Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program

About the Program

MSN
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The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers the concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Students in the FNP work with expert practitioners in office, community, and public health settings and are well-prepared to pass their certification exams and for prescriptive authority. 

The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration is delivered in an on-campus format or with fully online coursework and in-person practicum experiences. Content of courses, objectives, evaluation methods, and outcomes are identical to those for the on-campus program. Only the delivery format is different. Graduates are eligible for certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners  (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Additional information about the MSN-FNP program can also be found in the university catalog.

 

National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements

On October 17, 2014, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) approved Virginia as a member state to participate in National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), and on September 8, 2016, George Mason University became an institutional participant in the NC-SARA initiative. With this membership, George Mason University programs are automatically available to students who reside in 49 participating states and U.S. territories that participate in NC-SARA. At present, only California has not yet joined the NC-SARA initiative. However, California law permits its students to enroll in out-of-state programs.  

Read more Mason's authorization to provide distance education from the university's page.

 

MSN Program Pathways

On-Campus MSN-FNP

The on-campus MSN-FNP may be completed in two years full-time study, or three years part-time.  Clinical hours provide 600 directed-care hours with an expert preceptor in health maintenance organizations, specialty clinics, public health clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and home care settings, family practice settings, and neighborhood and community clinics for the medically underserved.

Plan of study

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Fully Online MSN-FNP

For the fully online MSN-FNP, courses are offered in a condensed 8-week format, with students taking one course each 8 weeks. Students complete the same theoretical and clinical core online, with 600 clinical hours of practicum experience with an expert preceptor.  The online program is intended to be completed in about 2.5 years. 

Learn more about this pathway and application requirements from the Mason Online page.

Plan of Study

Semester 1:  8-week courses 

Course Number 

Course Name 

Credits 

NURS 665 

Theoretical and Ethical Foundations Related to Nursing 

GCH 500 

Introduction to Public Health  

Semester 2:  8-week courses 

Course Number 

Course Name 

Credits 

NURS 643 

Community Oriented Primary Care  

NURS 688 

Organization of Nursing and Health Care Delivery Systems 

Semester 3:  8-week courses 

Course Number 

Course Name 

Credits 

NURS 715 

Nursing Informatics  

NURS 757 

Nursing Research and Biostatistics I 

Semester 4:  16-week courses 

Course Number 

Course Name 

Credits 

NURS 769 

Physiology and Pathophysiology In Advanced Practice 

NURS 761 

Pharmacotherapeutics 

Semester 5:  16-week courses (* new plan- need to connect the 2 courses) 

Course Number 

Course Name 

Credits 

NURS 714/724 

Health Assessment/ Health Assessment Lab & Practicum 

2/1 (3) 

NURS 713 

Decision Making and Pharmacologic Management in Practice 

Semester 6:  8-week didactic courses/ 16-week practicum courses  

Course Number 

Course Name 

Credits 

NURS 744 

Family Nurse Practitioner I Practicum (240 hours) 

NURS 739 

Family Nurse Practitioner II 

NURS 738 

Family Nurse Practitioner I 

Semester 7:  8-week didactic course/ 16-week practicum courses  

Course Number 

Course Name 

Credits 

NURS 742/749 

Family Nurse Practitioner I & III Practicum (360 hours) 

2/4 (6) 

NURS 741 

Family Nurse Practitioner III 

Population Focus  

  • FNP I:  Adult population – chronic and acute diseases 
  • FNP II:  Pediatric & Women’s health (childbearing age) 
  • FNP III:  Older population and frail elderly/ Vulnerable populations 

 

Student Requirements

A current U.S.-issued RN license is required and must be submitted to the program before beginning nursing coursework.  

To ensure clinical agency requirements are met, proof of current immunizations or immunity, a criminal background check, and a current professional rescuer/BLS CPR card are required before the first clinical agency rotation.  

Additional information about these requirements will be provided upon acceptance to the program. 

 

Tuition and Fees

For information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Student Accounts, Tuition and Fees website.

It is important to note that Nursing programs require additional fees.

 

Scholarships and Financial Aids

The College of Public Health and School of Nursing provides a number of scholarships to students of all levels. Explore scholarship opportunities and application deadlines from the College of Public Health's Scholarship page.

For other scholarships and aids available in the university, please visit the university's page