Master’s Entry Program in Nursing

Master’s Entry Program in Nursing

Our Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) is a two-year, full-time master’s degree program that provides students with the education, training, and clinical hours needed to become Registered Nurses.  MEPN is designed for applicants who already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, but would like to pursue a graduate-level program that covers the foundation of nursing practice.

MEPN students achieve competencies in research and utilize scholarly evidence in the design, delivery, evaluation, and improvement of health care. The small MEPN cohorts also have the opportunity to learn alongside our undergraduate prelicensure students and graduate students in other health-related professional programs in certain courses in mixed learning communities. Additionally, the MEPN boasts a concentration in Community and Population Health Nursing (CPHN) preparing graduates to lead interprofessional health care teams that advocate for the expansion of health care opportunities to under-served populations.

Program Highlights

  • Accelerated two-year, full-time program
  • High-tech clinical simulation experiences throughout the curriculum
  • Excellent clinical partnerships with rotations throughout UCI Health and immersion opportunities in local communities
  • Leadership role preparation and interprofessional team building skills development
  • Desirable concentration in Community and Population Health

You Should Apply If…

  • You are eager to pursue licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN)
  • You are interested in becoming a researcher, educator and/or clinician
  • You want to build and lead collaborative interprofessional health care teams
  • You are passionate about improving health care delivery and access to care
  • You wish to design innovative nursing practice and translate evidence into practice

Goals

  • Demonstrate advanced critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and psychomotor skills necessary for safe and competent practice.
  • Skillfully communicate both verbally and in writing in a therapeutic and professional manner across a variety of health care environments.
  • Provide high-level, culturally sensitive care for individuals and families from various socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
  • Advance the care of communities and vulnerable populations through leadership, health policy, and innovative practices.
  • Incorporate advanced principles of health promotion and health education in the nursing care of individuals, families, groups, and communities.
  • Implement a plan of care based on the nursing process that incorporates integrative health, advocacy, and caring principles.
  • Critically evaluate and integrate current research, evidence, and policy while planning, implementing, and evaluating care for individuals, families, groups, and communities to ensure evidence-based practice.
  • Implement management and leadership principles within collaborative interprofessional teams to optimize health care delivery to individuals and families in a variety of settings.
  • Pursue advanced degrees in research, clinical specialization, nursing education, and/or administration.
  • Utilize informatics and technology to analyze, manage and improve the delivery of health care.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Earn a Master of Science degree.
  • Qualify to take the national licensing examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses.
  • Be eligible for certification in California as a public health nurse.
  • Be prepared for application of research- and evidence-based practice competencies.
  • Gain expertise in specialized concentrations of nursing practice.
  • Be prepared for leadership role(s), including collaborative interprofessional team building.
  • Attain leadership skills in health policy to become advocates for health promotion and disease prevention efforts supporting population health.
  • Be prepared for future research- or practice-focused doctoral studies, if desired

Explore Your Pathways to Nursing

We recognize the competitiveness of nursing programs across California and encourage prospective applicants to explore all pathways to nursing. We’ve created materials to help support your journey into nursing to provide options into the profession.

Learn more about the different pathways available to you on your journey towards becoming a Registered Nurse here.

Mike Bueno
Mike Bueno
Pre-Licensure Program Director and Associate Clinical Professor
“As a nurse, researcher, and educator, I have the immense responsibility to shape the future of nursing. That is why I’m committed to developing our students to be holistic practitioners providing care to the most vulnerable and to change healthcare for all humanity.”
Leanne Burke
Leanne Burke
Director of Teaching Excellence & Innovation and Associate Clinical Professor
“I am honored to have the opportunity to impact healthcare and minimize health inequities by educating future nurses in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. Working closely with students and my colleagues has allowed me to broaden my reach to improve maternal health outcomes.”

From Our Students

Linda Baroudi, MEPN 2025
Linda Baroudi
MEPN, June 2025
I chose UC Irvine because of the vast opportunities I knew it would provide me while completing my master’s degree. UCI has opened so many doors for me that I never imaged possible and allowed me to surround myself with like-minded individuals who strive for equity and diversity in the healthcare field.”
Kayla Major, MEPN 2025
Kayla Major
MEPN, 2025
I chose UC Irvine because, as a woman of color, I deeply believe in the importance of representation. UCI’s commitment to diversity, as reflected in its vision and mission, resonates with my own values of providing safe, effective, and nonjudgmental care to all individuals. Additionally, it has been an honor to learn from the exceptional professors, clinical instructors, and nurses I’ve encountered—each bringing unique perspectives, expertise, and experiences from a wide range of specialties and backgrounds.”
Julissa Hernandez, MEPN student
Julissa Hernandez
MEPN, 2025
I chose UC Irvine’s MEPN program for its concentration on Community and Population Health, which aligns with my passion for addressing healthcare inequities and advocacy for underserved communities. This program equips my peers and I with the skills to advocate for systemic changes, ensuring healthcare equity, which align with my vision as a future healthcare professional. Additionally, as a first-generation graduate student, I value how UCI’s faculty provides extensive resources and support to help students navigate and succeed throughout our journey, fostering both personal and professional growth.”

MEPN News & Stories

Nursing Insights

5 %
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 5% from 2021 to 2031. (AACN 2024)
11.2%
From 2020 to 2022, the percentage of men in nursing increased from 9.4% to 11.2%. (AACN 2024)
55%
Nearly 55% of RNs worked in general medical and surgical hospitals, with an average salary of $77,600 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (AACN 2024)

Take Action Towards Your Goal

Find out how to join the ranks of nursing professionals who strive to improve patient care, promote population health, as well as become leaders in research, education, and clinical practice, and who champion collaborative, compassionate, and interdisciplinary evidence-based practice.

Click below to start your path to Nursing with Humanity in Mind.

Find Out How to Apply Now