Nursing Education, Online
About this program
When you pursue a career in nursing, you can make a positive impact every day. But, when you teach a nurse, the potential is even greater than you could imagine. Thinking of expanding your career possibilities to teaching future nurses or your peers on the latest innovative technology? The Master of Science in Nursing program specializing in Nursing Education at Penn College opens new opportunities to advance your career. Part-time and 100% online, this specialized master’s program is flexible and designed to accommodate your busy schedule. From teaching best practices to curriculum development and outcome measurement, you’ll learn how to share your passion for nursing through education and inspire the next generation of nurses.
Have questions?
Meet with Kelly Bidlespacher, Director of Nursing, Bachelor and Graduate Degrees, to discuss the ins and outs of the Nursing Education program.
Special Admissions Requirements
A limited number of seats are available in the Nursing: Nursing Education Concentration program. That’s why we rely on selective admission criteria to select applicants with the highest potential for success. Entry into the program is competitive.
ALL APPLICANTS RECEIVE THE IN-STATE, UNDERGRADUATE TUITION RATE.
Careers
Work as a nursing educator in a variety of settings, including:
- Academia
- Hospitals
- State and federal agencies
- Home healthcare
Courses
At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.
Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.
- Transition to the MSN Program (NUR500)
- Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR505)
- Professional Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR515)
- Trends in Nursing & Health Care (NUR525)
- Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice (NUR535)
- Pathophysiology, Physical Assessment, & Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (NUR570)
- Educational Theory & Teaching Strategies (NUR605)
- Assessment & Evaluation in Nursing Education (NUR615)
- Clinical Practicum in Nursing Education (NUR625)
- Curriculum Development in Nursing Education (NUR635)
- Didactic Practicum in Nursing Education (NUR630)
Next steps...
You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
Featured Video
Life as a Nursing Educator
Thinking of becoming a nurse educator? Hear from Pam Baker, a nurse for 35+ years. She’s sharing her passion with the next generation of healthcare heroes. The best part? It’s incredibly rewarding. The feedback you'll hear from her students is proof.
Our Leadership
“If you have a passion for teaching and a desire to impact the future of nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing program is for you! The Nursing Education curriculum will prepare you with the skills and competencies necessary to shape the nurses of tomorrow, so that we can ensure they are real-world ready to safely care for patients in an ever-changing health care system.”
Dr. Valerie Myers
Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences
Online Degrees
Learning that fits your lifestyle
Convenience
- Accessible online anywhere in the world
- Part-time program for working professionals
- Continue to work and be at home with your family
Value
- In-state tuition rate for all students, regardless of residency
- Same rigor as on-campus programs
- Many employers offer tuition reimbursement - check with yours to see if you qualify
Service
- One-on-one interaction with faculty
- 24/7 online tutoring
- Textbooks and course materials available for purchase online through The College Store
- Graduates can participate in Commencement
Class Delivery
- Classes delivered asynchronously through P.L.A.T.O., Penn College's Platform for Learning And Teaching Online
- 100% online - no required campus visits
Industry Partners
Work with experts to become an expert
Penn College's strong partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.
Career Fair Connections
Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
Student Life
Lead and put your skills to the test
Student Nurses’ Association (SNA)
The SNA’s mission is to explore professional growth, promote mutual respect in collaboration between the different levels of nursing, and serve as a channel for the exchange of ideas to promote holistic health and provide for both patient and student education.
Sigma Nursing Honor Society
Connect with other nurse leaders through the Sigma Nursing Honor Society.
Student Organizations at Penn College
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
Penn College News
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Monday, February 24, 2025
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Clinical Practicums
Your knowledge in practice
Gain real-world experience through two hands-on practicums. Working alongside master’s prepared nurse preceptors, you’ll benefit from expert insight and have an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in previous courses in professional settings.
Accreditation
The master’s nursing program at Pennsylvania College of Technology located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the master's nursing program is initial accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs/.
View Associate Nursing Program Accreditation & Outcomes Information
More Information
The master’s nursing program at Pennsylvania College of Technology located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the master’s nursing program is initial accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs
Anyone desiring entrance into this major must first gain admission to Penn College. Acceptance into this selective admission major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission. Details are available on the Selective Admission Criteria and Process webpage.
All students must earn a ‘B’ (3.0) or higher in all NUR courses within the MSN program; if a lower grade is earned in any NUR course, the course must be repeated.
The following grading system is applied to all nursing courses in this major. There is no rounding of grades:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89.99
C = 75-79.99
F = 74.99 and below
Child abuse clearances and criminal background checks are required by some agencies involved in clinical practice experiences. Agencies can prohibit students from participating in clinical experiences at their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Pennsylvania College of Technology, when students are at a clinical site, agencies have the right to ask for random drug testing. Inability to complete clinical, fieldwork, or intern educational experiences will result in the inability to meet course and program outcomes. For additional clarification, students can speak with their program director.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing advises that a drug-related conviction and/or conviction of a felonious act or two misdemeanors might result in denial and/or revocation of a license to practice nursing. In accordance with the professional Nurse Law, Act of 1951, P.L. 317, No. 69, as amended, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing shall not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a felonious act prohibited by the Act known as “The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and cosmetic Act” or convicted of a felony relating to a controlled substance in a court of law of the United States or any other state, territory or country unless a least 10 years have elapsed from the date of the conviction.
Penn College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Pursuant to this Act, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are classified as prohibited controlled substances. Additionally, alcohol, illegal drugs, and legal drugs obtained without a prescription or which may impair a student’s ability to perform his/her educational responsibilities are strictly prohibited. Students are subject to drug screening at various phases of the program. Please note that a positive drug screening for marijuana will be deemed a positive test and will result in a student being dismissed from the program, even if the student has been lawfully certified to use medical marijuana and/or possesses a valid medical marijuana identification card issued in accordance with applicable state law.
The transfer of graduate level nursing credits will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students must have a minimum grade of 'B' (3.0) in courses transferred into the major. A maximum of 4 credits at the graduate level may be transferred into this major.
- Program Review Executive Summary
- Students must meet the Essential Functions for Nursing as established by the Nursing Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements. Some clinical sites may have additional health and immunization requirements that are not part of the current program requirements, for example, COVID-19 vaccination.
Students accepted into this major will incur expenses for uniforms, malpractice insurance, clearances, certifications, etc. Refer to equipment and estimated cost list .
Technical Requirements
- Laptop Computer Required
- Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher (recommended)
- Intel Core i5 or i7 (generation 10 or higher) processor (recommended)
- 8+ GB RAM (recommended)
- 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended)
- Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required)
- Laptop must include a wireless network card (required)
- Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required)
- Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services - Service Desk available for assistance)
- Chromebooks and other devices running ChromeOS are prohibited
Operating Systems:
P.L.A.T.O. (Platform for Learning and Teaching Online) is Penn College's implementation of Desire2Learn/Brightspace LMS. It is a Web-based course management system that allows instructors to post course materials online, facilitate course communication, gauge student progress, and extend learning beyond the classroom.
Browsers:
The fully supported browsers for P.L.A.T.O. are: Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari
Contact the Program Director:
Amber Morgan; Kelly Bidlespacher
nursingadministration@pct.edu
570 320 2400 ext. 4525
- Ms. Sharon Adams, RN, BSN, Manager, Patient Care ED & M/S Unit, UPMC Susquehanna
- Ms. Wendy Batschelet, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Geisinger
- Ms. Cinde L Bower-Stout, RN, '94, Level 1 Heart Attack Nurse Coordinator, Geisinger Medical Center
- Mr. David Brundage, Pediatric Clinical Educator, Bayada Pediatrics Home Health Care
- Danielle Forker, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN, PHRN, '98, Director of Nursing, Geisinger Medical Center Muncy
- Ms. Kathy Harris, RN, BSN, MHA, '00, '13, Manager of Compliance/Quality Outcomes, UPMC Susquehanna
- Ms. Jill Meredith, RN Infection Preventionist and Wound Care Certified Nurse, The Williamsport Home
- Mr. Jonah Milliken, Associate Director, Bayada Pediatrics
- Ms. Tamara F Persing, MS, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, VP Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer, Evangelical Community Hospital
- MSN, RN Laura Rausch, Ms., 2014, Instructor, Neumann University
- Chelsea Reichard, '10, Director of Nursing/Campus Administrator, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital
- Ms. Dawn Shaffer, Health Careers Instructor, Lycoming Career and Technology Center
- Ms. Katelyn Sheesley, Critical Care and Intermediate Care Nurse Educator, Evangelical Community Hospital
- Ms. Heather Stafford, MHA, BSN, CIC, Clinical Director of Nursing Education & Infection Prev. & Control, UPMC Susquehanna
- Ms. Kelly Stiner, Senior Campus Relations Specialist, Geisinger
- Ms. Katherine Vastine, '91, CARES Leadership Coordinator, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit