Program Overview

Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing at UMass Lowell is a 45-credit master's degree that prepares advanced practice nurses to provide healthcare to diverse populations and demonstrate professional leadership roles. The program offers two specialty tracks:

• Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Health Nurse Practitioner

Program Overview

Our online M.S. in Nursing program prepares the advanced practice nurse to provide healthcare to diverse populations and demonstrate professional leadership roles. We offer two specialty tracks:

• Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — Emphasizes care for patients ages 13 and up, focusing on health promotion and managing common health conditions.
• Family Health Nurse Practitioner — Educates nurse practitioners to provide comprehensive care through all stages of development.

Program Quick Facts

• Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Not Required
• High National Pass Rate for Nurse Practitioner Exam
• Scholarships and Financial Aid Available

Online Program + 4 On-Campus Days

Built into the online Master of Science in Nursing are four days of on-campus learning activities that allow you to interact face-to-face with peers and faculty in UMass Lowell's state-of-the-art nursing facility. You will conduct lab work and simulated clinical exams of mock patients to prepare you for the real world. These on-campus days are integrated into the curriculum: NURS.6510, NURS.6511, NURS.6512, and NURS.6513.

M.S. in Nursing Pathway

The Master of Science in Nursing is a 45-credit master's degree. For a complete list of courses and academic requirements, please refer to the Academic Catalog.

Degree Pathway for Master of Science in Nursing, Family Health or Adult Gerontological Primary Care

A minimum of 45 credits of coursework is required for graduation with an MS for all students.

• Course Number | Course Name | Credits
  • Credits required | 45
  • HSCI.5510 | Clinical Pathophysiology | 3
  • NURS.5590 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3
  • NURS.6510 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostics | 3
  • NURS.6520 | APRN Care of the Adult | 3
  • NURS.6511 | APRN Clinical Practicum I (250 Hours) | 3
  • NURS.6522 | APRN Women's Health Across the Lifespan | 3
  • NURS.6512 | APRN Clinical Practicum II (250 Hours) | 3
  • NURS.6513 | APRN Clinical Practicum III (250 Hours) | 3
  • NURS.6524 | APRN Role Transition | 1
  • NURS.6521 or NURS.6523 | APRN Care of Children and Adolescents or APRN Care of Older Adults | 3
  • NURS.6000 | Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3
  • NURS.5520 | Social, Cultural, Policy Issues in Healthcare | 2
  • NURS.5530 | Scholarly Writing | 3
  • NURS.6010 | Research for Evidence-Based Practice | 3
  • PUBH.5110 | Healthcare Finance | 3
  • PUBH.6270 | Health Equity and Informatics | 3

Curriculum Summary

• Total number of courses for the degree: 15
• Total credit hours required for the degree: 45

Expected Program Outcomes

The Master of Science in Nursing educates graduates who are prepared to:

• Integrate and apply established and evolving scientific knowledge from diverse sources as the basis for ethical clinical judgment, innovation, and diagnostic reasoning to provide advanced nursing care.
• Deliver holistic, compassionate, evidence-based person-centered care through the assessment, diagnoses, management, and evaluation of advanced nursing practice.
• Partner and collaborate in traditional and non-traditional partnerships across the healthcare continuum to integrate advanced nursing practice that improves equitable population health outcomes.
• Synthesize and apply evidence in the delivery of advanced nursing care to promote and improve health.
• Integrate established and emerging principles of safety and improvement science to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
• Collaborate with the interprofessional healthcare team, patients, families, communities, and other stakeholders in the delivery of safe, effective care.
• Participate in organizational and systems approaches across complex healthcare systems to foster cost-effective, safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
• Utilize and incorporate informatics and healthcare technologies used to gather data, form information to drive decision-making, and comply with best practices and professional and regulatory standards that improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services.
• Demonstrate a professional identity that incorporates accountability, ethical comportment, and a collaborative disposition that reflects the characteristics and values of an advanced nursing practitioner.
• Demonstrate responsibility for lifelong learning, personal well-being, professional career development, and reflection for personal growth as an advanced practicing nurse and support the acquisition of nursing expertise.

Accreditation

The Baccalaureate, Master's, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in the Solomont School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) of the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN).

High Pass Rate for National Certification

In 2025, graduates of our Master's in Nursing program have a 100% pass rate for the Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner program and a 100% pass rate for the national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Clinical Placement

Through our program, you will complete 750 hours of direct patient care during your clinical practicum. Upon program completion, you will be prepared to practice as a leader in the field of nursing, with the experience to serve diverse populations.

Nursing Career Outlook

• +25.6%: Projected job growth in Nursing (2023–2035)
• $100.4K: Median earnings for master's degree holders in New England

Tuition and Admissions

Eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial assistance.

Online Nursing Tuition

• Cost Per Credit: $610 for 33 credits and $750 for 12 credits.
• Term Registration Fee: $30

Financial Aid

As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal student aid and other need-based scholarships. To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Graduate Admissions Requirements for the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences

• Application
• Application Fee: $50
• Statement of Purpose: Outline goals, experience, and achievements (maximum 2 pages).
• Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) for master's and Doctor of Nursing Practice, three (3) for doctoral applicants.
• Transcripts: You may apply with unofficial transcripts, but if accepted, official transcripts are required.
• Resume: All programs require a resume, except for the following: Doctor of Physical Therapy and all Master of Public Health programs
• Test Scores: UMass Lowell's school code is 3911. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are only required for the following programs: Public Health (Doctor of Science) and Physical Therapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy)

International Applicants

International transcripts must indicate completion of a four-year bachelor's degree (equivalent of an American bachelor's degree) before an application will be processed. English proficiency is required. If English is not your country's national language, please submit one of the following scores:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 79+
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5+
• Duolingo: 115+