MS Family Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum

The MSN-FNP curriculum consists of 42 graduate credits and progresses from foundational graduate nursing study to advanced practice and Family Nurse Practitioner preparation.

I.  Nursing Core Courses	15 credits
The nursing core establishes a foundation in advanced nursing theory, research, leadership, ethics, and health care policy.
NURS 501	Advanced Nursing Theory
NURS 502	Advanced Nursing Research
NURS 504	Dynamics of Nursing Leadership
NURS 505	Ethics and Healthcare Policy
NURS 506	Advanced Nursing Research II
II.  Nursing Support Courses	9 credits
These courses provide the advanced scientific and clinical foundation needed for advanced nursing practice.
NURS 530	Advanced Pathophysiology
NURS 531	Advanced Health Assessment
NURS 532	Advanced Pharmacophysiology
III.  Family Nurse Practitioner Courses	18 credits
FNP coursework builds advanced practice knowledge and integrates theory with supervised clinical experience.
NURS 650	Advanced Practice Theory I
NURS 651	Advanced Practice Seminar/Practicum I
NURS 652	Advanced Practice Theory II
NURS 653	Advanced Practice Seminar/Practicum II
NURS 656	Family Nurse Practitioner Theory III
NURS 657	Family Nurse Practitioner Seminar/Practicum III
IV.  Supplemental Courses	3 credits
NURS 600	Continuous Practicum

Sample Program

The MSN-FNP program is designed for completion in 2.5 years of part-time study.

Year 1
Fall	Spring
NURS 501 Advanced Nursing Theory	NURS 504 Dynamics of Nursing Leadership
NURS 502 Advanced Nursing Research	NURS 505 Ethics and Healthcare Policy
NURS 530 Advanced Pathophysiology	NURS 531 Advanced Health Assessment
Year 2
Fall	Spring
NURS 506 Advanced Nursing Research II	NURS 652 Advanced Nursing Theory II
NURS 532 Advanced Pharmacophysiology	NURS 653 Advanced Practice Seminar/Practicum II
NURS 650 Advanced Practice Theory I
NURS 651 Advanced Practice Seminar/Practicum I
Final Semester
NURS 656 Family Nurse Practitioner Theory III
NURS 657 Family Nurse Practitioner Seminar/Practicum III
NURS 600 Continuous Practicum

Course sequencing and availability are subject to change.

Clinical Education 

Clinical education is an essential component of the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Students begin their clinical experiences in the second semester and complete 600 required clinical hours as part of their advanced practice preparation. 

One-on-One Clinical Preceptorships 

Clinical experiences are structured as one-on-one preceptorships, giving students the opportunity to work directly with an experienced healthcare provider. 

This individualized clinical model allows students to apply classroom learning in real-world patient care settings while developing advanced clinical judgment and practice skills. 

Required Clinical Hours 

• 600 hours
• Clinical Experiences Begin: Second semester 

Clinical Placement Support 

UMSV’s dedicated Graduate Clinical Team works closely with each student to coordinate clinical placements at affiliated health care organizations throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. 

Clinical opportunities include: 

• The Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Manhattan
• Queens
• Staten Island
• Westchester County
• Long Island  

The Graduate Clinical Team works individually with students to coordinate placements that meet program requirements while accommodating, whenever possible, each student’s schedule and preferred geographic location. 

Flexible Clinical Scheduling 

Recognizing that many graduate nursing students are working professionals, UMSV offers flexibility in clinical scheduling. 

Students arrange their clinical hours based on their own availability and their preceptor’s schedule, rather than following a predetermined group clinical schedule.

Advanced Practice Preparation 

The MS-FNP curriculum combines advanced nursing science, clinical practice, research, and evidence-based care. 

Students develop knowledge and skills in: 

• Advanced health assessment
• Advanced pathophysiology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical decision-making
• Patient management
• Health promotion
• Disease prevention
• Evidence-based practice
• Advanced nursing practice
• Family Nurse Practitioner care across the lifespan  

Through coursework, clinical experiences, and supervised practicum education, students build the knowledge and clinical experience needed to assume advanced practice responsibilities as Family Nurse Practitioners.

Preparation for FNP Certification 

The program provides the academic and clinical preparation needed for graduates to pursue national Family Nurse Practitioner certification. 

Graduates may pursue certification through organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), subject to applicable certification requirements.

Take the Next Step

Advance your nursing practice and prepare for a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Explore the curriculum, clinical experience, and flexible hybrid format of the University of Mount Saint Vincent’s MS-FNP program.

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