Master’s Degree in Nursing, Concentration in Nurse Educator

Become a Nurse Educator

Nurse Educators play a critical role in preparing future nurses. Ball State University’s online Master of Science in Nursing offers a Nurse Educator concentration that is designed for Registered Nurses who want to teach at colleges and universities, trade schools, community colleges, and medical and surgical hospitals

Because the program is online, you can continue working full-time while earning your degree. This program may be right if you want to:

• Plan curriculum for undergraduate nursing courses
• Lecture on various topics in the nursing field
• Prepare class syllabi and course materials
• Encourage and moderate class discussions
• Oversee students’ lab and clinical work

What Nurse Educator Skills Will I Learn?

The hands-on experience you gain throughout your education results in skills that you can use the next day in your healthcare career. The program prepares you with a foundation in nursing curriculum and program development, teaching and learning in nursing education, and evaluation methods.

• Curriculum development
• Instructional design
• Program evaluation and quality improvement
• Student assessment and evaluation
• Student support and mentorship
• Teaching and facilitation (clinical, classroom, simulation)

Nurse Educator Courses You Will Take

The online Master’s in Nursing with a Concentration in Nurse Educator is comprised of 40 credits and 180 practicum hours in an approved healthcare environment focusing on nursing administration. You will complete coursework 100 percent online and can complete this concentration in seven semesters.

Required Research Courses (6 credits)

• EDPS 641 Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 credits)
  Or NUR 607 Data Analysis in Nursing Research (3 credits)
• NUR 604 Research (3 credits)

Required Nursing Courses (12 credits)

• NUR 603 Nursing Theory (3 credits)
• NUR 605 Nursing Information Technology (3 credits)
• NUR 610 Nursing Concepts in Health Promotion/Disease and Injury Prevention in Populations (3 credits; 45 clinical hours)
• NUR 630 Advanced Nursing and Role Theory (3 credits)

Educator Role Courses (13 credits)

• NUR 620 Curricular Designs in Nursing (3 credits)
• NUR 622 Teaching in Nursing (3 credits)
• NUR 626 Program Evaluation (3 credits)
• NUR 672 Practicum of Role Expectations (4 credits; 180 clinical hours)

Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, and Pharmacology Core Courses (9 credits)

• NUR 632 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
• NURS 634 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits; 60 clinical hours)
• NUR 638 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3 credits)

Experience a Real-World Administration Practicum

Your 180 practicum hours can be completed in your workplace while under the supervision of a master’s- or doctoral-prepared RN in your community. Your practicum is education-focused and designed to prepare you for an educator role upon graduation. 

More about Online Learning

State Authorizations

All students must reside in and complete all clinical hours in a state where the Ball State University School of Nursing is authorized to offer its programs. Students moving to a state where the master’s nursing program is not authorized will be unable to progress in the program.

Prior to applying, all prospective students need to visit the state authorizations website to determine if their state currently allows them to enroll at Ball State University for the master’s nursing program. The website and its links are updated on an as needed basis, so please check regularly for updates. 

Ready to Apply?

Are you interested in pursuing this degree? Then you will need to meet our admissions criteria and apply.