University of Kansas School of Medicine

What you'll study

The curriculum blends concept-based didactic content, lab and simulation, and applied clinical practice across the lifespan and four spheres of care: wellness and disease prevention; chronic condition management; acute and restorative care; and complex care management. Students complete over 540 clinical hours distributed across diverse settings and integrated into applied practice courses each term.

• NURS 600 Knowledge for Nursing Practice (3)
• NURS 601 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3)
• NURS 602 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I (3)
• NURS 661 Person-Centered Care I: Wellness and Disease Prevention (3)
• NURS 691 Applied Practice I: Foundations of Nursing Practice (3)
• NURS 603 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II (3)
• NURS 809 Informatics, Technology, and Communication (3)
• NURS 662 Person-Centered Care II: Chronic Disease Management (3)
• NURS 692 Applied Practice II: Emerging Nursing Practice (3)
• NURS 701 Population Health and Epidemiology (3)
• NURS 700 Principles of Nursing Scholarship (3)
• NURS 761 Person-Centered Care III: Acute and Restorative Care (3)
• NURS 791 Applied Practice III: Integrating Nursing Knowledge (3)
• NURS 762 Person-Centered Care IV: Complex Care Management (3)
• NURS 788 Nurse as Leader (3)
• NURS 789 Practice Readiness (3)
• NURS 792 Applied Practice IV: Transitioning to the Registered Nurse Role (3)

Entry requirements

The program is intended for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Prospective students are advised to begin prerequisite coursework prior to application; full details are provided on the KU Admissions and Aid page. The MSN-DE at KU begins in Fall 2027 (with subsequent fall starts). Applications for the initial intake open November 1, 2026 and close April 1, 2027. Study is full-time, year-round, and on-campus in Kansas City, KS, with applied practice elements delivered in-person.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN and enter practice as registered nurses across care settings. The curriculum emphasizes readiness for complex clinical environments, interprofessional collaboration, quality and safety improvement, population health, informatics, and leadership—skills that support bedside nursing, care coordination, and transitional roles with responsibility for person-centered care across the lifespan. The program is explicitly a pre-licensure pathway and does not itself confer advanced practice certification.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The MSN-DE is offered as a graduate program and is eligible for federal financial aid. Prospective students can contact the School of Nursing Student Affairs or email soninfo@kumc.edu to discuss financial aid and other funding options.