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Online Master's Degree Programs in Kansas

Residents of Kansas who are interested in pursuing graduate studies at the master’s degree level have many options for doing so through online programs offered by colleges and universities in their state and by out-of-state schools that accept students who live in Kansas. Advances in online teaching pedagogy and course delivery technologies have made it viable for schools to offer online master’s programs that provide students with the same level of training and instruction as traditional campus-based programs. These programs are more flexible and convenient than their campus-based counterparts in that they do not require students to relocate in order to be near a college or university; they can be completed without students having to commute to a school’s campus regularly or at all for classroom instruction; and they are commonly designed to accommodate students who want to continue working while earning their degree.

This page provides an overview of public and private colleges and universities in Kansas that offer online master’s programs in many common fields of study, including accounting and business administration, counseling and social work, and teaching and education. In addition, it offers details on out-of-state schools in the Kansas region that offer online master’s programs in many fields and disciplines, and that accept applicants who intend to remain in Kansas while completing a master’s degree program online.

Schools in Kansas That Offer Online Master’s Programs

The Kansas Board of Regents is the state body that oversees the seven publicly funded universities in the state. Among the publicly funded schools in Kansas are: The University of Kansas, which has a main campus in Lawrence and a medical center in Kansas City; Kansas State University, which maintains campuses in Manhattan and Olathe; and Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus and its College of Aviation & Technology in Salina. The University of Kansas and Kansas State University are both active in offering online master’s degree programs, as are most of the state’s other publicly funded schools.

The table below lists all seven of Kansas’s state universities by size based on an analysis of enrollment data collected for the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Also included on the table are the locations of each school’s main campus and whether or not the school offers online degree programs.

School	Location	Online Degree Programs
The University of Kansas (KU)	Lawrence	Yes
Kansas State University (K-State)	Manhattan	Yes
Wichita State University (WSU)	Wichita	Yes
Fort Hays State University (FHSU)	Hays	Yes
Pittsburg State University	Pittsburg	Yes
Washburn University	Topeka	Yes
Emporia State University	Emporia	Yes

Kansas is also home to several private, non-profit colleges and universities, some of which offer online degree programs, including online master’s programs. The five largest non-profit private schools that have institutional accreditation are listed on the table below along with the location of their campuses and whether or not they offer online degree programs.

School	Location	Online Degree Programs
Newman University	Wichita	Yes
Baker University	Baldwin City	Yes
Benedictine College	Atchison	Yes
Friends University	Wichita	Yes
MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU)	Olathe	Yes

Schools in the Kansas Region that Offer Online Master’s Degree Programs

Online master’s degree programs provide Kansas residents who hold a bachelor’s degree and meet other admissions criteria with many options for pursuing graduate studies by enrolling in online master’s programs offered by accredited, non-profit colleges and universities in other states, including out-of-state schools in the Kansas region. There are, for example, a number of schools offering online master’s programs that are located in neighboring states, such as Missouri State University and the University of Missouri (Mizzou) in Missouri, the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) and Regis University in Colorado, and Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Oklahoma.

Missouri State University and Mizzou are part of Missouri’s state-funded system of higher education and both are active in offering online degree programs. At the master’s level, Missouri State offers online degree programs in business administration, criminology, cybersecurity, education, information technology, nursing, and more. Mizzou Online, which is the University of Missouri’s distance and online education branch, offers online master’s programs through Mizzou’s Colleges of Agriculture, Arts & Sciences, Education, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine, as well as through its Trulaske College of Business, Truman School of Public Affairs, Sinclair School of Nursing, and its Institute for Data Science and Analytics. These include online master’s programs in accounting, economics, library sciences, biomedical science, public health, architectural studies, social work, youth development, strategic communication, and health administration.

CU Boulder is a publicly funded university in the neighboring state of Colorado and is among several public universities in that state that have online master’s programs. CU Boulder’s offerings include online master’s programs in accounting and taxation, atmospheric science, civil engineering, computer science, environmental studies, journalism, mathematics, sociology, and speech and language sciences. And Regis University, a private, non-profit school located in Denver, CO, offers many of its master’s-level programs online, including programs in accounting, criminology, data science, education, health informatics, marketing, nursing, and software engineering.

Finally, OSU, which is the flagship institution in the Oklahoma State University System, has online master’s programs in many common fields of study and graduate-level specializations. These include online master’s programs in agriculture, aviation, dietetics, education, engineering, forensic science, health administration, psychology, public health, and reading and literacy.

The 15 Most Common Areas for Master’s Degree Studies in Kansas

In order to determine the most common areas for master’s degree studies in the state of Kansas, OnlineEducation.com conducted an analysis of graduation data from master’s program offered by schools located in Kansas. Based on that analysis, the 15 types of master’s programs from which the largest number of students in Kansas graduate annually are:

Business Administration and Management
Social Work
Special Education and Teaching
Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Leadership and Administration
Education
Accounting
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Educational/Instructional Technology
Library and Information Science
Architecture
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Elementary Education and Teaching
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Nursing Science

While IPEDS classifications do not align precisely with the names of specific online master’s program, the above list provides a representative overview of the fields of study in which master’s degrees are most commonly pursued by students in Kansas. The sections below offer details on programs in many of these fields that are offered online by schools in Kansas and by out-of-state schools located in neighboring and regional states.

Online Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Programs in Kansas

In addition to being among the most common fields for master’s-level studies in Kansas, business administration is a field in which many schools in the state offer an online degree program. There are online Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs offered by The University of Kansas (KU), Kansas State University (K-State), Wichita State University (WSU), Fort Hays State University (FSHU), Pittsburg State University, and Emporia State University. There are also several private, non-profit schools in Kansas that offer online MBA programs, including Newman University, Baker University, MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), the University of Saint Mary (USM), and Ottawa University.

KU’s School of Business has a 43-credit, 13-course online MBA program that can be completed in 27 months and that features a global business focus. K-State Online offers a Professional MBA program that is designed for working professionals with a minimum of three years of business experience. While the KU program is 100% online and does not require campus visits, the K-State program begins with a two-day orientation at the school’s Manhattan campus and includes a faculty-led study-abroad learning experience.

WSU’s Barton School of Business offers an online/hybrid MBA program in which students take the majority of their courses online but may attend campus-based evening classes as often as once per week, depending on the courses they choose to take. FSHU has an online MBA program that offers 12 concentrations: Corporate Communication; Digital Marketing; Finance; Health Care Management; Health and Human Performance/Sport Management; Human Resource Management (HRM); Information Assurance; International Business; Leadership Studies; Management Information Systems; Marketing; and Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Pittsburg State University has an online Professional MBA program that requires applicants to have three or more years of prior professional experience in a management position and that can be completed in as few as 12 months. Pittsburg State’s Professional MBA program has a general business curriculum option, as well as specializations in Accounting, Human Resources, and International Business. For those who do not have prior professional business experience, Emporia State University offers an online MBA program that can be completed in 12 months. The Emporia State program has concentrations in Accounting, Information Systems, and Marketing.

The Newman University School of Business offers an online MBA program that can be completed in as few as 12 months. The program consists of eight core MBA courses and four courses in one of the program’s four specializations: Business Analytics; Leadership; Healthcare Administration; and Supply Chain Management. Baker University has an online MBA program that can be completed in 18 to 20 months and that offers specializations in: Executive Leadership; Finance; Health Care Administration; and Human Resources. MNU has an online MBA program with a general business administration curriculum and an online MBA in Healthcare Administration program, both of which have 24-month completion plans.

USM has an online MBA with a one-year completion plan and concentrations in: Leadership and Organizational Health; Finance; General Management; Health Care Management; Human Resource Management (HRM); and Marketing and Advertising Management. And Ottawa University offers an online MBA with concentrations in: Accounting; Finance; Human Resources; Leadership Development; Population Health/Health Care Management; School Business Operations; and Strategic Innovation.

Kansas residents who would like to explore options for earning an MBA online from schools located in neighboring states may want to consider the programs offered by Missouri State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), and Colorado’s Regis University. The Missouri State online MBA program is structured so that students can earn a graduate certificate in one or more of 13 specializations while completing their MBA: Computer Information Systems; Cybersecurity; Data Analytics; Entrepreneurship; Finance; Financial Analysis; Forensic Accounting; International Business; Leadership; Management; Marketing; Quantitative Enterprise Risk Management; and Tax Accounting. Missouri State also has a cohort-based online Executive MBA program that requires applicants to have five years of prior professional experience in business management.

