University of Mary Washington Announces Master of Science in Nursing Program
Enrollment will begin next year.
By Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
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The University of Mary Washington this week announced a new degree program beginning next year—a Master of Science in Nursing, with options for students to focus on nursing education or become a family nurse practitioner.
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approved the program this fall. Applicants must have their registered nurse (RN) license and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing—which UMW can assist with through its established RN-to-BSN completion program.
“This program aims to address vacancies in primary care and healthcare higher education in our region and across the Commonwealth, equipping nurses with advanced competencies and expertise for leadership, specialized practice and improved patient outcomes,” said Janet Atarthi-Dugan, UMW’s director of nursing, in a press release from the university.
Graduates who choose the MSN’s nursing education track will be qualified to teach future nurses in academic and clinical settings. Those who become family nurse practitioners will be able to work as primary care providers, as well as in hospitals, urgent care and long-term care facilities, according to the press release.
The Virginia General Assembly provided $740,000 in initial funding for the program, which will be offered in a hybrid on-line/in-person setting and will include practicum placements.
Enrollment in the two-year full-time, or three-year part-time, program will begin in the 2026-27 school year.
UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell said the university’s approach to healthcare education is distinctive because it “stem[s] from our liberal arts and sciences mission.”
The MSN program will be “based in close mentorship, practical applications and core competencies, preparing nurses to lead with empathy, critical thinking and strong community connections,” he said in the press release.
More information about the new program is here.
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