Frequently Asked Questions – MSN

Frequently Asked Questions – Graduate Program

  1. What MSN majors do you offer?
  2. I am particularly interested in your joint UNC Charlotte and Carolina Medical Center (CMC) Nurse Anesthesia major. Where can I find specific information?
  3. Why do I need to complete two applications for the Nurse Anesthesia major but not for other majors?
  4. Where do students in all three majors get their clinical experiences?
  5. Do I need have an Undergraduate Statistics course before I apply to the graduate program?
  6. What is a Post-Baccalaureate application?
  7. I am an RN with a BA or BS in a non-nursing major and have graduated from a Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. I want to obtain a Master’s degree in nursing. What do I need to do?
  8. What extra courses do I need to take if I have an RN license with a BS or BA but do not hold a BSN?
  9. What is an RN to MSN program?
  10. If I enroll in the RN to MSN program, will I be charged graduate or undergraduate tuition and fees?
  11. How do I apply?
  12. Where can I get information about the GRE and the MAT?
  13. Should I take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Millers Analogies Test (MAT)?
  14. What score do I have to have on the GRE in order to be accepted into a major?
  15. What score do I have to have on the MAT in order to be accepted into a program?
  16. Do I have to repeat my GRE or MAT if I have already taken it?
  17. How will I know when the graduate school has all my materials?
  18. How much are tuition and fees?
  19. Is there Financial Aid for graduate students?
  20. How many courses am I able to transfer to UNC Charlotte?
  21. How recent do courses need to be taken if I want to transfer them to UNC Charlotte?
  22. Is the SON at UNC Charlotte planning to offer a DNP degree?
  23. If I still have questions, who can help me?


1. WhatMSN Majors do you Offer?

  • A full listing of our graduate majors and specialties is listed here.


2. I am particularly interested in your joint UNC Charlotte and Carolina Medical Center (CMC) Nurse Anesthesia major. Where can I find specific information?

  • The staff at CMC can provide specific information to you. They can answer questions about the suitability of your required prior ICU experiences and provide some guidance about how you can present a strong case for admission.
  • Refer to the CMC Nurse Anesthesia webpage for more information. For an individual consultation with a clinical faculty person based at CMC, call 704-355-2375.


3. Why do I need to complete two applications for the Nurse Anesthesia major but not for other majors?

  • UNC Charlotte and CMC partner to provide an exceptional joint program for qualified students.
  • Students receive all their clinical experiences from adjunct faculty who maintain an active nurse anesthesia practice as employees of CMC-Main.
  • Students thus MUST complete an application to UNC Charlotte and Carolinas Medical Center with two separate application fees.


4. Where do students in all three majors get their clinical experiences?

  • Nurse Anesthesia students have clinical experiences primarily at Carolina Medical Center – Main and other Hospitals in the Carolina’s Healthcare System.
  • Nurse Practitioner students have clinical experiences in a variety of primary care centers. There is a Clinical Placement Coordinator who works individually with students and area clinicians to arrange for quality experiences.
  • Students in Community/Public Health, Nurse Administrator, and Nurse Educator specialties have internship experiences in a community or health care institution, or educational setting under the direction of the course faculty and with direct supervision of a preceptor.


5. Do I need have an Undergraduate Statistics course before I apply to the graduate program?

  • Yes, you do need an undergraduate statistics course with a minimum grade of C before you can be accepted into any of the graduate majors that we offer.
  • You can take this course at a Community College or at UNC Charlotte. We do not require a specific course. Any undergraduate statistics course is acceptable.


6. What is a Post-Baccalaureate application?

  • This is a brief application that allows you to enroll in two graduate courses before you have been accepted into a degree program. It is designed to allow students to adapt to the rigor of graduate education before enrolling in a degree program. It is will count toward completion of courses required for a major. STAT 6127 Introduction to Biostatistics, NURS 6115 Health Policy and Planning in the US, and NURS 6101 Theoretical Basis for Nursing Practices are suitable options. All courses require that students obtain Departmental Permission prior to registration.
  • Due to budget constraints, we have very limited space for Post-Baccalaureate students in NURS 6101 Theoretical Basis for Nursing Practices and NURS 6115 Health Policy and Planning in the US.
  • For more information, click this link.

7. I am an RN with a BA or BS in a non-nursing major and have graduated from a Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. I want to obtain a Master’s degree in nursing. What do I need to do?

  • If you want to apply to the Nurse Anesthesia major you must first obtain your BSN.
  • If you are interested in any of the other majors, you can bypass the BSN requirement and apply for admission to the desired specialty. The Associate Director of the SON for the Graduate Division will review your Bachelor’s transcript for evidence of equivalent courses as outlined in the admission criteria.This option does NOT confer a BSN degree.


