Sinclair School of Nursing

Nursing Programs Offered

Accelerated BSN Programs
BSN Programs
DNP Programs (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
RN Programs
RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN Program Details

For registered nurses seeking bachelor's degrees in nursing, MU offers the RN-to-BSN online option. A student who is a graduate of an associate-degree or diploma program and is currently licensed (or eligible for licensure) to practice nursing in Missouri may be eligible. The program emphasizes critical thinking and practice skills necessary for clinical management of patients within a constantly changing health care environment.

The online option is for nurses who cannot travel to attend traditional classes on a regular basis. To complement the weekly online assignments, students may need to visit the MU campus one to two times per semester.

Completion of the program includes 120 credit hours. The length of the program varies, depending on equivalent prerequisite courses completed and choice of part-time or full-time enrollment. Students may enroll in nursing courses before completing prerequisite courses, under the advisement of the Adviser of the RN-BSN Online Option. All prerequisites must be completed before completing the last nursing course.

BSN Program Details

The curriculum of the BSN program encompasses general, foundational and professional studies within a liberal-education perspective. The curriculum is driven by the belief that nursing theory has much to offer in the education of professional nurses and in improving the health and well-being of patient populations.

For nursing undergraduates, the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program is the traditional four-year degree option. As freshman and sophomores, nursing students are considered nursing majors. Students typically are admitted to the clinical major during their junior and senior years.

Accelerated BSN Program Details

The Accelerated Bachelor's Degree in Nursing Program (BSN) is a 15-month, on-campus option for students who hold bachelor’s degrees or master’s degrees in fields other than nursing. It begins in May and concludes in July of the following year.

Students are admitted to the Accelerated BSN option based on the following criteria:

-A baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university.
-A minimum of two letters of reference from individuals who can attest to the student’s motivation and ability to complete a course of intensive study.
-Personal statement that includes a brief narrative describing yourself, your career goals, and your future plans related to nursing.
-A personal interview.
-Evidence of academic achievement of a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale on undergraduate degree.
-Completion of prerequisite courses with a minimum of a C or better.
-Evidence of potential and motivation for nursing.
-Evidence of prior work success and/or ability to handle a fast-paced academic program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Details

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program is offered in conjunction with the MU Graduate School and is part of a long tradition in graduate education at the University of Missouri. As the flagship campus of the University of Missouri system and the only public research-intensive university in the state, the Sinclair School of Nursing provides an exceptional educational experience at an outstanding economic value. Furthermore, we strive to be a leader in graduate nursing education as evidenced by graduating our first master’s prepared Family Nurse Practitioner cohort in 1980.

Due to the rapidly changing demands of this nation's complex healthcare environment and the critical need for improved quality, safety, and healthcare outcomes, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommended to move the current level of preparation necessary for advanced practice nursing from the master’s degree to the practice doctorate-level by the year 2015. The DNP is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice and offers an alternative to a research-focused doctoral program (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Preparation at the practice doctorate level includes advanced preparation in nursing, based on nursing science, and is at the highest level of nursing practice. Our DNP program will deepen the knowledge and skills of nurses preparing for an advanced nursing practice role and includes content regarding direct care provided to patients, with an emphasis on evidenced-based practice, as well as the evaluation of practice to improve health care outcomes and the cultivation of expertise in health policy and organizational and systems leadership.

Research and research utilization are integral parts of evidence-based nursing practice and our DNP curriculum. Nurses prepared at the DNP level provide leadership for evidence-based practice in nursing and translate evidence-based nursing research in their own practice. They are expected to disseminate and integrate new knowledge. DNP prepared nurses also participate as members of a research team or conduct translational research projects.

Upon completion of the DNP program, the learner will:

1. Integrate advanced knowledge of nursing theories, methods of inquiry, humanities, and related sciences in the delivery of care to rural and other underserved populations.
2. Serve as leaders, in collaboration with multiple disciplines to improve quality of health care outcomes for individuals, populations, and systems.
3. Systematically evaluate a defined area of nursing using technologies in order to advance cost-effective health care delivery.
4. Appraise scientific data from various domains in order to translate best evidence into nursing practice and health care delivery.
5. Analyze the social, economic, cultural, environmental, political, and policy components of health care to advocate for improved health outcomes and reduce health disparities.