Northeastern’s Direct Entry Nursing program allows you to use your previous degree and work experience and leverage it into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science degree (MS) in Nursing. Students enter the Direct Entry Nursing (MS) program as graduate students with an undergraduate non-nursing degree and completion of program prerequisites. Students first complete their BSN degree and become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN), then continue their education after 1-2 years of RN practice to become a Masters-prepared Advanced Practice Nurse in an area of specialization.
PLEASE NOTE:
The Direct Entry Master’s Nursing Program is not eligible for F-1 student immigration status sponsorship.
The prelicensure programs at Northeastern University School of Nursing Boston campus are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
The Direct Entry Nursing student enters the Accelerated Master’s program as a graduate student. The first 16 months (4 semesters) of the program consist of intensive, sequential classes and clinicals with combined undergraduate and graduate level courses. Students are then prepared to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) upon completion of 64 program credits. Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) after this part of the program. Financial Aid will be granted on an undergraduate basis during the Pre-Licensure phase of the program.
Once a student becomes licensed as an RN, the student must acquire full time RN work experience. This part of the program requires at least 1 – 2 years of work experience as an RN before entering the clinical part of the Master’s track. Students may start core non-clinical courses with the approval of their specialty track director during the required 1 to 2-year RN experience.
Finding Registered Nurse employment is the responsibility of the student as it is professional nursing experience. Northeastern will help support the student in preparation for the job search. A Leave of Absence (LOA) may be granted on an individual basis to gain more nursing experience before returning to the Master’s portion of the program.
In the Master’s Specialty Track, students are required to take professional, research, and clinical core courses, prior to enrolling in their specialty clinical courses. Full or part-time academic study is available to students.
Completion of the MS degree can take four to six semesters depending on the student’s pace and specialty track. Upon completion of the required specialty area credits, the student receives a Master of Science Degree and is eligible to take the National Certification Exam in their area of advanced specialty nursing practice. Financial Aid is awarded on a graduate basis during this portion of the program.
Sixteen months of nursing-specific courses prepare you to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). A full-time registered nurse work experience is then required for 1 to 2 years depending on the specialty track.
Student retain their status for loans and insurance purposes for 2 semesters while enrolled in 2 online “transition to practice” courses. Upon completion of these 2 courses, students may enroll in advanced courses in a MS specialty track.
14 Credits
16 Credits
16 Credits
18 Credits
Program Office
Northeastern University
102 Robinson Hall
360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
The School of Nursing has a network of clinical affiliations at major teaching and community hospitals, and health centers including:
The Northeastern University Health and Wellness Van provides experiences in health care and education to citizens in the community.
The Direct Entry Masters’ program offers a student with a bachelor’s degree in another field the option to leverage that education and experience and enter as a graduate student in nursing.
The first segment of the program (RN pre-licensure) is 64 credit hours and prepares you to take the registered nurse licensure exam.
The Master’s segment requires approximately 36 to 42 credit hours depending on the specialty track chosen.
Yes, students completing the prelicensure segment (first 16 months) of the program are awarded a BSN degree.
After completing the first part of the program and becoming licensed RNs, students can choose to continue to work part-time or full-time as a RN and take courses in the Master’s segment of the program.
Students may choose from the following specializations:
Since the program is competitive, to transition seamlessly into a specialty track a student in the pre-licensure portion of the program should maintain a B or better in all undergraduate clinical nursing courses (didactic, lab, and clinical). If a grade in any of the courses is below a B, approval and progression is at the discretion of the Specialty Track faculty.
To the Direct Entry MS in Nursing Program