AE-MSN Program Overview
Application Deadline:October 1
Application Available:August 1
Program Start:Summer once a year only
Length of Program:3 years full-time
Degree Awarded:Master of Science in Nursing
Part-Time Study Available?After the foundation (first) year
Distance Learning Available?Not at this time
AE Information Sessions
Rankings
Ranked #8 among public schools and #14 among all schools in Best Nursing Schools: Master's Programs
(U.S. News & World Report 2024)
Note:If you have a bachelor's degree outside of Nursing, an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and you are a licensed registered nurse please visit theMasters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program. Additional Alternate Entry (AE) programs includeAE Master of Science in Nursing (AE MSN) Leadership in Diverse Settings (LeaDs),AE Doctor of Nursing Practice (AE DNP),and theAE Doctor of Philosophy (AE PhD).
About the AE-MSN
The Alternate Entry Master of Science in Nursing (AE-MSN) program is designed for people holding baccalaureate or graduate degrees in disciplines other than nursing and who are interested in pursuing both their Registered Nurse (RN) License and Master of Science in Nursing degree. After completing the rigorous academic and clinical training, AE-MSN graduates are expected to assume entry-level positions and advance rapidly in their nursing careers as they acquire experience in the field.
Leadership in Diverse Settings (LeaDs)
The Leadership in Diverse Settings (LeaDS) program is a master's level curriculum created to address the need for nurses to take on leadership roles in various healthcare environments. The aim of the LeaDS program is to equip graduates with a comprehensive set of skills to lead in patient-centered healthcare, community, and educational settings. Graduates of the LeaDS program will be prepared to drive change in complex and dynamic environments. The program offers courses and guided experiences to develop leaders with the following competencies:
- Advanced Clinical Practice Skills
- Advocacy for Diverse and Underserved Populations
- Resource Stewardship
- Effective Communication, Collaboration, and Negotiation
- Commitment to Mentoring and Developing Others
- Organizational Change Management
- Project Management
- Visionary Leadership for the Future of Healthcare and Nursing Education
- Completion of an Evidenced-Based Practice (EBP) or Quality Improvement (QI)
- Capstone project
Degree Plans
LeaDS Alumni – Where are they now:
Past LeaDs graduates work in diverse healthcare settings, such as inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings, surgery centers, public health departments, specialty clinics, and institutes of higher education. Many are serving as nurse managers, nurse educators, quality assurance specialists, unit leaders, and nursing faculty.
Alumni Testimonials:
LeaD-er 1:“I am so thankful for everything the faculty in LeaDS have done to support and help us grow throughout this process. I am genuinely proud of my project and grateful that my hard work has been recognized!”
LeaD-er 2:“My future aims after graduation are striving to heighten awareness of the disparities in women's health and actively participate in educating and contributing to innovative solutions to ensure equitable perinatal care.”
LeaD-er 3:“After graduating from the LeaDS Program, I never dreamed that I would be teaching my supervisors how to create a project charter or a project plan. I am grateful to have been provided the tools for success as a leader in my organization.”
AE-MSN Resources
Course of Study
The Foundation Year:The AE program is designed to satisfy RN licensure requirements and train students in advanced practice and specialty nursing roles. The first year of the program is an intensive, full-time series of foundation courses. TheAE-MSN Foundation Year (Pre-Licensure) Courses(PDF) are accelerated, specially designed graduate courses. These courses include content and experiences required to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and are required for graduate-level study in nursing. All foundation courses must be completed before students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The sequence of AE foundation courses begins in the first summer session of the program, and full-time enrollment during the foundation sequence is required.
Master’s Coursework:After passing the NCLEX-RN and obtaining their RN license, students are eligible to work as an RN in Texas only. The second and third years of the program focus on the coursework required for the Master of Science in Nursing degree in the student's chosen concentration area. The MSN degree is typically awarded in the spring of the third year. After degree completion, the RN license can be endorsed outside of Texas.
AE-MSN Objectives
- Accept responsibility and accountability for the ethical practice of nursing at an advanced level.
- Critically apply theoretical perspectives, teaching/learning principles, and evidence-based knowledge from nursing and related sciences to professional nursing practice across healthcare environments.
- Systematically and comprehensively investigate complex issues encountered in nursing practice to promote optimal health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, populations, and systems.
- Advocate for patients, families, caregivers and communities to access healthcare services and to preserve and promote health.
- Lead initiatives that contribute to the delivery of safe, high quality, person-centered health care with considerations for social, ethical, legal, economic, environmental, epidemiological, systems and policy issues.
- Use advanced communications skills to facilitate stakeholder collaboration to optimize health and healthcare delivery.
- Use relevant information, technologies, and communications and informatic processes that informs advanced nursing practice to improve healthcare outcomes for individuals, families, communities, populations, and systems.
- Practice in an advanced nursing specialty (e.g., leadership) or advanced practice nursing role.
- Engage in self-reflection and personal development activities that contribute to life-long learning, leadership development and resilience.
