RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education (Accelerated)

Format: Online

HEGIS Code: 1203.10

Application Deadlines
  • Spring 2025 Extended Priority Deadline: November 18, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Extended Regular Deadline: December 16, 2024

Nurse educators play a crucial role in helping nurses gain the expertise needed to meet the challenges of the evolving healthcare system. Their presence also ensures that our nation's nursing schools are always at maximum student capacity. According to AACN’s Special Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions for Academic Year 2023-2024, nearly two-thirds of schools reported a shortage of full-time faculty members. Additionally, hospital and medical centers have identified a need for more nurse educators to enhance the level of instruction to nursing students, new nurses, and ongoing needs for professional staff development.

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education online degree helps address these challenges by increasing the number of nurse educators and ultimately paving the way for an adequate supply of nurses to ensure that patients have access to affordable, high quality healthcare.

The program prepares nurses to develop curricula focused on our changing healthcare systems, adapt and teach education strategies for diverse learners, develop clinical and classroom evaluation strategies, and adopt effective evidence-based practices in academic as well as clinical healthcare settings.

Dual Degree

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education is a dual degree program that provides a seamless progression (and “fast track”) from the BS to MS programs. The program’s overlapping coursework allows students to complete both degrees within an integrated framework and in less time than each degree completed on its own.

Career Scope and Academic Prospects

Graduates of the RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education degree are qualified to serve as educators in numerous institutions ranging from community colleges to major universities, as well as in academic health centers and community-based health facilities. Graduates of the program can also pursue doctoral education in Nursing Education, Nursing Science, and Nursing Research.

Completion Rates

CUNY SPS RN-BS benchmark for program completion rates:

75% of students will complete the RN- BS program within five years. Using CCNE guidelines for calculating these rates, the five-year completion rates are:

  • 2019-2024 = 94%
  • 2018-2023 = 96%
  • 2017-2022 = 96%

Job Placement Statistics

Undergraduate program outcome: 80% of RN-BS alumni will report employment as a RN within twelve months.

  • 2023 = 89%
  • 2022 = 92%
  • 2021 = 78%

Accreditation

CCNE Accreditation SealThe RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education at CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

This program is registered with the New York State Education Department.

Prior Learning Assessment

Credit for non-collegiate learning is a credit recommendation for college-level learning acquired outside of a college or university.

View Pre-approved Nursing Certifications

The American Council on Education (ACE) and the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCR) have evaluated college-level training programs, credentials, and licenses from the military, government, and the public sector that may be eligible for college credit at the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

CUNY SPS also awards credit for currently reviewed licenses and certifications in the fields of Health Information Management, IT, Project Management, Real Estate, Business, and Emergency Medical Technician.

For more information about credit for non-collegiate prior learning please contact us pla@sps.cuny.edu.

Prospective students and applicants may schedule a meeting with an academic advisor to obtain an unofficial credit evaluation for an undergraduate degree program.

Meet our Faculty

Estimated number of adjunct faculty teaching in the program: 40

Margaret Reilly
Professor, PhD, DNS, APRN, CNE
CUNY Graduate Center
Academic Director – Undergraduate & Graduate

Patricia Bartley-Daniele
Associate Professor, PhD, FNP-BC
Nursing Education - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Faculty Advisor MS in Nursing Education
Undergraduate & Graduate

Kenya Harris
Professor, EdD, Educational Administration, Leadership, and Technology
St. John’s University Nursing

Jan Oosting
Associate Professor, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Undergraduate

Anne Marie Leveille-Tulce
Assistant Professor, PhD, Nursing
CUNY Graduate Center
Undergraduate and Graduate

Kathleen Marsala-Cervasio
Associate Professor, PhD, EdD, ACNS-BC
EdD, Educational Leadership Northcentral University
PhD, Kensington University
Undergraduate and Graduate

Lilly Mathew
Associate Professor, PhD, Nursing
University of Arizona
Undergraduate and Graduate

Linda Paradiso
Associate Professor, DNP, Nurse Executive
Old Dominion University
Undergraduate and Graduate

Admissions Criteria

To qualify for admission to the RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or above out of a 4.0
  • Unencumbered nursing license and a current registration
  • Admission essay highlighting education and career achievement, including specific examples of problem-solving while working in the practice setting, leadership experience at the bedside or in other settings, and professional and community awards
  • Submit two letters of recommendation from each, a nurse educator/nurse faculty and supervisor/manager
  • A description of an evidence-based practice project completed in nursing school or in the practice setting
  • Resume

Residency Requirement*
In order to enroll in the RN to BS in Nursing program, students must provide documentation of one of the following categories:

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Permanent Residency
  • Granted asylum, refugee status, temporary protected status, withholding of removal, deferred enforced departure, deferred action status by the U.S. Government, deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or permanently residing in the United States under color of law (PRUCOL)

*International students may enroll in fully online degree programs. However, our online programs do not qualify for student visas.

Students may view the Undergraduate Nursing Student Policies Handbook (PDF).

Complete list of the online nursing degrees offered at CUNY SPS.

Application Deadlines

  • Spring 2025 Extended Priority Deadline: November 18, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Extended Regular Deadline: December 16, 2024
Apply Now

Recent News About RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education (Accelerated)

Translanguaging in the Undergraduate Nursing Classroom: An Educational Innovation

September 06, 2024

Journal of Nursing Education

Assistant Professor of Nursing Dr. Jan Oosting recently published "Translanguaging in the Undergraduate Nursing Classroom: An Educational Innovation" in the Journal of Nursing Education. The article highlights a study on the positive impact of translanguaging in an undergraduate nursing classroom. Translanguaging, a pedagogical practice that allows students to use their strongest written language for assignments, was successfully piloted in a nursing elective course at CUNY SPS. Three students participated in the initiative and reported that the experience was empowering and enhanced their writing. The study suggests that nursing educators (and others) should consider incorporating translanguaging in their courses to support linguistic diversity and improve student engagement and comprehension in academic settings.
Two female CUNY SPS faculty pose with female graduating nursing student at nursing convocation ceremony

Nursing Students Feted During Convocation and Pinning Ceremony

May 17, 2024

Nearly 200 nursing graduates earning their bachelor's and master's received nursing pins during a moving and heartfelt ceremony.

A portrait of a smiling CUNY SPS Assistant Nursing Professor, Dr. Olga Kagan

The Impact of Leadership on the Continued Growth of the Nursing Informatics Community in New York State and Beyond

November 02, 2023

CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing

CUNY SPS Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Olga Kagan co-authored an article on the rising importance of the nursing informatics community in New York State. The article, "The Impact of Leadership on the Continued Growth of the Nursing Informatics Community in New York State and Beyond, " was published in September 2023.
Dr. Jennifer McIntosh, co-author and Nursing program instructor

Association of Hospice Agency Location and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage in the U.S.

November 01, 2023

American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Academic Community Leader and Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Jennifer McIntosh recently published a collaborative article, "Association of Hospice Agency Location and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage in the U.S.," in the American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine.