Program Overview

Online MSN: Nursing Leadership and Management

The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing specialty in Nursing Leadership and Management. This program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead in health care or become a nurse educator.

Program Overview

The Nursing Leadership and Management specialty offers leading-edge courses and personalized mentorship. The program can be completed entirely online, and the university arranges individual practicum placements to support students' career goals.

Program Details

• Length: Average 3.5 years part-time
• Format: Online, part-time or full-time
• Tuition and Fees:
  • In-state tuition: $926/credit hour
  • Out-of-state tuition: $1,643/credit hour
• Credits: 38
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Competency-Based Education

The program's curriculum is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, which focuses on competency-based education (CBE). CBE is a student-centered approach that provides multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate and use what they are learning.

How the Program Works

As a student in this Master of Science in Nursing specialty, you will complete master's core courses and the Nursing Leadership and Management core courses. Following completion of the core courses, you will concentrate on one of three focus areas:

• Leadership and Management: A customized plan of study that allows you to support your personal career goals by defining and honing the nursing leadership skills you need to succeed in a variety of health care settings and roles.
• Education: A way to maximize your career goals by creating a dual pathway to advancement; you will focus on the knowledge and skills you need to excel as a nurse leader and as a clinical instructor or faculty member.
• Business: A dual MSN/MBA option that allows you to blend your health care background with business skills and expertise, positioning you to take on nursing administration roles in a health care system and for senior management-level decision-making.

Courses

The Nurse Leadership and Management master's specialty requires:

• 38 credits
• 500 practicum hours The dual MS/MBA option requires 66-72 credits.

Sample Part-Time Plans of Study

Sample part-time plans of study are available for fall and spring matriculation.

Admission Information

Deadlines

• Fall 2026: July 15, 2026 (regular deadline), August 1, 2026 (final deadline)
• Spring 2027: December 15, 2026 (regular deadline), January 5, 2027 (final deadline)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a major in nursing from an ACEN-, CCNE-, or NLN CNEA-accredited college or university
• Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0

Application Materials

• Online application and non-refundable $75 application fee
• One recommendation from a recent professional source
• Essay (500-1,000 words) addressing the specific specialty area, motivation for pursuing a master's degree, and qualities essential to the advanced nursing profession
• Typed résumé or CV
• Copy of valid, unrestricted RN license in the United States
• Official transcripts from every institution previously attended or currently attending

Scholarship Opportunities

The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers multiple opportunities to help students afford their graduate education, including federal financial aid, Maryland financial aid, merit scholarships, donor-funded scholarships, and graduate assistantships.