Through UNL’s online MBA program – MBA@Nebraska – Kansas residents can earn a general business MBA degree or an MBA in one of five specializations: Business Analytics; Finance; International Business; Marketing; Supply Chain Management; and HRM. And Regis University has an online MBA program that offers specializations in: Accounting; Finance; Health Industry Leadership; Marketing; Project Leadership and Management; and Strategic Management.

Kansas’s Fort Hays State University (FHSU) offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program that has been granted candidacy status for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program is designed to meet all CSWE requirements for professional training in clinical social work, including 480 hours of generalist field education and 720 hours of clinical field education. Students in the program are required to attend clinical training practicums on campus for five days during the program’s fall and spring semesters. The program has two completion pathways: a traditional, five-semester pathway for students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in social work; and a three-semester Advanced Standing pathway for students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program.

The School of Social Welfare at The University of Kansas (KU) offers a partially online MSW program that gives students the option of specializing in clinical social work or macro practice social work. Depending on the specialization, students in the KU program may be able to complete some or most of their didactic coursework online, but must attend campus-based classes and complete two in-person field education practicums: a 480-hour foundation level practicum; and a 720-hour advanced level practicum in one of the programs two specializations. The program’s blended classes combine online instruction with in-class attendance at KU’s campuses in Lawrence, Overland Park, Garden City, or Pittsburg. The blended courses have campus-based meetings once every two weeks. KU has a traditional MSW track for students who do not have a BSW degree, and an Advanced Standing track for graduates from CSWE-accredited BSW programs.

Outside of Kansas there are a number or schools that offer online MSW programs, including several programs in the neighboring states of Missouri and Colorado. The University of Missouri (Mizzou) offers an online MSW program through Mizzou Online that has two concentrations: Advanced Clinical Practice; and Policy, Planning, and Administration. The Mizzou Online program can be completed in three years of part-time enrollment and has a two-year Advanced Standing track for CSWE-accredited BSW program graduates.

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) and the University of Denver are two schools in Colorado that offer online MSW programs. The MSU Denver program has a flexible structure, allowing students to take all of their didactic coursework online or to enroll in a mix of online and campus-based courses. The program’s curriculum covers proficiencies in clinical and macro practice social work. Applicants to the MSU Denver program who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program may be eligible for Advanced Standing status, which can lead to graduating in as little as one year. Students on the program’s traditional track can complete their degree in two years of full-time study.

The Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver has an online MSW program that offers two concentrations: Mental Health and Trauma (clinical practice); and Health and Wellness (macro practice). The program has a traditional track that can be complete in 21-months of full-time enrollment and in 27 months by part-time students. The University of Denver also has an Advanced Standing track that takes 18 months to complete.

Note: Online MSW program require students to complete several hundred hours of field education at sites approved by the program. While most programs allow online students to find field education sites in their own communities, potential applicants may want to check with a program administrator regarding field placements prior to submitting an application in order to ensure that a convenient location can be found. In addition, licensing requirements for clinical social workers vary by state. Kansas residents who are considering online MSW programs offered by out-of-state schools should review the licensing requirements in Kansas to ensure that a program’s curriculum meets clinical social work licensing requirements in Kansas.

Online Master’s in Education and Teaching Programs in Kansas

Many of Kansas’s public and private colleges and universities offer online master’s programs in education and teaching. The University of Kansas (KU), for example, has an online Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Curriculum and Instruction program for teachers and educators who want to cultivate advanced skills in areas like multicultural education, constructivist learning technologies, and curriculum design and planning. While prior teaching experience is not required for admission to the program, it is recommended. KU’s School of Education also offers online MSE in Curriculum and Instruction programs with specializations in Reading and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), as well as online MSE in Special Education programs with specializations in Autism, High Incidence Disabilities, and Special Education and Transition. Finally, KU has an MSE in Educational Administration program for teachers who are interested in advancing into leadership positions as principals and/or district administrators.

Kansas State University (K-State) offers numerous options for earning a master’s degree in education or teaching online. K-State Online has online Master of Science (MS) in Curriculum and Instruction programs in six specializations: Learning Skills/School Improvement; Mathematics Education; Reading Specialist; Civics and Government; Educational Technology; and English as a Second Language (ESL). K-State also offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program with tracks for elementary and secondary school teachers, an online Master of Education (MEd) in Early Childhood Education, an online MEd in Adult Learning and Leadership program, and an online MEd in Academic Advising program.

