Higher education has a long and rich tradition in the state of South Carolina. The first school in the state, the College of Charleston, was established in 1770 and is still in operation today. The state now has 60 colleges and universities that range from small two-year colleges to large doctoral-granting universities.
While there aren’t many BSN to MSN programs in the state, the ones that are available are regarded well for their academics. Furthermore, South Carolina’s BSN to MSN programs offer excellent clinical preparation for working with all populations of patients.
Below is a partial list of the BSN to MSN programs you can pursue in South Carolina. As you will see, each program is a little different. Ultimately, though, each provides you the opportunity to get the education you need to rapidly advance your career.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs in South Carolina
Charleston Southern University
School Information
Charleston Southern University is a small, private, religiously-affiliated school in South Carolina’s low country. With only 3,400 students, this school offers you the opportunity to learn in classes with a small student-to-teacher ratio. Not only does this provide you with more individual teaching time from your professors, but you might also more easily develop collegial relationships with your classmates.
You can pursue more than 60 undergraduate degrees, nearly two dozen graduate programs, and two doctoral programs at Charleston Southern’s Charleston-based campus. Online learning is an option as well, with more than two dozen online programs currently available.
Charleston Southern ranks highly on many lists from US News and World Report. This includes 49th among regional universities in the south, 23d among the best colleges for veterans, and 36th among top performers for social mobility.
MSN Program Information
Charleston Southern University’s MSN program is specifically designed for working nurses. You take one class at a time, with each class lasting five weeks. This allows you to focus on one topic, get immersed in it, and then move on to other important nursing topics.
This 39-credit program takes about 16 months to complete if you study full-time. Courses include:
- Evidence-Based Research in Nursing
- Nursing Informatics
- Healthcare Economics
- Management and Leadership for Nurse Administrators
This degree also includes studies in teaching methodologies and nursing curriculum design. Courses like this prepare you to become a nursing educator.
The University of South Carolina
School Information
The University of South Carolina system has multiple campuses, but its flagship institution is its namesake – the University of South Carolina. The University got its start in 1801 in Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. Today, the University has more than 35,000 students, of which nearly 7,000 are in graduate programs.
The University is a Carnegie Foundation R1 school. This means the University undertakes a very high level of research activity, which is why the school has earned Carnegie’s top research distinction.
In addition to being famed for its research, the University of South Carolina also has many different degree programs – over 300, in fact – that are organized into the University’s 15 schools and colleges. In addition to nursing, South Carolina offers programs in:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Law
- Social Work
- Business
MSN Program Information
The MSN program from the University of South Carolina focuses specifically on nursing education. If you want to make the move from clinical practice to working in nursing academics, this program is exactly what you need.
To gain admission to this program, you need to have a BSN from an accredited program and at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, you must have an unencumbered RN license. Once admitted, you will take courses in:
- Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- Clinical Application of Population Analysis
- Theoretical and Conceptual Foundation for Nursing
- Online Instruction and Technology in Nursing Education
This program also requires you to complete a practicum experience and research in clinical nursing.
Claflin University
School Information
Claflin University is a four-year liberal arts college that’s affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school is in historic Orangeburg, South Carolina, where the campus has stood since the school’s inception in 1869. When it was founded, Claflin became the first college to accept students regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, or gender.
Some colleges are so large that they feel overwhelming. That’s not the case at Claflin. There are only about 2,000 students on campus, and the student-to-faculty ratio is about 13:1. The campus is also small, occupying only 50 acres.
You will find that Claflin has many programs designed to help you learn and grow. This includes many financial aid programs, athletics programs, student organizations, and student support services.
Program Information
Claflin University’s MSN program has the distinction of being South Carolina’s only BSN to MSN degree offered by a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The program got its start in 2016, and in the years since, has steadily grown and produced high-quality graduates that have a positive impact on the field of nursing.
You can choose from two tracks: nurse leader or family nurse practitioner. The former requires 36 credit hours, which takes about 1.5 years to complete. The latter requires 47 credits, which you can complete in two years of full-time study. Both programs have online and in-person components.
To apply, you must hold a BSN from an accredited institution. Additionally, you must submit letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and a resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
Clemson University
School Information
Roughly halfway between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina, is Clemson, South Carolina. There, you will find Clemson University, a land-grant public university with almost 26,000 students, 5,700 of which are currently studying at the graduate level.
Clemson isn’t the largest school in the state, but it has a robust offering of academic programs, including 80 undergraduate majors, 90 undergraduate minors, and more than 130 graduate programs. This includes:
- Nursing
- Agriculture
- Education
- Engineering
- Criminal Justice
Despite having 26,000 students, Clemson’s student-to-faculty ratio is just 16:1. With such small class sizes, you can thrive in a learning environment that’s more closely focused on your particular interests and needs.
MSN Program Information
Clemson’s MSN program offers two specialization areas to prepare you for a career change. The first is a Nursing Education option which prepares you to teach nursing at the collegiate level. You will learn skills related to clinical teaching, learning styles, curriculum development, and more.
The second track focuses on primary care, specifically, Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nursing. This specialty provides the advanced training required to work with adult patients in hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities.
You need a nursing BSN with a 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale to apply. Additionally, you must submit three letters of recommendation, have a current nursing license, and have at least 600 hours of nursing practice experience in the last 12 months.
Work Opportunities for MSN in South Carolina
Nursing can be a highly lucrative career, particularly if you specialize while getting your master’s degree. This is true anywhere, but particularly so in South Carolina.
As an example, nurse practitioners in South Carolina make $102,850 per year. This is well above the national median salary for nurses, which stands at $77,600 per year. But nurse practitioners aren’t the highest-paid nurses in South Carolina.
If you want to substantially increase your earning potential, you should focus on becoming a nurse anesthetist. These highly-sought-after nurses make $213,830 per year in South Carolina!
Not all nursing jobs in South Carolina have the benefit of paying six figures. However, even the median wage of around $78,000 is a nice living to earn while you help people recover from illness or injury. And with an advanced education like that provided by the MSN programs outlined above, you can increase your chances of earning more money while doing something you truly love.
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