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

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.

  • 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.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.