Program Overview

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UAB School of Nursing

The UAB School of Nursing provides support and assistance to MSN and DNP students in securing appropriate clinical placement sites and qualified preceptors from among more than 5,000 clinical affiliates.

Master's Program

Family Nurse Practitioner

Graduates of the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Specialty are educated to care for individuals and families across the lifespan, lead quality improvement initiatives, and translate evidence into practice within different populations and clinical settings. As advanced primary care specialists, Family Nurse Practitioners diagnose and manage commonly occurring episodic and chronic health problems while promoting health and wellness for individuals, families, and communities.

Program Information

MSN Admission Requirements

Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:

• Hold a BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution and a nationally accredited nursing program (CCNE or CNEA accreditation), equivalent to the one offered by the UAB School of Nursing.
• Possess an unencumbered and unrestricted nursing license to practice in the state where you plan to conduct your clinical practicum.
• Cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or on the last 60 semester hours.
• Students with less than a 3.2 GPA (last 60 hours undergraduate GPA or overall undergraduate GPA) are required to complete and submit scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or GMAT.
  • Only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
  • Minimum required scores are a combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE or score of 480 on the GMAT.
  • Applicants who have successfully completed a graduate degree from a regionally accredited academic institution may receive a waiver for this requirement if they achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their previous graduate degree program.
  • The following individuals are not eligible for the GRE waiver process: International applicants, non-native English speaking applicants, and Dual degree seeking applicants (e.g., MSN/MPH).
• Submit three letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant's potential for graduate study.
• Applicants should submit an official transcript from every college or university they have ever attended (even if for only one semester).

State Regulations Governing Distance Programs

Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state's regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state's Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state.

Application for Admission/Application Deadlines

Application Deadlines

• Summer 2026: October 9, 2025
• Fall 2026: February 13, 2026

Sample Program of Study

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets. The curriculum is accomplished through 45 credit hours of course work, with 35 credit hours of didactic coursework and 10 credit hours of clinical practica, that is completed in six or seven successive semesters depending on the semester of entry.

Sample Program of Study

Semester	Course Title	Credit Hours
Fall	NUR 737Q Interprofessional Leadership Roles and Financial Considerations of Professional Practice	3
	NUR 612Q Advanced Pathophysiology	3
Spring	NUR 729Q Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced-Level Nursing	3
	NUR 613Q Pharmacology and Therapeutics	3
Summer	NUR 735Q Population Health for Advanced-Level Nursing	3
	NUR 614Q Advanced Health Assessment & Introduction to Diagnostic Reasoning	3
	NFH 618QL Focus on Advanced Nursing Specialization (NFH)	3

MSN Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the MSN Program, students will be able to:

• Synthesize research, theoretical formulations, and principles of scientific inquiry to provide evidence-based practice.
• Assume leadership in managing and evaluating continuous quality improvement processes.
• Use information systems/technology to evaluate programs of care, outcomes of care, and care systems.
• Advocate and implement health-care policies that improve access, equity, efficiency, and social justice in the delivery of health care.
• Provide ethical, culturally sensitive care in an advanced nursing role independently and collaboratively with professionals from multiple disciplines.
• Monitor the quality of one's own nursing practice based on professional practice standards and relevant statutes and regulations.
• Apply theories and principles of marketing, economics, consultation, management, and leadership to comprehensively perform an advanced nursing role.

Tuition and Fees

The following tuition and fees are valid for the academic year and are subject to change annually based on approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and/or university.

• MSN Coursework (distance-accessible format per semester hour): $723 (Resident and Non-resident)
• Fees - UAB School of Nursing:
  • Educational Support and Technology Fee (per course): $235
• Other Related Expenses (Estimated):
  • Books and supplies (estimate per term): $600
  • Student Hospitalization Insurance Fee (estimate per month): $270
  • Background Check (annual estimate): $92

Funding Your Education

University Scholarships and Financial Aid

Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships, and other funding opportunities are available on UAB's Cost & Aid website.

UAB School of Nursing Scholarships

The UAB School of Nursing offers many scholarships, both need and merit-based, to support nursing students across all programs.

Information for International Students

Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.

• College Degree (BSN Equivalent): Required
• Foreign Transcripts Evaluated: Required
• English Proficiency: Required
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Required
• Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the U.S.: Required

Application Requirements

• Prospective students must have a bachelor's degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
• For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
• International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course-by-course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials.
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
• Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process.
• Completion of a formal admission interview.
• Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores:
  • TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
  • IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.