Graduate Degrees

Research College began offering a Master of Science in Nursing degree in 1997. The MSN program offers three graduate tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Executive Nurse Track and Nurse Educator Track. The Family Nurse Practitioner, track prepares graduates for an advanced practice role as a health care provider in a variety of settings. The second track, Executive Nurse Practice: Health Care Leadership (ENP), is offered in collaboration with Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University, and provides nurses with the skill sets necessary to function in management roles in complex health care delivery systems. The third track, Nurse Educator, prepares nurse educators with knowledge and strategies for teaching in both clinical and academic settings.

Admission Eligibility for BSN graduates:

1. Possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited nursing program with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher on a four-point scale.
2. Possess current licensure as a registered nurse (RN).

Admission Eligibility for new BSN graduates who are not licensed as a Registered Nurse may be provisionally admitted to the graduate program for one semester provided that they complete the application process and:

1.      Possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited nursing program with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher on a four-point scale.

2.      Complete the NCLEX-RN examination during the semester immediately following graduation from the BSN program.

The student who successfully completes the NCLEX-RN examination will be fully admitted to the graduate program upon verification of RN licensure.

Admission Eligibility for individuals who are within six (6) months of completing a BSN degree are eligible to be admitted and enroll under a conditional admission if they:

1. Complete the application process and meet the admission criteria.
2. Successfully complete their BSN with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and pass the NCLEX licensure exam.
3. These stipulations must be met within one semester of graduation to maintain conditional admission status.

Students who are non-degree seeking or enrolling for a limited period until the admission process can be completed can apply as an unclassified student.  Please print off the unclassified application and return it to the College of Nursing. Students not currently enrolled in a RCN undergraduate program may take a maximum of 3 credit hours. Unclassified students are not guaranteed admission to the graduate program.

Application Process operates on a rolling admission basis, reviewing applications as they are submitted except for the Family Nurse Practitioner Track which reviews applications four times a year: October 1, February 1, April 1 and July 1.

1. Submission of a completed application form by downloading and printing an application with the required $50.00 application fee.
2. Submission of up-to-date, official transcripts of all college course work, including evidence of completion of a BSN degree from a regionally accredited college or university (including credit earned at Research College of Nursing/Rockhurst University).
3. Submission of a total of  three (3) references, you can download and print a reference form (pdf file). Two references must be from the employer and the third from either the employer or from the baccalauareate program.
4. All application materials for full admission must be received no later than two weeks before the semester begins. Students applying for "Unclassified Student" status may do so at any time.
5. A pre-admission consultation with faculty will be scheduled after all application materials are received.

Send transcripts to:
Director of Transfer and Graduate Recruitment
Research College of Nursing
2525 E. Meyer Blvd.
Kansas City, Missouri 64132

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Interested in learning more about Research College of Nursing? Please email questions to Leslie Mendenhall or call toll free (866) 855-0296 or (816) 995-2820.