Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree Frequently Asked Questions

The classes are mostly online and a few have up to three face-to-face meetings.  Most face-to-face classes are in the evening at 4-7 p.m. or 7-10 p.m.  We make the schedule as student-friendly as possible, so if you are taking classes part-time, your classes for the semester will be on the same night so that you only drive to campus once a week.

We plan class schedules in advance so you can often know the days and times of your classes at least several months in advance. If requested, the graduate nursing coordinator can provide a total program predicted schedule, and although it is not guaranteed, it will give you a better idea of what can be expected.

Absolutely. 

A nursing student can apply to the graduate nursing program at SVSU if:

• the student is beginning the last semester of their BSN program,
• the student is in the last semester of their RN to BSN program, or
• the student is in the last undergraduate semester of their RN to MSN program.

A student can be provisionally admitted to the program, pending successful completion of the BSN or Step One of the RN to MSN program. The Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner major requires a BSN, so the RN to MSN program is not applicable for this major.

The Graduate Nursing Program Coordinator is your academic advisor who gives you a program plan when you are admitted based on your application indications. If changes are needed or requested, just contact the coordinator and request a new plan of study to meet your needs. Taking a semester off or slowing down happens from time to time and does not take you out of the program.

SVSU has no formal application deadline for domestic students, however; applicants are encouraged to apply at least two months prior to the start of a semester to assure the best selection of classes. Applicants seeking financial aid must apply at least two months prior to the start of a semester.

As a general guideline, if you are looking to begin taking classes in the fall semester (late August), we recommend submitting your application in March of that same year.  If you are looking to begin classes in our winter semester (January), we recommend submitting your application in September of the previous year. Completed applications are reviewed as they come in and students are admitted until seats are full.

An official transcript is required from all institutions you have attended. Please submit a request for your official transcripts and ask they be sent electronically to transcripts@svsu.edu.

International graduate nursing applicants have some additional requirements.

All international graduate nursing applicants must also request an Academic Report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to be sent to SVSU.  This report will advise if you have a USA BSN equivalency and will provide your GPA. This report takes two to three months, so it is important to do this far in advance of when you want to begin your program at SVSU.

Also, international graduate applicants are required to provide a language proficiency test score. Scores need to be a minimum TOEFL score of 92 or an IELTS band score of 7.0 in order to be eligible for admission. Accurate and fluent communication is critical in the health care field, and medical terminology is a specialized language itself.