Montana State University

Distance Graduate Degree Programs

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The Board of Regents approved the first doctoral graduate degree program in nursing on September 20, 2012 – first class will be admitted for Fall semester, 2013. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program focuses on educating nurses to the highest standards of the profession to care for people living in Montana and beyond and lead change in health care systems. Two areas of specialty are available for the DNP-degree seeking student at MSU – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP specialty) or Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMHNP).

Masters of Nursing (MN)

The Masters of Nursing (MN) graduate degree program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Students are prepared to take certification examinations as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). MN graduate students are educated to be leaders at the bedside with a broad range of opportunities to influence health practices.

Rich clinical opportunities exist in Montana for nurses who seek to expand their outreach and grow to the level of an advanced practice nurse as a DNP (specialty focus: FNP or FPMHNP) or MN (CNL). The curriculum is taught by faculty in the College of Nursing, Engineering, and Pharmacy. Advanced nurse practitioners, who are certified and experienced, guide DNP students. Faculty with systems and community foci guide MN (CNL) students. Students choose from over twenty faculty in the college who hold doctorates in nursing to lead their scholarly projects in concert with course work and clinical experiences. The college provides educational preparation plus exciting opportunities to practice in rural and frontier areas of Montana. Nursing faculty are recognized nationally for their expertise in rural cultural values and health beliefs.

Graduate courses are offered primarily online with teleconference and video conference used to supplement content. See teaching methods for more information. Travel to Bozeman is required at the beginning of Fall semester.

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Five Steps to Apply

Application Deadline February 15th

  1. Fill out the Pre-Application (available in Word or PDF.)
  2. Fill-out Graduate School application
  3. Complete the Cumulative Undergraduate Grade Point Average and Grade Point Average for Final Two Years Undergraduate Work forms.
  4. Provide three reference letters using the standardized Recommendation Form available in PDF or Word (electronic form).
  5. Have official transcripts and info for items 1, 3, and 4 mailed to:
    College of Nursing, Attn: Lynn Taylor
    PO Box 173560
    Bozeman, MT
    59718-3560

DNP Degree Programs of Study

MN Degree Programs of Study

Certificate Programs (Non-Degree Options)

Course Descriptions

Admission Requirements

Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited upper division program, which included supervised clinical practice in a variety of nursing settings, including community/public health and management.
  2. Successful completion of undergraduate courses in physical assessment, community/public health, research, statistics (which included inferential statistics), and an undergraduate psych/mental health course for the FPMHNP option.
  3. Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse.  If clinical educational experiences are to be completed in Montana, licensure in Montana is required.
  4. Favorable recommendation from the College of Nursing admissions committee.
  5. TOEFL score of 580 or computer equivalent, if applicable.

Clinical Experience Preferred

In general, one year of clinical experience is preferred for both specialties (FNP and FPMHNP) within the DNP graduate degree program. There are no clinical experience preferences for the Clinical Nurse Leader option.

Technical Requirements

Proficiency in the use of a computer and access to a computer with Internet capabilities is required for graduate students who are admitted to the program: refer to Technical Requirements (pdf).

Scholarly Projects

Each student completes a professional paper/project developed in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Examples of exciting and innovative student projects include: development of mental health outreach programs to the rural elderly; examination of alternative health practices for healing; establishment of pediatric cancer support groups for the rural client; and development of a school based clinic. An oral defense of the paper/project is required.

Program Costs

MSU Fee Schedule
Graduate Nursing Program Fee: $53 per credit hour FY 10 and $55.10 per credit hour for FY11.

This fee is used to offset additional costs inherent in clinically-based graduate education such as teaching models, simulation equipment, specialized computer programs, and travel to arrange and supervise clinical experiences across the state. Fees also are used to replace and upgrade the interactive video equipment used for distance delivery of graduate courses.

Financial Assistance

Teaching or research assistantships may be available to selected graduate students. Federal Traineeships, which help defray tuition costs, may be available to advanced practice students who are U.S. citizens. Nurse Faculty Loan Program funds also may be available to students willing to commit to four years of teaching fulltime upon graduation. Additional information can be found in the Graduate Scholarship Information (PDF). 

Interested in Non-degree Graduate Coursework?

            Facts to consider - Non-degree Graduate Coursework Information Guide