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Master's Degree

MSN-PH Online Program
Public Health Nursing

Calendar

CLASSES START
May 6th

16 Mo.

Program Length

36

Credits

Online

Format

135 Hrs

Clinicals

Master's Degree

MSN-PH Online Program
Public Health Nursing

Go from BSN to MSN – Public Health with Herzing University

AccreditationCCNE accredited,1Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Format100% online coursework with hands-on clinical practicum experience
Paying for schoolScholarships and financial aid available for those who qualify; transfer approved credit from prior college coursework to reduce cost and time
Future pathwaysGraduate with an MSN and become qualified for our online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program
Our pledgeWe pledge your clinical placement!
QuickPathsTransfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University
Public Health Nurse with MSN Working with Healthcare Team
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2024

MSN - Public Health
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Overview: MSN – Public Health Degree Program

The MSN – Public Health degree (BSN to PH) is a 36-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a leader in public health nursing. The degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in public health nursing advocacy and policy, health promotion, evidence-based practice, and much more.

SVG
Career-focused curriculum

Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

SVG
Flexible schedule

We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

SVG
Virtual services

Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

SVG
Lifelong support

We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

SVG
Rolling admissions

No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Classes Start May 6th

Learn More Today

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Curriculum

MSN - Public Health courses & curriculum details

All didactic lecture-style courses are delivered 100% online. You will also be required to complete 135 clinical practicum hours.

We also offer an RN to MSN pathway for nurses who currently hold an associate degree. You can choose to go directly from RN to MSN or stop for a BSN on the way in an RN to BSN to MSN track.

ProgramMonthsiCredits
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Public Health1636

i. Average number of months for students to complete program.

Required Core Courses

All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Direct Care Courses

All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Specialty Courses

All courses, 12.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition & Cost

The cost of tuition for the MSN - Public Health program is $615 per credit.

You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.

Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

Find my estimate

 Scholarships & Financial Aid

You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants—including our Nurses Circle of Achievement scholarship, which offers up to 10% tuition reduction.

Find scholarships and grants 

 Military/Veteran Discounts

Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.

VA/Military benefits 

Requirements

Admissions requirements

To enroll in Herzing’s online MSN – Public Health program, prospective students must , and:

  • Live in a state where Herzing University is authorized to offer the MSN-PH program
  • Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they live.  (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university or college with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District Of Columbia.

MSN Clinical Placement Pledge Herzing Badge

Your clinical placement is our pledge.

We understand securing clinical placement as part of an MSN - Public Health program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.

As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.

Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*

* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment agreement.

Classes Start May 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee
Public Health Nurse Administrator Discussing Treatment with Healthcare Staff
Careers

Become a leader in public health nursing

You can begin shaping the way nursing is done by specializing in the field of public health nursing. Apply what you’ve learned and experienced as an RN to become a population health advocate, analyst, and decision-maker. You can become a health educator and coordinator of important medical and social services people need to stay healthy.

Instead of primarily treating illness and disease that has already occurred, you can work to prevent it in the first place.

Earning a master’s degree can help you build the knowledge and skills needed to climb the ranks and qualify for leadership and managerial positions in public health nursing.

Becoming a Public Health Nurse

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

A Public Health Nurse (PHN) can work in a variety of community-based roles. They assess, evaluate, and implement interventions to improve health systems and policies. Their work can involve smaller communities or larger public and global patient populations.

Some job responsibilities can include health education, case management, program planning, policy development, epidemiology and disease prevention, and much more.

Learn more about what public health nurses do, including examples of the different kinds of work you can do and the skills required for success in the field.

Public health nurse refers to a broad category of different types of nurses focused heavily on education and illness prevention. Common types of community and public health nurses include school nurse, maternal and child health nurse, occupational health nurse, and case management nurse.

PHNs with advanced education and experience can qualify to become a consultant or lead a team as a director or manager of a team of nurses.

After earning a master’s degree you may pursue further nursing credentials in a post-master’s certificate in nursing program. Herzing offers multiple certificate options with concentrations in:

After earning master's-level preparation in the specialty of your choosing, you can then advance to the doctorate level by enrolling in our online Post Master's DNP program.

