The Advanced Palliative Care subspecialty coursework prepares nurse practitioners to work collaboratively with the Palliative Care Team in managing the holistic care of patients with life-limiting illnesses in a variety of settings.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the courses are delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

Admission is limited to Fall entry only.

For more information, contact:

Rebecca Edwards, DNP, CRNP

Subspecialty Coordinator

rledwards@uab.edu (205) 975-0482

Sample Course of Study^1,2

¹Course of study is subject to change.
²In order to practice in this subspecialty role there may be additional requirements outside of the coursework provided by the UAB School of Nursing. Please check with your State Board of Nursing and the appropriate certifying body to see if additional requirements are needed.

The Nurse Educator subspecialty coursework prepares nurses at the master’s or doctoral level to design, implement, and evaluate educational programs for populations that include nursing students and health system employees. Five, 3-credit hour courses are offered that together provide a strong foundation for employment in academic and health care settings.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the courses are delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

Admission in both Summer and Fall.

For more information, contact:

Laura Steadman, PhD, RN

Subspecialty Coordinator

lstead@uab.edu (205) 996-7670

Sample Course of Study^1,2

¹Course of study is subject to change.
²In order to practice in this subspecialty role there may be additional requirements outside of the coursework provided by the UAB School of Nursing. Please check with your State Board of Nursing and the appropriate certifying body to see if additional requirements are needed.

The Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) subspecialty prepares nurses to work collaboratively with surgeons to provide delegated medical functions during the perioperative phase of patient care.

To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the courses are delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets.

• BSN-prepared applicants must submit verification of CNOR certification at the time of application to the track. If the BSN-prepared applicant is not certified as a CNOR at the time of application, proof of certification must be submitted before a certificate of completion can be awarded.
• Applicants must have at least two of the three required letters of reference needed for the application for admission be from individuals attesting to the applicant’s experience as an RN and the applicant’s knowledge, judgment, and skills specific to perioperative patient care.

Admission is limited to Fall entry only.

For more information, contact:

Tracie White, DNP, ACNP-BC, CRNFA

Subspecialty Coordinator

twhite220@uab.edu (205) 451-8179

Sample Course of Study^1,2

¹Course of study is subject to change.
²In order to practice in this subspecialty role there may be additional requirements outside of the coursework provided by the UAB School of Nursing. Please check with your State Board of Nursing and the appropriate certifying body to see if additional requirements are needed.

Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:

• Hold an MSN degree (or be enrolled in the UABSON MSN program) from a regionally accredited institution, equivalent to the one offered by the UAB School of Nursing.
  • Note: Applicants to the Registered Nurse First Assist subspecialty may apply with a BSN from a regionally accredited institution. BSN-prepared applicants must submit verification of CNOR certification at the time of application to the track. If the BSN-prepared applicant is not certified as CNOR at the time of application, proof of certification must be submitted before a certificate of completion can be awarded.
• Possess an unencumbered and unrestricted nursing license to practice in the state where you plan to conduct your clinical practicum.
• Cumulative graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or on the last 60 semester hours.
• Students with less than a 3.2 GPA are required to complete and submit scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or GMAT.
  • Only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted. Minimum required scores are a combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE or score of 480 on the GMAT.
  • Applicants who have successfully completed a graduate degree from a regionally accredited academic institution may receive a waiver for this requirement if they achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their previous graduate degree program.
  • The following individuals are not eligible for the GRE waiver process: International applicants, non-native English speaking applicants, and Dual degree seeking applicants (e.g., MSN/MPH).
  • For more information on the Test Score Waiver process click here.
• Submit three letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant’s potential for graduate study. For those applying to the Registered Nurse First Assist subspecialty only, at least two of the three required letters of reference should be from individuals attesting to the applicant’s experience as an RN and the applicant’s knowledge, judgement, and skills specific to perioperative patient care.
• Applicants should submit an official transcript from every college or university they have ever attended (even if for only one semester). Transcripts may be emailed electronically by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School at gradschool@uab.edu or mailed to: UAB Graduate School LHL G03, 1720 2nd Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35294-0013

Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state’s regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state. Only those students who reside in Alabama or those states where the UAB School of Nursing programs are available will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.

More information is available at the State Approval Website for Online Degree Programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition and fees and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE annually based on approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and/or university.

The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis website.

Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.

NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.

The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the MSN Program.

Application Requirements

• Prospective students must have a MSN degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
• For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
• International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course by course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials. Students may use one of the following firms for transcript evaluation; a report of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UAB School of Nursing prior to admission decisions.
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  P.O. Box 514070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
  Website: www.ece.org
• World Education Services
  Bowling Green Station
  P.O. Box 5087
  New York, NY 10274-5087 USA
  Website: www.wes.org
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
• Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process. If the GRE was completed prior to application, only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
• Completion of a formal admission interview.
• Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores:
• TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
• IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.