This specialty focuses on promoting the health of individuals, families, and groups and identifying and treating common health problems across the life span. Students develop advanced skills in communication, health assessment, health teaching, nursing interventions and evaluation. Students are prepared as nurse practitioners and are eligible to sit for the national family nurse practitioner certification exams. The Family Health Nursing Nurse Practitioner Program’s goal is to provide advanced practice nursing education with a focus on the management of health problems, research, leadership and health promotion among diverse populations.

The master's program prepares the advanced practice nurse to:

• Provide health care to diverse populations and                                                                                
• Demonstrate professional leadership roles                                        

For more information, please visit the Graduate Academic Catalog.

2018 Admission FAQ (pdf)

Master's Nursing Program Student Handbook (pdf) 

To apply, please visit Graduate Admissions.

Contact: Valerie King, DNP, FNP-BC, 978-934-4454, valerie_king@uml.edu

Requirements for the Nursing master's program:

• A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program
• An undergraduate scholastic average of 3.0 or better
• An introductory course in statistics
• License to practice nursing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and professional nursing experience. A copy of your current license must be included with the application materials.
• A resume
• Three letters of recommendation pertaining to academic ability and professional competency with one preferably from a Baccalaureate faculty member and others from professional supervisors
• A goal statement that briefly highlights relevant work history and immediate and long term professional goals as an advanced-practice nurse. Goal statements should be congruent with the specialty tracks offered at UMass Lowell (FNP or A-GNP) and demonstrate an understanding of the scope of the advanced practice nurse in ambulatory, long term care or primary care settings.
• Computer literacy
• Official transcripts from all college level degrees and coursework.
• Completed application and fees

A minimum of 42 credits of course work is required for graduation with an MS for all students.

Students may be admitted for part-time study. Part-time students must meet the same admission requirements for graduate study as full-time students. Part-time students will meet with their assigned advisor and plan a schedule for their program of studies.

Admission is competitive and only completed applications will be reviewed. The priority deadline is  Feb. 1 for fall matriculation. We do not have Spring semester acceptances at this time. Applications received after these dates, if there are openings, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students may take up to four courses (12 credits) from University of Massachusetts Lowell or other accredited graduate program prior to matriculation. Please seek advice from Valerie King (Master's Program Coordinator) for appropriate courses to take as a non-matriculated student. Upon admission, these courses can be transferred in but may not affect your projected year of graduation due to capacity limits in current cohorts.

Two areas of specialization are offered in the Master of Science degree program:

• Family Health Nursing – Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontological Nursing – Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Please note that our practica and courses prepare the NP student to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam and the Adult-Gerontological Nurse primary care exam. We do not prepare NPs to sit for acute care, women’s health or pediatric certification exam.

For further information about nurse practitioner licensure, accreditation, certification and education, please read the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education (pdf).

Outstanding UMass Lowell students in the baccalaureate program in nursing may apply for admission to the bachelor's/master's degree in nursing. Students with a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average can apply no earlier than second semester junior year. Application deadline is Feb. 1 for fall matriculation. 

While a baccalaureate student, several designated courses (6 credits) can be taken in the master's program. Courses can be applied to both the BS (as an elective) and the MS program (as an elective or required course). When the B.S. degree is awarded, accepted Fast Track students can enter the master's degree program if they have maintained a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average.

Fast Track MS Program for Licensed RNs

Fast Track MS Program Prelicensure RNs