Course work in the Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) area of emphasis incorporates the classroom, online, laboratory, and clinical modes of instruction. All nursing students have experiences with rural and/or under-served populations as part of the State initiatives for primary health care. The MSN-FNP program requires the completion of a minimum of 41 credit hours.

Additionally, in cooperation with Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, the Marshall University School of Nursing offers a Nurse Midwifery area of emphasis and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner area of emphasis. Forty-four (44) credit hours are required for the Nurse Midwifery area of emphasis; and 48 hours of credit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner area of emphasis.

The curriculum of the Master of Science in Nursing program components:

1. The core curriculum component is comprised of twelve (12) credit hours that focuses on knowledge and skills related to nursing and related theories, leadership, advanced nursing research, and issues.

2. The area of emphasis component, which includes:

  • The Family Nurse Practitioner area of emphasis (29 credit hours) provides an opportunity to develop competency as a family nurse practitioner.
  • The Nurse Midwifery area of emphasis (25 credit hours from Marshall and 19 from Shenandoah University) provides an opportunity to develop competency as a nurse midwife.
  • The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner component (10 credit hours from Marshall and 24 credit hours from Shenandoah University) provides an opportunity to develop competency as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

Upon successful completion of the MSN-FNP program, graduates are eligible to take the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Examination for Family Nurse Practitioners and/or the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) Certification Examinations for Family Nurse Practitioners.

Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioners graduates are eligible to take the ANCC Certification Examination for Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioners.

Nurse Midwifery graduates are eligible to take the American Midwifery Certification Board Exam.

Plans of Study

Plan of Study: Family Nurse Practitioner Prior to Fall 2025

Plan of Study: Family Nurse Practitioner, Fall 2025 and After

Plan of Study: Nurse Midwifery PDF

Plan of Study: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner PDF