Through its Virtual College initiative, Fort Hays State University (FHSU) offers a broad range of online master’s in education programs, including an online MSE in Chemistry program that requires students to attend two on-campus lab sessions, an online English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) MSE program, an online Transition to Teaching (T2T) MSE program, and online MSE programs in Higher Education Student Affairs, Mathematics, Reading, and Elementary Education. FSHU also offers an online MS in Educational Leadership program with pathways for principal licensure and district leadership. Finally, FSHU has an online MS in Special Education program with a Gifted Education specialization and a High-Incidence Special Education specialization.

Pittsburg State University has a number of online MS programs for teachers and educators. These include online programs in Educational Leadership, Educational Technology, and Education with concentrations in School Health, Classroom Reading Teacher, and Reading Specialist Licensure. Teachers who are interested in educating students with special education needs can choose from two online programs offered by Pittsburg State: an online MAT in Special Education (High-Incidence Elementary Education Alternative Licensure) program; and an online MAT in Special Education (K-12 High Incidence/Low Incidence) program. In addition, Pittsburg State offers an online MS in Teaching program with an Elementary Education concentration.

Through Wichita State University (WSU), K-12 teachers, higher education professionals, and corporate trainers can earn an MEd in Instructional Design online. WSU also offers an online MEd in Special Education program with three areas of curricular emphasis: Special Education (Adaptive); Special Education (Functional); and Special Education (Gifted).

Emporia State University has five online master’s program options for educators. These include an online MS in Educational Administration program designed for educators working in K-12 schools, as well as four online MS in Curriculum and Instruction program concentrations: Curriculum Leadership; Effective Practitioner; Instructional Coach/Teacher Leader; and National Board Certification (PreK-12).

Newman University, Baker University, MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), and Ottawa University are four private, non-profit schools in Kansas that offer online master’s in education and teaching programs. Newman has an online MSE program with four specializations: ESOL Curriculum and Instruction; Reading Specialist Curriculum and Instruction; Discipline-Specific Pedagogy (Chemistry, History, or Mathematics); and Building Leadership. Baker’s online master’s programs include: an online MS in Instructional Design and Performance Technology program; an online MA in Education program with specializations in Instructional Technology, Student Diversity, Curriculum and Instruction, and Teacher of Distinction; and an online MS in Student Affairs in Higher Educational Administration program.

MNU has an online MEd program with Reading Specialist and Educational Technology specializations; an online MS in Elementary Education program with an optional Special Education track; and an online MS in Educational Leadership program. And Ottawa University has a Master of Arts in Education (MAE) program with four specialization options: Curriculum and Instruction; Learning Technologies; Educational Leadership; and School Guidance Counseling.

Note: There are several issues that potential applicants to online master’s in education and teaching programs may want to consider prior to applying to programs. First, some programs are designed to prepare students for state licensure and/or national certification, while others require applicants to hold a valid teaching license and may or may not lead to additional licensure or certification. Because licensing requirements vary by state, Kansas residents should be familiar with their state’s teaching licensure requirements, particularly when considering programs offered by out-of-state schools. Secondly, some online programs have student-teaching and/or other classroom-based requirements. This is common among programs designed for initial and/or additional licensure. Potential applicants to online programs, particularly programs that are offered by out-of-state schools and that require student-teaching placements, may want to contact program representatives regarding any school- and classroom-based requirements prior to initiating the application process.

Online Master’s in Accounting Programs in Kansas

Emporia State University and Ottawa University are two schools in Kansas that offer online master’s in accounting programs. The Emporia State program is an online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program that can be completed in as few as 12 months by students with a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a bachelor’s degree in business and passing grades in college-level accounting, taxation, and auditing courses. Ottawa University offers an online MAcc program that is designed to accommodate students with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and students who have to complete bachelor’s-level accounting coursework prior to beginning the master’s in accounting curriculum.

