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UIC - University of Illinois at ChicagoCollege of Nursing
 
   
 

Master's (MS) & Post-Master's: About the Programs

Traditional MS

UIC’s Master of Science (MS) degree in nursing builds upon your skills and education to transform you into a highly skilled, competent advanced practice nurse (APN), a nurse leader in administration or a community leader. The program emphasizes vulnerable populations, evidence-based practice, and scholarly activity.

Each one of the MS specialties are available at all of our campuses: Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Urbana and Quad Cities.

Programs can be completed on a part-time or full time basis and offer flexible scheduling. Most of the MS programs can be completed within 2-4 years depending on a student's part-time or full-time status. Many courses are offered online or in a blended format (combination of online and in person). In addition, many courses are videoconferenced to/from our regional sites. At this time, none of the MS programs are offered in a true distance format. Students do need to be available at one of the sites for some coursework (Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Urbana, Quad Cities).

MS Transition (for Master's students with an RN license and bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing)

Additional information for transition students regarding courses/schedules:

  • Transition students are required to take an additional 1 to 4 courses.
  • All transition courses are in completely on-line eight-week modules.
  • They are taught through Global Campus by UIC College of Nursing faculty.
  • Course credits are applied exactly the same as for graduate degree courses.
  • Degree students are assessed UIC Graduate Student Tuition/Fees.
  • Non-degree online School Nurse Certificate Program students are assessed e-tuition.
  • All required transition courses are to be completed during the first Fall/Spring semesters following admission to the College of Nursing.

Due to the intense concentration of transition course content, it is strongly recommended that students do not concurrently take other graduate courses. This will help prevent a potential adverse impact on overall academic performance.

Transition courses are taught following the Global Campus (GC) schedule and will not follow the same schedule as UIC timetable classes. Courses start at these times:

  • NUSC 210 starts the first Wednesday in September which is after other UIC courses have started.
  • NUSC 242 starts the first Wednesday in November. Students register for both NUSC 210 (if applicable) and NUSC 242 at the same time even though courses are not completed concurrently.
  • NUSC 385 starts the first Wednesday in January after New Year’s Day which is before other UIC degree courses start.
  • NUSC 322 (if necessary) starts the first Wednesday in March. Students will register for both NUSC 385 and NUSC 322 (if necessary) at the same time, even though courses are not completed concurrently.

Post-Master’s

Post-master’s study is for students with a master’s degree in nursing who want to advance their knowledge within one of the specialty areas listed below. Post-master’s study prepares you to sit for the certification exam in the selected area. Length of program can vary depending on your past education.

Advanced Practice Specialty Areas

UIC offers a variety of specialty options that are part of three departments:

Biobehavioral Health Science (BHS)

Health Systems Science (HSS)

Women, Children and Family Health Science (WCFHS)

The following options are available. Most specialties fall into the category of Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Program requirements and descriptions can be found here:

Specialty Dept. MS or Postmaster's(PM)
Acute Care CNS BHS MS or PM
Acute Care NP BHS MS or PM
Adult NP BHS MS or PM
Adult/Geriatric NP BHS MS or PM
Geriatric CNS BHS MS or PM
Geriatric NP BHS MS or PM
Family NP HSS MS or PM
Mental Health CNS HSS MS or PM
Mental Health NP HSS MS or PM
Occupational Health/Advanced Community Health Nurse Specialist HSS MS
Occupational Health/Family NP HSS MS or PM
School/Advanced Community Health Nurse Specialist HSS MS
School/Family NP HSS MS or PM
Pediatric NP WCFHS MS or PM
Pediatric CNS WCFHS MS or PM
Perinatal CNS WCFHS MS or PM
Nurse Midwifery WCFHS MS or PM
Women's Health NP WCFHS MS or PM
Administrative Studies in Nursing (can be combined with MBA or MS in Health Informatics for a joint degree) HSS MS or joint degree option
Advanced Community Health Nurse Specialist (can be combined with MPH for a joint degree) HSS MS or joint degree option