RN-to-MSN: Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing

For financial aid purposes, there are credit minimums for full-time status that may differ from the plans of study. See details.

For the RN-to-MSN program, you’ll complete the requirements for both the BSN as well as the MSN degree in the Community/Public Health specialty. Certain courses count towards both the BSN and the MSN, allowing you to earn both degrees in less time and for less money than it would take to earn each separately.

In this section:

• Completing the BSN Degree
• Completing the MSN Degree

Completing the BSN Degree

* MSN Core Courses NRSG 780 and NRSG 782 are substituted for BSN Core Courses

Nurses in the RN-to-MSN program are required to complete 2 NURS 418 electives rather than the 3 required for the RN-to-BSN.

Completing the MSN Degree

After completing the Master’s Core courses, students begin courses specific to their specialty.

For financial aid purposes, there are credit minimums for full-time status that may differ from the plans of study. See details.

For the RN-to-MSN program, you’ll complete the requirements for both the BSN as well as the MSN degree in the Nursing Leadership and Management specialty. Certain courses count towards both the BSN and MSN, allowing you to earn both degrees in less time and for less money than it would take to earn each separately.

In this section:

• Completing the BSN Degree
• Completing the MSN Degree

Completing the BSN Degree

*MSN Core Courses NRSG 780 and NRSG 782 are substituted for BSN Core Courses

Nurses in the RN-to-MSN program are required to complete 2 NURS 418 electives rather than the 3 required for the RN-to-BSN.

Completing the MSN Degree

After completing the Master’s Core courses, students begin courses specific to their specialty. Nursing Leadership and Management specialty students select a focus (NlM Executive Practice or NLM Education) for their electives. 

For financial aid purposes, there are credit minimums for full-time status that may differ from the plans of study. See details.

For the RN-to-MS program, you’ll complete the requirements for both the BSN as well as the MS degree in the Nursing Informatics specialty. Certain courses count towards both the BSN and MSN, allowing you to earn both degrees in less time and for less money than it would take to earn each separately.

In this section:

• Completing the BSN Degree
• Completing the MSN Degree

Completing the BSN Degree

* MSN Core Courses NRSG 780 and NRSG 782 are substituted for BSN Core Courses

Nurses in the RN-to-MSN program are required to complete 2 NURS 418 electives rather than the 3 required for the RN-to-BSN.

Completing the MSN Degree

After completing the Master’s Core courses, students begin courses specific to their specialty.

Your nursing education is an important investment. Financial aid and scholarships can help make your goals a reality.

UMSON offers multiple opportunities to help you afford your graduate education.

Learn More About Financial Aid and Scholarships

All students receiving funds through the University must:

• be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in a degree-seeking program
• complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year by UMB's award priority deadline
• FAFSA Submission period: Oct. 1 (of the previous year) through Feb. 28
• FAFSA School code: 002104

The UMB Office of Student Financial Assistance & Education is available to guide prospective and current students through the FAFSA application process and the financial aid award package.

Contact Us:

UMSON Scholarships and Grants Office
410-706-0489 | nrsscholarships@umaryland.edu

UMB Student Financial Assistance and Education Office
410-706-7347 | aidtalk@umaryland.edu

Find out how your prerequisites transfer. 

If you have taken coursework in Maryland, the Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities (ARTSYS) is an online evaluation system that can help you determine how courses taken at any two year college in Maryland transfer to UMSON.

Before you begin the admissions process, you can submit copies of your unofficial transcript(s) to us for review, and an admissions counselor will advise you on your requirements for admission. Visit the Prerequisite Course Information Resources webpage to learn more about prerequisite requirement.

Prerequisite Courses

The following lower-division, pre-professional courses may be completed at any accredited college or university. 

Bold: Applicants who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are required to complete only these prerequisite courses.

General Notes:

• Applicants who have not earned a bachelor’s degree are required to complete all 59 prerequisite credits.
• Courses may be taken online.
• No course can be used to fulfill more than one requirement.
• All prerequisite courses must be complete prior to enrollment at UMSON. Final transcripts and scores must be submitted no later than one week prior to classes starting.

In this section:

• Deadlines
• Qualifications
• Prerequisites
• Application Materials and Instructions
• Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S

Deadlines:

For best consideration, applicants are encouraged to have all required application materials submitted by the respective deadlines to ensure your application is considered for admission and scholarships.

Should the deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted through the subsequent business day.

Qualifications:

• an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
• an undergraduate science GPA of at least 2.75 (anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology)

Prerequisite Coursework:

Applicants are required to complete 59 credits of prerequisite course work from an accredited institution.

Prior to applying, applicants must complete a minimum of:

• two science prerequisite courses:
  anatomy and physiology I or II with lab, or microbiology with lab
• one of the following prerequisite courses: 
  human growth and development, statistics, or nutrition

Additionally, applicants can have no more than four courses in progress at the time of application.

All prerequisite courses must be complete prior to enrollment at UMSON. Effective immediately, applicants must submit final grades at least two weeks prior to classes starting.

Application Materials and Instructions:

Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S:

• If you do not have a degree from a U.S. high school, college, or university, you are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
• If you have completed coursework outside of the U.S., you must have your transcripts evaluated.

More information.

This program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, due to the amount of online courses.

If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact the Office of Admission and Student Scholarships to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.

What credit-by-examination programs does UMSON accept?

The University of Maryland School of Nursing recognizes qualifying examinations from the following programs:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)

Academic credit is awarded according to the examination, qualifying score, number of credits, and credit application identified in the applicable UMSON equivalency chart.

Credit earned through AP, CLEP, or IB may apply toward a UMSON prerequisite, general education requirement, or elective requirement, depending on the approved equivalency. Not all examination credit awarded by UMSON satisfies a specific nursing prerequisite.

For AP examinations, UMSON awards academic credit beginning with a score of 3. For CLEP examinations, UMSON awards academic credit beginning with a score of 50. Qualifying scores for IB examinations are identified in the UMSON IB equivalency chart.

Final credit awards and the application of credit toward UMSON requirements are determined through an official evaluation of the student's examination score report and applicable program requirements.

How do I know whether my examination score will receive credit and how the credit will apply?

Advanced Placement (AP)

UMSON awards academic credit for AP examination scores of 3 or higher, according to the credits and applications listed in the AP Transfer Equivalencies for UMSON Chart.

Request your official AP score report.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

UMSON awards academic credit for CLEP examination scores of 50 or higher, according to the credits and applications listed in the CLEP Transfer Equivalencies for UMSON Chart.

Request your official CLEP transcript.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

UMSON awards academic credit for qualifying IB examinations according to the examination level, score, credits, and applications listed in the IB Transfer Equivalencies for UMSON Chart.

Request your official IB transcript.

Can I use an examination score that falls below the qualifying score?

No. Academic credit cannot be awarded for an AP examination score below 3 or a CLEP examination score below 50.

For IB examinations, credit cannot be awarded for a score below the qualifying score identified in the UMSON IB equivalency chart.

Does receiving examination credit mean that the credit will satisfy a UMSON prerequisite?

Not necessarily. Receiving academic credit and satisfying a specific UMSON prerequisite are separate determinations.

The applicable UMSON equivalency chart identifies how examination credit may be applied. Credit may satisfy a UMSON prerequisite, general education requirement, or elective requirement based on the examination and approved equivalency.

UMSON nursing science prerequisites that require college-level coursework with laboratory components are not satisfied through examination credit unless the applicable UMSON equivalency specifically identifies the credit as eligible for that prerequisite.

My previous institution awarded credit based on an AP, CLEP, or IB examination. Will UMSON accept the credit?

Credit previously awarded through an AP, CLEP, or IB examination will be reviewed as part of UMSON's transfer-credit evaluation process.

UMSON will review the examination, original score, credits awarded, and how the credit applies to the student's UMSON program requirements.

Students may be required to submit an official examination score report. If transferred examination credit does not satisfy a specific UMSON prerequisite, additional coursework may be required. The examination credit may still apply toward another requirement when permitted by the applicable UMSON equivalency and program requirements.

My examination scores are listed on another transcript. Do I still need to submit an official AP, CLEP, or IB score report?

Yes. Students seeking academic credit for an AP, CLEP, or IB examination must submit an official score report or transcript from the applicable examination organization.

A score reported on another academic transcript does not replace the official examination record required to award credit.

How long does it take for an AP, CLEP, or IB score to be received?

Processing and delivery times vary by examination organization, delivery method, testing date, and whether the examination record has been archived.

Students should request official scores as early as possible and allow sufficient time for both the examination organization and UMSON to process the request.

Students are responsible for ensuring that required official scores are received by the applicable admissions or document deadline.

Where do I send my official credit-by-examination score report or transcript?

Official AP, CLEP, and IB examination records should be sent directly to:

University of Maryland School of Nursing
655 W. Lombard St., Suite 102
Baltimore, MD 21201

When electronic delivery is available, students should select the University of Maryland School of Nursing as the recipient.

I requested my official score report, but UMSON has not received it and the deadline has passed. Can my application still be reviewed?

Students are responsible for ensuring that all required application materials, including official examination scores needed to document completion of a prerequisite, are received by the applicable deadline.

If an official examination score is required to establish completion of a prerequisite, examination credit cannot be used in the admission review until the official record has been received and evaluated.

Students are strongly encouraged to request official examination scores early and monitor their application status to confirm receipt.

Questions About Credit by Examination

Prospective and current students who plan to use AP, CLEP, or IB examination credit toward a UMSON prerequisite should contact Admissions and Student Scholarships before relying on the examination credit to satisfy an admission requirement.

When contacting UMSON, please provide the examination program, examination title, score, examination date, UMSON program, and the prerequisite or requirement you believe the credit may satisfy.