Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing Online
For nurses with an Active RN License - This online degree program is a flexible, convenient program designed to meet the growing demand in the healthcare workforce. It allows you to expand your professional options and go farther, faster with advanced skills that are in high demand.
Apply by:
8/7/25
Start class:
8/21/25
Program Overview
Why our 100% online RN to MSN program stands out
Our RN to MSN online nursing degree prepares you to take on upper-management and leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings. This online Master of Science in Nursing program also saves you money and time by allowing you to earn both BSN and MSN credit for certain courses. You will be required to take 9 fewer credit hours in this program than you would if you earned your RN to BSN and your MSN separately.
Lamar University offers two tracks within the RN to MSN, MSN in Administration and MSN in Education.
In this online RN to MSN program, you will:
- Gain core knowledge, clinical skills and innovative healthcare practices that empower you to make a meaningful impact on the quality of patient care
- Expand your knowledge of healthcare policy, patient education and health promotion
- Learn how to implement advanced technology, nursing research, and evidence-based practices that create optimal and efficient care delivery
- Gain core knowledge, clinical skills and innovative healthcare practices that empower you to make a meaningful impact on the quality of patient care
- Expand your knowledge of healthcare policy, patient education and health promotion
- Learn how to implement advanced technology, nursing research, and evidence-based practices that create optimal and efficient care delivery
Career outcomes for the RN to MSN program include:
- Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
- Clinical Research Nurse (CRN)
- Public Health Nurse (PHN)
- Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
- Executive Nurse Leader (ENL)
- Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
- Clinical Research Nurse (CRN)
- Public Health Nurse (PHN)
- Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
- Executive Nurse Leader (ENL)
Total Tuition
$27,320*
Duration
As few as 36 months
Credit Hours
58
*Price includes distance learning fee. Please contact one of our Enrollment Services representatives to learn more about the total program cost.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and program certificates in nursing at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, are accredited through 2025 by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Contact ACEN by mail at 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, by phone at 404-975-5000 or visit acenursing.org.
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
The following is the tuition breakdown for students pursuing our Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing online program. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Program* |
|---|---|---|
| RN to MSN | $346 | $27,320 |
*University fees are included in the tuition listed. University fees are able to be covered by Financial Aid if you choose to apply and are qualified.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.
Ready to get started on your degree program online but need help finding ways to fund your education? We can help you discover student financing sources that include grants, loans and other payment options. Learn more about financial aid here.
Tuition breakdown:
Total Tuition
$27,320*
Per Credit Hour
$346
Admissions
Being admitted to our RN to MSN online program
The Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
- Submit your application and one-time $25 application fee online
- Associate Nursing Degree or Diploma
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Current RN License
Admission Requirements:
- Online application and application fee of $25
- Applicants should follow the instructions for ApplyTexas, selecting Online Campus, then the correct degree code (Registered Nurse to BSN - ONLINE DEGREE) and the semester in which the student wants to enroll
- Official transcripts from all high schools and colleges/universities attended
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree (AASN or ADN) or diploma in nursing from an approved program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA overall
- If the grade point average is between 2.85 and 2.99, students may be admitted on a conditional basis
- Students will be allowed to enroll in the first nine (9) credit hours of nursing courses
- Students must pass each course with a “B” or better to progress in the RN-MSN track. See the Lamar University Graduate Catalog for more information regarding GPA status and academic probation.
- If the student is unsuccessful in achieving a “B” or better, he/she will be removed from the Dishman School of Nursing RN-MSN track
- Current unencumbered, verifiable Registered Nurse (RN) license from any state in the United States covered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- Provisional admission is available for students who have graduated from an approved program but have not yet obtained full licensure as a RN. Provisional admission allows students to enroll in non-practicum courses over two compressed semesters while obtaining full licensure.
Send all required documents to:
Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710
OR
Submit electronically to luadmtran@lamar.edu
Search every day for your reason for being and you will find it.
Dr. LeAnn J. Chisholm, Lamar University Faculty
View Dr. LeAnn J. Chisholm's profile »Courses
A look at the online RN to MSN curriculum
Below are required courses in addition to BIOL 2420 Microbiology, BIOL 2401 A&P I, BIOL 2402 A&P II and 3 electives. Once the BSN is conferred, students do not need to reapply for admission to the MSN program.
