Nursing Health Systems Leadership Pathway
The UAB School of Nursing produces strong nurse leaders and strategic thinkers through it's nationally ranked programs, including the nation's No. 6 Nursing Health Systems Administration Specialty, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 2020.
Three Nursing Health Systems Leadership Specialties are currently offered, preparing career-minded graduates for management and executive roles at all levels of a health care organization, including unit manager, clinical coordinator, chief information officer or chief nursing officer, enabling them to implement or lead health system and health care change, making a difference in patient lives globally.
Admission for Summer term only.
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Nursing Health Systems Administration
The Nursing Health Systems Administration specialty prepares students for leadership positions in health care systems, from unit level to system wide leadership roles. Graduates are prepared for management roles at all levels of the organization.
To best accommodate the needs of the nursing administration workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets. The curriculum is accomplished through 36 credit hours of coursework, with 28 credit hours of didactic coursework and 8 credit hours of clinical practica, that is completed in two academic years (six semesters).
For more information contact:

Sample Program of Study1
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Semester | Course Title | Credit Hours |
1 | NHSL 604 Developing the Advanced Nurse Leader | 3 |
NHSL 610 Health Care Systems Overview for Nurse Leaders | 3 | |
2 | NHSL 606 Evidence-Based Practice and Management | 3 |
NHSA 618 Human Resource Management | 3 | |
3 | NHSA 616 Nursing Financial Management | 4 |
NHSA 617L Nursing Financial Management Practicum | 2 | |
Year 2 | ||
Semester | Course Title | Credit Hours |
4 | NHSA 631 Advanced Quality and Patient Safety | 4 |
NHSA 681L Advanced Quality and Patient Safety Practicum I | 2 | |
5 | NHSA 632 Nursing Health Systems Administration I | 4 |
NHSA 682L Nursing Health Systems Administration Practicum I | 2 | |
6 | NHSA 633 Nursing Health Systems Administration II | 4 |
NHSA 683L Nursing Health Systems Administration Practicum II | 2 | |
Total Credit Hours | 36 |
1Program of Study is subject to change.
Nursing Informatics
Nursing Informatics is an emerging specialty in nursing that is a combination of computer science, cognitive science, information science, and nursing science that is focused on organization, analysis, and dissemination of information within a health care setting. The Nursing Informatics specialty prepares advanced practice nurses in the analysis, design, and implementation of information and communication systems for health systems, as well as the use of data for effectiveness and informatics research, and the use of information technology.
To best accommodate the needs of the nursing administration workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets. The curriculum is accomplished through 40 credit hours of course work, with 36 credit hours of didactic coursework and 4 credit hours of clinical practica, that is completed in seven semesters.
For more information contact:

Sample Program of Study1
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Semester | Course Title | Credit Hours |
1 | NHSL 604 Developing the Advanced Nurse Leader | 3 |
NHSL 610 Health Care Systems Overview for Nurse Leaders | 3 | |
2 | NHSL 606 Evidence-Based Practice and Management | 3 |
NNI 631 Foundations of Nursing Informatics – Scope of Practice, Models, Standards and Theories | 3 | |
3 | NNI 632 Nursing Informatics Systems Analysis and Design | 4 |
NNI 633 Informatics and Information Technology to Advance Care | 3 | |
Year 2 | ||
Semester | Course Title | Credit Hours |
4 | NHSA 631 Advanced Quality and Patient Safety | 4 |
HI 601 Databases and Data Modeling | 4 | |
5 | NNI 634 Informatics Project Evaluation/Human Factors | 3 |
NNI 636 Data Analytics for the Informatics Nurse Specialist | 3 | |
6 | NNI 635 Essentials of Project Management for Nursing Information Specialists | 3 |
NNI 685 Nursing Informatics Practicum I | 2 | |
Year 3 | ||
Semester | Course Title | Credit Hours |
7 | NNI 686 Nursing Informatics Practicum II | 2 |
Total Credit Hours | 40 |
1Program of Study is subject to change.
Clinical Nurse Leader
The Clinical Nurse Leader is an emerging leadership specialty that is practiced in a variety of settings. The Clinical Nurse Leader specialty prepares advanced practice nurses to assume accountability for patient care outcomes through the application of evidence-based practice to design, implement, and evaluate care delivery at the micro systems level.
To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets. The curriculum is accomplished through 37 credit hours of course work, with 26 credit hours of didactic coursework and 11 credit hours of clinical practica, that is completed in six semesters.
For more information contact:

Sample Program of Study1
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Semester | Course Title | Credit Hours |
1 | NHSL 604 Developing the Advanced Nurse Leader | 3 |
NHSL 610 Health Care Systems Overview for Nurse Leaders | 3 | |
2 | NHSL 606 Evidence-Based Practice and Management | 3 |
NUR 612 Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | |
3 | NHSA 616 Nursing Financial Management | 4 |
NHSA 617L Nursing Financial Management Practicum | 2 | |
NUR 613 Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 | |
Year 2 | ||
Semester | Course Title | Credit Hours |
4 | NCL 618L Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization | 2 |
NUR 614 Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 | |
5 | NCL 620 Systems in Population Based Care I | 4 |
NCL 685L Clinical Nurse Leader Practicum I | 2 | |
6 | NCL 692L Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone Project | 5 |
Total Credit Hours | 37 |
1Program of Study is subject to change.
MSN Admission Requirements
Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:
- Hold a BSN degree from a regionally accredited institution and a nationally accredited nursing program (CCNE or CNEA accreditation), equivalent to the one offered by the UAB School of Nursing;
- Possess an unencumbered and unrestricted nursing license to practice in the state where you plan to conduct your clinical practicum;
- Cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or on the last 60 semester hours.
- Students with less than a 3.2 GPA (last 60 hours undergraduate GPA or overall undergraduate GPA) are required to complete and submit scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), GMAT, or MAT; only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted. Minimum required scores are a combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE, or a score of 410 on the MAT or score of 480 on the GMAT. Applicants who have successfully completed a graduate degree from a regionally accredited academic institution may receive a waiver for this requirement if they achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their previous graduate degree program. The following individuals are not eligible for the GRE waiver process: International applicants, non-native English speaking applicants, and Dual degree seeking applicants (e.g., MSN/MPH). For more information on the Test Score Waiver process click here.
- Submit three letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant's potential for graduate study;
- Applicants should submit an official transcript from every college or university they have ever attended (even if for only one semester). Transcripts may be emailed electronically by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School at gradschool@uab.edu or mailed to:
- UAB Graduate School
LHL G03
1720 2nd Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35294-0013
State Regulations Governing Distance Programs
Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state’s regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state. Only those students who reside in Alabama or those states where the UAB School of Nursing programs are available will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.
More information is available at the State Approval Website for Online Degree Programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Application for Admission/Application Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Deadline: October 12, 2021
To Start the Application Process
Click here to apply for admission
Click here for detailed application instructions
MSN Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the MSN Program, students will be able to:
- Synthesize research, theoretical formulations, and principles of scientific inquiry to provide evidence-based practice.
- Assume leadership in managing and evaluating continuous quality improvement processes.
- Use information systems/technology to evaluate programs of care, outcomes of care, and care systems.
- Advocate and implement health-care policies that improve access, equity, efficiency, and social justice in the delivery of health care.
- Provide ethical, culturally sensitive care in an advanced nursing role independently and collaboratively with professionals from multiple disciplines.
- Monitor the quality of one's own nursing practice based on professional practice standards and relevant statutes and regulations.
- Apply theories and principles of marketing, economics, consultation, management, and leadership to comprehensively perform an advanced nursing role.
Tuition and Fees
- The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2019-2020 academic year. Tuition and fees and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE annually based on approval from the University of Alabama Board of Trustees and/or university.
- The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis Web site (Tuition and Fees).
- Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.
Tuition and Fees UAB School of Nursing 2019-2020 | Resident Charge ($) | Non-resident Charge ($) |
---|---|---|
MSN Coursework (distance-accessible format per semester hour) | 656 | 656 |
Fees - UAB School of Nursing | Cost ($) | |
Educational Support and Technology Fee (per course) | 225 | |
Other Related Expenses (Estimated) | Cost ($) | |
Books and supplies (estimate per term) | 600 | |
Student Hospitalization Insurance Fee1 (estimate per month) | 200 | |
Background Check (annual estimate) | 88 | |
1May be waived with documented proof of equal or greater coverage |
Funding Your Education
UAB Financial Aid and Scholarships
Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships and other funding opportunities is available at:
UAB Office of Financial AID
Email: FinAid@uab.edu
Phone: (205) 934-4011
Website: www.uab.edu/students/paying-for-college
UAB School of Nursing Scholarships
- The School of Nursing at UAB has an excellent scholarship program that provides financial support to Alabama’s best and brightest nursing students.
- Currently, the School’s scholarship portfolio consists of 76 endowed scholarships and 3 active sponsored scholarships.
- The school currently has an $10.1 million endowed fund that supports nursing scholarships annually.
- Scholarships are awarded twice a year – spring and fall semesters. The scholarship application process is simple. One application is needed to be considered for all undergraduate or graduate scholarships.
- Application and additional information can be found at https://www.uab.edu/nursing/home/scholarships-financial-aid
For Information about School of Nursing Scholarships, Contact:

Recruitment, and Scholarships
Fellowship, Traineeship, and Other Funding for Graduate Programs
There are a limited number of Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships that are awarded through the UAB School of Nursing that require students to meet specific requirements, and are only awarded when funds are available. When such funds are available in a particular program, students enrolled in the program will be notified and provided information on how to apply. Contact Pam Kelley (email: pamkelle@uab.edu), for more information.
Nurse Faculty Loan
Federal Nurse Faculty Loan Funds are available to MSN students who intend to assume a faculty position in a school of nursing upon completion of the degree. These funds are limited to payment of tuition and fees and other reasonable educational expenses. Contact JoeAnn Kennedy (email: joeann@uab.edu), for more information.
Information for International Student
NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.
UAB International Admissions
Email: IntlAdmin@uab.edu
Phone: (205) 934-4686
Fax: (205) 934-8664
The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the MSN Program.
MSN | Post Masters | |
---|---|---|
F1 or J1 Visa Acceptable | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
College Degree | X - BSN Equivalent | X - MSN Equivalent or higher |
Foreign Transcripts Evaluated | X | X |
English Proficiency | X | X |
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) | X | X |
Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. | X | X |
X = Requirement must be completed or condition met |
Application Requirements
- Prospective students must have a bachelors degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
- For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
- International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course by course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials. Students may use one of the following firms for transcript evaluation; a report of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UAB School of Nursing prior to admission decisions.
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
Website: www.ece.org - World Education Services
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087 USA
Website: www.wes.org - Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
- Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process. If the GRE was completed prior to application, only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
- Completion of a formal admission interview.
- Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores:
- TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
- IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.
For More Information Contact:
UAB International Admissions
Email: IntlAdmin@uab.edu
Phone: (205) 934-4686
Fax: (205) 934-8664