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**Review** Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

Nursing M.S.N. – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration

 

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

New and current students cannot currently declare this program. 

Director: Melissa Henry, Ph.D.

Location: Gunter 3080

Telephone: 970-351-2293 

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/nursing/

FNP graduates are prepared for advanced clinical practice with the expertise to function in an autonomous and collaborative role as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) who provides primary care to families in a variety of settings.

Graduates are qualified to apply for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and to be licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) by the State Board of Nursing with all the rights and privileges associated with this title.

Part-time study only. Health policies, OSHA requirements, CPR, ACLS certification, and criminal background check and drug screen are required. Completion of a master's thesis is an option.

Admission

Location: Greeley/Loveland + Online  (Hybrid)

Start Term: Fall

General Master's Degree Admission Requirements

Nursing M.S.N. - Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Admission Deadline

New and current students cannot currently declare this program. 

Starts Each Fall Term
The deadline for completed applications (including all supplemental materials) each year is Feb. 1. Admission is competitive and completed applications will be reviewed in the month of February.

One year or more of clinical RN experience is required by the application deadline.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.

Each applicant must:

  • Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited (NLN/ACEN or CCNE) nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale).
    • If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
    • If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.

Take the following steps to be considered for admission:

Step 1: Complete the Application

Complete the online application.

  • Answer the application questions.
  • Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
    • Request two (2) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
  • Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee. 
    • Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.

Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.

Step 2: Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. 

Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.

Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.

Mailed transcripts should be sent to:

University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639

Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.

The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.

UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.

Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.

Step 3: Note About the GRE

This program does not require GRE scores.

Step 4: Supplemental Items

Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:

  • Personal Statement of future goals/interest in nursing education (two page maximum, 12 point font, one inch paper margins)
  • Current Vita or Resume
  • Copy of current, unencumbered RN license (verification printout or link required).

Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.

International Applicants

International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.

For More Information 
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.

Degree Requirements — 58 Credits

Required Major Core Credits — 12 credits

NURS 507Policy, Leadership and Nursing Issues

3

NURS 601Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing

3

NURS 606Research and Evidence-based Practice in Nursing

3

NURS 608Advanced Health Care Concepts

3

NP Concentration — 18 credits

NURS 612Advanced Pharmacology

4

NURS 613Advanced Health Assessment

4

NURS 614Advanced Pathophysiology

3

NURS 624Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Advanced Practice of Nursing

3

NURS 690Advanced Professional Role

2

NURS 697Scholarship of Advanced Nursing Practice

2

FNP Concentration — 28 credits

NURS 654Acute Care of Adults

3

NURS 656Care of Chronic Illness in Adults

3

NURS 674Care of Women and Pediatric Populations

3

NURS 675FNP Clinical I

4

NURS 676FNP Advanced Clinical Topics

2

NURS 677FNP Clinical II

4

NURS 689FNP Clinical Synthesis

1-6

Note: NURS 689: Take 11 hours

Program Notes

Successful completion of a comprehensive exam is required to complete the Master of Science in Nursing program. Completion of a master's thesis is an option: NURS 699 Master's Thesis (6).

Prerequisites: Undergraduate Research, Undergraduate Physical Assessment Course

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