Arkansas State University Online NP Programs
Arkansas State University (ASU), located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, offers nursing professionals an ACEN-accredited online MSN degree program and a post-master’s degree certificate program. Students choose from one of three nurse practitioner specializations for both the master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program as well as the certificate program:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Students in the MSN and certificate programs develop the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective, comprehensive, patient-centered care that ultimately leads to improved health outcomes for individual and whole populations. The fully online program is targeted towards working nurses and features clinicals designed to enhance these existing professionals’ knowledge and leadership skills.
Graduates are well-trained to provide lifelong patient care in many specialties and care settings. Popular practice settings include internal medicine, family practice, community and specialty clinics, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care centers, correctional facilities, and more.
All nursing degree and certificate programs offered by Arkansas State University are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
What to Expect
Admission Requirements: The AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP programs have identical requirements. To be eligible for admission, applicants must have completed a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program of nursing from a regionally accredited college or university, have a minimum overall undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.25 (4.0 scale), and a current unencumbered RN license. None of the programs require submission of GRE/GMAT scores.
English language proficiency is also critical to success in these programs. All three programs require a high level of English proficiency to meet both academic and clinical objectives and licensure criteria. Applicants may be required to provide proof of English proficiency per the A-State School of Nursing English Proficiency Standards. Applicants who have previously attended a professional program may also be required to provide a letter of good standing.
Applicants must submit a complete online application, an application fee, official transcript(s) submitted by the registrar of any college/university the applicant has attended, and documentation of at least 1,500 RN practice hours accrued before the date of admission. A recent background check must also be completed and entered in the student’s file.
State Restrictions: ASU accepts applicants residing both in Arkansas and elsewhere in the USA. Applicants are advised to check with ASU and their respective state licensure board to ensure the program meets local licensure requirements where they intend to practice. International applicants are advised to contact ASU to learn about international student admission criteria.
Study Plan: ASU’s online MSN programs are designed for completion within a timeframe suited for working professionals, typically over three years of part-time study. The program offers four start dates throughout the year. Regardless of their program track, students must complete their practicum/clinical requirement in a state in which Arkansas has reciprocity.
MSN Curriculum: The FNP and AGACNP programs feature the same requirement of a total of 41.5 credit-hours. Students complete seven core courses (20 credit-hours), three emphasis courses (nine credit-hours), and six practicum courses (12.5 credit-hours). The practicum coursework ultimately totals 750 clinical hours. PMHNP program students complete a total of 47.5 credit-hours. Their curriculum consists of four core courses (11 credit-hours), three support courses (nine credit-hours), and 14 advanced practice courses (27.5 credit-hours).
AGACNP Specialization Courses: Students complete a total of six seminar courses (NURS 621V – NURS 626V) focused specifically on the training required of an AGACNP. The required practicum/clinical training similarly targets the expertise needed to work as an AGACNP.
FNP Specialization Courses: Students complete a series of six advanced practice courses focused on women’s health, pediatrics, and the study of the theoretical and clinical bases for the management of clients who have a variety of minor or chronic health problems. Among these is a seminar course focused on analyzing and applying nursing theory and research/role concepts.
PMHNP Specialization Courses: PMHNP students complete a total of 14 advanced practice courses, which make up the specialization courses that distinguish this program from the other two options. These advanced practice courses include a course on psychotherapy for clinical practice, another on advanced psychopharmacology, and a series of seminar and practicum courses.
Online Experience: ASU’s online learning delivery model makes its programs easily accessible for the working nursing professionals these programs are designed to serve. A fully online curriculum provides students the flexibility many of them need to work as the highly mobile nursing professionals they often must be to manage their various professional and personal commitments simultaneously.
On-Site Requirements: Though the ASU MSN curriculum is offered online, students must complete their practicum/clinical experiences in person. The AGACNP program also offers optional on-site skills labs. ASU’s use of a learning model that emphasizes online learning allows students to benefit from its nursing practitioner programs both within Arkansas and throughout the United States.
Paying for the Arkansas State University Online MSN Programs
Arkansas State University’s online MSN programs are designed to be affordable and thus accessible to a large pool of students.
Arkansas State University offers affordable tuition, and students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal Stafford Loans or Graduate PLUS loans through the FAFSA. Students also have several other options available to finance their education. For example, Arkansas State University offers a variety of scholarships, including institutional and privately funded scholarships, scholarships for transfer and current students, and more. Additional financial assistance options include grants, waivers, work-study, and on-campus student employment.
A vast majority of ASU students receive some form of financial assistance. Prospective applicants should contact the Arkansas State University Financial Aid & Scholarships Office for more information.
All programs offered in Arkansas and 1-3 neighboring states (Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee), with highly competitive, pay-by-the-course tuition that includes all fees.
MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Cert – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
Post-Master's Cert – Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Cert – Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
2105 Aggie Road
Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II
Yes
0
47.5
N/A
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.25 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
47.5
$370.00
$17,575.00
$370.00
$17,575.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
AG-ACNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II
Yes
0
41.5
N/A
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.25 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
41.5
$370.00
$15,355.00
$370.00
$15,355.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II
Yes
0
41.5
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.25 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
41.5
$370.00
$15,355.00
$370.00
$15,355.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
AG-ACNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II
Yes
0
21.5
N/A
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.25 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
21.5
$370.00
$7,955.00
$370.00
$7,955.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II
Yes
0
21.5
N/A
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.25 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
21.5
$370.00
$7,955.00
$370.00
$7,955.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II
Yes
0
27.5
N/A
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.25 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
27.5
$370.00
$10,175.00
$370.00
$10,175.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science, and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].