MSN-Family-Nurse-Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing — Family Nurse Practitioner

Provide Expert Care for East Texas and Beyond

As an experienced nurse, you know that patient care involves an integrated, collaborative approach. Evaluating and treating patients requires careful analysis, use of up-to-date research evidence, adept communication and organizational skills and a willingness to educate and establish meaningful relationships with patients and their families. The MSN-FNP program at The University of Texas at Tyler equips you with the expert tools to be an effective and compassionate primary care provider. Through our top-ranked, flexible hybrid program, expand your knowledge, prepare for certification and build a solid foundation for the next step in your career.

Why Earn an MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner Degree From UT Tyler?

Your vocation is driving you to reach for more. After years as a nursing professional, you have greater insight into the complexities of patient care and the skills needed to achieve beneficial outcomes. As an FNP, you will be the primary care provider for your patients, positively impacting their lives through your advanced practice role. Prepare to take the national certification exam, advance your career and set your sights on future doctoral studies with our top-rated online program.

UT Tyler’s renowned program opens the doors to all of these possibilities. Excel in a hybrid format that adjusts to your schedule and leaves you well-prepared for the next challenge:

  • Flexible: Complete the majority of your credits through online instruction, and satisfy clinical hours with preceptors near your home requiring only one or two days of in-person activity per semester at UT Tyler's main campus.
  • Nationally Ranked: The UT Tyler School of Nursing has a longstanding reputation for teaching excellence. Recently, U.S. News & World Report recognized our program as one of the top 25 in the country.
  • Personalized Education: Identify and unleash your strengths to be an asset to your organization. Receive individualized guidance from dedicated faculty who offer one-on-one interactions and personalized feedback to foster your success.
  • Highly Effective: Our CCNE-accredited curriculum prepares you for the national certification exam. Our consistently high graduate pass rates on the National Board Examinations speak to the effectiveness of the program.
  • Community-Oriented: Our presence in East Texas means we train healthcare professionals to address the needs of the region.
  • Affordable: UT Tyler’s competitive tuition rates help make graduate nursing education accessible, while comparable programs are often cost prohibitive. Grants and fellowships may further reduce costs.

Curriculum

The MSN-FNP degree consists of 47 credit hours, 18 of which are dedicated to general core courses, and the remaining 29 fulfill specialization requirements. All but three courses have a clinical component, and a capstone project presents an opportunity to apply your newfound skills. Throughout the program, explore topics like health policy, health technology, advanced diagnosis skills and treatment, clinical practice leadership, pharmacotherapeutics options and evidence-based approaches to patient care.

Our curriculum prepares you to:

  • Address patient issues and concerns through comprehensive assessment, diagnoses, treatment and evaluation with a holistic approach.
  • Utilize appropriate tests, procedures and research evidence to implement an effective plan of care.
  • Collaborate with other healthcare professionals and administrators to improve the quality of care as an organization.
  • Consider healthcare solutions from an ethical perspective that seeks to eliminate health disparities.
  • Promote well-being in your local community, educating the population on the preventative measures they can take to improve their quality of life.

Review All MSN-FNP courses and requirements.

Careers as a Family Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are found in a wide variety of healthcare specializations and settings, including hospitals, health systems, private practices, clinics, universities, research institutions, nursing homes, home health agencies and government agencies. The demand for FNPs is increasing, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of nurse practitioners to grow by 40% in the next decade. Nurse practitioners are highly valued in a healthcare industry facing professional shortages, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas.

How to Apply

To apply, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Submit a one-page personal statement.
  • Submit transcripts verifying a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate work*.
  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited nursing program.
  • Complete an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C" or better.
  • Show proof of current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state(s) where clinical practicum will occur.
  • Applicants to advanced practice degree programs are strongly encouraged to submit a CV or a resume. 
  • Applicants from countries other than the United States must also meet the admission requirements for international students seeking a graduate degree as listed in the University catalog.
  • Consideration for admission is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study; socioeconomic background; and involvement and level of responsibility related to other factors, including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, first generation of family to graduate from an undergraduate program, family responsibility for raising children, multilingual proficiency, or geographic region of residence.

International Students

Applicants from countries other than the United States must also meet the admission requirements for international students seeking a graduate degree as listed in the university catalog.

Applicants must submit evidence of English proficiency before the university grants admission. Applicants whose primary language is not English (with an undergraduate degree 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. 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

Admission Consideration

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.
  • The 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. The university grants full acceptance status after the successful completion of designated coursework from the student's degree plan.
  • Provisional Acceptance Status: Students may be admitted provisionally to the MSN-FNP program. Refer to the Provisional Admission section for more information: Graduate School FAQs.

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).

How Much Does It Cost to Apply?

The application cost is $50 for domestic students; $75 for international students. The fee is nonrefundable, and payment is required before your application is processed. Credit card payments must be made 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 can be given.

STEP 2: Submit Official Transcripts

MSN Domestic Applicants: Please provide an official transcript showing a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited institution. Your previous institution should send official copies directly to UT Tyler through ogs@uttyler.edu. UT Tyler transcripts are available from the Registrar's Office and need not be forwarded by the applicant.

If your BSN transcript does not contain at least 60 credit hours of coursework, submit community or junior college transcripts directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions: ogs@uttyler.edu

MSN International Applicants: Please submit 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 HPR 248
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: Please submit an official letter of good standing 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 one year of full-time work experience in the last four years as a nurse prior to application. This experience should include direct patient care involving patient assessment and medication administration.
  • Show proof of current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in Texas, where the clinical practicum will occur.
  • Complete an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C" or better.
  • 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 other criteria.
  • Applicants from countries other than the United States must also meet the admission requirements for international students seeking a graduate degree, including English proficiency. Review international admission requirements.

The UT Tyler School of Nursing offers programs year-round with multiple start dates. Applications are accepted throughout the year, and prospective students need to be admitted two weeks before the session start date. In case of non-admission by that date, the start date will be deferred to the next session. For inquiries about the application process, please contact an enrollment advisor.

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 $200 is applied toward the first semester of tuition. Applicants who accept an offer of admission but later decide not to attend forfeit the seat deposit.

Spotlight

A close up of a nurse's hands adjusting an IV drip.
I feel that I could not have received a better education anywhere else or be more prepared to face the challenges entering today’s competitive job market. No other university provides the level of support that UT Tyler provides while keeping costs from being so astronomical.

Juliana Cruz, MSN, RN, APRN, FNP-C

Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Post MSN Nurse Practitioner Certification

Next Steps

Chart the next phase of your career. Discover how an MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner degree from UT Tyler can open the doors to your future.