Students may choose to complete post-licensure coursework in an online or in-person format.

The Entry Level MSN program is designed for candidates who hold a non-nursing baccalaureate degree who are interested in transitioning into the field of nursing as graduate level RNs.  Students must meet the pre-nursing curriculum requirements before entering the pre-licensure coursework. After completion of pre-licensure coursework, students apply for RN licensure through the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) requiring successful passing of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The pre-licensure section of the program requires a full-time commitment.

Post-licensure MSN coursework builds on Baccalaureate or entry-level nursing practice, meets the AACN Essentials (2021) and culminates in graduate level direct care. Students will earn an MSN degree in a chosen area of concentration: Nurse Educator, Nursing Informatics, or Nursing Organizational Leadership. Graduates are prepared to enter into doctoral studies.

The Nurse Educator (NE) concentration prepares students in curriculum design and development, teaching methodologies, educational needs assessment, and learner-centered theories and methods. 

The Nursing Informatics concentration prepares advanced practice nurses to serve the profession of nursing by supporting the information processing needs of patient care and management. Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science in identifying, collecting, processing, and managing data, information, and knowledge to support nursing practice, administration, education, and research. Graduates of this specialty are known as informatics nurse specialists, recognizing that the person is both a nurse and an informaticist. The informatics nurse specialist is one of the specialties recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with certification via computer-based testing. CBU CON informatics curriculum ensures that the content and concepts taught include current and emerging trends in health care information technology with an emphasis on data science and evidence-based care.

Nursing Organizational Leadership (NOL) concentration will prepare students to examine roles in nursing administration emphasizing clinical outcomes management, care environment management, and inter-professional collaboration. After successful completion of coursework, required clinical hours, and any other criteria deemed necessary students can apply for certification. The program is aligned with the Nurse Manager/Leader competencies established by the Association of Nurse Leaders (AONL).