership, management, or specializing in a specific clinical area, whereas an MS in Nursing Education program specifically focuses on training nurses to become educators, equipping them with the skills to teach other nurses in various settings like academic institutions or clinical environments.

In Excelsior University’s RN to MS in Nursing Education program, you earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. The entire program is 144 credits. Your time to completion depends on the amount of credit you transfer into the program and the number of courses you take per term.

The RN to MS in Nursing Education program readies you to shape the next generation of nurses and play a vital role in moving health care forward. During your bachelor’s-level education, you’ll build on your experience and go beyond the basics to make sure you’re prepared to be a critical thinker, inclusive holistic care provider, and empowered leader prepared for graduate-level education. In the master’s-level courses, you’ll gain specialized skills in curriculum development, evaluation, and education technology, as well as universal skills in communication, leadership, and critical thinking.

Nurse educators teach in academic settings, clinical settings, or a combination of both. They can find careers in educational institutions, including colleges, universities, and hospital-based schools of nursing. They can also work in staff development, program administration, and public health.

To apply to this dual-degree program, you must hold an equivalent U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) license and provide an official transcript showing the completion of an associate degree in nursing or an RN diploma education. Your associate degree in nursing or RN diploma education must be earned from a program with specialty accreditation, or a regionally accredited institution, or a program approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).