A popular choice that still remains a popular choice for business-related studies is and MBA (Master of Business Administration) with a specific concentration. Many students may choose an MA, MS or even an MBA to get an additional exposure to a general overview of business with a larger range of courses designed to equip them to a wide range of business-related situations and roles. If you are looking to become an expert in a specific field and acquire a management, director or executive level position within a company, then a graduate program would be a good way to help you achieve that goal.

Graduate Degree Benefits:

  • Become an industry leader
  • Increase career opportunities
  • Increase earning potential
  • Become more marketable
  • Strategic and critical thinking skills

Career Options with a Graduate in Nursing:

  • Nursing Manager in General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - $81,680
  • Nursing Manager in Offices of Physicians - $71,660
  • Nursing Manager in Home Health Care Services - $75,870
  • Nursing Manager in Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) - $72,090
  • Nursing Manager in Outpatient Care Centers - $89,300

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nursing Managers, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm (visited March 24, 2022).

Graduate Degree Types for Nursing Concentrations:

  • M.S. in Nursing
  • M.A. in Nursing
  • MBA in Nursing

Find an online bachelor's or master's degree:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In most cases, a doctorate degree requires 36 to 54 credit hours. As a full-time student, you can typically complete 18-24 credits per year, meaning you would earn your degree over the course of about two years. If you are a motivated student, there are a few options available to help you earn your degree sooner.


Some schools have accelerated nursing masters or doctorate programs that put students on the fast track to earning their degree. This can reduce the typical two-year time frame by up to 30%. If an accelerated program is too much to handle, you may be able to benefit from year-round learning. Year-round learning is continuous schooling all year long, with no summer break. This type of education allows you to finish your degree earlier and get started in your career faster. If you took AP courses in high school, you may be able to count them toward your college credits, which can in turn, reduce your time and the costs of schooling.

Before choosing a major there are some important facts you should know about.


Before you enroll in a college, make sure that they have the major you are considering. For nursing programs, many universities have whole departments devoted to the subject. If that is the case, then make sure they have the specific branch of nursing that interests you.


This is a very important question to ask yourself. Your major should play a big part in the schools you are considering. Not every college may offer the major of your choice, so doing your homework is the first step of the selection process.

Courses required to obtain a master's degree in nursing consist of specialized programs designed to target and teach students higher-level skills from courses that focus more on the major concentration classes. There are two major titles of master's levels: MA (Master of Arts) and MS (Master of Science). There are master's degree programs in a wide range of majors, consisting of STEM subjects, social sciences, arts, and all kinds of specific subjects. You can find some sample major concentration courses that you may be required to take below:

  • Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us
  • School Health for Children and Adolescents
  • Integrative Nursing
  • Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes
  • Anatomy of the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis
  • Foundational Skills for Communicating About Health
  • Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
  • Essentials in Clinical Simulations Across the Health Professions

Only 61% of students actually manage to finish their doctorate degree on time. There are a variety of factors that could potentially play a part in unexpectedly extending your college career, such as:


Work. Working over 25 hours per week can get in the way of academics.


Credit Hours. Most colleges will define a full masters course load as 9 credit hours per semester. If you do the math, you will see that you actually need to take 12 credit hours per semester in order to graduate on time.


Transferring. Many students end up transferring during their college career. Many times, there are hiccups with transferring credits. This can put you behind, or even cause you to end up losing your credits altogether.


Be aware of these common mistakes, so that you don't make them yourself.

If your university offers career and/or placement services, you'll be able to take advantage of both as a student or graduate. You can receive career counseling, career assessments, and resume reviews, where you'll learn how to spruce your resume up. It is important to research if your potential college has post career placement assistance. This demonstrates that the college or university nursing program is with you from start to finish.