Direct Entry MSN Curriculum
Our Direct Entry MSN program is offered in two formats and lengths, namely a 5 or 8-semester Direct Entry MSN with curriculum delivered in a predominantly hybrid format at our Pleasant Prairie program site or a predominantly campus-based format on the main campus in Milwaukee.
While these programs can be intense learning experiences, you can expect to receive a quality education from instructors who care about your success and are driven to work with you to provide the necessary tools and resources to excel.
The full-time, 5- and 8-semester programs are composed of three essential elements:
- Nursing theory courses, to be completed either predominately online (for Pleasant Prairie cohorts) or predominately in-person (for Milwaukee cohorts)
- On-site skills labs, clinical simulations, and exams that will allow you to continue developing your nursing techniques
- Clinical rotations in top health care facilities
Over the course of both of our Direct Entry MSN program format options, you will complete 75 credit hours, which include extensive lab work and clinical practice hours at different health care facilities.
5-Semester Direct Entry MSN Curriculum Overview: 75 Credits
Semester One – 14 Credits
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 6011 | Health Assessment & Fundamentals I | 3 |
| NURS 6013 | Health Assessment & Fundamentals II | 2 |
| NURS 6003 | Essentials for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 6015 | Pharmaco-therapeutics for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 6030 | Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
Semester Two – 16 Credits
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 6005 | Concept and Interventions for the Promotion of Mental Health Theory | 3 |
| NURS 6007 | Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy | 3 |
| NURS 6201 | Nursing Concepts and Interventions, Adults/Older Adults I Theory | 3 |
| NURS 6500 | Family-Centered Nursing Care of Children Theory | 3 |
| NURS 6970 | Nursing Care for Patients with Chronic Conditions Clinical | 4 |
Semester Three – 16 Credits
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 6010 | Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 6100 | Community and Population Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 6202 | Nursing Concepts and Interventions, Adults/Older Adults II Theory | 3 |
| NURS 6700 | Maternity Nursing and Women’s Health Theory | 3 |
| NURS 6971 | Nursing Care for Patient with Acute Conditions Clinical | 4 |
Semester Four – 16 Credits
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 6000 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 6032 | Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 6244 | Health Promotion Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| HEAL 6825 | Quality and Patient Safety in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 6973 | Professional Nursing Practice Clinical | 4 |
Semester Five – 13 Credits
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 6009 | Organizational and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| HEAL 5901 | Palliative Care | 3 |
| HEAL 6835 | Informatics, Technology, and Professional Issues | 3 |
| NURS 6976 | Transition to Nursing Practice | 4 |
*NOTE 6035 may be replaced starting summer 2024; this is still waiting approval.
This Direct Entry MSN curriculum has been assembled to ensure each semester builds on skills in an effective manner to form practice-ready nurses. To learn more about our Direct Entry MSN program, contact an admissions adviser today. They can answer any questions you may have and guide you throughout the application process to ensure that qualified students will be able to take part and earn their master’s degree.
8-Semester Direct Entry MSN Extended Option Curriculum Overview: 75 Credits
Year 1 – 26 credits
| Course | Description | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term | N6030 N6003 N6015 | Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice Essentials for Nursing Practice Pharmacotherapeutics for Nursing Practice | 3 3 3 |
| Fall Term | N6011 N6013 N6007 | Health Assessment & Fundamentals I Health Assessment & Fundamentals II Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy | 3 2 3 |
| Spring Term | N6010 H6825 N6005 | Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing Quality and Patient Safety in Health Care Concept and Interventions for the Promotion of Mental Health Theory | 3 3 3 |
Year 2 – 29 credits
| Course | Description | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term | H6835 N6970 N6201 | Informatics, Technology, and Professional Issues Nursing Care for Patients with Chronic Conditions Clinical Nursing Concepts and Interventions, Adults/Older Adults I Theory | 3 4 3 |
| Fall Term | N6000 N6500 N6700 | Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Family-Centered Nursing Care of Children Theory Maternity Nursing and Women’s Health Theory | 3 3 3 |
| Spring Term | N6971 N6202 N6244 | Nursing Care for Patient with Acute Conditions Clinical Nursing Concepts and Interventions, Adults/Older Adults II Theory Health Promotion Across the Lifespan | 4 3 3 |
Year 3 – 19 credits
| Course | Description | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term | N6973 N6032 N6100 | Professional Nursing Practice Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice Community and Population Health Nursing | 4 3 3 |
| Fall Term | N6976 N6035* N6009 | Transition to Nursing Practice Advanced Health Care Assessment Organizational and Systems Leadership | 3 3 3 |
*NOTE 6035 may be replaced starting summer 2024; this is still waiting approval.