What is an MSN direct-entry program?
MSN direct-entry (MSN-DE) programs are specifically designed for people to directly enter the nursing profession as an entry-level nurse but earn a master’s-level education.
This type of prelicensure program provides a higher level of academic preparation and credentialing than simply getting a second undergraduate/bachelor’s degree. Students graduate ready to take the NCLEX-RN exam and become a registered nurse.
The MSN-DE requires fewer total credits and prerequisites than completing a second undergraduate degree and is eligible for federal financial aid as a graduate program.
At KU, the MSN-DE shares coursework with both our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This enables students who continue with a KU DNP program that includes a specialty concentration to enter with nine graduate credits already completed.
The MSN-DE is for anyone who wants to be a registered nurse and has already earned a bachelor’s degree in a different area or discipline.
The MSN-DE begins in Fall 2027 with fall starts in subsequent years.
Students planning to start the MSN-DE program should begin work on prerequisite courses. Go to our Admissions and Aid page to learn more.
Yes, students in the MSN-DE will experience lab, simulation, and clinical learning integrated into an applied practice course each term, where they will demonstrate competency in the didactic content they have learned. Additionally, students will complete more than 540 hours of clinical practice across diverse settings, spheres of care, and the full lifespan, ensuring both breadth and depth of preparation for professional nursing practice.
Students enrolled in the MSN-DE program will complete nine (9) credit hours of distinct graduate-level coursework not included in the BSN entry-to-practice pathway. These courses include:
- NURS 809 Informatics, Technology, and Communication
- NURS 701 Population Health and Epidemiology
- NURS 700 Principles of Nursing Scholarship
- The nine graduate-level courses represent the first semester of a full-time Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) plan of study.
- If an MSN-DE student chooses to pursue advanced practice education at KU, they will enter the DNP program with nine graduate credit hours already completed.
- The MSN-DE program provides a higher level of academic preparation and credentialing than simply getting a second undergraduate/bachelor’s degree.
- The MSN-DE requires fewer total credits and prerequisites than completing a second undergraduate degree and is eligible for federal financial aid as a graduate program.
- It shares coursework with KU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) curriculum. This enables students who continue with a KU DNP program to enter with nine graduate credits already completed.
- The MSN-DE program is a pre-licensure program.
- It prepares you for registered nurse (RN) licensure. In this program you will also take nine graduate-level courses that will prepare you for complex clinical environments and future leadership roles.
Program at a Glance
- Time to complete: 1.5 years with full-time, year-round study
- Entry options: Full-time study
- Application deadline: Applications will open November 1, 2026 and close April 1, 2027.
- Format: On-campus program.
- Courses are on-campus in Kansas City, KS, with a few on-line courses included in the program. Applied practice experiences include in-person weekly laboratory, simulation, and clinical experiences.
- Credit hours: 57 total
- Practice experiences: 540 hours
Need more information? Email soninfo@kumc.edu to schedule a one-on-one conversation with a nursing academic advisor.
View Full Curriculum
KU’s innovative, MSN-DE program empowers second career students and those who found their nursing call later to learn in a learner-centered environment designed with your success in mind.
| Course Number | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 600 | Knowledge for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 601 | Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 602 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I | 3 |
| NURS 661 | Person-Centered Care I: Wellness and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| NURS 691 | Applied Practice I: Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 603 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II | 3 |
| NURS 809 | Informatics, Technology, and Communication | 3 |
| NURS 662 | Person-Centered Care II: Chronic Disease Management | 3 |
| NURS 692 | Applied Practice II: Emerging Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 701 | Population Health and Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURS 700 | Principles of Nursing Scholarship | 3 |
| NURS 761 | Person-Centered Care III: Acute and Restorative Care | 3 |
| NURS 791 | Applied Practice III: Integrating Nursing Knowledge | 3 |
| NURS 762 | Person-Centered Care IV: Complex Care Management | 3 |
| NURS 788 | Nurse as Leader | 3 |
| NURS 789 | Practice Readiness | 3 |
| NURS 792 | Applied Practice IV: Transitioning to the Registered Nurse Role | 3 |
Uniquely KU
KU’s graduates are prepared to step confidently into the future of healthcare through a bold, future-focused curriculum that blends concept-based learning, hands-on skill development, and immersive clinical experiences.
