Chaminade University of Honolulu

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Serve with Purpose.
Transform Patient Care.
Uplift Your Community.

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Terms & Deadlines
Overview
Specializations
Program Details
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DNP Pathway
School of Nursing & Health Professions

Elevate your skills, your impact, and your career with an online MSN.

Advance your nursing career with a Master of Science in Nursing from Chaminade University.

Our online MSN program prepares you to lead with compassion, cultural awareness, and a sense of purpose. You’ll develop the skills to collaborate effectively, elevate patient care, improve health outcomes, and make a meaningful impact in your community.

For nurses ready to take the next step into leadership, we offer a seamless pathway from MSN to DNP, grounded in advanced nursing pedagogy.

Terms & Deadlines

Fall Term Begins: August 17, 2026
Priority Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
Application Deadline: June 1, 2026

Mandatory Fall Immersion: August 25–27

An online program built around you.

Designed for working RNs, our online MSN program fits your busy schedule and life responsibilities. Study anytime, anywhere, while expert faculty mentors guide you through a curriculum focused on transformational leadership, evidence-based practice, and advancing patient care.

100% online program
with on-campus immersion

46-47 total credit hours
(varies by concentration)

Finish in 2 years

Clinical placement
(750 clinical hours)

Expert faculty mentors

3 nursing specializations to choose from

Choose Your Specialization

BSN-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization prepares you to provide comprehensive primary care across the lifespan. With a focus on person-centered and culturally informed practice, you’ll learn to promote wellness, prevent illness, and manage acute and chronic conditions for individuals and families. Through advanced assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based interventions—including medication management and patient education—you’ll be equipped to make a meaningful impact in various clinical settings.

BSN-MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care (PNP)

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) specialization prepares you for advanced care for children and adolescents. With a focus on family-centered and culturally informed practice, you’ll learn to promote health, prevent disease, and manage acute and chronic conditions across a variety of primary care settings.

BSN-MSN Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PNP) specialization prepares you to provide advanced mental health care across the lifespan. With a focus on person-centered and culturally informed practice, you’ll learn to promote mental health, manage mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD and others with medication management and psychotherapy for clients of all ages.

BSN-MSN-DNP Pathway

Chaminade University School of Nursing and Health Professions offers BSN-prepared nurses a seamless pathway to earn both a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). You’ll have the opportunity to pursue an advanced nursing specialty, complete your MSN requirements, and become eligible for national certification as a nurse practitioner. Then, continue directly into the DNP program to earn your terminal degree and expand your impact as a nurse leader.

Learn About the DNP Program

MSN Program Details

  1. Integrate Nursing and Interdisciplinary Sciences for Advanced Clinical Reasoning
    Apply nursing science along with biophysical, psychosocial, pharmacological, and organizational knowledge to perform comprehensive clinical assessments, support diagnostic reasoning, and manage complex patient care across diverse populations.
  2. Apply Quality and Safety Principles in Advanced Practice
    Implement and evaluate evidence-based strategies to improve care quality, patient safety, and equity within clinical practice environments.
  3. Critically Appraise and Apply Evidence for Advanced Nursing Practice
    Integrate current evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to guide the diagnosis, treatment, and management of health conditions; engage in quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient outcomes.
  4. Leverage Healthcare Technologies and Informatics in Clinical Practice
    Utilize electronic health records, clinical decision support tools, and population health data to enhance diagnosis, care planning, and patient education in advanced practice settings.
  5. Provide Person-Centered, Culturally Responsive Care
    Deliver holistic, individualized care that respects patients’ values, cultural backgrounds, and health literacy levels, with the goal of improving health equity and outcomes.
  6. Collaborate with Interprofessional Teams to Optimize Patient Care
    Work effectively within interprofessional teams to coordinate care, resolve complex clinical issues, and improve health outcomes at the individual and population level.
  7. Assess and Address Social Determinants of Health in Clinical Practice
    Identify social, cultural, and environmental factors affecting health; integrate resources and community partnerships into care plans to address disparities and promote health resilience.
  8. Demonstrate Clinical Expertise and Professionalism in the APRN Role
    Provide independent, evidence-based care including advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic conditions; demonstrate ethical leadership, accountability, and commitment to continuous professional growth in the APRN role.

MSN Core Curriculum (15 Credit Hours)

  • NUR 801 Leadership and Role Transition for Advanced Practice Nursing
  • NUR 803 Population Health and Epidemiology
  • NUR 805 Health Policy and Economics
  • NUR 824 Theory for Evidence-Based Advanced Nursing Practice
  • NUR 847  Evidence-Based Practice Inquiry I: Analysis and Evaluation
  • NUR 849  Evidence-Based Practice Inquiry II: Synthesis and Application

Advanced Practice Core Curriculum (9 Credit Hours)

  • NUR 802 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Life Span
  • NUR 804 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
  • NUR 806 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Life Span

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Specialization Curriculum (22 Credit Hours)

  • NUR 741 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum I
  • NUR 743 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum II
  • NUR 745 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum III
  • NUR 807 Selected Topics in Family Nurse Practice
  • NUR 840 Management of Common Health Conditions in Women and Children
  • NUR 842 Management of Common Health Conditions in Adults
  • NUR 844 Management of Complex & Chronic Health Conditions Across the Lifespan

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Specialization Curriculum (22 Credit Hours)

  • NUR 771 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Practicum I
  • NUR 773 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Practicum II
  • NUR 775 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Practicum III
  • NUR 808 Selected Topics in Pediatric Primary Care
  • NUR 870 Health and Wellness in Pediatric Care
  • NUR 872 Management of Common Health Conditions in Pediatric Primary Care
  • NUR 874 Management of Acute and Chronic Conditions in Pediatric Primary Care

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Specialization (23 Credit Hours)

  • NUR 733 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I
  • NUR 735 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum II
  • NUR 737 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum III
  • NUR 828 Advanced Concepts in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
  • NUR 830 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
  • NUR 832 Management in Lifespan Psychiatric and Mental Health Care
  • NUR 836 Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric Mental Health Care

General Admission Requirements

  • Completed Chaminade application
  • Earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN or CCNE-accredited School of Nursing
  • RN license (required by the end of the first semester in the MSN program)
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
  • Official college transcripts
  • Resume/CV
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement

Transfer Policy

Students may transfer up to 9 credits into the MSN program. Eligibility for transfer of credits will be determined by a gap analysis and is not guaranteed. Graduates of the Chaminade University MSN program are eligible to transfer into the BSN-MSN-DNP program for a period of three years post MSN degree conferral.

CCNE Logo

The School of Nursing and Health Professions has been granted full accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (ssih.org) from October 2025 through December 2030.

Cost of Attendance

Please visit the Graduate Cost of Attendance webpage for tuition rates and fees.

Additional Resources

NEXT STEPS

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If you have any MSN program questions or need assistance, please contact Vice Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions Pamela Smith, EdD, APRN-Rx, FNP-BC at [email protected] or (808) 735-4862.

For any admissions questions, please contact Admissions at [email protected] or (808) 739-8524.