Cox College Online MSN Nurse Practitioner Programs

Admission Requirements: Admission to the Cox College online nurse practitioner programs requires applicants to meet specific academic standards. Candidates must be US citizens or hold a permanent residency card and possess a current, unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in BSN-level professional component courses is required. Applicants with a GPA of 2.5 to 2.9 may be considered for provisional admission. Additionally, state restrictions apply at this time, which is further discussed in the next section.

State Restrictions: Cox College’s online MSN NP programs are subject to specific state restrictions. At this time, Cox College does not accept students from Arizona, California, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, or Wisconsin. The college is actively working on gaining approval in Colorado, Nevada, and Washington, and applicants from these states are advised to check back for updates.

Prospective students should be aware of these requirements and confirm eligibility before applying to ensure compliance with all state and institutional regulations.

Study Plan: Cox College’s online MSN NP programs are structured to offer flexibility and convenience. Students can enter either the FNP or PMHNP track, with options for full-time or part-time study available each spring and fall semester.

The MSN program can be completed in as few as five semesters full-time or seven semesters part-time, allowing students to choose the pace that best fits their personal and professional needs. All coursework is delivered online, with required clinical components completed at approved external sites.

For the FNP track, the program provides 45 credits and includes 780 required clinical hours. For the PMHNP track, students complete 46 credits and 780 clinical hours. The curriculum begins with foundational training, and once students select their career track, they move into specialized coursework and clinical practicums in their final semesters.

Core Curriculum: The Cox College online MSN nurse practitioner curriculum includes foundational and specialized courses designed to develop advanced nursing practice competencies across two tracks: FNP and PMHNP. These programs combine online didactic instruction with required clinical practicum experiences to prepare graduates for national certification examinations in their respective specialties.

Core MSN courses include Leadership in health care and nursing education systems; advanced physiology and pathophysiology; ethical and legal practice in health care; role of the advanced practice nurse I and II; advanced pharmacology; advanced physical assessment with clinical practicum; and evidence-based practice in health care I and II.

MSN – FNP Specialty Curriculum: The FNP track includes additional courses such as health promotion/prevention in primary care: adult through aging; health promotion/prevention in primary care: adult through aging clinical practicum; health promotion/prevention in primary care: women’s health and reproduction; health promotion/prevention in primary care: women’s health and reproduction clinical practicum; health promotion/prevention in primary care: newborn to adolescence; health promotion/prevention in primary care: newborn to adolescence clinical practicum; and advanced practice clinical practicum. This track includes 780 clinical hours and 45 credits, available full-time or part-time with fall and spring starts.

MSN – PMHNP Specialty Curriculum: The PMHNP track adds courses such as family and child dynamics; advanced psychopharmacology; counseling and psychotherapy; counseling and psychotherapy clinical practicum; psychiatric management across the lifespan; psychiatric management across the lifespan clinical practicum; and the PMHNP clinical practicum. This track also requires 780 clinical hours and 46 credits, available full-time or part-time with fall and spring starts.

Online Experience: Cox College delivers its MSN nurse practitioner programs entirely online, using its own learning management system (LMS), which students can access through the Cox Campus platform. This system provides a user-friendly environment where students can engage with course materials, participate in discussions, submit assignments, and communicate with faculty and peers. The online format allows students to complete coursework flexibly from home or any location with internet access, while clinical practicums are arranged externally.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-campus requirements for Cox College’s nurse practitioner programs. Students will be required to complete clinical practicum hours as part of their degree requirements. While coursework is completed online, these clinical experiences are designed to provide hands-on training in advanced nursing practice across various healthcare settings.

Clinical practicums are conducted at approved healthcare facilities that provide the necessary learning experiences. Cox College offers assistance with clinical placements, aiming to relieve students from the stress of finding appropriate practicum sites.