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Master's Degree

Online MSN Direct Entry
Program for Iowa Residents

Calendar

CLASSES START
Jan 6th

20-24 Mo.1

Program Length

60-77

Credits

Online

Format

DNP

Dual Credit

Master's Degree

Online MSN Direct Entry
Program for Iowa Residents

Choose our online MSN Direct Entry program

AccreditationCCNE accredited,2 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Format100% online didactic classes, including both on-demand and real-time learning with flexible scheduling
AdmissionsDesigned for non-nurses; non-nursing bachelor's degree required for admissions
ClinicalsHerzing has partnerships with select clinical sites in the state of Iowa
QuickPathsBuild a foundation to pursue an advanced specialty in a future post master's certificate program; transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing
MSN Direct Entry Graduate at Ceremony
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2024

MSN Direct Entry - Iowa
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

MSN - Direct Entry Program for Iowa Residents

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Direct Entry degree is a 60-77 credit graduate program which prepares non-nursing majors in Iowa for a career as an MSN-prepared Registered Nurse (RN). The degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in pathophysiology & pharmacology, scholarly practice, mental health nursing, nursing informatics and healthcare technology, population health, and much more.

Our roots in online learning

Herzing University has been providing online learning to students throughout the United States since 2003. 

Every year we work to improve our processes to create strong, supportive online communities of students and faculty eager to help each other succeed in their education and work.

You can become a part of our vibrant online community—we’re thrilled to open our online MSN Direct Entry program to Iowa residents.

Learn More Today!

Classes start: January 6th
Curriculum

Direct Entry MSN program classes & curriculum details

ProgramMonths2Credits
Master of Science in Nursing - Direct Entry20-2460-77

Iowa students who meet the undergraduate general education requirements can complete the program in as little as 20 months (60 credits). For those who do not have the required undergraduate general education credits, this program is a minimum of 77 credits and can be completed in 24 months.

Required Undergraduate Pre-Requisite Core Courses

All courses, 17.00 semester credit hours, are required. The following courses, or the equivalent, must be successfully completed prior to entry in the core nursing courses:

Note: Students must earn a "B" or better in both the SC 154 Anatomy and Physiology I for Nurses and SC 254 Anatomy and Physiology II for Nurses courses.

Required Courses in Nursing

All courses, 60.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Resuming students should refer to the section on  for additional requirements.

Distribution of Contact Hours by Course

Distribution of Contact Hours by Course Course Number Lecture Hours Lab Hours Clinical Hours Total Contact Hours Credits MA 320 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 SC 154 45.00 30.00 0.00 75.00 4.00 SC 166 30.00 30.00 0.00 60.00 3.00 SC 186 30.00 30.00 0.00 60.00 3.00 SC 254 45.00 30.00 0.00 75.00 4.00 NSG 520 60.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 4.00 NSG 521 75.00 0.00 0.00 75.00 5.00 NSG 522 0.00 30.00 45.00 75.00 2.00 NSG 523 60.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 4.00 NSG 524 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 NSG 525 0.00 0.00 135.00 135.00 3.00 NSG 526 60.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 4.00 NSG 527 75.00 0.00 0.00 75.00 5.00 NSG 528 0.00 0.00 135.00 135.00 3.00 NSG 621 0.00 0.00 135.00 135.00 3.00 NSG 631 30.00 0.00 45.00 75.00 3.00 NSG 632 15.00 0.00 90.00 105.00 3.00 NSG 633 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 NSG 635 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 NSG 660 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 NU 725 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 NU 730 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 NU 780 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 Totals 885.00 150.00 585.00 1620.00 77.00

Requirements

MSN Direct Entry enrollment requirements

Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing Direct Entry MSN program include:

Prior educationEvidence of graduation from a non-nursing bachelor’s degree program awarded by an accredited institution of higher education
Minimum GPAi3.0 GPA
Entrance testingAggregate score of 66 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). No GRE required.
i. Students will be assessed on their collegiate cumulative GPA from either a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or master’s degree program.

Prerequisite courses

The following courses, or the equivalent, must be successfully completed prior to entry in the Master of Science in Nursing - Direct Entry core nursing courses:

Statistics3 credits
Anatomy & Physiology I4 credits; must earn “B” or better
Anatomy & Physiology II4 credits; must earn “B” or better
Chemistry3 credits
Microbiology3 credits

Alternative entry points: if your GPA is too low, or you do not hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may also consider our online BSN program.

MSN Direct Entry Iowa Student in Clinicals

Clinicals

Hands-on learning: clinicals and intensives

Didactic, lecture-style coursework is completed 100% online in our MSN Direct Entry program— though the hands-on component via clinicals and intensives remain a crucial part of your nursing education.

We use a precepted model for clinical experience in our MSN Direct Entry program, and we have a dedicated team to help you find clinical placement as near to you as possible. You are never alone! 

  • Clinicals. Herzing University partners with several institutions in Iowa as available sites for clinicals. Clinical site availability is subject to change, and we cannot guarantee your placement at any given institution prior to enrollment.
  • Intensives. You will attend three 2-4 day intensives at our Nashville campus. In-person skills introduction, skills checks, testing, and faculty advisement ensure you’re on track to succeed right from the start as an RN.

RN career info in Iowa

Average salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs in the state of Iowa earn an average annual salary of $69,370 per year ($33.35 per hour).*

Employment outlook

Projections Central projects employment of RNs in the state of Iowa to increase 10% from 2022-2032, translating to an additional 3,570 jobs.**

Careers

Job outlook for RNs in Iowa

Graduate from the online MSN Direct Entry program and you’ll be prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). 

Pass the exam, meet the board of nursing requirements in Iowa, and you’ll be ready to find your first job as an MSN-prepared registered nurse.

Complete a master’s degree education in nursing and you’ll be off to a great start in your nursing career, ready to succeed in your first job and climb the ladder in the future.

Classes Start January 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Disclosures

  1. Completion time based on transfer credit for undergraduate general education courses.
  2. The master's degree program in nursing at Herzing University-Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin. 

    Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

    View all Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

** Projections Central, Long-Term Projections (2022-2032). Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work, and degree field will affect career outcomes. Herzing does not guarantee that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, or other career growth.

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