Program Overview
The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Practitioner programs at Spring Arbor University are CCNE accredited and deliver the primary care knowledge and clinical reasoning skills needed to prevent, assess, treat, and manage acute and chronic disease.
Program Tracks
- Family Nurse Practitioner Degree: Advance to a position of autonomous care with the academic knowledge and clinical skills needed to treat patients of all ages with our online Family Nurse Practitioner degree.
- Adult-Gerontology, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Degree: Master the primary care knowledge and clinical reasoning skills needed to best care for adolescents, adults and the elderly with our online MSN/AGPCNP.
Fill out the form on this page to download a program brochure,; or, use our easy online scheduling tool to book an appointment with an admissions advisor now.
Program Delivery
Our Nurse Practitioner degree courses fit the needs of busy nurses – with no mandatory log-in times. You complete one, seven-week course at a time to eliminate the stress that can come with juggling multiple courses at once. There is an optional residency in Michigan.; Clinicals can be completed in your area with the preceptor of your choice.
Online Nurse Practitioner Degree Program Support
You will have direct access to dedicated educators who are known for their active involvement in improving nursing care and a dedicated Student Success Coach who will walk beside you every step of the way. In addition, you will be a valued member of a close-knit community of nurses across the nation.
Fill out the form on this page to download a program brochure,; or, use our easy online scheduling tool to book an appointment with an admissions advisor now.
Careers & Outcomes
New health care legislation and a greater emphasis on access to primary care have increased the need for nurse practitioners by 31 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Due to this increased need, nurse practitioners can enjoy increased job security and a higher salary. Compared to a median annual wage for registered nurses ($66,640), The median annual wage for nurse practitioners is $96,460.
Nurse practitioners work in a range of workplaces including physician offices, outpatient care centers, surgical hospitals and home health care organizations. In some states, nurse practitioners can work independently. If you’re interested in starting your own nurse practitioner practice, check your state’s regulations.
Both the Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner programs prepare you to sit for national certification and meet our country’s growing need for skilled nursing care.
Fill out the form on this page to download a program brochure,; or, use our easy online scheduling tool to book an appointment with an admissions advisor now.
Admissions & Tuition Information
Admission Requirements
- BSN degree from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- We also offer an RN-MSN/NP program for nurses who have not earned a bachelor’s degree. Learn more about this online RN-MSN/NP program here.
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
- A 3.0 GPA calculated from the most recent 60 academic credits
- An unrestricted, unencumbered, current nursing license from the state of employment; license must be kept current throughout the program
- Two letters of recommendation
- A two-page goal statement that explains your rationale for pursuing a graduate nursing degree
- Completed application
Cost & Financial Aid
Nurse Practitioner Degree Tuition is $665 per credit hour. Financial aid is available for nurses who qualify. Visit our financial aid page for more information.
Program Curriculum
Nurse Practitioner Degree Courses
- NUR 510 Moral & Ethical Decision Making (residency) (3)
- NUR 522 Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Practice (3)
- NUR 532 Role Development & Leadership (3)
- NUR 551 Applied Research Methods (3)
- NUR 612 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NUR 618 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
- NUR 602 Advanced History & Physical Exam (residency) (3)
- NUR 685 Advanced Practice in Primary Care I (3)
- NUR 686 Advanced Practice in Primary Care II (3)
- NUR 693 Population Health (3)
- NUR 683 Health Policy and Politics (3)
- NUR 681 Capstone Project (3)
- NUR 680 Clinical Practicum (8)
Family Nurse Practitioner Degree-Specific Courses
- NUR 687 Advanced Practice in Primary Care III (3)
- NUR 633 Health Promotion across the Lifespan (3)
- NUR 645 Family Systems & Childbearing Family (3)
Adult Gerontology, Nurse Practitioner-Specific Courses
- NUR 632 Health Promotion & Disease Prevention (3)
- NUR 642 Chronic Disease & Complex Problems in Older Adults (3)
Nurse Practitioner Degree Course Descriptions
NUR 510 Moral & Ethical Decision Making (residency)
This course provides a meta-cognitive foundational approach to advanced nursing practice in the contemporary world. It explores worldview presuppositions with an emphasis on a Christian perspective and development of a consistent, conscious understanding of reality.
NUR 522 Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Practice
This course promotes examination, analysis and synthesis of a variety of conceptual frameworks, models and theories that provide a foundation for research and applied practice in the areas of nursing, business and education. Philosophical ideation, beliefs, scope and assumptions of select theories and models will be explored.
NUR 532 Role Development & Leadership
The focus is on understanding the professional role of the advanced practice nurse. The processes associated with role development, socialization and effective collaboration with diverse interdisciplinary partnerships will be examined.
NUR 551 Applied Research Methods
This course focuses on the significance of research to the development of a profession and the practical application of statistics to evidence-based outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on design, methodology and data collection relative to development of a research-based capstone project or thesis.
NUR 612 Advanced Pathophysiology
This course provides advanced knowledge and clinical application of normal and pathophysiologic mechanisms related to altered health status and disease processes. Diagnosis and treatment skills will be analyzed, interpreted and evaluated for changes in normal function seen during illness/disease and when assessing an individual’s response to treatment.
NUR 618 Advanced Pharmacology
This course will provide the advanced practice nurse with the knowledge and skills necessary to assess, diagnose and manage pharmacologic agents, alternatives to pharmacological interventions and therapeutic modalities. Prescriptive authority, including responsibilities and legalities, will be discussed, including controlled substances and the potential for abuse.
NUR 602 Advanced History & Physical Exam (residency)
This practicum will prepare students with the core knowledge and competencies needed to complete a comprehensive assessment using client data to detect signs and symptoms of pathophysiological changes and psychosocial variation from an individual, family or community perspective. Effective strategies will be developed to address health care issues, including health promotion, communication and client-teaching skills using a holistic approach. The practicum will provide clinical opportunities to further refine and practice the history taking and physical examination skills necessary for competence as an advanced practice nurse.
NUR 632 Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
This course is designed to prepare the student to apply evidence-based principles of wellness, disease prevention, and health risk in individuals, families, communities, and aggregate/clinical populations. Diversity is examined relative to social and communication patterns, roles, and value/beliefs underlying health-illness behaviors.
NUR 685 Advanced Practice in Primary Care I
This course will present critical concepts the advanced practice nurse can use in delivering evidence-based nursing for the adult population. Using a holistic approach students will apply theory to practice.
NUR 686 Advanced Practice in Primary Care II
This course prepares students with the skills to function as an advanced practice nurse in addressing chronic and complex alterations in health experienced by the older adult. Gerontology concepts will be applied in meeting the biological, psychosocial, mental, and spiritual needs of the older adult. Students will combine history taking, physical examination techniques, and diagnostic interpretation with problem-solving and clinical strategies.
NUR 693 Population Health
The focus of this course is on integrating the learning from previous courses to design treatment and evaluate outcomes for the most vulnerable groups, particularly the systems of care that manage services for frail elderly, the chronically ill, and other similarly compromised patients.
NUR 683 Health Policy
The focus is on the knowledge of professional responsibility to support policy issues associated with humane health care that promotes dignity, respect and justice. Practical skills such as working with the media, product and service evaluation, advocating for the health care needs of vulnerable populations, and seeking program grants will be addressed.
NUR 642 Chronic Disease & Complex Problems in Older Adults
The focus of this course is on management of chronic disease and complex care needs of older adults. Emphasis will be on case management and interdisciplinary collaboration to arrange and evaluate care for the most health compromised clients.
NUR 681 Capstone Project
Students will examine the evidence base for resolving a current health problem, design and implement a project that applies the evidence-based treatment/solution, and evaluate the change that occurs in the target group. This project is not designed as a thesis but an application of concepts and learning throughout the graduate program.
NUR 680 Clinical Practicum
The clinical practicum is arranged with a local preceptor with the approval of the program faculty. Students have regular contact with SAU clinical faculty, who also provide oversight of the preceptor led experience. In the Adult Gerontology concentration the minimum is 500 hours, however students taking the Family Nurse Practitioner track have an additional two credits, equating to a total of 625 clinical hours.
NUR 687 Advanced Practice in Primary Care of the Child
This course prepares the family nurse practitioner to provide evidence-based primary health care to infants, children in families from a Christian perspective. Using a holistic approach, students examine the scientific basis of common health problems and factors influencing nursing management of these problems. Relevant nursing interventions for common health problems of children in families are explored, as are the responses and adaptations of the child and family to common health problems. Students will consider and apply the knowledge, skills, and competencies that are the essential to the holistic management of children and families, both as an independent provider and within a multidisciplinary team. Students will combine history taking, physical examination techniques, and diagnostic interpretation with problem-solving and clinical strategies.
NUR 633 Health Promotion across the Lifespan
This course prepares the advance practice nurse (APN) to apply theoretical and current research concerning health promotion and disease prevention to clinical practice with individuals, including families, communities and special populations, from a Christian perspective. The student will explore the transformative effect of compassion and caring in facilitating healthful behavior change by applying culturally appropriate communication skills adapted to the individual’s cognitive, developmental, physical, mental and behavioral health status. Review of the patterns and variations of human growth and development will inform the student’s exploration into the impact of the family on the health of the individual across the lifespan. Evidence based health promoting strategies and modalities will be analyzed. Students apply the knowledge, skills, and competencies that are Delete essential to the promotion and maintenance of health, both as an independent provider and within a multidisciplinary team.
NUR 645 Family Systems and Clinical Management of the Child Bearing Family
This course prepares the family nurse practitioner student to examine evidence based principles of nursing care in the context of family and nursing theory, and apply this knowledge to clinical practice within diverse family systems, from a Christian perspective. Students will consider and apply the knowledge, skills, and competencies that are Delete essential to the holistic management of the child bearing women/family, both as an independent provider and within a multidisciplinary team. Students will focus on the care of healthy ante-partum women and those with health pattern variations that result in at-risk pregnancy. Emphasis is placed on collaborative management of women and families during pregnancy. Concepts focused on promoting wellbeing will be explored with emphasis on family interventions that promote resiliency as well as the health and wellbeing of the family.
The Nursing Department reserves the right to change curriculum requirements based on professional or accreditation recommendations.
PLEASE NOTE – PSY351 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences is also required FOR ALL MSN programs (if Student has not taken a comparable statistics course, this is required to be taken during the MSN program. The Student is notified of this upon acceptance into the program.)