Master of Science in Nursing 

About the Program

Take your nursing career to the next level with Vanderbilt University’s Master of Science in Nursing. Become an advanced practice nurse who plays a principal role in increasing access to high-quality health care. Vanderbilt’s MSN program offers an accelerated course of study, multiple entry options, programs for nurses and non-nurses, and hybrid learning options.  

MSN students choose from a variety of advanced practice specialties to best prepare for their dream careers as nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, nurse informaticists, and nurse leaders. These advanced practice specialties include, but are not limited to, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Emergency NP, Family NP, Nurse-Midwifery, Nursing and Health Care Leadership, Nursing Informatics, Neonatal NP, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, Pediatric NP, Women’s Health/Gender-Related NP, and more.   

The majority of MSN program curriculum for the clinical specialties is delivered online and paired with in-person simulations, assessments, and clinical sessions that take place in concentrated blocks of approximately 3-5 days per semester. Ultimately, however, the MSN program format (hybrid vs. block learning vs. residential) varies among specialties.  Note: The first-year prelicensure programs for non-nurses are in-person; the Nursing Informatics and Nursing and Health Care Leadership specialties are completely online. 

Key Takeaways  

• Prepare to play a vital role in improving access to high-quality health care 
• Launch your career with a wide range of advanced practice specialties such as Pediatric NP – Primary Care, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Nurse-Midwifery, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, and more 
• Carve out your own path with multiple entry options; the prerequisite bachelor’s degree can be in nursing or non-nursing 
• Learn in a flexible hybrid format without needing to relocate to Nashville, TN, for most MSN advanced practice specialties 
• Learn from faculty who continue to practice and are known as experts in their fields 
• Gain access to an extensive nurse faculty practice network and state-of-the-art facilities 
• Benefit from low student-to-faculty ratios, mentoring and personalized attention 

Who Should Enroll?

The Vanderbilt University Master of Science in Nursing is designed for individuals who want to advance their nursing careers in an accelerated program with a flexible learning format. The school’s hybrid format is designed for working nurses who want to become nurse practitioners, nurse informaticists, nurse leaders, or nurse-midwives. 

There are two paths to one of Vanderbilt’s 14 advanced practice nursing MSN specialties: a one-year hybrid program for nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and a two-year program for non-nurses who complete Vanderbilt’s residential accelerated prelicensure program before advancing to the specialties.  

All MSN applicants must also meet the competencies necessary for the professional practice of nursing.