Master's in Nursing Frequently Asked Questions

Concentrations for the master’s in nursing include Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator, and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Use the Cost Calculator to determine your individualized costs. This will include your online course and technology fees but will not include the cost of textbooks. Clinical course fees are also not included and are currently $400 per course. Each concentration requires a different number of clinical courses. There are also additional program fees for the School of Nursing, including a $150 fee for fall and spring semesters and a $90 fee for summer semesters.

The timeline will differ depending on your chosen concentration. Here is a breakdown of each:

Nurse Educator

This concentration is 36 credit hours with one clinical course. Students can expect to take about 6 credit hours most semesters, enabling them to complete the program in at least 7 semesters.

Nurse Administrator

This concentration is 36 credit hours with one clinical course. Students can expect to take about 6 credit hours most semesters, enabling them to complete the program in at least 7 semesters.

Family Nurse Practitioner

This concentration is 47 credit hours with 6 clinical courses. Students can expect to take about 6-8 credit hours most semesters, enabling them to complete the program in approximately 6-8 semesters.

Refer to our state authorizations map to determine whether you can earn and use this degree in the state where you live.

Only if you want to! All courses are 100% online and administered via Canvas asynchronously, meaning that there is no set time that you must login for class. However, the program is not self-paced so you will have real faculty setting assignment deadlines and due dates as you proceed through each course. As long as you are meeting those requirements, when you do your work is up to you.

We have fully virtual student support services that include free tutoring from the Learning Center and services offered by the Writing Center and University Libraries. You can also utilize virtual offices for Student Disability services, the Counseling Center, and Career Services.

• Nurse Educator: 270 total clinical hours

• Nurse Administrator: 225 total clinical hours

• Family Nurse Practitioner: 690 total clinical hours

The School of Nursing expects students to play an active role in securing all clinical placements required for their degree. Faculty members are available to provide support and assistance should any issues arise during the process.

In the event that a faculty member does assist in securing placement for a student, the student will be required to accept the placement found for them. If they do not accept the placement for any reason, including location of the clinical site, they will have to wait to take the course in a future semester.

The ensure that students select and receive the proper clinical experiences, faculty have established requirements within each concentration. These will be made available to admitted students after orientation within the program.

Clinicals are generally completed within your geographic area with a preceptor you select based on the requirements of the course. FNP clinical courses will be done in a primary care or clinic setting, not an acute care setting. Clinicals cannot be done in your own unit or clinic.

Graduate students may be able to transfer in up to 9 credits, pending departmental approval. To have your credits reviewed, you must submit your official transcripts, course descriptions, and course syllabi.

When applying for one of the MS in Nursing programs, you must submit an application, all of your previous transcripts* from every college or university you have attended, as well as the following supplemental materials:

• 3 recommendations**
• Nursing license
• Criminal history disclosure
• Nursing questionnaire
• Nursing goals and objectives

*The School of Nursing strongly recommends all applicants submit a final, official transcript for each nursing degree that they have previously completed (associate, baccalaureate, and RN-BS completion). Not submitting all your transcripts will delay completion of your application.

**Competitive applicants will have recommendations from the following:

• At least 2 recommenders who are master’s or doctorally-prepared
• Your current supervisor, if employed in a nursing or healthcare-related field
• A current or former nursing faculty member from your undergraduate program if you are currently in school or graduated within the past 3 years
• A healthcare professional who can speak to your ability to complete graduate level coursework and is familiar with your nursing knowledge and clinical skills

The MS in Nursing at Ball State is 100% online and flexible for working professionals. Many students have been able to continue to work their nursing job while earning an advanced degree. It is recommended you work with your employer and academic advisor to ensure you can make time for study and complete your onsite clinicals.

The jobs that your degree will prepare you for depend on your concentration.

Nurse Educator

Nurse Educator careers can lead outside traditional academic settings, including education-focused roles at hospitals, long-term care facilities, and technical or vocational schools. Nurse educators can also work in clinical settings as education facilitators or coordinators.

Nurse Administrator

A Nurse Administrator is a nonclinical leadership role. With this degree, you may find work in a variety of management and leadership positions in acute care hospitals, home care agencies, primary care clinics, or even public health, schools, and insurance companies.

Family Nurse Practitioner

An FNP may find work as a nurse practitioner in a wide variety of specialties, from oncology to neonatal care and many others, or may choose to work in private practice.