Salisbury University

What you'll study

The programme builds on foundational nursing knowledge and advances skills in leadership, research methods and clinical decision-making. Students choose a pathway—Nursing Administration, Nursing Research or Clinical Nursing—and follow a combination of core master's level courses and specialised modules plus a practicum or capstone project.

• Core modules: advanced health assessment, healthcare policy and ethics, epidemiology and population health, biostatistics, healthcare leadership, and evidence-based practice.
• Nursing Administration pathway: organisational theory in healthcare, financial management for nurse leaders, quality improvement and patient safety, human resources and operational leadership, strategic planning and change management, with a management practicum.
• Nursing Research pathway: research design and methods, qualitative and quantitative analysis, grant writing and dissemination, systematic review, implementation science, and a research thesis or practicum in a faculty-supervised study.
• Clinical Nursing pathway: advanced clinical decision-making, disease management across the lifespan, clinical practicum(s) in specialty areas, interprofessional collaboration, and course work emphasizing translation of evidence into practice. This pathway may be offered as a Clinical Nurse Leader or clinical specialist model depending on student focus.
• Practicum/capstone: all students complete supervised clinical hours or a capstone project applying leadership or research skills in a healthcare setting, often arranged through Salisbury University's clinical partnerships.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited programme or an equivalent nursing degree, and possess an active, unencumbered RN licence. Typical supporting items include an official transcript, current CV or résumé, personal statement outlining professional goals, and letters of reference—usually from academic supervisors or clinical managers.

Additional expectations commonly include a minimum undergraduate GPA (programme-specific), relevant clinical experience for leadership or clinical tracks, and demonstrable readiness for graduate-level study. International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements and provide credential evaluation for foreign academic records.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a range of mid- to senior-level roles in healthcare systems, public health agencies and research settings. Career paths vary by pathway but typically include:

• Nursing Administration: nurse manager, director of nursing, quality improvement coordinator, clinical operations manager or other leadership positions overseeing staffing, budgets and service delivery.
• Nursing Research: clinical research coordinator, nurse researcher, data analyst in nursing research, roles in academic research teams or positions supporting evidence-based practice and implementation projects.
• Clinical Nursing: clinical nurse leader, clinical nurse specialist, advanced practice roles where permitted by scope of the programme, educator positions in hospitals or community health settings, and specialised clinical practice roles in areas such as chronic disease management.

Graduates are prepared to contribute to improved patient outcomes, lead multidisciplinary teams, and take part in policy and programme development within healthcare organisations.

Why study at Salisbury University

Salisbury University offers a nursing programme characterised by small cohorts, close faculty mentorship and strong ties with regional hospitals and community health providers on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The School of Nursing emphasises hands-on learning through simulation laboratories and practicum placements that reflect contemporary clinical settings.

The faculty combine academic qualifications with active clinical and research experience, enabling students to work on applied projects and research under supervision. The programme is delivered using a mix of face-to-face and online coursework to support working professionals, and the School maintains accreditation from recognised nursing accrediting bodies to ensure curriculum quality and clinical relevance.

Students benefit from a supportive campus environment, opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, and career services that help translate graduate study into leadership, research and advanced clinical roles within healthcare systems.