Nursing: Nursing Education Concentration, Online

Master of Science in Nursing Degree (M.S.N.)
MSN major

About this program

When you pursue a career in nursing, you can make a positive impact every day. But, when you teach a nurse, the potential is even greater than you could imagine. Thinking of expanding your career possibilities to teaching future nurses or your peers on the latest innovative technology? The Master of Science in Nursing program specializing in Nursing Education at Penn College opens new opportunities to advance your career. Part-time and 100% online, this specialized master’s program is flexible and designed to accommodate your busy schedule. From teaching best practices to curriculum development and outcome measurement, you’ll learn how to share your passion for nursing through education and inspire the next generation of nurses.

Have questions?

Meet with Kelly Bidlespacher, Director of Nursing, Bachelor and Graduate Degrees, to discuss the ins and outs of the Nursing Education program.

Schedule meeting

Special Admissions Requirements

A limited number of seats are available in this program. That’s why we rely on selective admission criteria to select applicants with the highest potential for success. Entry into the program is competitive.

Read more about the selection criteria →

Next steps...

You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information

Individuals considering applying to this program should be aware that the COVID-19 vaccination may be required to participate in clinical experiences. Although some sites allow medical exemptions, the program cannot guarantee placement for students who do not comply with vaccination requirements. For the most up-to-date information about our clinical partners’ vaccination requirements, please contact the program office.

ALL APPLICANTS RECEIVE THE IN-STATE, UNDERGRADUATE TUITION RATE.

100%

Online

Part-Time Program

No GRE Required

Careers

Work as a nursing educator in a variety of settings, including:

  • Academia
  • Hospitals
  • State and federal agencies
  • Home healthcare
Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

​​Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

  • Transition to the MSN Program (NUR500)
  • Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR505)
  • Professional Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR515)
  • Trends in Nursing & Health Care (NUR525)
  • Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice (NUR535)
  • Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR545)
  • Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR555)
  • Health & Physical Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR565)
  • Educational Theory & Teaching Strategies (NUR605)
  • Assessment & Evaluation in Nursing Education (NUR615)
  • Clinical Practicum in Nursing Education (NUR625)
  • Curriculum Development in Nursing Education (NUR635)
  • Didactic Practicum in Nursing Education (NUR630)

​Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

​​Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

Featured Video

Life as a Nursing Educator

Thinking of becoming a nurse educator? Hear from Pam Baker, a nurse for 35+ years. She’s sharing her passion with the next generation of healthcare heroes. The best part? It’s incredibly rewarding. The feedback you'll hear from her students is proof. 

Our Leadership

“If you have a passion for teaching and a desire to impact the future of nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing program is for you! The Nursing Education curriculum will prepare you with the skills and competencies necessary to shape the nurses of tomorrow, so that we can ensure they are real-world ready to safely care for patients in an ever-changing health care system.”

Dr. Valerie Myers

Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences

Online Degrees

Learning that fits your lifestyle

Convenience

  • Accessible online anywhere in the world
  • Part-time program for working professionals
  • Continue to work and be at home with your family

Value

  • In-state tuition rate for all students, regardless of residency
  • Same rigor as on-campus programs
  • Many employers offer tuition reimbursement - check with yours to see if you qualify

Service

  • One-on-one interaction with faculty
  • 24/7 online tutoring
  • Textbooks and course materials available for purchase online through The College Store
  • Graduates can participate in Commencement

Class Delivery

  • Classes delivered asynchronously through P.L.A.T.O., Penn College's Platform for Learning And Teaching Online
  • 100% online - no required campus visits
Industry Partners

Work with experts to become an expert

Penn College's strong partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.

UPMC Susquehanna
Geisinger
Evangelical Community Hospital
Daisy Foundation logo
Student Life

Lead and put your skills to the test

Student Nurses’ Association (SNA)

Student Nurses’ Association (SNA)

The SNA’s mission is to explore professional growth, promote mutual respect in collaboration between the different levels of nursing, and serve as a channel for the exchange of ideas to promote holistic health and provide for both patient and student education.

Sigma Nursing Honor Society

Sigma Nursing Honor Society

Connect with other nurse leaders through the Sigma Nursing Honor Society.

Student Organizations at Penn College

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Penn College News
03.15.2024

Student-organized Wildcat Forum to explore ‘What is Success?’

On March 19, a group of Pennsylvania College of Technology students will host the first Wildcat Forum, a series of six-to-eight-minute talks sharing the theme “What is Success?” The event is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium and is open to the community. Three Penn College alumni and two employees are slated to speak.

03.14.2024

Future nurses sought at latest Recruitment Day

Seventeen employers traveled from across Pennsylvania to meet future nurses during Thursday’s Recruitment Day in the Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center. Graduates of Penn College’s associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing are in demand as recruiters look to alleviate a nationwide shortage of nurses.

02.15.2024

Practical nursing information sessions set for Northern Tier

Penn College at Wellsboro’s Practical Nursing Program will host two open houses with information sessions: Thursday, Feb. 29, and Thursday, March 21. The 6:30 p.m. events will be held at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Wellsboro campus, 22 Walnut St. The sessions will also be connected to the Potter County Education Council through Zoom.

Clinical Practicums

Your knowledge in practice

Gain real-world experience through two hands-on practicums. Working alongside master’s prepared nurse preceptors, you’ll benefit from expert insight and have an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in previous courses in professional settings.

Accreditation

Effective November 19, 2021, the masters nursing program at Pennsylvania College of Technology located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on December 31, 2023.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

http://www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp

Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.

More Information

Effective November 19, 2021, the masters nursing program at Pennsylvania College of Technology located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on December 31, 2023.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 
(404) 975-5000
http://www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp

Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation

Anyone desiring entrance into this major must first gain admission to Penn College. Acceptance into this selective admission major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission. Details are available on the Selective Admission Criteria and Process webpage.

All students must earn a ‘B’ (3.0) or higher in all NUR courses within the MSN program; if a lower grade is earned in any NUR course, the course must be repeated.

The following grading system is applied to all nursing courses in this major. There is no rounding of grades:

A = 90-100
B = 80-89.99
C = 75-79.99
F = 74.99 and below

Child abuse clearances and criminal background checks are required by some agencies involved in clinical practice experiences. Agencies can prohibit students from participating in clinical experiences at their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Pennsylvania College of Technology, when students are at a clinical site, agencies have the right to ask for random drug testing. Inability to complete clinical, fieldwork, or intern educational experiences will result in the inability to meet course and program outcomes. For additional clarification, students can speak with their program director.

The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing advises that a drug-related conviction and/or conviction of a felonious act or two misdemeanors might result in denial and/or revocation of a license to practice nursing. In accordance with the professional Nurse Law, Act of 1951, P.L. 317, No. 69, as amended, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing shall not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a felonious act prohibited by the Act known as “The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and cosmetic Act” or convicted of a felony relating to a controlled substance in a court of law of the United States or any other state, territory or country unless a least 10 years have elapsed from the date of the conviction.

Penn College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Pursuant to this Act, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are classified as prohibited controlled substances. Additionally, alcohol, illegal drugs, and legal drugs obtained without a prescription or which may impair a student’s ability to perform his/her educational responsibilities are strictly prohibited. Students are subject to drug screening at various phases of the program. Please note that a positive drug screening for marijuana will be deemed a positive test and will result in a student being dismissed from the program, even if the student has been lawfully certified to use medical marijuana and/or possesses a valid medical marijuana identification card issued in accordance with applicable state law.

The transfer of graduate level nursing credits will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students must have a minimum grade of 'B' (3.0) in courses transferred into the major. A maximum of 7 credits at the graduate level may be transferred into this major.

View general transfer information

  • Program Review Executive Summary
  • Students must meet the Essential Functions for Nursing as established by the Nursing Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements. Some clinical sites may have additional health and immunization requirements that are not part of the current program requirements, for example, COVID-19 vaccination.

Students accepted into this major will incur expenses for uniforms, malpractice insurance, clearances, certifications, etc. Refer to equipment and estimated cost list.

Technical Requirements

  • Laptop Computer Required
  • Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher (recommended)
  • Intel Core i5 or i7 (generation 10 or higher) processor (recommended)
  • 8+ GB RAM (recommended)
  • 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended)
  • Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required)
  • Laptop must include a wireless network card (required)
  • Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required)
  • Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services - Service Desk available for assistance)
    • Chromebooks and other devices running ChromeOS are prohibited

Operating Systems:

P.L.A.T.O. (Platform for Learning and Teaching Online) is Penn College's implementation of Desire2Learn/Brightspace LMS. It is a Web-based course management system that allows instructors to post course materials online, facilitate course communication, gauge student progress, and extend learning beyond the classroom.

Browsers:

The fully supported browsers for P.L.A.T.O. are: Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari

  • Ms. Sharon Adams, RN, BSN, Manager, Patient Care ED & M/S Unit, UPMC Susquehanna
  • Ms. Wendy Batschelet, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Geisinger
  • Ms. Cinde L Bower-Stout, RN, '94, Level 1 Heart Attack Nurse Coordinator, Geisinger Medical Center
  • Mr. David Brundage, Pediatric Clinical Educator, Bayada Pediatrics Home Health Care
  • Danielle Forker, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN, PHRN, '98, Director of Nursing, Geisinger Medical Center Muncy
  • Ms. Kathy Harris, RN, BSN, MHA, '00, '13, Manager of Compliance/Quality Outcomes, UPMC Susquehanna
  • Ms. Jill Meredith, RN Infection Preventionist and Wound Care Certified Nurse, The Williamsport Home
  • Mr. Jonah Milliken, Associate Director, Bayada Pediatrics
  • Ms. Tamara F Persing, MS, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, VP Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer, Evangelical Community Hospital
  • Chelsea Reichard, '10, Director of Nursing/Campus Administrator, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital
  • Ms. Dawn Shaffer, Health Careers Instructor, Lycoming Career and Technology Center
  • Ms. Katelyn Sheesley, Critical Care and Intermediate Care Nurse Educator, Evangelical Community Hospital
  • Ms. Heather Stafford, MHA, BSN, CIC, Clinical Director of Nursing Education & Infection Prev. & Control, UPMC Susquehanna
  • Ms. Katherine Vastine, '91, CARES Leadership Coordinator, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
  • Career Fair Connections

    Career Fair Connections

    Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

    Learn More About Career Fair