Online Master of Science

Nursing (MSN)

Program Details

Next Start Date
August 30
Est. Program Length
12-18 Months
Major Credit Hours
36
Course Length
8 weeks
Cost per Credit
$750
Credits Accepted
4

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Dedicate Yourself to Excellence in Nursing

Step into a nursing leadership or educator role in just a year when you earn your MSN online at Illinois College. The program is pending CCNE accreditation and offers concentrations in Leadership/Administration or Education and allows you to learn when it’s best for you. Class sizes are kept small, so you get the personalized attention you need to learn advanced nursing concepts and the support you need to move forward in your career.

Throughout your program, you’ll learn from expert faculty with more than 30 years of experience who are dedicated to promoting excellence in nursing and teaching you to do the same.

You’ll learn how to direct patient-centered care, including how to communicate, build teams, implement evidence- and research-based practice, reach quality outcomes, and perform advanced assessments.

On the business side of nursing, you’ll learn how to practice fiscal responsibility, have win/win negotiations, plan strategically, become a true leader and see improvements.

Designed so you can move forward with your education and career goals alongside demanding schedules, you’ll learn online when and where it’s best for you. And, if a long-term challenge comes up, IC has a Step Out policy that won’t penalize you for having to take a break in your program.

Pursue Your MSN Online So You Can:

  • Integrate scientific findings from nursing, biopsychosocial sciences, genetics, public health, quality improvement and organizational sciences to continually improve nursing care across diverse settings.
  • Promote safe, quality client/patient-centered care; role model ethical and critical decision-making; and sustain a healthy work environment using organizational and systems leadership knowledge and skills.
  • Articulate the methods, tools, performance measures and standards related to delivering safe, quality care, and apply quality principles within an organization/system.
  • Act as a change agent as you apply research outcomes within the practice setting, resolve practice issues and problems, and disseminate results.
  • Deliver and enhance safe, quality care and use communication technologies to integrate and coordinate transitions in care using patient-care technology.
  • Intervene at a systems’ level through the policy development process and employ advocacy strategies to influence health and health care.
  • Manage and coordinate safe, quality care using delegation, communication, collaboration and consultation strategies as a leader of interprofessional teams.
  • Integrate broad, organizational, patient/client-centered and culturally appropriate concepts in planning, delivering, managing and evaluating evidence-based clinical prevention and population care and services to individuals, families and aggregates/identified populations.
  • Influence healthcare outcomes for individuals, families, groups, communities, populations and/or systems.

The Online MSN Program Is Designed for Working Nurses Who Want To:

  • Understand and promote advanced nursing practices that result in stronger outcomes
  • Expand their reach in healthcare and advance to leadership positions
  • Promote excellence in teaching and learning for the next generation of nursing students

Faculty

Pamela Brown | MSN

Pamela Brown

Education Background

  • BSN Nursing | Quincy University
  • M.S. Nursing | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
  • Ph.D. Nursing | Wayne State University

Field Experience

I am a strong and longtime supporter of professional nurses, the profession of nursing, ethical nursing practice and nursing education.

I have served at varying levels of leadership at the state and national level.

I am currently the Treasurer for ANA-Illinois and serve on the ANA-Illinois Expert Panel on Workplace Safety. Past positions include Chair of the Illinois Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources.

In my career, I have held positions of staff and charge nurse, middle manager, Director, and most recently as President/CEO for Blessing-Reiman College of Nursing.

I have served as a longtime member of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She has volunteered for Sexual Assault Prevention and Intervention Services (SAPIS) in Adams County as well as for the Quincy Area Network Against Domestic Abuse (QUANADA).

What Else?

  • I earned a certificate for teaching the Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense (GAVSD) and present programs on the GAVSD, professional communications and assertive communications.
  • I have expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
fee: 50terms: 15

Courses and Admissions

9 Total core courses in program

Learn to Promote Excellence in Nursing

At Illinois College, our online MSN program prepares you for excellence in nursing at all levels. You’ll learn advanced nursing concepts and choose a concentration in Leadership/Administration or Education. Whether you remain in clinical care, choose to educate nurses, or lead healthcare changes that promote positive outcomes, you’ll meet your career goals and promote best practices in nursing. To earn the degree, you’ll complete 36 semester hours and two practicums in your concentration.

Courses

Admission Requirements

To qualify for admission to the online MSN applicants must have:

  • A Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
  • Preference of one to two years of work experience as a minimum.
  • Minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate course work.
  • Official transcripts of all prior collegiate academic work.
  • Evidence of satisfactory completion of introductory courses in statistics, nursing research and health assessment, or their equivalent, with a grade of "C" or better at the baccalaureate level.
  • Evidence of licensure as a registered professional nurse in any state or territory of the United States.
  • Evidence of liability and healthcare insurance.
  • Current CPR certification.
  • Evidence of the following immunization: Hepatitis, MMR, tetanus and diphtheria and an annual TB skin test.
  • Criminal background check within 90 days prior to the first practicum experience – see MSN Handbook for details about the consequences of a failed background check. Based on the results of the criminal background check, students may be denied a practicum experience (which results in the inability to successfully complete the course), and may be dismissed from the program.

How to Apply

Candidates must submit:

  • An online application
    Apply for free at admission.ic.edu/apply
  • Official transcripts of all high school and/or college work completed

Tuition

At Illinois College, we feature a valuable education at a price you can afford.

Curriculum ComponentCostTotal*
Tuition (36 credit hours)$750 per credit hour$27,000
Fees (4 terms)$50 per term$200
Total with Transfer Credits$27,200

Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.

  • Financial Aid

    Discover your financial aid options and learn more about how to fund your education.

    View Financial Aid

  • Military Students

    Illinois College Online is a proud veteran-friendly school. We offer service members and their dependents assistance through our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Veterans Educational Assistance Program and more.

    Find Out More

Career Outcomes

The need for MSN prepared nurses in leadership and educator positions is high, and we expect our MSN graduates to follow the history of excellence of our BSN graduates, 98% of whom were employed or in graduate school within a year of graduating.

Employment information from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

  • Postsecondary Nursing Instructors

    To help fill the ever-widening nursing gap, it's vital that more qualified nurses can help create the next generation of BSN- and MSN-trained staff and prepare them for excellence in a lifelong career. As an educator, you could be responsible for providing valuable continuing education to those on your staff, or you could work for an accredited university.

    $75,470 Median Annual Salary

  • Medical Health and Service Managers

    As medical health and service manager, you'll expand your reach in the healthcare industry as you work to better the outcomes for patients and improve the business of healthcare. Using your knowledge of advanced nursing concepts, information regarding the business of healthcare and new leadership skills, you'll work to plan, direct and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. There is 32% job growth expected for this role from 2020-2030.

    $104,280 Median Annual Salary

Why Illinois College?

  • Advance Quickly

    You can earn an online MSN and advance your career in just a year and start making a difference. Nursing program graduates have 100% placement rate before graduation.

  • Be Career Ready

    Learn advanced nursing concepts, complete a practicum and choose from two career-focused concentrations that prepare you for excellence for an in-demand role.

  • Get Personalized Attention

    On average, classes typically do not exceed 20 students, so you get the attention you need to help you learn advanced nursing concepts and focus on your career goals.

  • Learn Excellence from Experts

    Faculty have more than 30 years of experience in leadership/administration or education and hold terminal degrees in nursing or a related field.

Benefits of
Learning Online

Whether it’s increasing your paycheck or advancing your career, an online degree can help you go further.

View Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps

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