NURS 4316: Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the assessment phase of the nursing process across the lifespan. Students perform comprehensive patient-centered holistic health assessments to identify health promotion, risk assessment, and disease prevention behaviors. Prerequisites: BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, and BIOL 2421 with a grade of C or better.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the components of a holistic patient-centered health assessment across the lifespan
- Identify selected evidence-based outcomes for health promotion, risk assessment, and disease prevention across the lifespan
- Show the effects of the environment and multiple determinants on patients’ health
NURS 4540: Nursing Practice: Care of Communities
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 5
Focuses on concepts needed to provide safe, holistic, and compassionate client-centered nursing care to diverse clients, families, populations, and communities in multiple settings from a global perspective by incorporating theories, evidence-based practice outcomes, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment. Explores multiple determinants of health status and healthcare, cultural and ethical influences, sources of health information, local, state, national and global health issues and related health promotion/disease prevention, maintenance, restoration, and population risk reduction outcomes among clients, families, populations, and communities. Incorporates research findings and current public health practices related to the community into evidence-based nursing practice. NURS 4321 (or MSNC 5310), NURS 4391 (or MSNC 5311), and NURS 4316. Co-requisites: None Companions: None
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Model holistic and system-based interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare that addresses the multi-dimensional needs and community risks of diverse and vulnerable populations across the lifespan within legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks and implications to nursing practice
- Promote healthy communities by assessing resources, including the impact of current client technology and informatics, on the delivery of safe, caring, and compassionate interprofessional and intraprofessional care in the community
- Evaluate strategies to advocate for and influence healthcare policy, social justice, and health equity on behalf of clients, families, populations, and communities
NURS 4620: Nursing Practice: Compromised Multiple Health States
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 6
Explores advanced concepts of compromised multiple health states in the care of adult patients and families. Emphasizes and demonstrates the developing role of the professional nurse, including patient advocate and a member of the interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare team using clinical reasoning and judgment skills to provide safe, compassionate, holistic, multidimensional nursing care. Course integrates a systems-based approach, informatic technology, nursing theory, research, and evidence-based practice as a foundation of patient-centered care. Focus is on adult patients with compromised multiple health states and their families. Prerequisites: NURS 4321 (or MSNC 5310), NURS 4391 (or MSNC 5311), and NURS 4316. Co-requisites: None Companions: None
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply nursing theories influencing the holistic/multidimensional needs of adult patients with chronic disease and compromised multiple health states in order to promote health, provide restorative and supportive care, and the clinical prevention of disease
- Develop a plan of care using evidence-based standards of care and integrated findings from structured and unstructured data collection tools for patients with chronic disease and compromised multiple health states
- Develop teaching plans for adult patients and families dealing with chronic disease, compromised multiple health states, and hospice or palliative care considering safety and cultural, spiritual, ethnic, and social diversity
NURS 4550: Nursing Practice: Leadership and Management in the Healthcare System
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 5
Explores coordination of safe, ethical patient/client-centered care as a member of the interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare team. Introduces theories of leadership and management practices including the organization, planning, staffing, directing, and controlling of resources within the healthcare system in an ever-changing global society. Focuses on the role of the professional nurse as healthcare planner, leader, and manager. Prerequisites: NURS 4321 (or MSNC 5310), NURS 4391 (or MSNC 5311), and NURS 4316. Co-requisites: None Companions: None
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate nursing leadership and management principles using clinical reasoning and judgment to plan quality and culturally sensitive care for diverse populations
- Identify processes for developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based quality standards and system-based practices in the provision of healthcare services and patient advocacy
- Use nursing management tools, technologies, and informatics in the provision of safe effective patient/client centered care as interprofessional and intraprofessional members of the healthcare team
MSNC 5310: Theoretical Foundations
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examine theoretical foundations guiding advanced nursing practice. Prerequisites: Permission
MSNC 5311: Nursing Research
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analyze research methods, focusing on formulating a practice-related research problem, searching the literature, research design, sampling, and evaluation of research instruments, data collection strategies and analysis of data. Students are expected to analyze and critique research literature for scientific merit, and to discuss the practical application of scientific findings for practice. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310.
MSNC 5319: Advanced Nursing Issues & Health Policy
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will analyze professional, social and workplace issues related to the advanced nursing role within the context of health care policy and a diverse health care system.
MSNC 5310: Theoretical Foundations
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examine theoretical foundations guiding advanced nursing practice. Prerequisites: Permission
MSNC 5311: Nursing Research
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analyze research methods, focusing on formulating a practice-related research problem, searching the literature, research design, sampling, and evaluation of research instruments, data collection strategies and analysis of data. Students are expected to analyze and critique research literature for scientific merit, and to discuss the practical application of scientific findings for practice. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310.
MSNC 5319: Advanced Nursing Issues & Health Policy
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will analyze professional, social and workplace issues related to the advanced nursing role within the context of health care policy and a diverse health care system.
MSNC 5395: Evidence-Based Project I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students in this course will develop a proposal using research methods to investigate a problem. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310, MSNC 5311 with a minimum grade of C in each.
MSNC 5396: Evidence-Based Project II
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will allow students to implement a project proposal and disseminate outcomes. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310, MSNC 5311 & MSNC 5395
MSNA 5344: Population Health for Advanced Nursing Roles
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on healthcare at the aggregate and community level within the context of reducing health disparities and promoting equity and inclusion. Students will participate in a proposal for a health education program to improve population outcomes. Students will apply principles of nursing leadership that will enable them to deliver effective and safe patient care to diverse populations.
MSNA 5300: Business Principles for Nurse Leaders
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examine business principles important to nurse leaders such as financial and strategic management, communication and interprofessional collaboration, systems-based leadership skills, and professional ethics.
MSNA 5221: Nurse Leader Practicum I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Apply midlevel change and systems theory for planning and organizing healthcare delivery through a preceptored experience.
MSNA 5232: Nurse Leader Practicum II
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Apply quality improvement models to work with human resources in a healthcare organization through a preceptored experience.
MSNA 5320: Role Development for Nurse Administrators
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Role expectations, including core role accountabilities and professional standards of practice for nurse leaders in healthcare organizations in a global environment will be examined. Students will focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives to create high performance organizations and improve practices and outcomes.
MSNA 5321: Strategic Plan in Healthcare Delivery
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Use midlevel change and systems theory as the foundation for planning and organizing healthcare delivery. Emphasis is placed on analysis of the mission, philosophy, strategic planning and organizational structures.
MSNA 5323: Health Information Systems for Nurse Leaders
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines technology as it applies to the role of Nurse Administrator. Students will explore current trends and issues in the application of concepts related to nursing informatics and healthcare technology in nursing practice.
MSNA 5331: Quality Resource Management for Nurse Leaders
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Use quality improvement models as the foundation for directing and controlling healthcare delivery. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of human resources and budgeting processes.
MSNE 5254: Education Practicum I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This practicum course provides the nurse educator student the opportunity to incorporate
teaching/learning theory and strategies to educational instruction of diverse learners in an academic setting. Experiences will focus on integrating skills in teaching, evaluation, and the curriculum process. Students will exhibit role-specific competencies of the nurse educator in collaboration with an approved preceptor and/or faculty member.
MSNE 5255: Education Practicum II
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
In this practicum course, the student will apply measurement and evaluation concepts to educational instruction. Examine course, level, and department components within the context of an academic or hospital education system. Students will exhibit role-specific competencies of the nurse educator in collaboration with an approved preceptor and/or faculty member. Prerequisite: MSNE 5254.
MSNE 5330: Advanced Health Assessment
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
of advanced assessment across the lifespan. Students will incorporate evidence-based assessment
strategies to evaluate health and safety outcomes of patients as it relates to the nurse educator role.
MSNE 5349: Advanced Pathophysiology
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in evidence-based principles of advanced pathophysiology in diverse populations as it relates to the nurse educator role.
MSNE 5350: Role Development and Learning/Teaching Theories
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of the nurse educator role. A variety of teaching and learning theories will be evaluated along with a wide selection of instructional methodologies appropriate for the higher education setting and/or staff development.
MSNE 5351: Curriculum Design
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will integrate knowledge and skills in measurement and evaluation of classroom and practicum instruction. .
MSNE 5352: Measurement & Evaluation
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will integrate knowledge and skills in measurement and evaluation of classroom and practicum instruction.
NUTR 1322: Basic Nutrition
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to nutrition including functions, sources, characteristics and recommended intake of nutrients; digestion; absorption and metabolism; special needs during various phases of the life cycle; diet therapy and patient assessment, education, and counseling.
PSYC 2315: Lifespan Development
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes major aspects of psychological development through the life span. Aspects of development examined in the course will include cognitive, physical, social, moral, linguistic, and emotional change through childhood, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and older adulthood. Areas of focus include psychosocial, biological, and physical influences on psychological development. Normal processes of child and adult psychological development will be emphasized.
General Education Core Curriculum
English – 6 hours required
History – 6 hours
Math – 6 hours
Political Science – 6 hours
Communication – 3 hours
Creative Arts – 3 hours
Language, Philosophy and Culture – 3 hours
Social Behavioral Science – 3 hours
ARTS 1301: Art Appreciation
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introductory course emphasizing the understanding and appreciation of visual arts (painting, sculpture, and architecture).
ENGL 1301: Composition I
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic forms of expository writing. Frequent themes. Collateral reading in articles and essays of a factual and informative type.
COMM 1315: Public Speaking
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles and practices of public speaking.
COMM 1321: Business and Professional Speech
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Application of the fundamentals of speech production to the needs of the professional person. For non-communication majors only.
ENGL 1302: Composition II
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Forms of expository and analytical writing. Topics from composition suggested from wide reading in at least two of the three genres: prose fiction, poetry, and drama. Research paper required.
ENGL 2322: British Literature
Duration: 8 null weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The study of six-to-ten major works of British literature dating from its Anglo-Saxon origins to the present. Prerequisite: ENGL 1301 and either ENGL 1302 or 1374; or ENGL 1360 and 1361 Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
ENGL 2326: American Literature
Duration: 8 &15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Six to ten major works of American literature, including both the 19th and 20th centuries.
HIST 1301: U.S. History I 1763 to 1877
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
United States history from the revolutionary period through reconstruction.
HIST 1302: U.S. History Since 1877
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
United States history from the post-reconstruction period to the present.
HIST 2301: Texas History
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Texas history from the beginning to the present time.
MATH 1314: College Algebra
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A beginning course in the study and application of polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations. Students will learn how to solve polynomial, rational and absolute values equations and inequalities, function notation, exponential and logarithm functions and solve systems of equations.
MATH 1342: Elementary Statistics
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Non-calculus based introduction to statistics, statistical measures of data, statistical description of data, elementary probability, random variables, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, testing hypotheses.
MUSI 1306: Music Appreciation
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of music. Covers the major style periods from the Renaissance to the present with emphasis on the development of basic listening skills and critical thinking. Requires attendance at instructor-specified recitals or concerts.
PHIL 1370: Philosophy of Knowledge
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A survey of major knowledge systems with an emphasis on the scientific and humanistic methods of inquiry. Prerequisite: ENGL 1301
POLS 2301: Introduction to American Government I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The national and Texas constitutions; federalism; political socialization and participation; public opinion and interest groups; parties, voting, and elections.
POLS 2302: Introduction to American Government II
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The legislative, executive, and judicial branches and the bureaucracy; policy formulation and implementation including civil rights and civil liberties, domestic and foreign policies.
PSYC 2301: General Psychology
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introductory survey of the major areas of psychology such as learning, personality, social, testing, developmental and physiological. Emphasis is on psychology as the scientific study of behavior and includes both human and animal behavior.
PSYC 2317: Introduction to Statistical Methods
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Statistical concepts and techniques used in behavioral science research. Topics include graphs, measure of position, central tendency and dispersion, correlation and regression, probability, tests of significance and basic non-parametric techniques.
SOCI 1301: Introduction to Sociology
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An overview of major subjects in sociology, including sociological perspective, culture, social interaction, social stratification, gender, race and ethnicity, social groups, organizations, family, religion, population, urbanization and social changes.
**The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, The Institute of Medicine, 2010.
Students are required to begin with MSNC 5310 Theoretical Foundations as their first nursing course in this track and may be taken with or before NURS 4316 Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment. NURS 4316 Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment has three prerequisites: BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I, BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II, and Microbiology (BIOL 2420 Microbiology or BIOL 2421 Microbiology for Science Majors). The remaining BSN-level courses (NURS 4540 Nursing Practice: Care of Communities, NURS 4550 Nursing Practice: Leadership and Management in the Healthcare System, and NURS 4620 Nursing Practice: Compromised Multiple Health States) and MSNC 5311 Nursing Research must be completed before enrolling in MSNC 5319 Advanced Nursing Issues and Health Policy. Statistics (PSYC 2317 Introduction to Statistical Methods or MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods) must be taken before MSNC 5311 Nursing Research. Students are required to earn a passing grade in each nursing course while following the sequence identified for the program of study.
The final capstone course for the BSN portion of the track is MSNC 5319 Advanced Nursing Issues and Health Policy, and upon successful completion of the course, students can apply to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (provided all other course requirements are complete) before continuing to the remaining graduate-level nursing courses in the track.
Progression in the RN to MSN Progression Policy Track
- To remain in the RN-MSN track, students must earn a grade of “B” or above in the following courses:
- MSNC 5310 Theoretical Foundations
- MSNC 5311 Nursing Research
- MSNC 5319 Advanced Nursing Issues and Health Policy
- Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in each of the following courses:
- NURS 4316 Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment
- NURS 4540 Nursing Practice: Care of Communities
- NURS 4550 Nursing Practice: Leadership and Management in the Healthcare System
- NURS 4620 Nursing Practice: Compromised Multiple Health States
- Students in the RN-MSN track must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. RN-MSN track students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.99 will no longer qualify for the RN-MSN track but may continue in the RN-BSN track if they meet the RN-BSN progression policy requirements. After completing the three MSN transition courses, the progression policies of the Graduate School will apply.
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
The following is the tuition breakdown for students pursuing our Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing online program. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Program* |
|---|---|---|
| RN to MSN | $346 | $27,320 |
*University fees are included in the tuition listed. University fees are able to be covered by Financial Aid if you choose to apply and are qualified.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.
Ready to get started on your degree program online but need help finding ways to fund your education? We can help you discover student financing sources that include grants, loans and other payment options. Learn more about financial aid here.
Tuition breakdown:
Total Tuition
$27,320*
Per Credit Hour
$346
Calendar
Nursing degree program dates you need to know
Lamar University has one of the most renowned RN to MSN programs in Texas, featuring multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.
| 8 week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer I | 5/29/25 | 5/8/25 | 5/15/25 | 5/20/25 | 7/31/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/21/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/15/25 | 10/7/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/13/25 | 9/22/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/7/25 | 12/10/25 |
Now enrolling:
Apply Date
8/7/25
Class Starts
8/21/25
Calendar
Nursing degree program dates you need to know
Lamar University has one of the most renowned RN to MSN programs in Texas, featuring multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.
| 8 week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer I | 5/29/25 | 5/8/25 | 5/15/25 | 5/20/25 | 7/31/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/21/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/15/25 | 10/7/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/13/25 | 9/22/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/7/25 | 12/10/25 |
Now enrolling:
Apply Date
8/7/25
Class Starts
8/21/25
Admissions
Being admitted to our RN to MSN online program
The Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
- Submit your application and one-time $25 application fee online
- Associate Nursing Degree or Diploma
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Current RN License
Admission Requirements:
- Online application and application fee of $25
- Applicants should follow the instructions for ApplyTexas, selecting Online Campus, then the correct degree code (Registered Nurse to BSN - ONLINE DEGREE) and the semester in which the student wants to enroll
- Official transcripts from all high schools and colleges/universities attended
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree (AASN or ADN) or diploma in nursing from an approved program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA overall
- If the grade point average is between 2.85 and 2.99, students may be admitted on a conditional basis
- Students will be allowed to enroll in the first nine (9) credit hours of nursing courses
- Students must pass each course with a “B” or better to progress in the RN-MSN track. See the Lamar University Graduate Catalog for more information regarding GPA status and academic probation.
- If the student is unsuccessful in achieving a “B” or better, he/she will be removed from the Dishman School of Nursing RN-MSN track
- Current unencumbered, verifiable Registered Nurse (RN) license from any state in the United States covered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- Provisional admission is available for students who have graduated from an approved program but have not yet obtained full licensure as a RN. Provisional admission allows students to enroll in non-practicum courses over two compressed semesters while obtaining full licensure.
Send all required documents to:
Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710
OR
Submit electronically to luadmtran@lamar.edu
Courses
A look at the online RN to MSN curriculum
Below are required courses in addition to BIOL 2420 Microbiology, BIOL 2401 A&P I, BIOL 2402 A&P II and 3 electives. Once the BSN is conferred, students do not need to reapply for admission to the MSN program.
NURS 4316: Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes the assessment phase of the nursing process across the lifespan. Students perform comprehensive patient-centered holistic health assessments to identify health promotion, risk assessment, and disease prevention behaviors. Prerequisites: BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, and BIOL 2421 with a grade of C or better.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the components of a holistic patient-centered health assessment across the lifespan
- Identify selected evidence-based outcomes for health promotion, risk assessment, and disease prevention across the lifespan
- Show the effects of the environment and multiple determinants on patients’ health
NURS 4540: Nursing Practice: Care of Communities
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 5
Focuses on concepts needed to provide safe, holistic, and compassionate client-centered nursing care to diverse clients, families, populations, and communities in multiple settings from a global perspective by incorporating theories, evidence-based practice outcomes, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment. Explores multiple determinants of health status and healthcare, cultural and ethical influences, sources of health information, local, state, national and global health issues and related health promotion/disease prevention, maintenance, restoration, and population risk reduction outcomes among clients, families, populations, and communities. Incorporates research findings and current public health practices related to the community into evidence-based nursing practice. NURS 4321 (or MSNC 5310), NURS 4391 (or MSNC 5311), and NURS 4316. Co-requisites: None Companions: None
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Model holistic and system-based interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare that addresses the multi-dimensional needs and community risks of diverse and vulnerable populations across the lifespan within legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks and implications to nursing practice
- Promote healthy communities by assessing resources, including the impact of current client technology and informatics, on the delivery of safe, caring, and compassionate interprofessional and intraprofessional care in the community
- Evaluate strategies to advocate for and influence healthcare policy, social justice, and health equity on behalf of clients, families, populations, and communities
NURS 4620: Nursing Practice: Compromised Multiple Health States
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 6
Explores advanced concepts of compromised multiple health states in the care of adult patients and families. Emphasizes and demonstrates the developing role of the professional nurse, including patient advocate and a member of the interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare team using clinical reasoning and judgment skills to provide safe, compassionate, holistic, multidimensional nursing care. Course integrates a systems-based approach, informatic technology, nursing theory, research, and evidence-based practice as a foundation of patient-centered care. Focus is on adult patients with compromised multiple health states and their families. Prerequisites: NURS 4321 (or MSNC 5310), NURS 4391 (or MSNC 5311), and NURS 4316. Co-requisites: None Companions: None
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply nursing theories influencing the holistic/multidimensional needs of adult patients with chronic disease and compromised multiple health states in order to promote health, provide restorative and supportive care, and the clinical prevention of disease
- Develop a plan of care using evidence-based standards of care and integrated findings from structured and unstructured data collection tools for patients with chronic disease and compromised multiple health states
- Develop teaching plans for adult patients and families dealing with chronic disease, compromised multiple health states, and hospice or palliative care considering safety and cultural, spiritual, ethnic, and social diversity
NURS 4550: Nursing Practice: Leadership and Management in the Healthcare System
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 5
Explores coordination of safe, ethical patient/client-centered care as a member of the interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare team. Introduces theories of leadership and management practices including the organization, planning, staffing, directing, and controlling of resources within the healthcare system in an ever-changing global society. Focuses on the role of the professional nurse as healthcare planner, leader, and manager. Prerequisites: NURS 4321 (or MSNC 5310), NURS 4391 (or MSNC 5311), and NURS 4316. Co-requisites: None Companions: None
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate nursing leadership and management principles using clinical reasoning and judgment to plan quality and culturally sensitive care for diverse populations
- Identify processes for developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based quality standards and system-based practices in the provision of healthcare services and patient advocacy
- Use nursing management tools, technologies, and informatics in the provision of safe effective patient/client centered care as interprofessional and intraprofessional members of the healthcare team
MSNC 5310: Theoretical Foundations
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examine theoretical foundations guiding advanced nursing practice. Prerequisites: Permission
MSNC 5311: Nursing Research
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analyze research methods, focusing on formulating a practice-related research problem, searching the literature, research design, sampling, and evaluation of research instruments, data collection strategies and analysis of data. Students are expected to analyze and critique research literature for scientific merit, and to discuss the practical application of scientific findings for practice. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310.
MSNC 5319: Advanced Nursing Issues & Health Policy
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will analyze professional, social and workplace issues related to the advanced nursing role within the context of health care policy and a diverse health care system.
MSNC 5310: Theoretical Foundations
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examine theoretical foundations guiding advanced nursing practice. Prerequisites: Permission
MSNC 5311: Nursing Research
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Analyze research methods, focusing on formulating a practice-related research problem, searching the literature, research design, sampling, and evaluation of research instruments, data collection strategies and analysis of data. Students are expected to analyze and critique research literature for scientific merit, and to discuss the practical application of scientific findings for practice. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310.
MSNC 5319: Advanced Nursing Issues & Health Policy
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will analyze professional, social and workplace issues related to the advanced nursing role within the context of health care policy and a diverse health care system.
MSNC 5395: Evidence-Based Project I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students in this course will develop a proposal using research methods to investigate a problem. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310, MSNC 5311 with a minimum grade of C in each.
MSNC 5396: Evidence-Based Project II
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will allow students to implement a project proposal and disseminate outcomes. Prerequisites: MSNC 5310, MSNC 5311 & MSNC 5395
MSNA 5344: Population Health for Advanced Nursing Roles
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on healthcare at the aggregate and community level within the context of reducing health disparities and promoting equity and inclusion. Students will participate in a proposal for a health education program to improve population outcomes. Students will apply principles of nursing leadership that will enable them to deliver effective and safe patient care to diverse populations.
MSNA 5300: Business Principles for Nurse Leaders
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examine business principles important to nurse leaders such as financial and strategic management, communication and interprofessional collaboration, systems-based leadership skills, and professional ethics.
MSNA 5221: Nurse Leader Practicum I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Apply midlevel change and systems theory for planning and organizing healthcare delivery through a preceptored experience.
MSNA 5232: Nurse Leader Practicum II
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Apply quality improvement models to work with human resources in a healthcare organization through a preceptored experience.
MSNA 5320: Role Development for Nurse Administrators
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Role expectations, including core role accountabilities and professional standards of practice for nurse leaders in healthcare organizations in a global environment will be examined. Students will focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives to create high performance organizations and improve practices and outcomes.
MSNA 5321: Strategic Plan in Healthcare Delivery
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Use midlevel change and systems theory as the foundation for planning and organizing healthcare delivery. Emphasis is placed on analysis of the mission, philosophy, strategic planning and organizational structures.
MSNA 5323: Health Information Systems for Nurse Leaders
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines technology as it applies to the role of Nurse Administrator. Students will explore current trends and issues in the application of concepts related to nursing informatics and healthcare technology in nursing practice.
MSNA 5331: Quality Resource Management for Nurse Leaders
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Use quality improvement models as the foundation for directing and controlling healthcare delivery. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of human resources and budgeting processes.
MSNE 5254: Education Practicum I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This practicum course provides the nurse educator student the opportunity to incorporate
teaching/learning theory and strategies to educational instruction of diverse learners in an academic setting. Experiences will focus on integrating skills in teaching, evaluation, and the curriculum process. Students will exhibit role-specific competencies of the nurse educator in collaboration with an approved preceptor and/or faculty member.
MSNE 5255: Education Practicum II
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
In this practicum course, the student will apply measurement and evaluation concepts to educational instruction. Examine course, level, and department components within the context of an academic or hospital education system. Students will exhibit role-specific competencies of the nurse educator in collaboration with an approved preceptor and/or faculty member. Prerequisite: MSNE 5254.
MSNE 5330: Advanced Health Assessment
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
of advanced assessment across the lifespan. Students will incorporate evidence-based assessment
strategies to evaluate health and safety outcomes of patients as it relates to the nurse educator role.
MSNE 5349: Advanced Pathophysiology
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in evidence-based principles of advanced pathophysiology in diverse populations as it relates to the nurse educator role.
MSNE 5350: Role Development and Learning/Teaching Theories
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of the nurse educator role. A variety of teaching and learning theories will be evaluated along with a wide selection of instructional methodologies appropriate for the higher education setting and/or staff development.
MSNE 5351: Curriculum Design
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will integrate knowledge and skills in measurement and evaluation of classroom and practicum instruction. .
MSNE 5352: Measurement & Evaluation
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will integrate knowledge and skills in measurement and evaluation of classroom and practicum instruction.
NUTR 1322: Basic Nutrition
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to nutrition including functions, sources, characteristics and recommended intake of nutrients; digestion; absorption and metabolism; special needs during various phases of the life cycle; diet therapy and patient assessment, education, and counseling.
PSYC 2315: Lifespan Development
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasizes major aspects of psychological development through the life span. Aspects of development examined in the course will include cognitive, physical, social, moral, linguistic, and emotional change through childhood, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and older adulthood. Areas of focus include psychosocial, biological, and physical influences on psychological development. Normal processes of child and adult psychological development will be emphasized.
General Education Core Curriculum
English – 6 hours required
History – 6 hours
Math – 6 hours
Political Science – 6 hours
Communication – 3 hours
Creative Arts – 3 hours
Language, Philosophy and Culture – 3 hours
Social Behavioral Science – 3 hours
ARTS 1301: Art Appreciation
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introductory course emphasizing the understanding and appreciation of visual arts (painting, sculpture, and architecture).
ENGL 1301: Composition I
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Basic forms of expository writing. Frequent themes. Collateral reading in articles and essays of a factual and informative type.
COMM 1315: Public Speaking
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles and practices of public speaking.
COMM 1321: Business and Professional Speech
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Application of the fundamentals of speech production to the needs of the professional person. For non-communication majors only.
ENGL 1302: Composition II
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Forms of expository and analytical writing. Topics from composition suggested from wide reading in at least two of the three genres: prose fiction, poetry, and drama. Research paper required.
ENGL 2322: British Literature
Duration: 8 null weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The study of six-to-ten major works of British literature dating from its Anglo-Saxon origins to the present. Prerequisite: ENGL 1301 and either ENGL 1302 or 1374; or ENGL 1360 and 1361 Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
ENGL 2326: American Literature
Duration: 8 &15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Six to ten major works of American literature, including both the 19th and 20th centuries.
HIST 1301: U.S. History I 1763 to 1877
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
United States history from the revolutionary period through reconstruction.
HIST 1302: U.S. History Since 1877
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
United States history from the post-reconstruction period to the present.
HIST 2301: Texas History
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Texas history from the beginning to the present time.
MATH 1314: College Algebra
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A beginning course in the study and application of polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations. Students will learn how to solve polynomial, rational and absolute values equations and inequalities, function notation, exponential and logarithm functions and solve systems of equations.
MATH 1342: Elementary Statistics
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Non-calculus based introduction to statistics, statistical measures of data, statistical description of data, elementary probability, random variables, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, testing hypotheses.
MUSI 1306: Music Appreciation
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of music. Covers the major style periods from the Renaissance to the present with emphasis on the development of basic listening skills and critical thinking. Requires attendance at instructor-specified recitals or concerts.
PHIL 1370: Philosophy of Knowledge
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A survey of major knowledge systems with an emphasis on the scientific and humanistic methods of inquiry. Prerequisite: ENGL 1301
POLS 2301: Introduction to American Government I
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The national and Texas constitutions; federalism; political socialization and participation; public opinion and interest groups; parties, voting, and elections.
POLS 2302: Introduction to American Government II
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The legislative, executive, and judicial branches and the bureaucracy; policy formulation and implementation including civil rights and civil liberties, domestic and foreign policies.
PSYC 2301: General Psychology
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introductory survey of the major areas of psychology such as learning, personality, social, testing, developmental and physiological. Emphasis is on psychology as the scientific study of behavior and includes both human and animal behavior.
PSYC 2317: Introduction to Statistical Methods
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Statistical concepts and techniques used in behavioral science research. Topics include graphs, measure of position, central tendency and dispersion, correlation and regression, probability, tests of significance and basic non-parametric techniques.
SOCI 1301: Introduction to Sociology
Duration: 8 & 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An overview of major subjects in sociology, including sociological perspective, culture, social interaction, social stratification, gender, race and ethnicity, social groups, organizations, family, religion, population, urbanization and social changes.
Students are required to begin with MSNC 5310 Theoretical Foundations as their first nursing course in this track and may be taken with or before NURS 4316 Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment. NURS 4316 Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment has three prerequisites: BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I, BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II, and Microbiology (BIOL 2420 Microbiology or BIOL 2421 Microbiology for Science Majors). The remaining BSN-level courses (NURS 4540 Nursing Practice: Care of Communities, NURS 4550 Nursing Practice: Leadership and Management in the Healthcare System, and NURS 4620 Nursing Practice: Compromised Multiple Health States) and MSNC 5311 Nursing Research must be completed before enrolling in MSNC 5319 Advanced Nursing Issues and Health Policy. Statistics (PSYC 2317 Introduction to Statistical Methods or MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods) must be taken before MSNC 5311 Nursing Research. Students are required to earn a passing grade in each nursing course while following the sequence identified for the program of study.
The final capstone course for the BSN portion of the track is MSNC 5319 Advanced Nursing Issues and Health Policy, and upon successful completion of the course, students can apply to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (provided all other course requirements are complete) before continuing to the remaining graduate-level nursing courses in the track.
Progression in the RN to MSN Progression Policy Track
- To remain in the RN-MSN track, students must earn a grade of “B” or above in the following courses:
- MSNC 5310 Theoretical Foundations
- MSNC 5311 Nursing Research
- MSNC 5319 Advanced Nursing Issues and Health Policy
- Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in each of the following courses:
- NURS 4316 Comprehensive Holistic Health Assessment
- NURS 4540 Nursing Practice: Care of Communities
- NURS 4550 Nursing Practice: Leadership and Management in the Healthcare System
- NURS 4620 Nursing Practice: Compromised Multiple Health States
- Students in the RN-MSN track must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. RN-MSN track students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.99 will no longer qualify for the RN-MSN track but may continue in the RN-BSN track if they meet the RN-BSN progression policy requirements. After completing the three MSN transition courses, the progression policies of the Graduate School will apply.
**The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, The Institute of Medicine, 2010.
