Degree Offered
- Master of Science in Nursing
Nature of the Program
The WVU School of Nursing is dedicated to strengthening the health and well‑being of individuals across West Virginia, the region, and the world through student‑centered education, evidence‑based teaching, impactful scholarship, and meaningful service.
The Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Leader program prepares graduates to shape the future of healthcare by leading with vision, integrity, and innovation. Students develop the ability to evaluate and apply evidence‑based leadership strategies that improve the delivery of nursing care in diverse settings. The program emphasizes the creation of forward‑thinking healthcare environments, equipping graduates to guide both clinical and academic organizations in achieving excellence in patient safety, quality outcomes, and financial stewardship.
Designed for nurses ready to advance into influential leadership roles, the Nurse Leader program fosters the skills needed to drive organizational change and elevate the standard of care locally and globally.
The 36-credit hour program can be completed in 6 semesters of full time study, including summer sessions, or 8 semesters of part-time study. Graduates of the program may be eligible to sit for Nurse Executive board certification (ANCC) or the Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (AONL) exams after having held a nursing administrative position for at least 1 year (certification requirements subject to change).
Admissions for 2027-2028
Eligible applicants for the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership program are required to have:
- A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited nursing program and regionally accredited institution.
- An overall GPA on all college work attempted of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (Provisional admission may be considered if the overall GPA is 2.75-2.99 depending upon space available and other qualifications)
- A minimum overall nursing GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- An active, unrestricted RN license in at least one state at the time of application.
- One year of work experience in nursing.
- Transfer students must provide a letter of good standing from the Nursing program in which currently enrolled or left incomplete.
To be considered, applicants will be required to meet all WVU admission requirements in addition to program-specific admission criteria.
Students must satisfactorily complete background checks and drug screens upon admission.
Note: Admission criteria are subject to change. Please see the School of Nursing website for the most up-to-date criteria.
Master of Science in Nursing Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required | ||
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all courses | ||
| NSG 600 | Nursing Leadership in the Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| NSG 601 | Advanced Integrated Clinical Concepts for the Nurse Leader | 3 |
| NSG 611 | Decision Making in Complex Adaptive Systems | 3 |
| NSG 616 | Foundations of Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| NSG 617 | MSN Nursing Leadership Practicum 1 | 3 |
| NSG 618 | MSN Nursing Leadership Practicum 2 | 3 |
| NSG 619 | MSN Nursing Leadership Practicum 3 | 3 |
| NSG 622 | Theoretical Foundations and Disciplined Reasoning for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NSG 625 | Statistics for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NSG 626 | Advanced Practice Nursing Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NSG 627 | Evidence Based Practice Quality Improvement | 3 |
| NSG 709 | Informatics & Healthcare Technologies | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Suggested Plan of Study - Full-Time Progression
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSG 622 | 3 | NSG 625 | 3 | NSG 626 | 3 |
| NSG 616 | 3 | NSG 627 | 3 | ||
| NSG 611 | 3 | ||||
| 6 | 9 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSG 709 | 3 | NSG 600 | 3 | NSG 619 | 3 |
| NSG 601 | 3 | NSG 618 | 3 | ||
| NSG 617 | 3 | ||||
| 9 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Total credit hours: 36 | |||||
Suggested Plan of Study - Part-Time Progression
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSG 622 | 3 | NSG 625 | 3 | NSG 626 | 3 |
| NSG 616 | 3 | NSG 627 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSG 709 | 3 | NSG 600 | 3 | NSG 617 | 3 |
| NSG 601 | 3 | NSG 611 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| NSG 618 | 3 | NSG 619 | 3 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 36 | |||||
Progression Standards
To progress in the MSN curriculum, a student must meet the following performance standards. Failure to meet the criteria below will result in dismissal from the program.
- Grade Point Average (GPA) requirements:
- Degree seeking graduate students are required to maintain a 3.0 program GPA. A student who falls below a 3.0 in program courses after nine or more credit hours are completed in the program will be placed on academic notice.
- Full-time degree-seeking graduate students will have only one semester to bring up the GPA to the 3.0 requirement. Failure to raise the program GPA to 3.0 by the next enrolled semester will result in program dismissal.
- Part-time graduate students will have two semesters to bring up the GPA to the 3.0 requirement. Failure to raise the program GPA to 3.0 by the next enrolled semester will result in program dismissal.
- Course grade requirements:
- Students must earn A, B, C, Pass, or Satisfactory in all required courses.
- A grade of F, Fail, or Unsatisfactory in any course results in program dismissal.
- Students can only carry forward one C grade in a nursing course. A second C in any nursing course will result in program dismissal.
- Students can only carry forward two course withdrawals (resulting in a “W” on the academic transcript). The withdrawals cannot occur in the same course more than one time.
- Course age requirements:
- Students are permitted to continue in a graduate nursing program for a maximum of 7 years following their term of admission to the programs. A course completed more than 7 years prior to the term of degree or certificate completion will be reviewed by program administrators and the Associate Dean of Curriculum and Graduate Programs. The student may be required to validate current knowledge in the subject area, repeat the course(s), or complete competency evaluation. The University’s time limit requirements must also be met.
Grading Scale
- A = 93 – 100
- B = 85 – 92
- C = 77 – 84
- F = 0-76
Major Learning Outcomes
Master of Science in Nursing Leadership
1.Design innovative changes in the structure, delivery, and evaluation of healthcare for diverse Individuals, families and communities by applying scholarly inquiry, clinical judgement, financial analysis, and leadership theories from nursing and other disciplines.
2.Evaluate leadership strategies in the delivery of clinical prevention and health promotion interventions and/or services to that are inclusive, equitable, ethical, compassionate and encompass the SDOH to individuals, families, communities, and aggregates/clinical populations
3.Critique health policy and leadership initiatives from communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, and local government entities to improve population health outcomes
4.Develop evidenced-based leadership strategies to reduce risks and improve health outcomes in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards by evaluating outcome data using current communication technologies, information systems, and statistical principles.
5.Collaborate with interprofessional teams to support the acquisition of new knowledge, nursing expertise, and leadership talents.
6.Utilize complexity science and systems theory in the design, delivery, and evaluation of system-wide strategies that improve cost- effectiveness considering organizational leadership, and workforce needs.
7.Model accountability, leadership qualities, compassion, ethical practice and values of the Nurse Leader.
8.Participate in activities and self-reflection that foster personal health, resilience, well-being, and promote professional growth, lifelong learning and development in the role of the Nurse Leader.