Master of Science Entry to Nursing FAQs

The MS-EN program is an on-campus, direct-entry program designed for people who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field but want to enter the clinical nursing profession. This program allows you to earn a Master of Science (MS) degree while also becoming eligible for RN licensure. After completing the program, you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed RN. However, with a more advanced, graduate-level understanding of nursing practice, the MS-EN may give you a head start in pursuing leadership or advanced nursing roles.

Georgetown University offers an exceptional nursing program that stands out for several core distinctions. With small class sizes, students benefit from close relationships with faculty members, creating a supportive and personalized learning environment. The program provides extensive networking opportunities, giving students exposure to nationally renowned industry leaders and subject-matter experts. Through over 800 clinical, lab and experiential hours in a variety of settings, students gain hands-on experience that is crucial to their professional growth. The lock-step curriculum and cohort model emphasize collaborative learning, ensuring students are well-prepared for their careers. Georgetown also boasts high first-time pass rates on the NCLEX-RN (licensure exam). Students also have access to cutting-edge resources like the O’Neill Family Foundation Clinical Simulation Center. Additionally, the university’s location in Washington, D.C., offers unparalleled opportunities to leverage the richness of the nation’s capital, enhancing both academic and professional experiences in health policy and advocacy.

Georgetown’s nursing programs have been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing, reflecting the high standards and success of our graduates.

The Master of Science Entry to Nursing program is a 21-month, full-time on-campus program with a fall entry. It runs for five consecutive semesters, providing comprehensive coursework and clinical experiences to prepare students.

No, the Master of Science Entry to Nursing program is designed to be a full-time, intensive program.

Students are generally in class, lab, or clinicals up to five days per week. Classes are generally held during the day or early evening. There may be points in the program — particularly during clinical rotations — where your clinical hours may fall outside of normal business hours, including early morning starts (6:30 a.m.), evenings or weekends, depending on the clinical site. That said, night classes and weekend classes are not typically scheduled. However, clinical schedules can vary based on site availability and the specific requirements of the clinical experience. Flexibility is important, as clinical hours may be assigned to accommodate a variety of health care settings.

The curriculum emphasizes wellness and well-being; acute, chronic and critical illness experiences; clinical judgment; values-based care; evidence-based practice; safety and quality; and diversity, ethics, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The O’Neill Family Foundation Clinical Simulation Center, located in St. Mary’s Hall, provides state-of-the-art, high-fidelity simulation experiences.

Students are supported by academic advising, peer advisors and expert faculty committed to cura personalis — the care and development of the whole person. The program provides mentoring, tutoring, guidance and individualized support to ensure student success.

Georgetown University is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations, we encourage you to reach out to the Academic Resource Center (ARC). The ARC works closely with students to coordinate appropriate accommodations and ensure equal access to academic resources and support services. For more information or to begin the process of requesting accommodations, you can visit the Academic Resource Center. The ARC staff are available to assist with any questions you may have.

Due to the intensive and accelerated nature of the Master of Science Entry to Nursing Program, there are no semester-long study abroad opportunities. However, the program offers a short-term service-learning experience in Tanzania, allowing students to gain valuable international health promotion and wellness experience. Other short experiential opportunities are in the planning stages.

Working a full-time or part-time job while enrolled in the program is not explicitly prohibited, but we strongly encourage students to carefully consider the rigor and demands of the program when seeking part-time employment. The program is designed to be academically challenging and requires a significant time commitment for classes, clinical rotations and studying. For example, students would have 180 hours for clinical and 195 hours of didactic content over the course of the semester. Additionally, we recommend that students spend approximately 26 hours per week on class preparation, reading and studying. Altogether, students can expect to spend approximately 45+ hours per week on class, lab, clinical rotations and study. Many students find that balancing work and the program can be difficult, especially during more intensive periods. While some students successfully manage part-time work, we recommend that you assess your personal capacity to handle both responsibilities without compromising your academic performance or overall well-being. If you choose to work, flexibility in your work schedule is key, particularly as clinical hours may vary.

Yes. You may schedule a tour of St. Mary’s Hall — home of the School of Nursing. Additionally, graduate students may attend Georgetown University campus tours arranged through the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Yes, students will complete a two-semester, mentored, evidence-based project, along with a paper and professional poster presentation as part of their learning experience.

Yes, embedded NCLEX-RN preparation is provided throughout the program to help students achieve a high first-time pass rate. Historically, our Master of Science Entry to Nursing graduates have achieved a 96-100% first-time pass rate.

No, the Master of Science Entry to Nursing program will not make you a Nurse Practitioner. The MS-EN program prepares students to become registered nurses (RNs). If you wish to become an NP, you would need to pursue additional advanced practice education, such as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Master’s NP program after earning your RN license.

There are seven prerequisites for the Master of Science Entry to Nursing program. Four of these courses must be completed within the last five years (before your matriculation). These would be Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology and Chemistry. All of these courses must have a lab and a final grade of B or better. The other three prerequisites, Statistics, Human Nutrition, and Human Growth and Development, require a final grade of C or better.

Prerequisite courses may be completed at any accredited degree-granting university, college or community college. Courses may be completed through third-party organizations such as Portage as long as the course receives college-level course credit from an accredited institution. Prerequisite coursework will be evaluated by our admissions team on an individual basis to ensure that it provides adequate preparation for success in the MS-EN program.

The Master of Science Entry to Nursing program prefers a minimum 3.0 GPA in your undergraduate degree. We take a holistic approach to admissions, considering a range of factors, including academic performance, relevant experience, personal statements and letters of recommendation. While a strong academic background is important, we look at the overall strength of each applicant to assess their potential for success in the program.

Georgetown University accepts a limited number of transfer credits. Questions about transfer credits can be directed to mastersentrytonursing@georgetown.edu.

TOEFL is required for all applicants for whom English is a non-native language. The minimum TOEFL score is 100. No other test scores are required. The GRE/GMAT is not required, but test scores may be sent as supplementary materials.

Yes. All foreign transcripts must be submitted. These transcripts need to be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Applicants must request the WES ICAP evaluation and have the official copy sent to Georgetown University.

Applications for the Master of Science Entry to Nursing program are continuously reviewed throughout the application process. Applicants who meet the Priority Application deadline can expect to receive a decision by mid-February, while those meeting the Final Application deadline will be notified by mid-June. For the latest updates, please refer to the program website.

An online video interview submission is required. You may post this online at any time before the application deadline within the Georgetown GRAD application.

Once your video has been submitted for the program application, there is no option to upload a different video or make changes. Be sure to review your video carefully and ensure you are fully satisfied with it before submitting it.

Estimated program costs are outlined on the Office of Student Financial Services website under the 2024-2024 Graduate Program Cost of Attendance for the School of Nursing.

Students in the MS-EN Program are eligible to apply for The Washington Home Scholarship. The Washington Home Foundation funds scholarships for students interested in focusing their nursing careers on older adults and aging and committing to stay in the D.C. area. Applications open in June.

The Office of Student Financial Services provides information on external scholarships, employer benefits and VA benefits; merit-based aid and fellowships; and federal student loans and other resources as options for you to fully cover the cost of attending Georgetown University School of Nursing. Explore some of the ways you can meet your program’s full cost through a variety of options.

Also, throughout the year, partners send offers of scholarships and part-time employment, which we share with students in our communication. View some of these opportunities below:

• AACN scholarships
• Washington Home Foundation Scholarship (offered when accepted)
• HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship
• VA Scholarship program

Yes, there is limited graduate student housing available at 55 H Street, NW, apartment residences. Learn more about this exciting new graduate housing option.

The Metro does not run directly to campus. However, Georgetown has free campus shuttles that circulate from the Hilltop Campus to each of the Dupont Circle and Rosslyn metro stops, as well as along Wisconsin Avenue. Additionally, the campus is served by MetroBus lines. Visit the Office of Transportation Management website.

It is necessary to have a car or other transportation plan to travel to campus and clinical rotations. Explore student campus parking options.