Go from BSN to MSN – Public Health Nursing with Herzing University
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited,1Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Format | 100% online coursework with hands-on clinical practicum experience |
| Paying for school | Scholarships and financial aid available for those who qualify; transfer approved credit from prior college coursework to reduce cost and time |
| Future pathways | Graduate with an MSN and become qualified for our online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program; you can earn dual credit towards a DNP |
| Our pledge | We pledge your clinical placement! |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
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Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2025
Overview: MSN – Public Health Nursing Degree Program
The MSN – Public Health Nursing degree (BSN to PH) is a 36-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a leader in public health nursing. The degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in public health nursing advocacy and policy, health promotion, evidence-based practice, and much more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
MSN - Public Health Nursing courses & curriculum details
All didactic lecture-style courses are delivered 100% online. You will also be required to complete 135 clinical practicum hours.
We also offer an RN to MSN pathway for nurses who currently hold an associate degree. You can choose to go directly from RN to MSN or stop for a BSN on the way in an RN to BSN to MSN track.
| Program | Months i | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Public Health Nursing | 16 | 36 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program.
Required Core Courses
All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Direct Care Courses
All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Specialty Courses
All courses, 12.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the MSN - Public Health Nursing program is $625 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants—including our Nurses Circle of Achievement scholarship, which offers up to 10% tuition reduction.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Admissions Requirements
To enroll in Herzing’s online MSN – Public Health Nursing program, prospective students must , and:
- Live in a state where Herzing University is authorized to offer the MSN-PH program
- Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they live. (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
- Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university or college with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Your clinical placement is our pledge.
We understand securing clinical placement as part of an MSN - Public Health Nursing program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.
As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.
Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*
* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
Become a leader in public health nursing
You can begin shaping the way nursing is done by specializing in the field of public health nursing. Apply what you’ve learned and experienced as an RN to become a population health advocate, analyst, and decision-maker. You can become a health educator and coordinator of important medical and social services people need to stay healthy.
Instead of primarily treating illness and disease that has already occurred, you can work to prevent it in the first place.
Earning a master’s degree can help you build the knowledge and skills needed to climb the ranks and qualify for leadership and managerial positions in public health nursing.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
After earning a master’s degree you may pursue further nursing credentials in a post-master’s certificate in nursing program. Herzing offers multiple certificate options with specializations in:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP/AGPCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Nursing Education (Nurse Educator - NE)
- Nursing Leadership & Administration (NLA)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Public Health (PH)
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
After earning master's-level preparation in the specialty of your choosing, you can then advance to the doctorate level by enrolling in our online Post Master's DNP program.
Earning an MSN or DNP represents a huge step forward in your education, but there is always more to learn. We are your lifelong partner in learning, dedicated to helping you earn the education needed to reach your highest career goals.
A Public Health Nurse (PHN) can work in a variety of community-based roles. They assess, evaluate, and implement interventions to improve health systems and policies. Their work can involve smaller communities or larger public and global patient populations.
Some job responsibilities can include health education, case management, program planning, policy development, epidemiology and disease prevention, and much more.
Learn more about what public health nurses do, including examples of the different kinds of work you can do and the skills required for success in the field.
Public health nurse refers to a broad category of different types of nurses focused heavily on education and illness prevention. Common types of community and public health nurses include school nurse, maternal and child health nurse, occupational health nurse, and case management nurse.
PHNs with advanced education and experience can qualify to become a consultant or lead a team as a director or manager of a team of nurses.
One of the top certifications for public health professionals is the Certified in Public Health (CPH) certification from the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). You’ll need a combination of education and experience to qualify to sit for the exam.1
You may not need to be certified to earn every type of job in public health nursing. However, CPH certification can separate your resume from the rest, and shows employers you’ve got the knowledge, skills, and experience to excel in the position.
1. You must meet specific eligibility criteria to sit for the CPH exam. The Herzing University MSN program in Public Health is not accredited by CEPH.
“Public” and “community” nursing are terms often used interchangeably—but they aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Community health nurses typically work directly with individuals, families, and groups to achieve better health outcomes.
Public health nurses usually take a broader approach to patient populations. They focus on advocating for change in systems, reforming policy, and health promotion.
In general—community health nurses directly help people make the best use of the systems in place, while public health nurses focus on improving those systems.
Of course, there are several factors behind why jobs are named the way they are. When you start looking for jobs in public health or community health nursing, be sure to thoroughly read through the job description to determine if it’s the right kind of role for your skillset and preferences.
It’s right in the name—the MSN in Public Health Nursing is a nursing degree designed for current RNs, while an MPH is designed for non-nursing professionals.
Enroll in an MSN in Public Health Nursing and you’ll take nursing specific courses covering topics such as technology and nursing informatics, research methods, evidence-based practice, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and much more. You’ll have the opportunity to pursue the public health track while continuing to advance your nursing knowledge and skills.
Salaries in the public health nursing specialty can vary widely depending on your education, experience, and state of employment.
In the case of your first entry-level nursing job in public health, you may not be required to advance your education to the master’s level to qualify. Registered nurses across all specialties earn an average salary of $89,010 per year ($42.80 per hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).*
Earning a master’s degree can help you qualify for upper-level managerial and leadership positions in public health nursing. The BLS reports the average salary for medical and health service managers is $127,980 per year ($61.53 per hour).*
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The Student Experience at Herzing
Herzing’s MBA program taught me to think critically and strategically. My instructors had experience that brought a real-world feel to the classes, and they helped me understand how I could apply classroom learnings in the workplace. Since graduating from the MBA program, I have become a better leader and manager within my organization.
Stephanie Dennis
Business | Online CampusAccreditation & Disclosures
1. The master's degree program in nursing at Herzing University - Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.