Academic Programs

Master's of Science Degrees

Pre-Master's Pathways

The Pre-master's Pathway is designed for applicants who are registered nurses with an associate's degree or diploma in nursing who have a bachelor's degree or higher degree in a field other than nursing. This option offers an alternative method of qualifying for admission to the Graduate School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Worcester. In order to be admitted to the Pre-master's Pathway, students are required to enroll in and complete three to four pre-licensure or undergraduate professional nursing courses. Students who have met these requirements may have to submit the course syllabi for comparable evaluation.

Although the Pre-master's Pathway does not grant a bachelor's degree in nursing, it can enable the student to meet the criteria for admission into the graduate program in nursing pending completion of pre-licensure or undergraduate professional nursing requirements. Credit equivalencies are not assigned to the tests or the prerequisite coursework because this program does not grant a bachelor's degree in nursing. The Pre-master's Pathway grants exemptions for the specific graduate program admission requirement of a nursing baccalaureate degree.

Graduate Entry Pathway| Pre-Master's Pathways| Traditional Master's Pathway