Milwaukee School of Engineering offers a Master of Science in Nursing with a Nursing Informatics specialization for registered nurses who hold a BSN. The 39-credit program is delivered online through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous sessions and pairs informatics coursework with two practicum courses and a two-part MSN capstone.
Quick Facts
| School | Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) |
| Location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Degree | M.S. in Nursing – Nursing Informatics |
| Credits | 39 semester credits, including 512 practicum hours |
| Format | Online; synchronous and asynchronous sessions |
| Typical Length | About 2 years (five semesters, including one summer) on the catalog plan |
| Estimated Tuition | About $52,767 in tuition ($1,353 per credit, 2026–27), plus a $35 per-credit technology fee |
| Admissions | BSN from an accredited school, unrestricted RN license, 3.0 GPA; no GRE |
| Accreditation | CCNE (master’s degree program in nursing) |
| Start Terms | Fall (full-time or part-time); spring (part-time) |
Program Overview
The MSOE M.S. in Nursing – Nursing Informatics is one of four pathways in MSOE’s Master of Science in Nursing. The other three are Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Executive Leadership and Management. The informatics pathway focuses on analyzing and improving health information systems, clinical workflows, and data-driven decision-making.
MSOE lists the program at 39 credits with 512 practicum hours. The School of Nursing sits within a university best known for engineering, business, and applied technology programs. That context shows up in the curriculum, which includes a graduate business course and a full course on the systems development life cycle.
The master’s degree program in nursing at MSOE is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The informatics pathway is a nursing degree for licensed RNs, not a general health informatics degree for applicants from other fields.
Curriculum and Degree Plan
The 2026–2027 MSOE Graduate Academic Catalog lays out the Nursing Informatics plan over two years, running fall, spring, and summer in year one, then fall and spring in year two. MSOE uses 16-week semesters, and several courses run in seven-week subterms. The plan totals 39 credits.
Shared MSN core and foundation courses include:
- NUR 6030 Evaluating Care: Research and Evidence-Based Practice Project Management (3 credits)
- NUR 6001 Advanced Practice Nursing: Theory, Roles, and Change (2 credits)
- NUR 6011 Health Care Policy and Ethics (2 credits)
- NUR 6111 Quality, Safety, and Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NUR 6300 Integrated Advanced Physical Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology for Non-Clinical APRNs (3 credits)
- NUR 7911 and NUR 7912 MSN Capstone I and II: Synthesis and Presentation (1 credit each)
Informatics and related coursework includes:
- NUR 6504 Epidemiology (3 credits)
- NUR 6501 Management Information for Decision Support (3 credits)
- NUR 6502 Data Information and Knowledge (3 credits)
- NUR 6503 Systems Development in Healthcare (4 credits)
- BUS 6000 Organizational Behavior (3 credits)
- NUR 7401 and NUR 7402 Informatics Practicum I and II (4 credits each)
According to catalog course descriptions, NUR 6501 covers clinical decision support, knowledge management, and artificial intelligence. NUR 6502 covers database design, queries, and data integrity, with reference to the ANA Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice. NUR 6503 follows the four phases of the systems development life cycle: planning, analysis, design, and implementation.
The capstone sequence asks students to design, implement, and evaluate a project that addresses a significant issue in practice or leadership. The final product is reviewed by a faculty committee.
Practicum Requirements
The two informatics practicum courses fall in the second year. In them, students work with nursing leaders in practice settings to analyze and optimize healthcare data systems, workflows, data security, and staff training. MSOE’s program page lists 512 practicum hours. The MSN FAQ describes the Nurse Informatics track as requiring a minimum of 500 practicum hours.
Students are responsible for finding their own practicum sites and preceptors. Practicums may take place at a student’s employer, but regular work hours cannot count toward practicum hours.
Admissions Requirements
MSOE’s published requirements for the Nursing Informatics MSN include:
- A Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited university
- A current, unrestricted RN license
- Official post-secondary transcripts
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; applicants between 2.7 and 3.0 may be considered after a formal interview
- A criminal background check and urine drug screen for all entering students
The GRE is not required. MSOE’s FAQ directs applicants to apply through NursingCAS, while the program page links to MSOE’s own free application. Admission is rolling, and cohort seats are filled first-come, first-served. Up to 12 graduate transfer credits may be accepted after a syllabus review by the program director.
Applicants should confirm current requirements, the application route, and deadlines with MSOE’s School of Nursing before applying.
Tuition, Fees, and Funding
MSOE’s graduate tuition page lists the MS in Nursing rate at $1,353 per credit hour for 2026–2027. As a private university, MSOE charges the same rate to Wisconsin residents and nonresidents.
- Tuition: $1,353 × 39 credits = $52,767
- Technology fee: $35 × 39 credits = $1,365
- Estimated total: $52,767 + $1,365 = $54,132
This estimate uses the 2026–27 rate for every credit. Because the program spans more than one academic year, later credits may be billed at a higher rate. The estimate does not include books, an optional MSOE laptop lease, background check and drug screen costs, or travel to practicum sites.
MSOE states that it does not currently offer scholarships or grants for its graduate programs. Students may qualify for federal loans through the FAFSA and may apply external scholarships or employer tuition assistance.
Online Format and Time to Completion
All four MSOE MSN pathways are fully online. Courses mix asynchronous work with synchronous sessions held every two to three weeks during the semester. Synchronous lectures take place on Monday and Tuesday afternoons and evenings. The on-campus immersions MSOE describes apply to the PMHNP pathway, not the informatics pathway.
The catalog plan finishes in about two years, with semester loads ranging from 6 to 11 credits. MSOE defines full-time study as 9 credits and part-time study as 3 or 6 credits. Part-time plans are built with the program director, and MSOE advises against full-time employment during full-time study.
According to the FAQ, full-time students start in the fall, while part-time students may start in fall or spring. Out-of-state applicants should note that MSOE’s licensure disclosure lists the MSN as meeting educational requirements in Wisconsin, with no determination made for other states. MSOE asks these applicants to check their state board’s rules on online education and in-state practicums.
Career Preparation
The program aims to prepare nurses to design, implement, and optimize health information technology. It also covers using data analytics to guide evidence-based decisions and leading change in healthcare organizations. Coursework in decision support, databases, systems development, and epidemiology matches the work of clinical informatics, EHR optimization, and quality and data roles.
Graduates may look at roles such as nurse informaticist, clinical informatics specialist, clinical systems analyst, or informatics-focused quality and workflow positions. The organizational behavior course and the leadership-oriented core may also support team-lead roles.
How well the degree fits a given career depends on each graduate’s clinical background, prior technology experience, and local job market. The program does not promise a specific job, salary, or certification outcome.
Who Is This Program For?
This program may fit BSN-prepared RNs who want an online MSN with a defined informatics sequence, scheduled live sessions, and a supervised practicum. It may especially suit Wisconsin nurses who can arrange a practicum through a local health system or their own employer.
Some applicants should compare other options. These include those without a nursing degree or RN license, those who need fully asynchronous courses, and those who prefer a degree built around programming or analytics rather than nursing. Students living outside Wisconsin should confirm licensure and practicum rules before applying.
Related Health Informatics Programs
- Herzing University (Nursing Informatics) - Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin–Madison - Madison
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Milwaukee