8. What extra courses do I need to take if I have an RN license with a BS or BA but do not hold a BSN?

  • If you are missing the following undergraduate nursing courses or their equivalent, you must include them in your plan of study.
  • These are upper division courses that you can take at UNC Charlotte in our RN to BSN program.
    • Nursing Research
    • Community/Public Health Nursing
    • Aging and Health
    • Design and Coordination of Care (Nursing Leadership)
    • Health Assessment for NP applicants only.
  • It is essential to have your transcripts evaluated by the Associate Director of the SON for the Graduate Division. For an appointment, call 704-687-7919.


9. What is an RN to MSN program?

  • An RN to MSN program is designed for motivated students who have an Associate Degree in Nursing but have not completed a baccalaureate degree.
  • Students should review carefully the MSN admission requirements for the desired major, for with the exception of a BSN degree; ALL admission criteria must be met.
  • Please note that the Nurse Anesthesia major does not admit students who desire an RN to MSN option.
  • Students who qualify for this option must apply to the RN-BSN and MSN programs at the same time.
  • Ten credit hours in the RN to BSN curriculum are replaced by ten credit hours from the MSN curriculum.
  • When all requirements for the BSN degree have been met, the BSN is awarded. Students then continue in the MSN program of study.


10. If I enroll in the RN to MSN program, will I be charged graduate or undergraduate tuition and fees?

  • You will be charged graduate fees for all courses, even if you take undergraduate courses.
  • Tuition is based on your student classification, not on the level of courses that you take.


11. How do I apply?

  1. The first thing is to review carefully all admission requirements for the major and specialty that interests you. These are at nursing.charlotte.edu.
  2. Then review carefully application information published by the Graduate School. You can find them at graduateschool.charlotte.edu.
  3. Then complete the online graduate admission application.


12. Where can I get information about the GRE and the MAT?

  • Information about testing sites and cost is posted on the graduate school webpage.


13. Should I take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Millers Analogies Test (MAT)?

  • If you are applying for the Nurse Anesthesia Major, we require the GRE. For all other majors, we prefer the GRE but will accept the MAT.

14. What score do I have to have on the GRE in order to be accepted into a major?

  • The GRE score is one of many items that we consider when we review applications.
  • For Anesthesia, we prefer your combined score for Verbal and Math to be 950.
  • When the desired score is not stated, we prefer a GRE score of 950 but do consider it with your GPA, your statement of purpose, and your recommendations.


15. What score do I have to have on the MAT in order to be accepted into a program?

  • The MAT score is one of many items that we consider when we review applications.
  • When the desired score is not stated, we prefer a MAT score of 400 but do consider it with your GPA, your statement of purpose, and your recommendations.

16. Do I have to repeat my GRE or MAT if I have already taken it?

  • The graduate school accepts GRE and MAT reports up to 5 years after the test date.
  • If you already have a Master’s degree, you only need to provide the Graduate School with documentation of the GRE or MAT score.


17. How will I know when the graduate school has all my materials?

  • There is a tracking feature in the Apply Yourself application program.
  • Please check that link often to determine the status of your application.


18. How much are tuition and fees?

  • Refer to the Student Accounts web site for up-to-date university tuition and fees.
  • Keep in mind that there may be additional fees associated with clinical courses.
  • Please refer to the CMC website for information about their fees.


19. Is there Financial Aid for graduate students?

  • In addition to the financial aid resources offered by UNC Charlotte’s Financial Aid Office, there are resources specific to the College of Health and Human Services. They are listed here.
  • Additional funding and fellowship opportunities for full time and part time students is available through the Graduate School whose website can be found here.


20. How many courses am I able to transfer to UNC Charlotte?

  • The university allows students to transfer 6 credit hours.
  • This includes a combination of courses that are taken in other institutions AND at UNC Charlotte while enrolled on a Post Baccalaureate basis.
  • To request transferring more credit hours than 6, please contact the Associate Director for the School of Nursing, Graduate Division.


21. How recent do courses need to be taken if I want to transfer them to UNC Charlotte?

  • The acceptable age of a transferred course is calculated from an expected graduation date.
  • All courses must be 6 years old or less at the time of graduation.


22. Is the SON at UNC Charlotte planning to offer a DNP degree?

  • The SON has requested permission from the State UNC System to plan for a consortium offering of a DNP with Western Carolina University.
  • When we receive all required state approvals we expect to offer a DNP.


23. If I still have questions, who can help me?

  • For questions about the admissions process email the Graduate School at graduateschool.charlotte.edu/admissions
  • For general questions about graduate majors in the College and School of Nursing, call the Office of Student Services in the College of Health and HumanServices at 704-687-7922.
  • For more specific questions about graduate nursing s call the Graduate Division of the School of Nursing at 704-687-7919.
  • For specific questions about the clinical component of the Nurse Anesthesia Major call The Clinical Nurse Anesthesia Program, CMC at 704-355-2375