Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Application Deadline: November 1 for fall admission    
Application Available: September 1    
Program Start: Fall, once a year only    
Length of Program: 2 years full-time    
Degree Awarded: Master of Science in Nursing    
Part-Time Study Available? YES    
Distance Learning Available? Not at this time

About the MSN

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to provide the opportunity for advanced study in select areas of nursing science, professional foundations, related sciences, and modes of systematic inquiry related to advanced and specialized professional nursing practice. This program requires students to have a current Registered Nurse license and hold either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or a non-nursing baccalaureate degree and an Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma. If you do not meet this requirement, please review the Alternate Entry MSN program information.

MSN Concentration Areas

MSN students can choose from one of the following concentration areas on which to focus:

• AG CNS
• FNP
• PCPNP
• PMHNP
• LeaDS

Advanced Practice Nursing (APN): Visit Advance Practice Nursing to learn about APN programs.

Aging & Health Portfolio: Visit College of Liberal Arts: Texas Aging & Longevity Center to learn about Aging & Health Portfolio.

MSN Resources

MSN Objectives

The graduate of the master's in nursing degree program is expected to have acquired the following objectives:

1. Accept responsibility and accountability for practicing 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 in diverse health care environments.
3. Systematically and comprehensively investigate complex issues encountered in nursing practice to promote optimal health outcomes for diverse patients, families, and communities.
4. Advocate for patients, families, caregivers and communities to preserve health and to access healthcare services.
5. Propose and lead courses of action related to social, ethical, legal, economic, environmental, epidemiological, or policy issues that contribute to the delivery of safe quality health care.
6. Use advanced communications skills to optimize health and healthcare delivery.
7. Use relevant data and technology to inform advanced nursing practice to improve healthcare outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and systems.

Admission Requirements

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.

1. Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree OR Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma AND a non-nursing bachelor’s degree (BS/BA)
2. GPA: 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or comparable GPA in upper-division work (junior- and senior- level courses) and in any graduate work completed
3. **GRE: The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within the last 5 years, is required for ALL applicants, there are no exceptions.    
   **The GRE testing has temporarily been waived from the 2023.24 application process for all Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.
4. Recommendations: 3 required
5. Statement of Purpose
6. Curriculum Vitae/resume
7. Nursing License: Current Texas RN licensure or a license from "Nurse Licensure Compact" state, if admitted.
8. RN Experience: Applicants to the FNP program must have two-years full-time RN experience by the application deadline.

Application Procedures

All students applying for formal admission to the Master’s and PhD programs must complete the online application and submit the following application materials by the November 1 deadline.

Application for Admission

Complete online application for admissions and pay application fee at ApplyTexas.org. The application is only open between September 1st and November 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 prior to the November 1 deadline, ensuring all documents provided by the application deadline.

Supporting Documents

1. Official transcripts dated one year or less, from all four-year institutions attended.
2. Official transcripts dated one year or less, for Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN), if applicable. 
   1. See MSN Application Checklist (PDF) for transcript upload procedures.
3. **Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores taken within five years of the intended program start date. University code 6882, no department code required. (Recommendation: Complete the GRE exam two weeks prior to the application deadline.) 
   **The GRE testing has temporarily been waived from the 2023.24 application process for all Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.
4. Curriculum Vitae/resume.
5. Personal Statement: Maximum two (2) pages. Readable font, 12-point, double spaced, 1-inch margins
6. Recommendations: 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. Written recommendations are not accepted.
7. 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.

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 MSN Application Checklist (PDF).

All materials are to be submitted electronically to the My Status Check (available approximately two days after online application submission) after completion of the application on ApplyTexas.org. All materials must be submitted electronically to the MyStatus page that is available approximately 48 hours after the ApplyTexas.org application submission.

Acceptance to Graduate Programs in Nursing

The School of Nursing Graduate Admissions and Progression Committee (GAPC) begin preliminary admission reviews after the November 1^st deadline. All application materials are required to 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 March. 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 both the School of Nursing and the Office of Graduate Studies are necessary before enrollment is permitted. Please be aware, if admitted, completion of all compliance requirements are required at least one month prior to 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 GIAC only.

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

Forms/Documents

All files are in PDF format.

• MSN Application Checklist
• MSN FAQs