The School of Nursing is no longer admitting students to the M.S. program or the M.S./MPH dual degree program. The M.S. program for advanced practice has transitioned to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

This master’s program is offered for work leading to the Ph.D. Students may not apply directly for the master’s, and should instead see the admissions information for the Ph.D.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes No No No No

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Credit Requirement 36 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 27 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement Half of degree coursework (18 credits out of 36 total credits) must be completed graduate-level coursework; courses with the Graduate Level Coursework attribute are identified and searchable in the university's Course Guide (https://registrar.wisc.edu/course-guide/).
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
Other Grade Requirements No other grade requirements.
Assessments and Examinations No formal examination required.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Required COURSES

Students might earn an M.S. in Nursing on the way to the Ph.D. in Nursing.

Nursing coursework at or above the 300 level.

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Work from Other Institutions

With program approval, students are allowed to count up to 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Graduate work should be less than five years old to be considered; additional justification and/or documentation are needed for work taken between five and ten years. Work ten or more years prior to admission to the program will not be considered.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

No credits from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to count toward the degree.

UW–Madison University Special

With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 6 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. These credits are considered part of the total allowable credits available for a student to transfer. Coursework should be less than five years old to be considered; additional justification and/or documentation is needed for work taken between five and ten years. Work ten or more years prior to admission to the program will not be considered.

ProbatioN

A semester GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.0 is not attained during the subsequent semester of full time enrollment (or 12 credits of enrollment if enrolled part-time) the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue for one additional semester based on advisor appeal to the Graduate School.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

Student progression is reviewed annually.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

15 credits

Time Constraints

Requirements for the degree must be completed within five years of admission.

grievances and appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

Student Appeals and Grievance Procedures

Students who feel that they have been treated unfairly have the right to question this treatment and receive prompt hearing of the grievance. Before instituting an appeal or grievance, students should discuss their particular situations with an appropriate staff member, e.g., faculty member, assistant dean, associate dean, or adviser.

Section One: Appeals

Appeals are limited to requests to continue in the curriculum after being dropped from the program for academic reasons.

Procedure
Filing Appeal

Graduate Student: A written appeal must be filed with the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs within 10 working days of the date of the letter notifying the student of the decision to discontinue the student in the program, or the right to appeal is waived. The appellant (student) must submit to the Assistant Dean the following information:

  1. A written statement addressed to the Chairperson of the appropriate appeals committee specifying:
    • Precise grounds on which the appeal is based.
    • Circumstances associated with the need to appeal.
    • Arguments supporting the appeal.
    • Description of proposed remedial actions to be taken to improve the student's academic performance.
  2. The appellant may also submit letters of support from persons knowledgeable about the appellant's current and/or past academic work and/or other matters related to the appellant's academic performance. Any such letters must be submitted to the Assistant Dean by the same deadline.

Appeals Committee

Graduate Student: For the purposes of hearing the appeal, the Assistant Dean will arrange an appeals committee that consists of at least three School of Nursing faculty members and that includes at least one member of the Graduate Programs Committee. The Assistant Dean will collect the information relative to the appellant's academic situation and forward the information to the Appeals Committee.

Appeals Committee Meeting

  • Within 15 working days of the filing of the appeal, the Appeals Committee will schedule a meeting date for the purposes of hearing the appeal.
  • Appellant must appear before the Appeals Committee to present the appeal. Appellant may have a support person accompany him or her to the meeting with the Appeals Committee. Appellant must address the Appeals Committee under all circumstances. Appellant's chosen support person is limited to providing advice and support to appellant. No fewer than three working days prior to the meeting with the Appeals Committee, the appellant shall identify to the Committee the individual’s appellant wishes to be present at the meeting for the purpose of providing the Appeals Committee with information about the appeal.

The Appeals Committee is authorized to decide the appeal and is responsible for the following:

  1. Reviewing all data presented by the Appellant and others.
  2. Discussing the argument presented by Appellant and inviting Appellant to contribute to the discussion.
  3. Limiting statements of appellant and other individuals where information being presented is irrelevant, unduly repetitious, or disrespectful.
    • Deciding the appeal and providing a written decision, including the reasons therefore, to the Appellant and the appropriate Assistant Dean within 15 working days of the Appeals Committee meeting. The written decision shall identify and include where appropriate:
      • Appellant's stated reason for the appeal
        • Action taken by the Appeals Committee
      • Stipulations and recommendations for appellant's continuation in program (where appeal granted)
        • Rationale for decision
        • Names of individuals present at the hearing
      • Notice of appellant's right to appeal the Appeals Committee decision to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

4. If the appeal is granted, the Appeals Committee will discuss with the Appellant any stipulations (binding) and recommendations (non-binding) for continuation in the program.

Review of Appeals Committee Decision

  1. A written request for review of the Appeals Committee Decision by the Dean of the School of Nursing or the Dean's designee must be submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within 20 working days of the date of notification of the Committee's initial decision.
    The request must state the specific grounds for appeal which are limited to:
  • School policies were incorrectly applied;
  • Decision is contrary to state or federal law;
  • Proper appeal procedures were not followed; or
  • Unfounded, arbitrary, or irrelevant assumptions of fact regarding the appellant's performance were made by the Appeals Committee. Appellant must also identify the specific aspects of the Committee decision that he or she believes meet the criteria cited as a basis for appeal.

The Dean of the Dean's designee may meet with the appellant to discuss the request for review.

a. Copies of the information submitted to the Appeals Committee and the Appeals Committee decision shall be provided to the Dean or the Dean's designee for review. Only facts and information presented to the Appeals Committee may be introduced to and considered by the Dean or the Dean's designee.

b. The burden of proof shall be on the student to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the Appeals Committee's decision was the result of one or more of the above bases for appeal.

c. The Dean or the Dean's designee shall notify Appellant and the Appeals Committee in writing within 30 working days of receipt of the request for review of the Appeals Committee decision or the appellant's meeting with the Dean's or Dean's designee, whichever is later, stating the action on the appeal and the grounds for the action taken.

d. The decision by the Dean or the Dean's designee on review is final.

e. Graduate students may seek Graduate School Procedural Review of the decision by the Dean or the Dean's designee. Please contact The Graduate School Office of Academic Services & Fellowship Administration in 217 Bascom Hall or at 608-262-2433 for information regarding this process.

Note: Deadlines referenced herein may only be altered by mutual agreement of the parties. Any such agreement must be in writing.

Section Two: Grievances

Informal Resolution

Any student in the School of Nursing who believes that he or she has been treated inequitably is encouraged to resolve the matter informally. The student should first talk with the person or group at whom the grievance is directed in an attempt to resolve the issue informally. The student may contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for assistance in resolving the matter informally. The student may also contact the following groups for assistance in reaching an informal resolution and/or information regarding other possible formal procedures to resolve the matter.

  1. Contact the UW-Madison Equity and Diversity Resource Center for information and assistance regarding discrimination or disability issues.
  2. Contact the Dean of Students for information about resources for addressing student concerns.

School of Nursing Grievance Procedure:

The grievance procedure is available to resolve student concerns regarding inequitable treatment that have not been satisfactorily resolved through the informal resolution process or where the student believes that informal resolution would not be productive. The grievance procedure is described below. Through the grievance process, the student may be accompanied by a support person. The use of this grievance procedure shall not prevent the student from seeking redress through another administrative or legal process.

  1. To initiate the formal grievance procedure, the student must submit his or her grievance, in writing, to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
  2. The written grievance shall include:
  • a statement that the student wishes a review of the situation by a Grievance Committee;
  • the identification of the person or group at whom the grievance is directed;
  • the specifics of the perceived inequitable treatment;
  • evidence in support of the student's belief that he or she has been treated inequitably; and
  • the outcome or resolution desired by the student.

3. A grievance must be initiated no later than 20 calendar days from the time the student knew or could reasonably have been expected to have known of the circumstances giving rise to the grievance. Initiation of the informal procedure described above within the 20- day period will extend the deadline for initiating the grievance to 40 calendar days from the time the student knew or could reasonably have been expected to have known of the circumstances giving rise to the grievance.

4. Within 30 calendar days after receiving the grievance, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall arrange for a committee meeting. The Committee may request a written response from the person or group at whom the grievance is directed, may ask for additional information from any or all parties involved, may request that the parties involved appear before the Committee, and/or may take other steps in attempting to resolve the grievance.

5. Within 60 calendar days after receiving the grievance from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Committee shall send a written report of the Committee's recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The student will also receive a copy of the report. The report shall include notice to the student of his or her right to appeal the Committee's recommendation to the Dean of the School of Nursing.

6. A student wishing to appeal the Committee's recommendation to the Dean of the School of Nursing must submit a written appeal to the Dean within 10 calendar days of the date of the Committee's report. The request must state the specific bases for appeal and identify the specific aspects of the Committee's recommendation that he or she believes are the subject of the bases for appeal. Where an appeal is filed with the Dean, a copy of the Committee's report shall be provided to the Dean for review. Only facts presented to the Committee may be introduced to and considered by the Dean. The Dean shall notify the appellant and the Committee in writing within 30 calendar days of receiving the written appeal stating the action on the appeal and the grounds for the action taken.

Section Three: Course Grade Appeals Process

If a student believes s/he has been awarded a grade for a course that does not adequately represent her/his performance in the course, they should speak with the course faculty member in an effort to attempt to resolve the issue informally. This must be done within 10 working days of receipt of the grade. During this informal process both student and faculty may consult with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to seek resolution of the issue.

If the student remains dissatisfied with the grade, the student has the option to initiate the formal Grievance procedure. To do this, the student must submit the grievance, in writing, to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within 10 working days. The Associate Dean will appoint a committee to hear the grievance. The decision of the committee is final. There is no further appeal.

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances.

Other

The School of Nursing makes a strong commitment to funding students admitted into the Ph.D. program who are enrolled full-time. Sources of funding include extramural, campus, and internal School of Nursing funding. The majority of funding decisions are made in the Spring for the following academic year. Continuing and newly admitted students are encouraged to apply for funding.

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Program Resources

Career advising, funding, and professional development opportunities are shared with all students by a member of the School of Nursing Academic Affairs staff. Information on these support services can be found on the Student Site.

  1. (Background for Practice from Sciences and Humanities) Recognizes that the master's-prepared nurse integrates scientific findings from nursing, biopsychosocial fields, genetics, public health, quality improvement, and organizational sciences for the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings.
  2. (Organizational and Systems Leadership) Recognizes that organizational and systems leadership are critical to the promotion of high quality and safe patient care. Leadership skills are needed that emphasize ethical and critical decision making, effective working relationships, and a systems-perspective.
  3. (Quality Improvement and Safety) Recognizes that a master's-prepared nurse must be articulate in the methods, tools, performance measures, and standards related to quality, as well as prepared to apply quality principles within an organization.
  4. (Translating and Integrating Scholarship into Practice) Recognizes that the master's-prepared nurse applies research outcomes within the practice setting, resolves practice problems, works as a change agent, and disseminates results.
  5. (Informatics and Healthcare Technologies) Recognizes that the master's-prepared nurse uses patient-care technologies to deliver and enhance care and uses communication technologies to integrate and coordinate care.
  6. (Health Policy and Advocacy) Recognizes that the master's-prepared nurse is able to intervene at the system level through the policy development process and to employ advocacy strategies to influence health and health care.
  7. (Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes) Recognizes that the master's-prepared nurse, as a member and leader of interprofessional teams, communicates, collaborates, and consults with other health professionals to manage and coordinate care.
  8. (Ethical Practice) Recognizes and applies principles of ethical and professional conduct.
  9. (Master's-Level Nursing Practice) Recognizes that nursing practice, at the master's level, is broadly defined as any form of nursing intervention that influences healthcare outcomes for individuals, populations, or systems. Master's-level nursing graduates must have an advanced level of understanding of nursing and relevant sciences as well as the ability to integrate this knowledge into practice. Nursing practice interventions include both direct and indirect care components.
  10. (Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving Health) Recognizes that the master's-prepared nurse applies and integrates broad, organizational, client-centered, and culturally appropriate concepts in the planning, delivery, management, and evaluation of evidence-based clinical prevention and population care and services to individuals, families, and aggregates/identified populations.

Faculty

School of Nursing Faculty Directory

Administration

Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Dean and Professor
ldscott@wisc.edu

Barbara Pinkenstein, DNP, RN-BC, FAAN

Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor
pinkenstein@wisc.edu

Katie Bleier

Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs (Academic Dean)
katie.bleier@wisc.edu
608-263-5172

Pamela McGranahan, DNP, PHNA-BC, PMHNP-BC

DNP Program Director, Clinical Associate Professor
pmcgranahan@wisc.edu
608-263-5337

Kristine Kwekkeboom, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD Program Director, Professor
kwekkeboom@wisc.edu
608-263-5168

Advising and Student Services

Darby Sugar

Director of Advising & Student Services
darby.sugar@wisc.edu
608-263-5172

Mariah Allen

Graduate Academic Services Coordinator
mariah.allen@wisc.edu
608-263-5258

Admissions and Recruitment

Mandi Moy

Director of Admissions & Recruitment
mandi.moy@wisc.edu
608-263-5261

Kate Beggs

Graduate Admissions & Recruitment Coordinator
katherine.beggs@wisc.edu
608-263-5183