MSN "Bridge" Program
About the Program
Drexel University's RN-MSN “bridge” program is available for nurses who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing and now wish to pursue an MSN degree. Applicants to this program must complete the admission process to the MSN program and seek initial advisement from the MSN program academic advisors. The bridge program is available only to students applying for the MSN Advanced Role programs—it is not available for students wishing to pursue an MSN Nurse Practitioner degree; however, to learn more about alternative pathways to becoming a nurse practitioner, contact the Graduate Nursing Division (see contact information below).
The graduate program department chair reviews the applicant’s file for program eligibility, and prerequisites are established on an individual basis.
The “bridge” program consists of one undergraduate course. Individuals with extensive professional experience may request to waive the bridge course. The required “bridge course” in the MSN Advanced Role track is NURS 335 Genetics and Genomics: Application to Nursing Practice (4.5 quarter credits). This class is available entirely online and is delivered in a 10-week quarter-term session.
After successfully completing all requirements and admission to the MSN program, students progress directly into graduate-level courses. (Note: The BSN is not awarded in this program.)
Program Requirements
MSN pathway for nurses with a non-nursing BA or BS. RN license is required.
| NURS 335 | Genetics and Genomics: Application to Nursing Practice | 4.5 |
Eligible MSN Programs
- MSN in Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Management
- MSN in Nursing Education
- MSN in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare
- MSN in Public Health Nursing
- Nurse Practitioner programs are not eligible
Additional Information
For more information about MSN Advanced Role track program, please contact:
Graduate Nursing Division CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu
For more details about the program, please see the College's MSN "Bridge" program webpage and the Drexel University Online MSN "Bridge" program webpage. If you are interested in earning both a BSN and MSN, consider enrollment in the Accelerated RN/BSN/MSN program.
Admission Requirements (MSN)
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- 3.0 or above on all previous coursework or the last 60.0 credits completed. Applications from RNs with a GPA less than a 3.0 may be considered on an individual basis.
- Official transcripts from all previous educational institutions are required.
- Two professional references are required from colleagues or supervisors who can attest to the applicant’s knowledge, skill and potential aptitude for graduate study
- Letters of recommendation are waived for students with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Personal statement (no more than two pages and no less than one page double-spaced) that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of the following:
- Why you are choosing this particular program of study
- Your plans upon completion of the certificate
- How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this program
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Copy of current United States RN license required
- While specific experience is not required for applicants to the track, previous related work experience may make an applicant more competitive.
International applicants must possess a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) and a current United States RN license.
TOEFL Requirement
International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and United States permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor’s degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. U.S. citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status; otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
If you take the TOEFLiBT exam, you are required to have a minimum combined score for the listening, writing and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.
If you take the TOEFL, you are required to have a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.
