MSN Programs in South Carolina (SC)
In South Carolina there are a number of different schools that offer MSN programs for nurses who want to pursue an advanced practice nursing specialty or an administrative role. Learn about these programs and which schools in South Carolina offer them in the article below.
University of South Carolina
The Master of Science in Nursing programs at the University of South Carolina are offered primarily online, although students may need to go to campus to attend practicums. Students can choose one of five different tracks, including family nurse practitioner, adult gerontology-acute care nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, nursing informatics, and nursing administration.
Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University offers nursing education and nursing leadership MSN programs in which students take one five-week class at a time so they can focus on that particular subject area. Students gain hands-on experience and have the opportunity to work on teaching projects prior to graduation.
Clemson University
Clemson University offers four different tracks for students who want to earn an MSN degree, and students also have the chance to travel to South America in the Spring semester to study abroad. Programs are available in family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontological nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.
Anderson University
Anderson University offers a Master of Science in Nursing program with a family nurse practitioner track, nursing educator track, and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner track. There's also an executive leadership specialization that includes MBA courses as part of the curriculum.
Francis Marion University
Students at Francis Marion University earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a family nurse practitioner or nurse educator track. The family nurse practitioner track requires students to complete 55 credits and a minimum of 630 practicum hours, whereas the nurse educator track requires students to complete 36 credits and a minimum of 270 practicum hours. Both programs can be completed in as little as two years.
| School Name | Programs Offered | Graduate Tuition (2018-2019)* |
|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina | MSN - FNP, Adult Gerontology-Acute Care NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Administration | In-State: $13,650, Out-of-State: $29,196 |
| Charleston Southern University | MSN - Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Administration | $7,500 |
| Clemson University | MSN - FNP, Adult Gerontology NP, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator | In-State: $9,386, Out-of-State: $19,776 |
| Anderson University | MSN - FNP, Nurse Educator, Executive Leadership, Psychiatric Mental Health NP | $8,563 |
| Francis Marion University | MSN - FNP, Nurse Educator | In-State: $10,612, Out-of-State: $21,224 |
Source: *NCES
How to Earn an MSN Degree in South Carolina
Students who want to earn an MSN typically need a bachelor's degree in nursing prior to entering one of these graduate programs. Some schools also require applicants to meet minimum GPA and work experience requirements. Admitted students can spend between two and four years in college, and they will need to complete hundreds of clinical hours prior to graduation. Some of the courses that students may take as a part of an MSN program are outlined below.
Advanced Pathophysiology
This course teaches students about diseases, how they spread, and ways to contain and treat them. This class also covers different signs and symptoms of diseases to prepare students to identify them quickly later on in their careers. Depending on students' specialty, these courses might focus on disease in adult, pediatric or psychiatric patients, among others.
Advanced Pharmacology
Advanced pharmacology is a class designed to teach students about pharmacotherapeutics used to prevent diseases and treat illnesses. This course may teach students about drug classes, drug interactions, patient education, and monitoring the effectiveness of different drugs for treating illness or disease. Students who complete this course know how to select drugs that best fit a patient and their disease by assessing factors like age and gender.
Health Care Policy
The main objective of a health care policy course is to teach students about the different regulations that govern health care and how they affect the practice of nursing. Impacts of policy on global health care and the economy could also be discussed. Students may learn about the process of advocating for patients as well.
Students in South Carolina can earn a Master of Science in Nursing from a handful of different schools offering programs either online or on campus. Even though these programs can take up to four years to complete, they give graduates the opportunity to get hands-on experience working in leadership roles in the nursing environment.