Alternate Entry Master of Science in Nursing (AE-MSN) Leadership in Diverse Settings (LeaDs)

The Foundation Year: The AE program is designed to satisfy RN licensure requirements and train students in advanced practice and specialty nursing roles. The first year of the program is an intensive, full-time series of foundation courses. The AE-MSN Foundation Year (Pre-Licensure) Courses (PDF) are accelerated, specially designed graduate courses. These courses include content and experiences required to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and are required for graduate-level study in nursing. All foundation courses must be completed before students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The sequence of AE foundation courses begins in the first summer session of the program, and full-time enrollment during the foundation sequence is required.

Master’s Coursework: After passing the NCLEX-RN and obtaining their RN license, students are eligible to work as an RN in Texas only. The second and third years of the program focus on the coursework required for the Master of Science in Nursing degree in the student's chosen concentration area. The MSN degree is typically awarded in the spring of the third year. After degree completion, the RN license can be endorsed outside of Texas.

1. Accept responsibility and accountability for the ethical practice of nursing at an advanced level.
2. Critically apply theoretical perspectives, teaching/learning principles, and evidence-based knowledge from nursing and related sciences to professional nursing practice across healthcare environments.
3. Systematically and comprehensively investigate complex issues encountered in nursing practice to promote optimal health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, populations, and systems.
4. Advocate for patients, families, caregivers and communities to access healthcare services and to preserve and promote health.
5. Lead initiatives that contribute to the delivery of safe, high quality, person-centered health care with considerations for social, ethical, legal, economic, environmental, epidemiological, systems and policy issues.
6. Use advanced communications skills to facilitate stakeholder collaboration to optimize health and healthcare delivery.
7. Use relevant information, technologies, and communications and informatic processes that informs advanced nursing practice to improve healthcare outcomes for individuals, families, communities, populations, and systems. 
8. Practice in an advanced nursing specialty (e.g., leadership) or advanced practice nursing role.
9. Engage in self-reflection and personal development activities that contribute to life-long learning, leadership development and resilience.

All students interested in applying for graduate study in Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin must meet the admission requirements established by the University’s Graduate School and the School of Nursing. Applicants are expected to be graduates of accredited colleges or universities. Below are the minimum requirements for admission.

Below are the minimum requirements for admission:

• Degree: Bachelor’s degree in an area other than Nursing.
• GPA: 3.0 (4.0 scale) or comparable GPA in completed upper-division work (junior- and senior-level courses) and graduate work.
• Recommendations: 3 required and 1 reference must be from a healthcare professional. Written recommendations are not accepted.
• Prerequisites: Completion of AE Prerequisite Courses (PDF).  See pdf for completion time requirements and policies.
• Statement of Purpose
• Curriculum Vitae/resume

*Applicants to the AE-MSN program are encouraged to have volunteer or work experience in a healthcare related field.

Any person applying for formal admission to the AEMSN program must submit the Graduate School Application for Admission and following materials by the October 1 deadline. 

Application for Admission

Complete the online application using the Graduate School Application for Admission and pay the application fee. The application is only open between August 1st and October 1st. The online application is data entry only. All supporting application documents are uploaded on the My Status page after the application is paid and submitted.

*Recommendation: Complete online application, at minimum, 2 weeks before the October 1 deadline ensuring all documents are provided by the application deadline.

Supporting Documents

1. Official transcripts with a print day of one year or less, from all post-secondary colleges or universities attended, including community colleges.
   See AE-MSN LeaDs Application Checklist (PDF) for transcript upload procedures.
2. Curriculum Vitae: include educational background, professional experience, volunteer experience and other relevant information (e.g., publications, scholarship and awards, professional organizations, and community activities).
3. Personal Statement: Maximum two (2) pages. Readable font, 12-point, double spaced, 1-inch margins
4. Recommendation: 3 required / 3 maximum
   1. Using our secure, personalized form, three (3) professional recommendations that attest to the applicant's academic ability, professional competency and personal character must be submitted electronically by each recommender.
   2. One reference must be from a healthcare professional, a nurse, physician, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.
   3. Written recommendations are not accepted.
5. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores taken within the past two years (for International Applicants only). 
   1. See the International Students webpage for English language requirements.
6. Alternate Entry Prerequisite Checklist (PDF) informs the admissions committee details regarding the applicant’s prerequisite courses. The form must be fully completed and signed.

Visit the Graduate Admissions webpage for additional information.

For additional details on how to prepare your graduate application materials and personal statement instructions, please view the AE-MSN LeaDs Application Checklist (PDF).

All materials must be submitted electronically to the MyStatus page which is available approximately 48 hours after submitting the online application.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, applicants must complete 24 credits (grade C- or better) of prerequisite coursework from an approved institution.

1. Anatomy with lab (4 credits)
2. Physiology with lab (4 credits)
3. Microbiology (3 credits)
4. Pharmacology (3 credits)
5. Human Growth and Development Through the Lifespan (3 credits)
6. Nutrition (3 credits)
7. Statistics (3 credits)

Prerequisite Policies 

• A grade of “C-” or higher must be earned in all prerequisite courses.
• Applicants MUST complete a minimum of 5 prerequisite courses by December 31st of the year applied. 
  • Human Anatomy and Microbiology must be two of the five courses. 
• Final grades for any prerequisite courses in progress during the fall admissions semester must be provided by the second week in January. 
• *Applicants MUST have completed Human Anatomy with lab, Human Physiology with lab, and Pharmacology courses within the past 6 years from the anticipated AE program enrollment date. 
• All 7 prerequisite courses must be completed before ENROLLING in the AE program. Therefore, if admitted, one to two courses can be completed in the spring before starting the program. 
• All prerequisite courses can be completed in a distance learning format. 
• All prerequisite courses are subject to approval by the Graduate Student Services Office. 

Review the common approved Prerequisite Course Equivalencies (PDF) for local and distance learning courses.

Prerequisite Transcript Evaluations are recommended. Contact Graduate Student Services at nugrad@nursing.utexas.edu, for additional information.

The School of Nursing Graduate Admissions and Progression Committee (GAPC) begin preliminary admission reviews after the October 1st deadline. All application materials must be submitted by the program’s application deadline; files that remain incomplete will not be reviewed or acted upon by GAPC.

If admitted, applicants will be notified of the admission decision by early February. Decisions are communicated in the following ways:

1. Offers of admission are sent via email by the School of Nursing.
2. Official e-letters from the Graduate and International Admission Center notifying you of the admission decision of the Office of Graduate Studies are available on the application Status Check page.

Acceptance by the School of Nursing and the Graduate is necessary before enrollment is permitted. Please be aware, if admitted, completion of all compliance requirements is required at least one month before the first day of class.

NOTE: Email is the official means of communication for all university business.

If not admitted, applicants will be notified by the Graduate Admissions Office.

Please email Graduate Student Services Office if you have questions about the admission process.

All files are in PDF format.

• AE Prerequisite Courses
• AE Prerequisite Checklist
• AE-MSN LeaDs Application Checklist
• AE-MSN FAQs
• AE-MSN Foundation Year (Pre-Licensure) Courses
• Professional and Technical Standards for Nursing Practice