Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Educator Online
The Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Educator program is designed to prepare experienced nurses to become well-qualified nurse educators. Our accelerated online program is student success-centered and 100% online coursework is supplemented with faculty-guided practica.
Program Overview
Get to know the UNCW online MSN Nurse Educator program
In the UNCW MSN Nurse Educator program, you can acquire the necessary tools and knowledge to successfully teach a new generation of nurses. You will learn under the instruction and caring mentorship of our faculty—who are experienced nurse educators themselves.
In this online master’s program, you will learn to effectively teach didactic, clinical and distance nursing education courses. Coursework includes advanced pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics, a study of social, psychological, cultural and ethical trends which shape healthcare systems, research and evidence-based practices for nursing education, an exploration of relevant teaching and learning theories, strategies, and assessments, and a study of clinical information systems.
In our online nurse educator master’s program, you will:
- Understand the educational requirements to be eligible for some specialty certification examinations
- Acquire the knowledge and confidence for a leadership role in academia, staff development and the greater nursing community
- Gain the necessary tools and knowledge to successfully teach a new generation of nurses
- Understand the educational requirements to be eligible for some specialty certification examinations
- Acquire the knowledge and confidence for a leadership role in academia, staff development and the greater nursing community
- Gain the necessary tools and knowledge to successfully teach a new generation of nurses
Career paths for graduates of the MSN Nurse Educator online program include:
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Nursing Consultant
- Research Nurse Educator
- Nursing Education Specialist
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Nursing Consultant
- Research Nurse Educator
- Nursing Education Specialist
Also available:
The School of Nursing at UNCW also offers the online RN to BSN program. View all of our online healthcare and nursing programs.
Accreditation:
The baccalaureate and master's degree programs in nursing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Through the MSN Nurse Educator program, you will gain unique knowledge and skills as a nurse educator. You will gain a strong foundation from which to facilitate and assess learning, design and evaluate quality curricula, and advance the scholarship of nursing education. This knowledge and these skills will enhance your value as a member of the nursing profession.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. April Matthias [email protected]
Tuition
The UNCW online nurse educator degree is affordable
Designed to be affordable and convenient, our tuition is an outstanding value and far less of a financial investment than many other North Carolina universities. We also offer pay-by-the-course tuition for our online programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year pending legislative approval. View more information on your cost of attendance.
| Program | Total Tuition & Fees* |
|---|---|
| MSN Nurse Educator (in-state residents) | $12,438.72 |
| MSN Nurse Educator (out-of-state residents) | $46,540.80 |
*All amounts shown are estimates for full program tuition and do not include books, material costs and future tuition increases. Tuition rates are based on 2025-2026 figures, assume full-time enrollment (nine hours per semester) and are subject to change. You can review the estimated costs of attendance for information about the full cost of attendance, including expenses beyond tuition and fees.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Know the schedule for your online program
The MSN Nurse Educator online program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring six start dates each year.
Please note that sessions frequently fill ahead of published deadlines. Application cycles are open until the sessions reach capacity. Due to high demand, there is no advanced notice of application closures.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/7/25 | 6/7/25 | 7/2/25 | 7/7/25 | 8/17/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/25/25 | 8/2/25 | 8/2/25 | 8/27/25 | 8/28/25 | 10/12/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/20/25 | 9/27/25 | 9/27/25 | 10/22/25 | 10/23/25 | 12/7/25 |
| Spring 1 | 1/12/26 | 12/12/25 | 12/13/25 | 1/14/26 | 1/15/26 | 3/1/26 |
| Spring 2 | 3/9/26 | 2/14/26 | 2/14/26 | 3/11/26 | 3/12/26 | 4/26/26 |
| Summer 1 | 5/11/26 | 4/18/26 | 4/18/26 | 5/13/26 | 5/14/26 | 6/8/26 |
| Summer 2 | 6/29/26 | 6/6/26 | 6/6/26 | 7/1/26 | 7/6/26 | 8/16/26 |
Students must register for courses by 5 p.m. (EST) on the registration deadline date.
Students must remit tuition payment by 10 a.m. (EST) on the tuition deadline date.
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Check out the requirements for our MSN Nurse Educator online program
Applicants desiring admission into the graduate program in nursing at UNCW must seek admission to the UNCW Graduate School. Admission to the UNCW Graduate School requires:
Admission Requirements:
- Official transcripts
- Undergraduate GPA 2.7
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing
- A completed Graduate School application.
- Official transcripts of all college work.
- Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) if undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0. Standardized test scores more than five years old at the time of application will not be considered. Due to COVID -19, the program will accept two letters of recommendation in place of the GRE or MAT for applicants with a cumulative GPA of 2.70 - 2.99 from a regionally accredited institution. The letters (submitted through the online portal) should address the applicant's potential for success as a graduate and the applicant's potential in the Nurse Educator role.
- Students who are taking or have taken graduate work elsewhere must be in good standing at that institution to be eligible to take graduate work at UNCW.
- Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a professional nurse in North Carolina is required unless:
- The student’s license is from a compact state and that is the student’s primary state of residence (fixed permanent and principle legal residence) home www.ncbsn.org/compacts.htm
- The student is distance-based and will not be practicing in North Carolina while enrolled in school and has the licensure or eligibility for licensure in their primary state of residence.
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program.
- Strong academic record with a 2.7 GPA in undergraduate bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate Statistics course with a grade of B- or higher. An Advanced Placement Statistics (AP Statistics) Exam score of 4 or 5 also meets this requirement. Applicants fulfilling this requirement with AP Statistics will be required to upload a copy of their AP Statistics Exam score into the online application after submission.
- Selection of preferred start date, based on available sessions at the time of application or decision.
- An interview with faculty may be requested.
- Additional items as needed.
- Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.
Please note: The GMAT/GRE is currently waived through the 2024 cycle for all programs.
Additional Information
- Applicants with an overall bachelor’s degree GPA of 2.69 and lower will not be considered for admission.
- Nine credit hours of graduate level transferred credit may be accepted upon approval.
- Application for admission to the MSN-NE program will occur at 6 start dates, two in the Fall, two in the Spring and two in the Summer. Please note that sessions frequently fill ahead of published deadlines. Application cycles are open until the sessions reach capacity. Due to high demand, there is no advanced notice of application closures.
- Applicants must have access to a computer capable of supporting electronic mail, a web browser, a word processing program and multi-media presentations. In addition, applicants must demonstrate ability to use these computer applications. Remediation instruction for navigating the on-line platform is available from the TAC Center (https://uncw.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/Home/).
- A reapplication and application fee is required for students that do not attend the session accepted.
Courses
Discover what you will learn in our online courses
The MSN Nurse Educator online curriculum is comprised of 11 core courses (33 credit hours) and one nursing elective to total 36 credit hours.
You must take the following courses:
As a student in the Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Educator program, you must take one elective to complete the degree requirements. You can choose any elective course offered in consultation with your advisor.
**Students taking a full-time course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 12 months. Consult with your advisor.
Request Information
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