The KU MSN-DE program doesn’t just teach what nurses need to know—it ensures students can do it in real clinical settings and allows you to build expertise that deepens each semester. Your learning progresses intentionally across the human lifespan and emphasizes four spheres of care with palliative and hospice care taught throughout:
- Wellness and Disease Prevention
- Management of Chronic Conditions
- Acute and Restorative Care
- Complex Care Management
This innovative course design creates a dynamic, supportive environment where students think critically, practice with purpose, and grow into their professional identity. The result is a practice-ready nurse who is poised to lead, innovate, and make a meaningful impact from day one.
Program Objectives
- Analyze nursing and interdisciplinary theories to inform clinical judgment in delivering safe, equitable care across diverse settings.
- Use clinical judgment in the design and implementation of person-centered care plans across the continuum.
- Analyze population-level data to inform nursing interventions that promote health equity and address disparities across the care continuum.
- Appraise evidence to inform practice decisions and contribute to the advancement of nursing knowledge.
- Design strategies that foster a culture of safety and quality improvement in healthcare environments.
- Facilitate interprofessional collaboration to enhance care coordination and improve health outcomes for individuals and populations.
- Assess healthcare systems and resource utilization to advocate for policies and practices that promote equitable and efficient care delivery.
- Integrate informatics tools and emerging technologies to optimize communication, decision-making, and safety outcomes.
- Integrate professional identity that reflects nursing’s knowledge, values, and ethical comportment.
- Engage in reflective practice to support lifelong learning, resilience, and professional growth.
Admissions and Aid
Student Affairs
The Student Affairs team is ready to help you become a KU nursing student and succeed while you’re here.
They can:
- Counsel you about the best program to fit your needs
- Advise you which courses to take
- Review your transcripts
- Help you every step of the admissions process
Have a specific question? Email them at soninfo@kumc.edu or call 913-588-1619.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Our Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) school code is 001948.
Learn about tuition and fees by clicking the links below. These links will take you to the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Registrar’s site.
Scholarships
In academic year 2024-2025, the KU School of Nursing awards over $1.6 million in scholarships annually across all our programs.
Nursing Licensure
The MSN program prepares students for RN licensure. The National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) is the examination for nursing practice in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The exam does not vary across states. Graduates apply for licensure and complete the NCLEX-RN through the Board of Nursing in the State where they plan to practice. Some states belong to the Nurse Licensure Compact which allows graduates to apply for multi-state licensure. For information on individual state's requirements go to the National Councils of State Boards of Nursing website.
The University of Kansas Medical Center's pass rate for the NCLEX is available on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses Program Summary - All First Time Registered Nurse Candidates Educated in Kansas through December 31, 2024 PDF.
As of July 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education requires professional nursing programs to provide information on how their curriculum meets education requirements for professional licensing in each state. View Licensure information.
Potential Limits to Receiving a Nursing License
There are a number of reasons that the Kansas State Board of Nursing may deny, revoke, limit or suspend a nursing license. These include fraud or deceit in practicing nursing or in procuring a license, holding a felony conviction, being incompetent, being unable to practice due to abuse of drugs or alcohol, being judged in need of a guardian, exhibiting unprofessional conduct, having violated the provisions of the Kansas Nurse Practice Act, having action taken against your nursing license in another state and assisting in suicide.
In 1997, the Kansas Nurse Practice Act was amended to add a new provision in the felony section: no person who has been convicted of a felony against persons (as specified in Article 34, Chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, prior to its repeal, or sections 36 through 64-174, 210 or 211 of chapter 136 of the 2010 Session Laws of Kansas and amendments thereto) shall be licensed. In other felony or misdemeanor instances, the Board of Nursing will conduct an investigation and make an individual decision. As always, admission to and graduation from the University of Kansas School of Nursing does not guarantee eligibility to test for a nursing license in Kansas or any other state if a person's past record includes any of the situations listed above.
Accreditation & Recognition
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing