Earn Your MSN Online from USC’s
School of Social WorkEarn Your MSN Online from USC’s
School of Social WorkEarn Your MSN Online from USC’s
School of Social Work

Discover Our CCNE and BRN-Accredited ProgramDiscover Our CCNE and BRN-Accredited ProgramDiscover Our CCNE and BRN-Accredited Program

Our master’s degree program in nursing at the University of Southern California is accredited by both the Commission on College Nursing Education (CCNE) and the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).

FNP Program

Online FNP Program Overview

Nursing@USC, the online Master of Science in Nursing from USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work Department of Nursing, offers a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program that prepares advanced practice nurses to deliver primary care to infants, children, adolescents and adults throughout their lives.

Nursing@USC emphasizes health care grounded in an understanding of the biomedical and social factors that influence patient well-being. Nursing@USC trains nurse practitioners to provide integrative care alongside other professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, social workers and case managers. Classes for the FNP program are held online, with clinical placements in or near your own community.

Full-Time and Part-Time Program Tracks

With Nursing@USC, you can balance your personal and professional obligations with your education. The online FNP program is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis, allowing you to determine how you want to manage your time and lifestyle. The full-time track can be completed in 21 months, and the part-time track can be completed in 33 months. With our online delivery, you will be able to earn a USC degree from anywhere in the country — Dallas, Chicago or Los Angeles.

Download the Program FAQ Guide

USC Curriculum — Delivered Online

The online FNP program’s curriculum is designed and delivered by distinguished faculty, who are active, respected nurses in the field. With an integrative approach to health care, Nursing@USC teaches you to identify the root causes of health issues such as illness and premature death. As a student, you will explore the biomedical, psychological, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on health care through an understanding of clinical research and evidence-based practice.

The program incorporates online and in-person education. The online format allows you to seamlessly connect with USC faculty and fellow aspiring FNPs. You are encouraged to collaborate with your peers and faculty during online discussion groups, regularly held office hours and while attending two On-Campus Intensives.

Nursing@USC Family Nurse Practitioner FAQ

Find answers to the most commonly asked questions about the University of Southern California’s online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program.

  • FNP-BC stands for “family nurse practitioner board-certified” by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). You may also see FNP-C which stands for “family nurse practitioner-certified” by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. This means that the family nurse practitioner is accredited by the well-recognized, trusted national organizations.

  • Nurse practitioners, including FNPs, must earn at least a Master of Science in Nursing. Nursing@USC is an FNP program designed for registered nurses with at least one year of RN clinical experience. In as few as 21 months, graduates are prepared to offer care to infants, children, adolescents and adults throughout their lives.

  • A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an advanced-practice nurse who specializes in primary care services for patients of all ages, genders and health conditions. FNPs seek to understand and care for their patients within the context of family and community, promoting preventative care and general wellness.

  • FNPs work to prevent and manage diseases and health conditions for patients across the life span as well as provide health education and counseling. Given their advanced education, FNPs are uniquely qualified to manage acute and chronic conditions, treat minor injuries, care for infants and children, among others. Nurse Practitioners are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and lab tests, diagnose disease, formulate and prescribe treatment plans. 

  • Nurse practitioners (NPs) have many specialties, including pediatrics, women’s health or geriatric care. FNPs, on the other hand, are nurse practitioners specializing specifically in family medicine and provide care throughout a patient’s lifetime. Both NPs and FNPs are master’s programs, requiring entry with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and leading to a similar level of skill.

  • Both specialties are part of the nurse practitioner (NP) profession and require a master’s degree in nursing as well as extensive clinical experience. The essential difference between a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) is their served populations — FNPs serve a patient throughout their life span, while PNPs provide care to infants through adolescents.

  • FNPs understand nuanced, critical health-care issues and are therefore more in demand than ever. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report named nurse practitioner the nation’s No. 2 best job.1 Moreover, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects NP employment to grow by 52 percent — or more than 114,900 professionals — between 2020 and 2030.

  • Tomorrow’s providers need more than biomedical expertise — they must also understand the complex ways in which social, psychological, environmental and behavioral factors affect individuals and families across the life span. Experienced nurse practitioners may earn a median annual wage of $120,680.2

1 “The Best Jobs in America in 2022,” U.S. News & World Report. Accessed May 5, 2022.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference

2 Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed May 5, 2022.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference