Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Utica College Introduces Three New Nursing Master's Degrees

  • 05/02/19

UTICA, NY – How healthcare is delivered is changing by the minute, and Utica College (UC) is addressing these changes by adding three new nursing master’s degrees to its suite of nursing programs, including family nurse practitioner, nursing education and nursing leadership.

“Beginning this summer, students can earn their nursing masters online at UC in just 16 to 20 months in the hours and days that work best for them,” says nursing chair Annette Becker, DNS. “The flexible nature of this program allows students to structure coursework according to their work/life commitments.”

Credit hour and practicum requirements differ for each program. Requirements for admission include an unencumbered RN license in the state in which the student resides, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program, a minimum GPA of 3.0, and 2,000 hours of work experience.

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) program is for nurses who seek more autonomy in caring for their patients. A FNP provides a higher level of patient care, can test, diagnose, treat, and create preventive healthcare plans for patients. Given the shortage of healthcare professionals, FNPs are relied on more often as the first provider of care for common, family health problems. On average, FNPs earn more than $100,000 a year and there is an expected 31 percent job growth through 2026. The FNP program mandates a three-day immersion/residency experience and 720 practicum hours.

Nurse educators have become increasingly important and in great demand as new education requirements for entry-level clinical care emerge. Nurse educators earn approximately $74,000 a year. Employment is expected to grow by 24 percent through 2026. The education curriculum requires 180 practicum hours, divided between two classes, dedicated to working with qualified nurse educators.

As a nurse leader, either a senior manager or executive leader, one needs management expertise including the planning, direction, and coordination of medical and health services for an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice of physicians. With these roles, a person is responsible for implementing necessary actions to adhere to changes in healthcare laws, technologies, and regulations. Salaries range from $120,000 to $250,000. The leadership curriculum requires 180 hours of practicum working with nursing leaders.

The new programs will be added to a number of options already available including a traditional campus-based four-year undergraduate nursing program, an online RN to BSN program for licensed nurses who have completed an associate’s degree program and are seeking a higher credential. The ABSN is an accelerated (16-month) program for people who have already earned a bachelor's degree and wish to embark on a rewarding career in nursing. The program blends online courses with hands-on lab simulations and clinical rotations, and is offered through UC’s learning sites in Syracuse, NY; St. Petersburg, FL; and South Florida.

For more information, visit https://programs.online.utica.edu/programs/masters-nursing.

Featured

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.

  • Johns Hopkins Starts Construction on New Residence Hall, Dining Facility

    The Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., recently began construction on a new residence hall and dining facility, according to university news. The work involves demolishing the existing Alumni Memorial Residence Hall I, which was built in 1923, to make room for the new facility.

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.