University of Charleston Online FNP Program
The University of Charleston, located in Charleston, West Virginia, offers nursing professionals a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program designed to prepare its graduates for advanced nursing practice. The mission of the MSN program is to train nurses to be ethical, safe, and effective professionals. With training as family nurse practitioners (FNPs), graduates are well trained to work as primary care practitioners on behalf of patients across the human lifespan within a variety of care settings.
The MSN curriculum combines didactic and clinical coursework. Didactic courses provide students with the knowledge, theory, and research experience necessary to provide patient care based on evidence-based practice. Clinical courses provide students with hands-on training in clinical decision-making, diagnosis, intervention, and patient education. Students complete their 750-hour clinical training requirement within the last three semesters. Admission is offered in both the spring and autumn.
The curriculum is designed to achieve a number of learning outcomes. Such learning outcomes include:
- Applying advanced understanding of nursing and related disciplines to deliver safe, patient-centered care to both individuals and populations
- Engaging in continuous learning, reflection and healthy living to support excellent performance as an advanced practice nurse
- Collaborating with other professionals and within the health system to drive positive changes in health outcomes
- Planning, implementing, and evaluating primary care interventions on behalf of diverse patient populations
- Utilizing patient healthcare technologies and informatics to foster effective communications and continually monitor and improve care
Graduates are eligible to sit for the FNP national certification board examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Graduates are well prepared to enter a variety of roles in numerous care settings. The University of Charleston MSN-FNP program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
What to Expect
Admission Requirements: The University of Charleston accepts a variety of students. To be eligible for admission, applicants must have a BSN from an accredited institution with a minimum final GPA of at least 2.5. Students still in the process of completing a BSN may be offered conditional admission status. Applicants must also have a current, active, unencumbered US registered nurse license. A complete application includes a written statement of purpose, contact information for two professional recommendation sources, a resume or CV and demonstration of intent to successfully meet the program’s requirements.
Transfer students must also have at least a 2.5 GPA from the master’s degree program they are enrolled in. Students can generally transfer nursing courses as long as they received a grade of ‘B’ or higher. Students can transfer up to a maximum of nine credits. Credit for graduate nursing courses is not granted for courses taken more than five years ago.
State Restrictions: International students are also welcome to complete University of Charleston academic programs. The University of Charleston features an international campus community composed of one of the most diverse student bodies in West Virginia. International applicants must fulfill the requirements expected of freshman or transfer students. Such applicants also must fulfill additional requirements to confirm educational equivalency, English language proficiency and permission to study in the United States. International applicants are advised to review the University’s website for details on these additional requirements. International applicants are strongly recommended to complete their application at least six weeks before the start of the semester they seek to enroll in as securing a student visa is often a time-consuming process.
Study Plan: Students have the option to study full- or part-time. Full-time students can complete the MSN program in as little as five semesters. Part-time students can complete it in seven semesters.
MSN Curriculum: The University of Charleston’s online MSN program is a 42-credit-hour program. The curriculum includes instruction in a variety of topics, including advanced nursing practice roles, pathophysiology, pharmacology, assessment, healthcare policy, leadership, and a three-credit capstone course. Students also must complete a clinical training requirement.
Online Experience: The University of Charleston MSN FNP program is offered fully online. No local residency is required.
On-Site Requirements: The only onsite requirement is the clinical training requirement. The clinical training totals 787.5 clock hours and consists of 750 direct care clinical hours across three clinical courses and virtual simulation training.
Paying for the University of Charleston Online MSN-FNP
The University of Charleston online MSN-FNP degree program tuition numbers are listed in the tables below. Students must first submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine aid eligibility. Students may ultimately be eligible for loans, scholarships, and grants issued from the federal government and West Virginia state programs. All applicants and current students are recommended to search for resources to finance their education proactively.
The University of Charleston website features other resources to assist with financial planning. These include a net price calculator where students can estimate the cost of attendance and a resources subpage that lists resources such as loan counseling, additional scholarship resources, and information on student borrowers’ rights and responsibilities.
Some students may be eligible for additional support based on their backgrounds. Military personnel and closely affiliated individuals are one such group. Aid possibilities include tuition assistance (TA) for active-duty members of the army, marines, and navy and Veterans Administration (VA) benefits for active-duty and veteran students and military dependents.
The University of Charleston, West Virginia, offers an affordable online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program with no residency requirement that can be completed in as few as 5 semesters full-time, or 7 semesters part-time.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
2300 MacCorkle Ave SE
Charleston, West Virginia 25304
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
42
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE required
2.5 or higher
CA
Program Tuition
42
$625.00
$26,250.00
$625.00
$26,250.00
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].