Earning an MSN or DNP represents a huge step forward in your education, but there is always more to learn. We are your lifelong partner in learning, dedicated to helping you earn the education needed to reach your highest career goals.

Salaries in the public health nursing specialty can vary widely depending on your education, experience, and state of employment.

In the case of your first entry-level nursing job in public health, you may not be required to advance your education to the master’s level to qualify. Registered nurses across all specialties earn an average salary of $89,010 per year ($42.80 per hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).*

Earning a master’s degree can help you qualify for upper-level managerial and leadership positions in public health nursing. The BLS reports the average salary for medical and health service managers is $127,980 per year ($61.53 per hour).*

It’s right in the name—the MSN in Public Health is a nursing degree designed for current RNs, while an MPH is designed for non-nursing professionals.

Enroll in an MSN in Public Health and you’ll take nursing specific courses covering topics such as technology and nursing informatics, research methods, evidence-based practice, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and much more. You’ll have the opportunity to pursue the public health track while continuing to advance your nursing knowledge and skills.

One of the top certifications for public health professionals is the Certified in Public Health (CPH) certification from the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). You’ll need a combination of education and experience to qualify to sit for the exam.1

You may not need to be certified to earn every type of job in public health nursing. However, CPH certification can separate your resume from the rest, and shows employers you’ve got the knowledge, skills, and experience to excel in the position.

1. You must meet specific eligibility criteria to sit for the CPH exam. The Herzing University MSN program in Public Health is not accredited by CEPH.

“Public” and “community” nursing are terms often used interchangeably—but they aren’t necessarily the same thing.

Community health nurses typically work directly with individuals, families, and groups to achieve better health outcomes.

Public health nurses usually take a broader approach to patient populations. They focus on advocating for change in systems, reforming policy, and health promotion.

In general—community health nurses directly help people make the best use of the systems in place, while public health nurses focus on improving those systems.

Of course, there are several factors behind why jobs are named the way they are. When you start looking for jobs in public health or community health nursing, be sure to thoroughly read through the job description to determine if it’s the right kind of role for your skillset and preferences.

Locations

Program Finder

MSN - Public Health Degree Programs

Showing 1 program for the Online campus

On Campus| Online

To learn more about this program, click the Request Info button to the right.

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Disclosures

Disclosures

1. The master's degree program in nursing at Herzing University - Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

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Opt-In to Receive SMS Messages

By selecting this button you agree to receive updates and alerts from Herzing University. Text HELP to 85109 for help, Text STOP to 85109 to end. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. By opting in, I authorize Herzing University to deliver SMS messages and I understand that I am not required to opt in as a condition of enrollment. By leaving this box unchecked you will not be opted in for SMS messages. Click to read Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Herzing Tuition Wizard

When do you want to start classes?

The program has an automatic transfer of credits, and allows you to transfer up to additional credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credit hours.

  Transfer Credit Hours
MSN - Public Health Nursing Online Campus
Tuition
Cost per Credit$615.00
Base Tuition$22,140.00
Savings from Transfer Credits (9 x $615.00 )(-$5,535.00)
Estimated Tuition Cost*$16,605.00
Fees
One-time Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Learner Resource Fee$530.00
Estimated Total Fee*$2,120.00
Total Semesters 1
RequiredNeeded
44
Total Credits
RequiredNeeded
3627
Estimated Cost 2
Base CostYour Cost
$24,260.00$18,725.00
Estimated Savings*
$5,535.00

Questions?

Reach out to a member of the Financial Aid team at the Online campus:

1 

Actual semesters to complete are dependent upon university approved transfer credits and program mapping.

2 

Estimated program length, estimated number of semesters, and estimated program shown above are standard by program for each student based on: a student taking a full-time course load each semester, the student not having any transfer credits (from previous Herzing experiences or from other post-secondary institutions), and successful completion of each course.

Current tuition rates for all programs are effective through the Summer 2024 semester.