MSN + MBA: Nursing and Business Administration Dual Degree, Master's

MSN Admissions Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• An active registered nurse license or eligibility for licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. New Jersey licensure as a registered nurse is also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all MSN programs.
• Evidence of the equivalent of 12 months full-time nursing practice within the last three (3) years
• For the Post-Graduate Certification Programs, evidence of a minimum of one (1) year of experience as a practicing licensed registered nurse within the past two (2) years

How to Apply

*For applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement, completion of the GRE or MAT will be required to be considered for admission to the program

*International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)

* All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.

The curriculum for the MSN/MBA program combines leadership and business principles with the tenets of healthcare, from both a clinical and administrative perspective. This blend of courses will result in a highly sought-after credential, the MSN/MBA, and will result in a unique skill set that encompasses financial, legal, strategic, clinical, and legal training.

MSN Core Courses

• NU 522: Health Policy, Organization & Financing
• NU 530: Applied Research
• NU 536: Clinical Prevention in Population Health
• NU 538: Health Informatics, Quality, & Safety

MBA Core Courses

• CR 501 Financial and Managerial Accounting
• CR 503 Corporate Social Responsibility
• CR 504 Innovation and Market Strategy
• CR 505 Empowering Human Potential
• CR 506 Financial Analysis and Strategy
• CR 507 Strategic Thinking and Leadership
• CR 508 Analysis & Decision Models for Business
• CR 510 Experiential Capstone

MBA Healthcare Management Courses

• HC 503: Legal Aspects of Health Systems Management
• HC 504: Issues in Quality Management for Healthcare Systems
• HC 505: Healthcare Payment Systems and Value-Based Reimbursement
• HC 506: Population Health

Specialty/Clinical Practicum Courses

• NU 729: Administrative Practicum I
• NU 731: Administrative Practicum II
• NU 799: Capstone Portfolio

MSN/MBA Curriculum Summary

• 18 Courses plus Portfolio
• 58 Credits
• 525 Clinical Practicum Hours

*View all required courses, course credits, course descriptions, and program outcomes in the Graduate Catalog.

Nurse Executive MSN/MBA Dual Degree Concentration Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the MSN/MBA Program, students will:

1. Demonstrate an inner core of Christian Humanistic values that guide the student's professional and personal decisions. [MSN Program Outcome # 1]
2. Demonstrate executive leadership skills that can be applied in a variety of health care settings. [MSN Program Outcome # 5, 7, 10]
3. Develop expertise in resource utilization that reflects the contemporary needs of the health community. [MSN Program Outcome # 3, 4, 8]
4. Integrate the theory and knowledge from the disciplines of nursing and business in responding to challenges of an increasingly complex health care system. [MSN Program Outcome # 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10]
5. Apply business and nursing principles to foster an environment that enhances productivity, job satisfaction, and professional development. [MSN Program Outcome #11]
6. Develop the necessary skills for advanced research in specialized fields of nursing. [MSN Program Outcome #3, 4]
7. Participate in the development and evaluation of health delivery models consistent with standards of professional organizations and regulatory agencies. [MSN Program Outcome # 4, 5, 6, 7]
8. Integrate the use of technology and information systems in the delivery of health services. [MSN Program Outcome # 8, 9 ,10]

Tuition and fees for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) are as follows.

• Tuition/credit hour: $975*
• Laboratory Fee: $250**
• Returned Check Service: $30
• Graduation Fee: $120

*Tuition/credit hours listed are for 2024/2025 academic year. Tuition and fees are reviewed each academic year and are subject to change with notice.
**Average cost. Laboratory fees are due on registration.

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and graduate program information sheets

Tuition Deferment

DeSales University offers graduate students the opportunity to defer payment of their tuition when they will be receiving reimbursement from their employer or when they are eligible to receive financial aid. A copy of your employer's tuition reimbursement policy must be forwarded to the Treasurer's Office and/or all necessary financial aid paperwork must be filed with the Financial Aid Office before tuition deferment is granted. 

Tuition deferment is a privilege given to graduate students at DeSales and can be revoked if this privilege is abused. Please note that you, as the student, are responsible for payment of your tuition balance in the event that your financial aid/loans or employer reimbursement is not received by the Treasurer's Office.

Tuition Reimbursement

When a student is eligible for tuition reimbursement from his/her employer, written evidence of eligibility is required. The student is responsible for requesting this reimbursement from his/her employer. In cases where reimbursement is contingent upon successful completion of the course(s) and the student either withdraws or does not achieve a grade sufficient to warrant maximum reimbursement, the student is ultimately responsible for payment for the course(s).

Refund on Withdrawal

A refund of tuition payments will be made to a student who withdraws from a course. In all cases, credits will be calculated from the date the student completed the official withdrawal form, and the rebate will be based on the schedule shown below. 

Refunds apply to tuition only. If a student is allowed to enroll by use of the deferred payment procedure, any funds due the University are immediately due and payable upon withdrawal.

Withdrawal during the add/drop period is 100% of tuition refunded. The schedule below is for withdrawal after the first class after the close of the add/drop period. 

The refund policy is based upon the number of classes held up to 
the date of withdrawal.

• Withdrawal after 1st class: 80% of tuition refunded
• Withdrawal after 2nd class: 65% of tuition refunded
• Withdrawal after 3rd class: 50% of tuition refunded
• Withdrawal after 4th class: 25% of tuition refunded
• >Withdrawal after 5th class: No refund