Nursing@USC Online Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN – FNP) Program

What to Expect from Nursing@USC

Admission Requirements: Nursing@USC applicants must hold a BSN from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in the BSN program. A prerequisite statistics course is required with a grade of “C” or better. The applicant must be a licensed registered nurse (RN) and a resident of the United States for the entire program. Prospective students must have at least one year of clinical work experience.

Online applications must include proof of an active, unrestricted RN license, an application fee, resume, official transcripts, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, a successful background check, and TOEFL test scores if applicable. No GRE or GMAT is required.

State Restrictions: While the University of Southern California accepts students from most states into their MSN – FNP program, applicants outside of California should check with their State Board of Nursing to be aware of the practicum requirements in their state while attending an out-of-state university and to make sure they are eligible to study with the University of Southern California. Currently, residents of the following states and territories are not eligible for the program: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Washington DC, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Study Plan: The University of Southern California online MSN – FNP is delivered in both a full-time track which takes five terms (21 months) or a part-time track which takes eight terms to complete (33 months). Clinical preceptorships are completed at facilities local to the student in four different work settings: adults, child-bearing and pediatric patients, adults with complex health issues, and integrated family practice. Placement teams help students secure placement sites. Each placement lasts 14 weeks and students complete a total of 784 clinical hours. Start dates land in September, January, and May.

MSN – FNP Curriculum: The Nursing@USC FNP program comprises a minimum of 49 credits and at least 784 clinical hours. Courses include Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice; Advanced Health Assessment Across the Life Span; Theory: Clinical Management of Adult Patients; Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing; Theory: Clinical Management of the Childbearing/Childrearing Family; Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Theory: Clinical Management of Adult Patients with Complex Medical Issues; Research/Analytical Methods; Transforming Research Evidence into Practice; Professional Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing; Health Policy Principles in Changing Health Care Contexts; and Theory: Family Primary Care.

FNP students also complete four clinical practicums: Family Primary Care; Management of Adult Patients; Management of Adult Patients with Complex Medical Issues; and Management of the Childbearing/Childrearing Family.

Some students may also be required to complete a two-credit bridge course prior to the program.

Online Experience: The University of Southern California delivers courses through live, online, face-to-face, weekly classes. During these sessions, students collaborate with faculty and peers and break into small groups for discussions and group work. Class sizes are limited to a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Coursework includes readings, research, and video case studies, and is delivered through a user-friendly platform. All students have access to live faculty hours, discussion boards, online chat, admissions counseling, academic advising, career counseling, 24/7 technical support, library services, and other student services. In addition, all students receive a complimentary Global Access WeWork membership which provides personal study spaces, Wi-Fi, printing and copying services, mail services, a lounge and kitchen area, coffee and water, and an on-site support staff.

On-Site Requirements: MSN – FNP students are required to come to the Los Angeles, CA campus for two intensives in which skills assessments take place with faculty members. The first intensive occurs at the end of the first term and the second falls either at the end of the third term or the end of the fourth term, depending on the full-time or part-time track. All other coursework is online and practicums are completed locally.