As a Master's student, you'll choose from five advanced practice specialties to prepare for certification as a nurse practitioner. Each specialty provides focused courses and clinical placements, helping you discover your professional passion.
![Boston College Connell School of Nursing](/content/dam/bc1/schools/cson/images/cson_logo_desktop_alt.png)
![Boston College Connell School of Nursing](/content/dam/bc1/schools/cson/images/cson_logo_desktop_alt.png)
As a master's student in our MSNP track, you will develop the skills and gain the first hand experience to take on the most pressing health care challenges. As an nurse practitioner, you will provide care at the full scope of practice.
This pathway is for you if you earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and your goal is to become a nurse practitioner.
The Direct Entry pathway offers students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing an accelerated opportunity to become an in-demand nurse leader. This program has a July start.
* Note: GRE is preferred, but not required for application.
Throughout the first four semesters of full-time study, you will prepare to take the NCLEX and become a licensed RN. At the end of this portion of your studies, you will be conferred a master of science degree.
During the final portion of your program, you will complete courses and clinical fieldwork in your specialty. You will graduate prepared for certification as a nurse practitioner.
Students will complete both the Master of Science, Nursing curriculum and the Master of Science, Nurse Practitioner curriculum for a total of 96 credits.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that coursework they have completed satisfies the prerequisite requirements. The graduate program staff will not contact applicants during the admissions process to verify prerequisite coursework.
Direct entry students are required to complete prerequisite courses prior to the start of the program. It is preferred that applicants have at least 4 of the following 5 science prerequisites completed or in process at the time of application: General Chemistry with Lab; Microbiology with Lab; Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab; Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab. All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to matriculation. Students must receive a minimum grade of B- (80) in each of the prerequisite courses. AP credit is NOT accepted as fulfilling prerequisite coursework.
For coursework completed before applying, please submit transcripts as part of your application. For coursework that you plan to complete after applying but before starting the program, please indicate this on the application and submit transcripts following course completion. The prerequisite courses include:
This program is designed for you if you earned a master's degree in nursing and your goal is to become an advanced practice clinician. This program is not for current APRNs.
Our program allows current RNs without bachelor’s degrees to maximize both their experience and the credits they have earned from previous programs (approximately 112 earned credits required). If you are a motivated and accomplished student who wishes to transform your professional knowledge into a career as an advanced practice nurse, this program is for you.
As a Master's student, you'll choose from five advanced practice specialties to prepare for certification as a nurse practitioner. Each specialty provides focused courses and clinical placements, helping you discover your professional passion.
A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required.
Please limit to two pages.
Please respond to the two prompts outlined below as they pertain to your goals. The responses should be typewritten, double-spaced, and limited to 1.5 pages for each prompt. The essays are very important to the Admission Committee’s deliberations, allowing them to assess your personal goals, your reasons for choosing advanced practice nursing as your career, your commitment to the profession of nursing, and your writing ability.
Official transcripts are preferred but not required upon application. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.
Official digital transcripts can be sent to csongrad@bc.edu.
All hard copy transcripts may be sent to the following mailing address:
Boston College
Graduate Nursing Office
Maloney Hall - 2nd Floor
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
*If the last name on your transcript does not match the application name, please contact csongrad@bc.edu after submitting the application.
Please submit a copy of your RN license
Based on the answers you provide in your application, you may need one or more of the following forms to complete your application: