RN to MSN Bridge Program at MSU Moorhead
The RN to MSN Bridge program is currently in the proposal stage and is expected to be available beginning in the Fall 2025 semester pending full approval.
Efficient. Flexible. 100% Online
Advance your nursing career with the proposed RN to MSN Bridge Program track at Minnesota State University Moorhead! Designed specifically for associate degree RNs who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or higher, this innovative program offers a streamlined pathway to earning your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Why Choose MSU Moorhead’s RN to MSN Bridge Program Track?
- Flexible and Online: Complete your coursework from anywhere with our fully online program, designed to fit the busy lives of working nurses.
- Efficient Pathway: Earn your MSN in as few as 43 credits by building on your existing education and experience.
- Customizable Focus: Choose from two optional MSN emphases - Nurse Educator and/or Nurse Leadership - tailoring your degree to your career goals.
Program Details
To bridge the gap to graduate-level nursing, students will complete 12 credits of undergraduate nursing courses before advancing to the MSN curriculum.
Proposed RN-MSN Bridge Courses (12 Credits)
- NURS 301: Transitions (4 credits) – Strengthen your foundation for advanced nursing roles with a focus on professional transitions.
- NURS 348: Public Health (4 credits) – Explore the principles of population health and community nursing practice. Become eligible for the Minnesota Public Health Nurse (PHN) Registration Certificate!!
- NURS 303: Holistic Family Nursing (4 credits) – Develop family-centered, holistic care strategies across diverse populations.
MSN Curriculum (31-40 Credits)
After completing the RN to MSN Bridge courses, you will progress directly into the MSN program. The curriculum includes core MSN courses and emphasis-specific coursework, providing a comprehensive education in nursing leadership and education. Optional emphasis courses are available to expand expertise in nursing education and/or nursing leadership.
Total Program Credits: 43-52
- RN-MSN Bridge Courses: 12 credits
- MSN Core & Emphasis: 31-40 credits
RN-MSN Generalist Emphasis Bridge Program Online Degree Pathway Sample Course Sequencing
The sample plan below is just one example of how you can complete the RN-MSN Generalist Bridge Program pathway in an efficient manner. The program progression is completely customizable to what works for you. Just work with your faculty advisor on your individual needs.
- Program: RN to MSN Generalist Bridge Program
- Total Credits: 53 credits total
- Catalog: 2025-2026
First Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (1st Fall) | |||
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 301 | Transitions | 4 |
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 303 | Holistic Family Nursing | 4 |
| Total Credits: 8 | |||
| NOTE: To register for NURS 615, students must have completed a statistics course within the last 10 years. If this requirement isn't met, they must take the NURS 502/MHA 502 Healthcare Statistics Foundations course (1 credit, pass/fail, online) beforehand. NURS 502 is offered in the winter term. | |||
| Spring (1st Spring) | |||
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 348L | Public Health Nursing | 4 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 615 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| Summer (1st Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 600 | Nursing Science, Ethical and Transcultural Theories | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 610 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Second Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (2nd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 605 | Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Management | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 628 | Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy, and Reimbursement | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Spring (2nd Spring) | |||
| MSN Core Course | NURS 638 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 662 | Patho, Pharm, Physical Assessment for Health Professionals | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Summer (2nd Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 650 | Organizational Strategy and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| MSN Optional Course: | NURS 637P | Practicum Early Start (Optional) | 2 |
| Total Credits: 3-5 | |||
Third Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (3rd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 629 | Educational Foundations and Teaching Strategies | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 642P OR NURS 644P |
Advanced Nurse Educator Practicum Capstone I OR Nurse Leader Practicum Capstone I |
3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 695 | Professional Portfolio | 1 |
| Total Credits:7 | |||
| *Confer MSN graduate degree if NURS 695 is completed successfully. | |||
|
Notes: Please note. You should check with your employer and/or Financial Aid as they may require additional term credits for full-time funding.
|
RN to MSN Nurse Educator (NED) Emphasis Bridge Program Online Degree Pathway Sample Course Sequencing
The sample plan below is just one example of how you can complete the RN to MSN Nurse Educator (NED) Bridge program pathway in an efficient manner. The program progression is completely customizable to what works for you. Just work with your faculty advisor on your individual needs.
- Program: RN to MSN with Nurse Educator (NED) Emphasis Bridge program
- Total Credits: 62 credits total
- Catalog: 2025-2026
First Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (1st Fall) | |||
| Bridge Core Course | NURS 301 | Transitions | 4 |
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 303 | Holistic Family Nursing | 4 |
| Total Credits: 8 | |||
| NOTE: To register for NURS 615, students must have completed a statistics course within the last 10 years. If this requirement isn't met, they must take the NURS 502/MHA 502 Healthcare Statistics Foundations course (1 credit, pass/fail, online) beforehand. NURS 502 is offered in the winter term. | |||
| Spring (1st Spring) | |||
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 348L | Public Health Nursing | 4 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 615 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| Summer (1st Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 600 | Nursing Science, Ethical and Transcultural Theories | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 610 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Second Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (2nd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 605 | Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Management | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 629 | Educational Foundations and Teaching Strategies | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Spring (2nd Spring) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 638 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 639 | Curriculum/Course Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Summer (2nd Summer) | |||
| MSN Optional Course: | NURS 637P | Practicum Early Start (Optional) | 2 |
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 649 | Nursing Education Assessment, Testing, and Evaluation Strategies | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 650 | Organizational Strategy and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6-8 | |||
Third Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (3rd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 628 | Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy, and Reimbursement | 3 |
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 642P | Advanced Nurse Educator Practicum Capstone I | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Spring (3rd Spring) | |||
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 643P | Advanced Nursing Educator Practicum Capstone II | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 662 | Patho, Pharm, Physical Assessment for Health Professionals | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 695 | Professional Portfolio | 1 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| *Confer MSN graduate degree if NURS 695 is completed successfully. | |||
|
Notes: Please note. You should check with your employer and/or Financial Aid as they may require additional term credits for full-time funding.
|
RN to MSN Nurse Leader (NL) Emphasis Bridge Program Online Degree Pathway Sample Course Sequencing
The sample plan below is just one example of how you can complete the accelerated RN to MSN Nurse Leader (NL) Bridge program pathway in an efficient manner. The program progression is completely customizable to what works for you. Just work with your faculty advisor on your individual needs.
- Program: RN to MSN with Nurse Leader (NL) Emphasis Bridge program
- Total Credits: 62 credits total
- Catalog: 2025-2026
First Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (1st Fall) | |||
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 301 | Transitions | 4 |
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 303 | Holistic Family Nursing | 4 |
| Total Credits: 8 | |||
| NOTE: To register for NURS 615, students must have completed a statistics course within the last 10 years. If this requirement isn't met, they must take the NURS 502/MHA 502 Healthcare Statistics Foundations course (1 credit, pass/fail, online) beforehand. NURS 502 is offered in the winter term. | |||
| Spring (1st Spring) | |||
| Bridge Core Course: | NURS 348L | Public Health | 4 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 615 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| Summer (1st Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 600 | Nursing Science, Ethical and Transcultural Theories | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 610 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Second Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (2nd Fall) | |||
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | MHA 618 | Healthcare Law and Ethical Decision-Making | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 605 | Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Management | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 629 | Educational Foundations and Teaching Strategies | 3 |
| Total Credits: 9 | |||
| Spring (2nd Spring) | |||
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | MHA 619 | Applied Financial Management | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 638 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Summer (2nd Summer) | |||
| MSN Optional Course: | NURS 637P | Practicum Early Start (Optional) | 2 |
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 650 | Organizational Strategy and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credits: 3-5 | |||
Third Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (3rd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 628 | Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy, and Reimbursement | 3 |
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 644P | Nursing Adm. & Org Systems Leadership Practicum Capstone I | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Spring (3rd Spring) | |||
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 645P | Nursing Adm. & Org Systems Leadership Practicum Capstone II | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 662 | Patho, Pharm, Physical Assessment for Health Professionals | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 695 | Professional Portfolio | 1 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| *Confer MSN graduate degree if NURS 695 is completed successfully. | |||
|
Notes: Please note. You should check with your employer and/or Financial Aid as they may require additional term credits for full-time funding.
|
Learn More!
Take the next step in your nursing journey and sign-up to receive news and updates on this new proposed RN to MSN Bridge program pathway at MSU Moorhead. With flexible scheduling, an efficient progression plan, and opportunities to customize your learning experience, this program is designed to help you succeed in advancing your career.
Your future as an advanced nursing professional starts here!
Questions? Contact Us
If you want more information or have questions, please contact the program coordinator below.