Impact communities as a public health leader, educator, and advocate with our MSN public health specialization.
No. 1 in Master of Science in Nursing graduates in the U.S.¹
As a nurse, you see the disparities in healthcare firsthand—and you’re ready to challenge the status quo. With an MSN public health specialization from Walden, you can take the lead in promoting health awareness and equitable access in your community. Gain the interdisciplinary perspective and skills to help empower entire populations to live healthier lives.
An MSN specialization in Public Health Nursing can prepare you to shift from direct patient care to managing community health initiatives, particularly for the underserved. Get the tools you need to make a tangible impact, from developing population-based nursing interventions to preparing for and responding to disasters.
Why Choose Walden?
Unlock your inner leader
Develop the skills needed to provide effective public health leadership at community, state, national, and global levels.
keep communities safe
Explore and discuss global health problems, including infectious diseases and the effects of disasters on human health.
DISCOVER IMMERSIVE LEARNING
Interactive learning technologies, assessments, and case studies prepare you for real scenarios you’ll face in the field.
IMPACT LIVES AND COMMUNITIES
Apply your new knowledge in a practicum project that addresses a real public health issue.
CONNECT WITH OUR ALUMNI
Find inspiration, ideas, and camaraderie within our community of 36,500 College of Nursing graduates.
Practicum AdvantageTM
Benefit from dedicated teams and support services to help you with successful nursing practicum placement and completion.
Choose the BSN to MSN track if you are a registered nurse (RN) and have already earned your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 53 quarter credits
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (30 cr.)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-758-5249.
Choose the RN to MSN track if you are a registered nurse (RN) entering the MSN program with a hospital diploma or an associate degree in nursing.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 79 quarter credits
- Foundations courses (26 cr.)
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (30 cr.)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-758-5249.
If you are a registered nurse (RN) and have earned your bachelor's in nursing degree, you can use these tracks to get started on your doctoral nursing degree.
Personalized Practicum Support
Practicums are vital to your learning experience. That’s why we offer Practicum Advantage™—an ensemble of resources, self-help tools, and staff who understand the challenges of completing the nursing practicum. This includes the Walden Practicum Pledge™, available for BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. Once you register, a dedicated Field Placement Team partners with you to secure a site and preceptor. If you can’t identify your site and preceptor (along with additional requirements*), we’ll help find you a match.
Admission Requirements
Program Admission Considerations (RN-MSN): Registered nurses who hold a hospital diploma, associate degree in nursing, or bachelor’s degree (other than BSN).
Program Admission Considerations (BSN-MSN): A bachelor's degree or higher.
General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts.
More information for international applicants.
The progress you make now pays you back. You’ll receive your final courses tuition-free, depending on your program.
We believe you can achieve your goals—and we’re here to support you along your journey.
Request information to learn more about scholarships and financial aid.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 53 quarter credit hours | $480 per quarter hour | $25,440 |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,020 |
| $26,460‡* | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$4,800 $21,660* |
||
*Represents BSN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
‡*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 25 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 26 RN Foundational quarter credit hours | $415 per quarter hour | $10,790 |
| 53 MSN quarter credit hours | $480 per quarter hour | $25,440 | |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,360 |
| $37,590‡* | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$4,800 $32,790* |
||
*Represents RN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe and Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary.
‡*The tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000.
Program Outcomes
Advance Community Health and Safety
In our MSN specialization in Public Health Nursing, you’ll prepare to make the transition from one-on-one patient care to caring for whole populations. Explore the pressing issues facing public health today, including chronic disease, health inequities, and community-wide health concerns. Learn to identify high-risk sub-groups and create culturally sensitive, population-based nursing interventions that touch countless lives.
Career Impact
You’re a dedicated nurse—and a social justice warrior. An MSN in public health online can prepare you to work as a nurse leader and health advocate for underserved populations. Can open the door to new opportunities. Become a catalyst for improved health equity and health outcomes in your community.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, high rates of chronic disease, and an emphasis on preventive care, communities need knowledgeable public health nurses. Nurses who complete a public health nursing MSN program will be equipped to pursue roles in a variety of settings, including:2
- City, county, and state health departments
- Federal health agencies
- U.S. military and Department of Veterans Affairs
- Community service agencies
- Municipal health departments and agencies
- Community outreach services within hospitals, clinics, and other health service providers
- Nonprofit organizations with health or community service
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of this MSN in Public Health Nursing online program, you will:
- Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
- Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
- Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
- Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
- Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
- Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.
Meet Your Academic Team
Testimonials
I chose Walden to earn my advanced degree because I was pleased with the design and presentation of the curriculum, its flexibility, and the very encouraging reviews of the experiences of current students and alumni.
I was very surprised about how well-prepared I felt for my certification boards after graduation. The program prepared me for entry to practice.
Choosing to specialize as a family nurse practitioner has opened many doors. ... I can explore many areas in nursing and still be a nurse practitioner.
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FAQ About Walden’s Online Public Health Nursing
The MSN with a specialization in Public Health Nursing is a program that develops nurses who can meet the need for solutions at the community and systems level, develop and advocate for public health programs that improve population outcomes, and assess the efficacy of these programs. Nurses in public health careers require a unique combination of clinical knowledge and strong community relationships to create the programs and policies needed to address health concerns in vulnerable populations.
Walden’s MSN Public Health Nursing specialization can help position you to work as a nurse leader within your community. An MSN in with a specialization in Public Health Nursing will provide you with the skills necessary to evaluate the needs of diverse populations and design/lead programs that provide education on preventative medicine, hygiene, and care to diverse communities. Public health nurses work with individuals and families in a range of settings including health departments, schools, homes, community health centers, clinics, correctional facilities, work sites, and mobile health services.
Public health nurses do not work in typical healthcare environments for nurses. Instead, they often work for county or city health departments, identifying and addressing healthcare needs within the community. They also work at private and public health agencies, federal health-related organizations, and mobile units that provide healthcare services. Public health nurses are prepared to take leading roles in improving health outcomes for entire populations, particularly those in underserved communities.
Yes, Walden’s MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In fact, three of Walden’s nursing degree programs are CCNE accredited: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing.
Walden’s online classrooms feature state-of-the-art learning technologies, media, and support materials. Through interactive simulations, engaging case studies, and access to a robust online library, you will be highly prepared for a career as a public health nurse. In addition, Walden offers a support staff dedicated to your success, including student success advisors, graduation counselors, and practicum coordinators.
Walden’s fully online MSN Public Health Nursing specialization was developed by experts in the nursing field. Our teaching faculty are active practitioners, and many hold doctoral degrees. The program covers realistic and relevant scenarios to help you develop the skills needed to be successful in your career as a public health nurse.
1Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Based on the most recent year of completions survey data available, using CIP code family 51.38 “Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing” for Master’s degrees (Award level 7). Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data. (Retrieved January 2021; may consist of or include provisional release data.)
2Source: Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow. Public Health Nurse. Retrieved April 2021.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Program Note: The MSN program with a specialization in Nurse Executive, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, or Public Health Nursing is not a licensure-leading program and will not prepare students as nurse practitioners.
Note on Certification:Walden’s MSN program is designed to provide the academic degree required to apply for national certifications. Because no graduate program can guarantee that graduates will achieve national certification, we encourage students to consult the appropriate credentialing center for the specific requirements. It is an individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification as requirements vary widely. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about certification programs, students should contact the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, or other certification websites.
Note on Field Experience and Relocating
Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their Student Success Advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their Student Success Advisor immediately when considering relocating.