MSN-MBA

Coordinated Master of Science in Nursing Administration-Master of Business Administration

Create Business Solutions for Better Patient Care

Advance your clinical nursing foundation while incorporating high-level business concepts into your healthcare practice. The University of Texas at Tyler’s coordinated Master of Science in Nursing Administration and Master of Business Administration provides you with the combined skills to optimize patient care. Acquire specialized administrative knowledge, develop your supervising abilities and understand how economics, marketing, finance, leadership and organizational systems impact outcomes. Our top-rated online program prepares you for CENP and NE-BC certification exams and helps take your career to the next level or spark your interest in doctoral study.

Why Earn a Coordinated MSN-MBA From UT Tyler?

As the nation’s third-largest industry, healthcare represents 18.3% of the economy. As it continues to grow, employers require professionals who understand its specific financial and administrative realities and have care delivery expertise.

The coordinated MSN-MBA program equips you with in-demand business acumen and the skills to address patients’ unique needs. If you aim to influence executive healthcare administrative decisions, motivate and oversee staff, and innovate care delivery, this combined degree sets you on that path.

U.S. News & World Report names UT Tyler’s online MSN program as one of the top five best in the state for the following reasons:

  • Flexible Online Format: Earn your degree from any location and within your own schedule with 100% online classes. Attend full or part time based upon existing obligations.
  • Outstanding Faculty: Work with our faculty on business projects and clinical assignments to hone your skills further and receive one-on-one mentorship. In addition to being renowned leaders in their field, our faculty conduct original research and have years of teaching experience.
  • Hands-on Learning: The curriculum blends classroom learning with practicum hours and one capstone project. Through this format, students gain advanced, practical experience across both disciplines.
  • Personalized Program: Design an MBA course sequence that aligns with your unique professional goals under the guidance of a Soules College of Business graduate advisor.
  • Highly Effective: Prepare for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Nurse Executive Certification and the American Organization of Nurse Executives Certified in Executive Nursing Practice exam through the program’s rigorous curriculum.
  • Top Accreditation: The MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, earned by fewer than 5% of business schools around the world.
  • Affordable: Our coordinated Master of Science in Nursing and MBA degree program is competitively priced comparable to other programs. Earn two degrees at a fraction of the cost of completing them separately.

Curriculum

The coordinated MSN-MBA degree requires a total of 63 credit hours, including 36 credit hours for the Master of Science in Nursing Administration and 36 credit hours for the Master of Business Administration with nine credit hours of shared electives between both programs. The shared MSN-MBA courses are Leadership in the Healthcare Environment; Legal, Regulatory and Financial Management; and Nursing Administration: Delivery of Care.

By the time you graduate, you will be equipped to:

  • Examine, analyze and find strategic solutions to the complex healthcare issues faced by nursing administrators.
  • Anticipate the legal, ethical, regulatory and fiscal factors that impact healthcare administration settings.
  • Approach decision-making and business operations through data-based insights and accounting expertise.
  • Design, implement and execute care delivery systems in regional, national and international healthcare organizations.
  • Actively manage the finances and budgets of healthcare divisions and organizations.
  • Apply advanced management, professional communication, organizational science and information technology concepts to lead staff across a variety of departments.

Review All MSN-MBA Course Descriptions

Career Opportunities With an MSN-MBA

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 28% greater demand for medical and health services managers by 2031 — much faster than average when compared to other professions. Employees in the field tend to be well-compensated, with a median wage of $101,340.

You can find our graduates working in hospitals and medical centers, home health companies, clinics, health insurance organizations, private industry, government agencies and consulting. Possible job titles include:

  • Chief Nursing Officer
  • Director of Care Management
  • Director of Compliance
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Long-Term Care Coordinator
  • Medical or Health Service Manager
  • Quality Improvement Administrator
  • Risk Management Administrator
  • Vice President of Nursing Services

How to Apply

Interested candidates complete two separate applications. Apply to the MSN-Nursing Administration track through the School of Nursing and to the MBA program through the Soules College of Business.

To apply, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program.
  • Have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate work.
  • Complete an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of "C" or better.
  • Hold a current unencumbered license to practice professional nursing in the state(s) where you intend to complete the clinical practicum.

International Students

Applicants from countries other than the United States must also meet the admission requirements for international students seeking a graduate degree. Review all admission requirements for international students.

Applicants must submit evidence of English proficiency before the university grants admission. Applicants whose primary language is not English (the undergraduate degree is from a foreign institution) must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the Pearson Test of English or the International English Language Testing System. The minimum score requirements are as follows:

  • 79 TOEFL iBT (internet-based test)
  • 550 TOEFL PBT (paper-based test)
  • 53 PTE
  • 6.5 overall band score and 6.0 in each subsection IELTS

Other Admissions Considerations

UT Tyler also gives consideration for admission to one or more of the following:

  • The applicant's demonstrated commitment to their chosen field of study.
  • Socioeconomic background.
  • Their involvement and level of responsibility in other matters, including extracurricular activities, employment and community service.
  • First generation of family to graduate from an undergraduate program.
  • Family responsibility or raising children.
  • Multilingual proficiency.
  • Geographic region of residence.

Levels of admissions:

  • Full Acceptance Status: Applicants who have met all admission requirements.
  • Conditional Acceptance Status: UT Tyler may accept MSN applicants who have met some but not all of the requirements listed above into the graduate program on a conditional basis following review by the Graduate Studies Committee. After the successful completion of designated coursework from the student's degree plan, the university grants full acceptance status.

Provisional Acceptance Status: Students may be admitted provisionally to the MSN-Nursing Administration program. Refer to the Provisional Admission section for more information:

Graduate School FAQs

The Soules College of Business primarily admits students based on the predictors of success in graduate study:

  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
  • Grade point average computed on the last 60 undergraduate hours.
  • A satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test. In rare instances, the Graduate Record Examinations may be accepted in lieu of the GMAT.
  • A current résumé.

Leveling Courses

The Soules College of Business requires no leveling courses for admission and opens the MBA program to applicants with a bachelor's degree in any discipline.

However, MATH 1342 - Elementary Statistics is highly recommended prior to MANA 5305 (see degree plan).

GMAT Scores

Successful applicants have an index score figured as follows: Last 60-hour GPA x 200 + Total GMAT Score => 1000.

If a student's last 60-hour GPA = 3.25 or higher, UT Tyler may waive the GMAT.

Provisional Admission

Provisionally accepted students may enroll in one semester for a maximum of nine credit hours before being required to submit a GMAT score. After this semester finishes, UT Tyler places a hold on the student's account until they submit GMAT scores to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

STEP 1: Apply to the University

All applicants must apply to the university prior to applying to the nursing program. Go to The Graduate School to complete the application.

Current or previous UT Tyler students must complete a new application if applying for a higher level of degree (i.e., BSN to MSN, MSN to PhD, MSN to DNP, MSN to post-master’s certificate).

If you are an online out-of-state applicant, please be aware of reciprocity agreements that may impact clinical hours: State Authorization.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply?

The application cost is $50 for domestic students; $75 for international students. The fee is nonrefundable and required before your application is processed. Make credit card payments at the time of application by Visa or MasterCard only.

The university waives fees for all UT Tyler alumni. Please select the “Pay by Check” option. The fee is waived once your application is processed. Please do NOT send a check, as no refunds are given.

STEP 2: Submit Official Transcripts

MSN Domestic Applicants: The university requires an official transcript showing a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited institution. Previous institutions should send official copies directly to UT Tyler at ogs@uttyler.edu. UT Tyler transcripts are available from the Registrar's Office; applicants need not forward them.

If your BSN transcript does not contain at least 60 credit hours of coursework, you are required to submit community or junior college transcripts directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

MSN International Applicants: Please send an official transcript showing a four-year baccalaureate degree in nursing or its U.S. equivalent from an accredited institution of higher learning and official transcripts from ALL post-secondary institutions, TOEFL scores, entrance exams scores (GRE or GMAT for MBA) and evidence of financial support (Affidavit of Support) to:

Office of Graduate Admissions STE 345
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd.
Tyler TX 75799

For details and a list of forms, visit the International Students page.

Transfer Students: You must submit an official letter from your previous institution’s Nursing Department stating you are in good standing and eligible to return to their program. To review individual transfer course eligibility, you must also submit course syllabi from the time of enrollment. The maximum allowed transfer credit hours is nine, subject to review for equivalency. Submit both the letter of eligibility and any syllabi to nursing-graduate@uttyler.edu with the subject line “Transfer Student Application Documents.”

STEP 3: Submit Nursing Documents

  • Submit via the Nursing Document link.
  • Submit a personal statement via the above link. View prompts by selecting the program of choice on the nursing application page.
  • Submit a résumé/CV including your academic history, work history (with particular attention to nursing experience), certifications and any other service or activities you wish to include.
  • Show proof of current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state(s) where the clinical practicum will occur.
  • Complete an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C" or better.
  • Submit three professional and/or academic references. Please provide your references with the Reference Form. You will receive a confirmation email once your reference submits their form.
  • Submit transcripts verifying a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate work. The university may grant Conditional admission to students who do not meet the GPA requirement for full admission based on satisfactory scores on the verbal/quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examinations in combination with GPA for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work.
  • Applicants from countries other than the United States must also meet the admission requirements for international students seeking a graduate degree. Review international admission requirements.
  • Apply online.
  • Pay the application fee.
  • Submit official and unofficial transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
  • Submit official or unofficial GMAT scores to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
  • Applicants with three or more years of extensive managerial work experience (earned in the U.S. or with a U.S. government entity) may request to have the GMAT requirement waived by the Program Advisor. UT Tyler makes this decision on a case-by-case basis; "extensive managerial experience" typically means a full-time supervisory or managerial position held for a significant period of time after completing the bachelor's degree, as demonstrated with a résumé.
  • International students must additionally provide a detailed transcript evaluation, which determines an applicant's degree comparability to a U.S. bachelor's degree (UT Tyler does NOT evaluate international transcripts).

Transfer Coursework

Subject to approval by the coordinator of graduate programs and the dean of the Soules College of Business, students may transfer up to nine hours of graduate credit earned at an approved university.

  • June 15 (Fall)
  • Nov. 1 (Spring)

The UT Tyler School of Nursing makes admissions decisions for the Nursing Administration program on a rolling basis. Applications received after these dates are processed as time permits but may not be processed in time for the listed term.

Applicants offered acceptance into a graduate nursing program may be assessed a nonrefundable seat deposit of $200 by the date indicated in the acceptance letter. Failure to pay the deposit will result in forfeiture of the acceptance. The university applies the $200 toward the first semester’s tuition. Applicants who accept an offer of admission but later decide not to attend forfeit the seat deposit.

Spotlight

Jared M. Dougherty
UT Tyler’s program affords me the opportunity to remain flexible. Attending classes part-time while working a full-time direct care nursing schedule, volunteering and juggling my personal life is the perfect structure for me and allows me to set the pace for my own education. The professors at UT Tyler have been wonderful and welcoming to me throughout the program, and it was a pleasure to meet with them during New Student Orientation.

Jared M. Dougherty

BS, RN, CCRN, MSN-MBA, 2019

Next Steps

The next phase of your career starts here. Discover where a coordinated MSN-MBA degree from UT Tyler can take you.