Graduates are prepared for leadership and executive positions in nursing and healthcare, including organizations, the community, and regulatory environments.
program overview
The Nursing Leadership and Management concentration requires 37 credit hours and is designed to be completed in seven semesters, beginning with a fall admission. The majority of courses are held online asynchronously, allowing students the flexibility to set their weekly schedules. Students have the option to select their own clinical preceptors with assistance from a clinical placement coordinator.
Comprehensive Curriculum: Our curriculum is designed to provide a robust foundation in nursing leadership and management, covering key areas such as healthcare policy, financial management, strategic planning, and human resources.
Flexible Learning: We understand the demands of professional and personal life. Our program is 100% online courses, to accommodate working nurses.
Expert Faculty: Learn from experienced nursing leaders and educators who are dedicated to your success and committed to advancing the nursing profession.
Career Advancement: Graduates of our program are well-prepared for leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and community health organizations.
National Recognition: The MSN program is ranked No. 14 nationally in the U.S. News & World Report listing of “Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.”
Pathway to DNP: Graduates who earn the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Management degree are eligible to apply to the Post-Master’s DNP Concentration, with clinical hours obtained in the MSN program being transferable into the DNP program.
Certification Preparation: The program prepares students to sit for the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL) Certified Nurse Manager and Nurse Executive Exams with relevant experience.
“The convenience of UNCG’s MSN program has been a game-changer for me as a graduate student juggling multiple responsibilities. Being able to tailor my study schedule around my work shifts and family obligations has really helped me to be successful in this program.”
– S.P., a MSN Nursing Leadership& Management Student
Program Details
Applicants to the Nursing Leadership and Management Concentration must have or provide the following:
Current unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse in one of the fifty states or validated credentials by CGFNS for international applicants. Residents of North Carolina must hold unrestricted North Carolina licensure as a registered nurse.
Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
A satisfactory score must be achieved on the Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test taken within 5 years, if the BSN GPA is less than 3.2.
Minimum of one year clinical experience full time.
A personal statement is required for consideration of admission.
An interview is required for selected applicants.
Nonresidential international students are required to participate in a telephone interview.
Prerequisites for Admission
An undergraduate statistics course and basic health assessment course
Students must have current American Heart Association Health Care Provider Basic Life Support (AHA BLS) certification, immunizations, and other clinical requirements by the deadlines provided in the admission documents.
A criminal background check is required; information for obtaining this will be provided in the admission documents.
Evidence of all immunizations identified on Parts A and B of the UNCG Health History and Immunization Form excluding the Meningococcal vaccine.
Applicants must submit an application to the Graduate School online portal with the appropriate application fee.
Applications must include:
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Completion of the Community Standards and Campus Safety Questionnaire. The UNC System requires all applicants to answer questions regarding community standards.
A curriculum vitae or resume that contains your educational degrees and work, employment history, membership or offices in organizations, and community service activities.
A list of three academic and/or professional references. (Preferred references include (1) current or past nursing supervisors, (2) academic faculty and/or advisors, and (3) other nursing/healthcare leaders. References from peers, co-workers, or family members should not be submitted).
A personal statement must be attached to your application. Address the following questions in your personal statement:
Future professional goals in nursing and match with the program
Factors that would support your success in graduate school (academic and clinical strengths)
Factors that may interfere with your studies and strategies for overcoming them and maintaining work/life balance while in graduate school.
The priority application and final application deadlines will be announced annually.
All applicants must meet the technical standards required of all nursing students as stated in the University Catalog.
Students must have reliable internet access and other resources that support online learning, such as a laptop and basic computer literacy. Examples of software applications that will be used include Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Microsoft Teams. The courses will be delivered using a Learning Management System.
To meet the University’s requirement for full-time status, students must enroll in a minimum of 9 graduate credit hours during fall and spring semesters and 6 graduate credit hours in summer semesters.
Health insurance is required for all students enrolling in 6 or more credit hours each semester.
Explore the specific degree requirements for the Nursing Leadership & Management Concentrationin the UNCG Catalog.
Plan of study
The Nursing Leadership and Management concentration offers both full-time and part-time plans of study.
A one day in-person, on campus orientation session is required each August for NEW MSN Leadership & Management students. thereafter, all didactic classes are online. Leadership Practicum takes place in the approved site of your choosing.
Course Semester
Course Number – Course Title
Credits – Clinical Hours
Semester I – Fall
NUR 715 – Research Methods in Nursing
3 credits; 3 hours seminar/week
NUR 614 – Information Technology in Nursing Administration
3 credits; 2 hours seminar/week and 3 hours of clinical practicum/week
Semester II – Spring
NUR 641 – Leadership and Management Essentials In Healthcare: Theories and Roles
4 credits, 3 hours seminar/week and 3 hours of clinical practicum/week
NUR 540 – Financial Management in Healthcare
3 credits; 2 hours seminar/week and 3 hours of clinical practicum/week
Semester III – Summer
NUR 620 – Law, Policy, and Economics of Healthcare
3 credits; 3 hours seminar/week
Semester IV – Fall
NUR 644- Organizational Leadership and Management
4 credits; 3 hours seminar/week and 3 hours of clinical practicum/week
NUR 609 – The Role of Nurse Leaders in Advanced Quality and Safety
4 credits; 2 hours seminar/ week and 6 hours of clinical practicum/week
Semester V – Spring
NUR 607 – Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Negotiation
3 credits; 2 hours seminar/ week and 3 hours of clinical practicum/week
NUR 601 – Critique and Utilization of Research in Nursing Administration
2 credits; 2 hours seminar/week
Semester VI – Fall
NUR 645 – Strategic Management of Healthcare Organization
4 credits; 2 hour seminar/week and 6 hours of clinical practicum/week)
Semester VII – Spring
NUR 646 – Nursing Administration Practicum
4 credits; 1 hour seminar/week and 9 hours of clinical practicum/week
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Students are allowed to transfer up to 1/3 the minimum number of credits required for the program. The time the course(s) was taken may affect the 5-year completion requirement for your MSN degree. For example, if you started a graduate program but never completed it three years ago, and now want to transfer credits from that program, then the five year time clock for completing your MSN at UNCG would begin at the time that you took the other courses you are asking to transfer to UNCG (three years ago). Finally, before a course can be approved for credit transfer, a copy of the syllabus, and any additionally requested information, must be submitted to the program director. This is to determine if the course is similar enough in nature that the student would not miss out on important information included in our program.
Students need to complete the FAFSA to apply for financial aid. The FAFSA needs to be completed annually. Students would also need to complete the scholarship application each year. Learn more about available Spartan Scholarships.
The program is designed for part time study. Full time status is 9 credit hours per semester and part time is 5 credit hours per semester. The MSN concentrations are designed so that students who enroll each fall progress through the program as a cohort, taking two courses (usually 6 credit hours) most semesters. Courses in the MSN program are only offered once a year. Students who opt to take only one course during any semester will still progress, but time to graduation may be delayed.
Our MSN and Post Baccalaureate Certificates (PBC) are 100% online. The application process, student advising, and access to the UNCG library are online. Therefore, there is no requirement to be on campus.
If you earned a GPA of 3.2 or greater from your accredited BSN program the GRE or MAT exam requirement is waived. For a GPA less than 3.2, the GRE or MAT is required.
Clinical experiences are required in the MSN and PBC programs. Students identify their own preceptors for clinicals, based on qualifications and guidelines established by the SON.
The Post-Master’s DNP program at UNCG is accredited for Advanced Practice RNs (APRN). Students who have completed the MSN Nursing Leadership and Management concentration are eligible to apply to the DNP Post-Master’s program. MSN Education graduates who are interested in pursuing the post-master’s DNP program are encouraged to complete the PBC in Nursing Leadership and Management, which will make them eligible to continue for the Post-Master’s DNP.
Yes, students with an MSN, DNP, PhD, as well as a BSN may enroll in a PBC program.
There are several criteria that must be met for students outside of North Carolina to enroll in the MSN programs. Students must reside in, hold and agree to maintain a current unencumbered RN license from a Nurse Licensure Compact State for the duration of the program. The students must also reside in a state that is compatible with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Master of Nursing in Nursing Leadership and Management programs are quickly becoming the new standard for nurses who want to become leaders in the demanding and fast changing world of health care. UNCG’s MSN Nursing Leadership and Management concentration prepares nurses to meet these demands through challenging course work and mentoring from clinical preceptors skilled in real-world leadership.
Yes, the 540 hours of clinical experience in the MSN Nursing Leadership and Management concentration fulfills half of the required clinical hours for any DNP program, whether at UNCG or any other accredited DNP program.
Connect with us
For general questions about the program, please reach out to:
Cynthia Bacon,PHD, RN, CNE, NE-BC
Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) and MSN Leadership & Management Concentration Coordinator 336-334-4648