Among the out-of-state schools that offer online master’s programs in accounting are three schools in the neighboring state of Missouri. The University of Missouri (Mizzou) in Columbia offers a MAcc program through Mizzou Online and the Trulaske College of Business. The program’s curriculum is designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, although students who have completed undergraduate coursework in accounting and taxation may be eligible for the program. Lindenwood University in St. Charles offers an online MAcc program with similar prerequisite requirements. And Maryville University in St. Louis has an online Master of Science (MS) in Accounting program that offers a bridge curriculum for students who have a non-accounting bachelor’s degree. The Maryville program has a ten-month completion plan for students who enter the program with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Note: While a master’s degree is generally not required for CPA licensure, most online master’s in accounting programs can prepare students to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam. Kansas residents who intend to apply for their CPA license after completing an online master’s in accounting program should be aware that CPA licensure eligibility requirements vary by state. Reviewing Kansas’s CPA eligibility requirements prior to initiating the application process is a good way to ensure that an out-of-state school’s online master’s in accounting program curriculum will meet those eligibility requirements.

Online Master’s in Physical Education and Coaching Programs in Kansas

There are several master’s programs in coaching, physical education, and sports management that are offered online by schools in the state of Kansas. The University of Kansas’s Department of Health, Sport, & Exercise Sciences has an online Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Health, Sport Management, and Exercise Science program with an emphasis in Sport Management. The 12-course program can be completed in two years and features coursework in sports law, sports organization management, and finance and marketing in the sports entertainment industry. Pittsburg State University offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Health, Human Performance, and Recreation program with a general track and two specializations: Human Performance and Wellness; and Sport and Leisure Service Management. And Baker University offers an online MS in Sports Management program that can be completed in as few as 18 to 20 months.

For Kansas residents who are interested in exploring out-of-state options, the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) offers an online Master of Education (MEd) in Physical Education program with a Pedagogy emphasis and a Special Populations emphasis. The Pedagogy curriculum focuses on physical education instruction in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools. The Special Populations curriculum provides training in providing physical education instruction to students with disabilities and special needs. And the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership program that requires students to attend a two-week summer residency session at the school’s Greeley campus.

Online Master’s in Library and Information Science Programs in Kansas

Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University are two schools in Kansas that offer fully and partially online master’s programs in library and information science. Through its Department of Teaching and Leadership, Pittsburg State offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Educational Technology program with a Library Media specialization that does not require campus visits. The program is designed to prepare educators for work in elementary, middle, and secondary school libraries and learning resource centers, and can prepare graduates for school library media specialist licensure in Kansas.

Emporia State’s School of Library and Information Management has a Master of Library Science program that offers most of its coursework online but that requires students to attend a limited number of campus-based sessions. Emporia also offers an online MS in Informatics program through its Mathematics & Economics Department. The MS in Informatics program is 100% online and does not require campus visits.

Kansas residents who want to explore options for earning a master’s degree in library and information science from out-of-state schools may want to start with schools located in the Kansas region. The University of Missouri (Mizzou) and the University of Central Missouri (UCM) both offer online programs in this field. Mizzou Online has Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program that can be completed entirely online or through a mix of online and campus-based classes. UCM has an online MS in Library Science and Information Services program that gives students the option of completing a final research project or a scholarly literature review. And Oklahoma State University (OSU) has an online MS in Educational Technology program with a School Library Media specialization. The OSU program is offered entirely online.

Note: Kansas residents who are interested in qualifying for licensure as a library media specialist should be aware that licensing requirements for librarians and educators vary by state. It is thus advisable to review Kanas licensing requirements prior to applying to an out-of-state program in order to determine whether or not the program will meet Kansas’s licensing requirements.

Online Master’s in Architecture Programs in Kansas

Currently, there are no online master’s in architecture programs offered by schools in Kansas. However, there are several schools in the region that have online master’s programs in architecture. The Architectural Studies Department at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) has an online program that gives students the choice of pursing a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MS) in Architectural Studies with an emphasis in Environment and Behavioral Studies. The different between the MA and MS degree options is that the MA culminates with a final project, while the MS requires students to complete a written thesis. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) offers an online MS in Architecture program with an emphasis in Interior Design. And Southern Illinois University has an online Master of Architecture program that requires students to attend a limited number of campus-based weekend sessions at the school’s Carbondale campus.

Online Master’s in Counseling Programs in Kansas

Kansas residents who are interested in earning a master’s degree in counseling through an online program have a couple of in-state options. Fort Hays State University (FHSU) has an online Master of Science (MS) in Counseling program with two specialization options: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC); and School Counseling. Both programs are designed to prepare students for licensure in Kansas and both require students to complete in-person practicums and internships. Kansas residents who are interested in studying counseling and psychology may also be interested in a program offered by The University of Kansas (KU) through its Edwards campus. The program is an online Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) program that requires students to complete a thesis and to attend a thesis defense at KU’s Edwards campus.

There are several schools in neighboring states that offer online master’s in counseling programs, including Adams State University in Colorado and Bellevue University in Nebraska. Adams State has an online MA in Counseling program with specializations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Both specializations are designed to prepare students for licensure, and both require students to attend one-week campus-based intensives in the summers following the first and second year. The Bellevue University program is an online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program that includes a 100-hour clinical practicum, 600 hours of required internship experiences, and two on-campus residency sessions in Bellevue.

Note: Online master’s in counseling programs require students to complete in-person practicums and/or internships at sites approved by the program. Potential applicants to online programs may want to contact a program representative about these site-based requirements in order to ensure that a convenient location can be found, particularly if a program is offered by an out-of-state school. It is also important to note that licensing requirements for counseling professionals, including clinical mental health counselors and school counselors, vary by state. Kansas residents should review Kansas’s licensing requirements prior to applying to an online program offered by an out-of-state school in order to determine whether or not a program’s training and instruction will qualify them for licensure in Kansas.

Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Programs in Kansas

Four of Kansas’s public universities, The University of Kansas (KU), Wichita State University (WSU), Fort Hays State University (FHSU), and Pittsburg State University, currently offer online master’s program in nursing. KU Medical Center has an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with specializations in Health Informatics, Nursing Education, Organizational Leadership, and Public Health. Registered Nurses (RNs) who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree are eligible for the program, which requires students to complete a clinical practicum in their area of specialization. The Health Informatics specialization has two concentrations that are offered online: Clinical Informatics; and Project Management. WSU and Pittsburg State both offer online MSN in Nursing Education programs for RNs with a BSN degree. And FHSU has an online MSN program with specializations in Nursing Education and Nursing Administration that is designed for RNs who hold a BSN degree.

Among the private, non-profit colleges and universities in Kansas that offer online programs, Baker University, MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), and the University of St. Mary (USM) are three that offer online MSN programs. The Baker University program has a Nursing Administration track and a Nursing Education track and is designed for RNs who hold a BSN degree. MNU’s program also requires RNs to hold a BSN degree and it has four designated specializations: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP); Healthcare Administration; Healthcare Quality Management; and Nursing Education. And the USM program has Nurse Administrator and Nurse Educator tracks, both of which require RNs to hold a BSN degree.

RNs in Kansas who are interested in exploring out-of-state options for earning an MSN degree online may want to consider several programs offered by schools located in the neighboring state of Missouri. Among the public universities that offer online MSN programs in Missouri are the University of Missouri (Mizzou), and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Mizzou Online offers a Leadership in Nursing and Healthcare Systems MSN program and Nurse Educator MSN program. The online Leadership in Nursing and Healthcare Systems program requires RNs to hold a BSN degree; the online Nurse Educator program is designed to accommodate RNs who hold a BSN degree and RNs who earned their initial licensure through associate degree in nursing (ADN) programs. UMKC’s program has numerous specialization options, including the following Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializations: Adult-Gerontology (AGNP); Family (FNP); Neonatal (NNP); Pediatric (PNP); Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP); and Women’s Health (WHNP). While all of UMKC’s online NP specializations require clinical residencies, the PMHNP and NNP specializations also require students to attend several on-campus sessions. Finally, Maryville University, a private, non-profit school located in Missouri, offers six MSN program specializations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP); AGPCNP; FNP; Nursing Leadership; PNP; and PMHNP.

Note: RNs in Kansas who are considering online MSN programs offered by out-of-state schools should take into account that they will be required to complete clinical hours at a site approved by the program and that licensing requirements for NPs and other Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) vary by state. Contacting a program representative regarding clinical placements is generally a good way to ensure that a convenient site can be found, and reviewing Kansas’s APRN licensing requirements may help RNs determine whether or not a program offered by an out-of-state school will meet those requirements.