Online Nursing Programs & Degrees
Recognizing that students in all programs except our traditional and accelerated BSN program are already RNs, the University of South Alabama was an early adopter in offering fully online RN to BSN, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), RN to MSN, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees, and fully online Post-Graduate certificate options.
But studying online does not mean you’re studying on your own. While you work in your home region, faculty members are on campus, answering emails, refining course work and conferring with colleagues to optimize online learning opportunities.
All online students are paired with preceptors or mentors at the approved clinical facility, or students have the option of completing clinical requirements at a University of South Alabama Health affiliated hospital or clinical facility.
Graduate students seeking credentials in specific specialty options come to campus for intensive skills training, becoming more adept at skills and competencies required for the specialty option. The clinical skill intensive opportunities are held at the state-of-the-art USA Simulation Lab.
University of South Alabama College of Nursing State Authorizations
The University of South Alabama participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). As a member of NC-SARA, we offer fully online courses in any NC-SARA state. We are exempt in Massachusetts and California.
For more information about NC-SARA, please visit https://nc-sara.org/.
Supervised Field Experiences
NC-SARA also governs student placements in other States. The College of Nursing programs require internship/clinical placements and other supervised field experiences. Field experience placements may occur in states other than Alabama.
Professional Licensure
Graduate
If you are a prospective student considering enrolling in a concentration within the College of Nursing graduate or post-graduate certificate program which is regulated by a state board of nursing, we recommend that you contact the appropriate licensing body in your home state and practicing state for guidance PRIOR TO admission to the College of Nursing at USA as licensure requirements may vary from state to state.
For more information regarding these requirements visit:
https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/institutionaleffectiveness/stateauthorizations.html
The College of Nursing does not currently accept graduate students residing in the following states:
- New York
- South Dakota
Additionally, graduates or post graduate certificate completers who move to NY or SD may not be able to obtain licensure in these states.
The University of South Alabama College of Nursing is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing to offer clinical experiences in Louisiana for MSN, DNP, and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate programs for specific concentrations.
The University of South Alabama College of Nursing is currently unable to place students in clinical settings in Washington, DC.
Kansas: Graduates who are admitted to the program after March 1, 2025 are required to obtain 750 clinical hours to apply for licensure as an advanced practice nurse (NP or CNS) in the state of Kansas per K.A.R. 60-17-105, amended Feb 7, 2025. Graduates admitted prior to March 1, 2025 are required to obtain 500 clinical hours to apply for Kansas NP or CNS licensure. Our program currently requires 540-850 direct clinical hours, depending on the specialty track. For students who desire future licensure as an NP or CNS in Kansas, an additional course will be offered to ensure the student obtains the requisite clinical hours for Kansas licensure. Current students and graduates who require additional direct clinical hours to meet Kansas licensure requirements in the future should contact the appropriate graduate advisor - MSN (congrad@southalabama.edu) or DNP (condnp@southalabama.edu) to discuss individual needs.
Undergraduates
The University of South Alabama College of Nursing is currently accepting LPN to BSN (online program) applicants who reside in Alabama or Mississippi. Students who reside in other states may be considered for admission but must commit to completing clinical rotations in Alabama or Mississippi.
Available Online Nursing Programs
Online MSN Programs
Adult-Gerontological Acute Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist
Adult-Gerontological Adult-Gerontological Acute Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care)
Dual Role (Family Nurse Practitioner Adult-Gerontological Acute Care) Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Dual Role (Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner) (MSN)
Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
Executive Nursing Administration (MSN)
Online DNP Programs
Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Dual Role (Family Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care) Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Dual Role (Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner) (DNP)
Executive Nursing Administration (DNP)
MSN to DNP Clinical Nurse Leader Bridge to Executive Nursing Administration Pathway
Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Online Post-Graduate Certificates
Online MSN or DNP Subspecialties
Subspecialties are specialty areas not considered primary areas of advanced practice nursing. Students in all programs can add these subspecialties if they are pursuing any appropriate area of advanced practice nursing.