Under the umbrella of Kaplan University, the KU School of Nursing in Davenport, Iowa, has begun offering a new online Master of Science in nursing degree program. The degree option offers two distinct areas of concentration, nurse administrator and nurse educator.

The MSN program will include both a theoretical and a practical approach. Courses in evidence-based decision making, health policy, and the financing and organization of the healthcare delivery system will be part of the program. In addition, the program will also feature a residency component that enables students to develop a practical research project or an evidence-based project proposal using mentors from local healthcare organizations or schools of nursing.

David Clinefelter, PhD, provost of Kaplan University, sees the program as an enormous step forward for the university and for online students. Said the provost, "At Kaplan University, we are committed to providing students with a high-quality online education that helps them grow professionally.

The school previously offered only associate's and bachelor's level online options in the nursing field.