Admission Requirements
All students interested in applying for graduate study in Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin must meet the admission requirements established by the University’sGraduate Schooland the School of Nursing. Applicants are expected to be graduates of accredited colleges or universities. Below are the minimum requirements for admission.
Below are the minimum requirements for admission:
- Degree: Bachelor’s degree in an area other than Nursing.
- GPA: 3.0 (4.0 scale) or comparable GPA in completed upper-division work (junior- and senior-level courses) and graduate work.
- Recommendations: 3 required and 1 reference must be from a healthcare professional. Written recommendations are not accepted.
- Prerequisites:Completion ofAE Prerequisite Courses(PDF). See pdf for completion time requirements and policies.
- Statement of Purpose
- Curriculum Vitae/resume
*Applicants to the AE-MSN program are encouraged to have volunteer or work experience in a healthcare related field.
Application Procedures
Any person applying for formal admission to the AEMSN program must submit theGraduate School Application for Admissionand following materials by theOctober 1 deadline.
Application for Admission
Complete the online application using theGraduate School Application for Admissionand pay the application fee. The application is only open between August 1st and October 1st. The online application is data entry only. All supporting application documents are uploaded on theMy Statuspage after the application is paid and submitted.
*Recommendation: Complete online application, at minimum, 2 weeks before the October 1 deadline ensuring all documents are provided by the application deadline.
Supporting Documents
- Official transcripts with a print day of one year or less, from all post-secondary colleges or universities attended, including community colleges.
SeeAE-MSN LeaDs Application Checklist(PDF) for transcript upload procedures. - Curriculum Vitae: include educational background, professional experience, volunteer experience and other relevant information (e.g., publications, scholarship and awards, professional organizations, and community activities).
- Personal Statement: Maximum two (2) pages. Readable font, 12-point, double spaced, 1-inch margins
- Recommendation: 3 required / 3 maximum
- Using our secure, personalized form, three (3) professional recommendations that attest to the applicant's academic ability, professional competency and personal character must be submitted electronically by each recommender.
- One reference must be from a healthcare professional, a nurse, physician, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.
- Written recommendations are not accepted.
- OfficialTOEFLorIELTSscores taken within the past two years (for International Applicants only).
- See theInternational Students webpagefor English language requirements.
- Alternate Entry Prerequisite Checklist(PDF) informs the admissions committee details regarding the applicant’s prerequisite courses. The form must be fully completed and signed.
Visit theGraduate Admissions webpagefor additional information.
For additional details on how to prepare your graduate application materials and personal statement instructions, please view theAE-MSN LeaDs Application Checklist(PDF).
All materials must be submitted electronically to theMyStatuspage which is available approximately 48 hours after submitting the online application.
Prerequisite Courses
In addition to a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, applicants must complete24 credits(grade C- or better) of prerequisite coursework from an approved institution.
- Anatomy with lab (4 credits)
- Physiology with lab (4 credits)
- Microbiology with lab (3 credits)
- Pharmacology (3 credits)
- Human Growth and Development Through the Lifespan (3 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
Prerequisite Policies
- A grade of“C-” or highermust be earned in all prerequisite courses.
- Applicants MUST complete a minimum of 5 prerequisite courses by December 31st of the year applied.
- Human Anatomy and Microbiologymust be two of the five courses.
- Final grades for any prerequisite courses in progress during the fall admissions semester must be provided by the second week inJanuary.
- *ApplicantsMUSThave completedHuman Anatomy with lab, Human Physiology with lab, and Pharmacologycourses within the past6 yearsfrom the anticipated AE program enrollment date.
- All 7 prerequisite courses must be completed beforeENROLLINGin the AE program. Therefore, if admitted, one to two courses can be completed in the spring before starting the program.
- All prerequisite courses can be completed in a distance learning format.
- All prerequisite courses are subject to approval by the Graduate Student Services Office.
Review the common approvedPrerequisite Course Equivalencies(PDF) for local and distance learning courses.
Prerequisite Transcript Evaluationsare recommended. Contact Graduate Student Services atnugrad@nursing.utexas.edu, for additional information.
Acceptance to Graduate Programs in Nursing
The School of Nursing Graduate Admissions and Progression Committee (GAPC) begin preliminary admission reviews after the October 1st deadline. All application materials must be submitted by the program’s application deadline; files that remain incomplete will not be reviewed or acted upon by GAPC.
If admitted, applicants will be notified of the admission decision by early February. Decisions are communicated in the following ways:
- Offers of admission are sent via email by the School of Nursing.
- Official e-letters from the Graduate and International Admission Center notifying you of the admission decision of the Office of Graduate Studies are available on the application Status Check page.
Acceptance by the School of Nursing and the Graduate is necessary before enrollment is permitted. Please be aware, if admitted, completion of all compliance requirements is required at least one month before the first day of class.
NOTE: Email is the official means of communication for all university business.
If not admitted, applicants will be notified by the Graduate Admissions Office.
Please emailGraduate Student Services Officeif you have questions about the admission process.
Forms/Documents
All files are in PDF format.