Nursing: Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator

Track Options:

• Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – MSN
• Nurse Educator – MSN
• Nursing Dual Options: Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator – MSN

The College of Nursing offers a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN). MSN graduates are ready to lead in educator and advanced practice nursing roles in health-related services to diverse populations. The MSN Program  has two program options: Nurse Educator (35 credit/semester hours) and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (43 credit/semester hours).  Both program options share a 24-credit hour core. The hybrid program is offered primarily online, but does require 1-2 on campus course meetings each semester. The program does not require a thesis. Students are required to complete a capstone paper that is typically a plan for an evidence-based intervention either in the educational or primary care practice setting. 

Admission to all program options is competitive and all qualified applicants may not be admitted. All applications must meet the admission criteria in order to be considered a complete application and to be considered for admission.

Admission Criteria

• Submission of all official transcripts directly to the Graduate School
• A Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from an accredited college or university or waiver request granted (see below)
• Nursing grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (students with GPAs lower than 3.0 may be considered for provisional/conditional admission if otherwise qualified)
• Current unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which student plans to participate in any clinical experience or received request for waiver 
• Three professional references for online recommendation form - References should be qualified to judge abilities to be successful in graduate studies

• 500 word Professional Goal Statement 

• Resume or curriculum vitae

College of Nursing Specific Admission and Progression Information

• If applicant is a student in a their final semester of a BSN program at time of application, the applicant must submit a request to the Graduate Program Director for a waiver to apply. If waiver is approved, the applicant must successfully complete the BSN Program in good standing before admission and must obtain their RN nursing license during the first semester of study. These students will be admitted as provisional/conditional until the RN Nursing license is obtained. An official transcript indicating completion of the BSN Program must be sent directly to the Graduate School and proof of RN license must be provided to the College of Nursing in order to remove the provisional/conditional status. If a waiver is granted, these applicants will be considered based on their current Nursing GPA on their current transcript.
• Students may be interviewed by the Graduate Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee and other faculty and/or community members.
• Students must complete the intent to enroll form and all compliance requirements by the deadline specified on the offer at admission or their seat may be given to another applicant. 
• Students are required to provide credentialing documentation and must complete a background check and drug screen. All credentialing documentation required by Auburn University and the College of Nursing must be completed by the deadline specified. 
• To progress through the program, all AUSON graduate students must receive a grade of at least a B in all courses. Students earning any two course grades of less than a B will be dismissed from the graduate program. 

Applicants may be asked by the College of Nursing for additional information and may be required to interview with the Director of the Graduate Program, the Graduate Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee, and/or graduate faculty.

Full-time admission is available in the summer semester only and part-time admission is available summer, fall, and spring if space is available. Courses are offered only one time each academic year, therefore, changing status from full-time to part-time may impact planned graduation dates. Application deadlines are: (1) Summer Semester- March 1, (2) Fall Semester-June 1, and (3) Spring Semester-October 1. The application is completed online and may be found on the Auburn University Graduate School webpage.

Core Courses

Nurse Educator Specific Courses

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specific Courses

• Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test if required by the department. Auburn University’s ETS institution code is 1005.
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for Management, Finance, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Accountancy programs. Auburn’s GMAT institution codes are:
• Successful international applicants must score at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper version (pBT), 213 on the computer version (cBT), and 79 on the internet version (iBT). Additionally, successful applicants must score minimums of 16 on the listening, reading, speaking, and writing components of the iBT. Auburn University’s ETS institution code is 1005. Auburn will also accept a 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

  International applicants required to submit a language test score have several options of certifying their English proficiency.

  The TOEFL or IELTS will be the only accepted language proficiency tests for admission to Auburn University Graduate School. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.

  ETS has also created the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition to meet the needs of students who are unable to take the test in a test center due to COVID-19. The test is taken on your own computer at home and is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the TOEFL iBT test taken at a test center. Visit The TOEFL Tests (ets.org) for more information.

• Up to three (3) letters of recommendation may be required by the department. Applicants should contact the department to find out, first, if letters are required. If so, how many? And how should these letters be submitted?
• International applicants must demonstrate full financial sponsorship if accepted into a graduate program, proof of a comprehensive medical insurance plan and submit an Official Statement Of Finance for International Students Form for 2023-2024. For more information, review our International Instructions.
• One official transcript of all undergraduate and any graduate credits from each school previously attended. If an Auburn University transcript, the Graduate School will acquire the transcript for you. Official electronic transcripts from domestic institutions may be sent to [email protected].
• International applicants should provide an official original language transcript and final diploma/certificate(s) accompanied by a certified English translation of each document.
• Application fee payment: $60 for domestic students; $70 for international students. The following applicants are eligible for a fee waiver:
  • Current Auburn University graduate students enrolled in graduate courses
  • Full-time Auburn University employees
  • Alabama HBCU applicants from the following schools (first 300 received per year): Alabama A&M and Alabama State Universities, Concordia, Miles, Stillman and Talladega Colleges, Oakwood & Tuskegee Universities – submit copy of school ID
  • Ronald McNair Scholars – must submit a memo from sponsoring institution
  • Florida A&M Feeders Program – must submit a memo from Faculty sponsor
  • GEM applicants – must submit a copy of their GEM application
  • Active Duty Military – with a letter confirming duty
  • Applying for an approved dual program – the second application fee is waived

  To qualify for one of the application fee exemptions, you must submit the required documentation to the Graduate School.