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.

Marquette nursing students studying together

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
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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

CourseDescriptionCredits
NURS 6011Health Assessment & Fundamentals I3
NURS 6013Health Assessment & Fundamentals II2
NURS 6003Essentials for Nursing Practice3
NURS 6015Pharmaco-therapeutics for Nursing Practice 3
NURS 6030Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice3

Semester Two – 16 Credits

CourseDescriptionCredits
NURS 6005Concept and Interventions for the Promotion of Mental Health Theory3
NURS 6007Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy3
NURS 6201Nursing Concepts and Interventions, Adults/Older Adults I Theory3
NURS 6500Family-Centered Nursing Care of Children Theory3
NURS 6970Nursing Care for Patients with Chronic Conditions Clinical4

Semester Three – 16 Credits

CourseDescriptionCredits
NURS 6010Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing3
NURS 6100Community and Population Health Nursing 3
NURS 6202Nursing Concepts and Interventions, Adults/Older Adults II Theory3
NURS 6700Maternity Nursing and Women’s Health Theory3
NURS 6971Nursing Care for Patient with Acute Conditions Clinical4

Semester Four – 16 Credits

CourseDescriptionCredits
NURS 6000Theoretical Foundations of Nursing3
NURS 6032Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice3
NURS 6244Health Promotion Across the Lifespan3
HEAL 6825Quality and Patient Safety in Health Care3
NURS 6973Professional Nursing Practice Clinical4

Semester Five – 13 Credits

CourseDescriptionCredits
NURS 6009Organizational and Systems Leadership3
HEAL 5901Palliative Care3
HEAL 6835Informatics, Technology, and Professional Issues3
NURS 6976Transition to Nursing Practice4

*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

CourseDescriptionCredits
Summer TermN6030  
N6003  
N6015  
Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice
Essentials for Nursing Practice
Pharmacotherapeutics for Nursing Practice
3
3  
3
Fall TermN6011 
N6013 
N6007
Health Assessment & Fundamentals I
Health Assessment & Fundamentals II
Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy
3

3
Spring TermN6010 
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

CourseDescriptionCredits
Summer TermH6835
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

3
Fall TermN6000 
N6500 
N6700
Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
Family-Centered Nursing Care of Children Theory
Maternity Nursing and Women’s Health Theory
3
3
3
Spring TermN6971  
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

CourseDescriptionCredits
Summer TermN6973 
N6032  
N6100
Professional Nursing Practice Clinical
Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Community and Population Health Nursing
4

3
Fall TermN6976 
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.