Nursing, M.S. (Infectious Disease) (Beginning Fall 2026)

If you are already a registered nurse, the Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing's Master of Science in Nursing degree can train you to become a specialist in infectious disease. The M.S.N. degree from SLU prepares you to meet the health care needs of a nation. U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks our program as a top program in its Best Graduate Programs survey. 

The infectious disease concentration is an on-site program designed for registered nurses seeking advanced expertise in infectious disease care. This program is a non-advanced practice option that prepares graduates to manage complex infectious diseases across the lifespan and within diverse populations, with emphasis on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of emerging and re-emerging infections. The program integrates key concepts related to public health, antimicrobial stewardship, global health, and health equity. Graduates are well prepared to pursue roles in clinical practice, public health, policy, research, and education. 

If you plan to teach, you can take three additional courses focusing on theory and practicum experience in nursing education. This will allow you to apply for the National League for Nursing Nurse Educator certificate. Post-master's certificate programs are available in all specialty areas.

Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Financing for this program may be available through grants, scholarships, loans (federal and private) and institutional financing plans. For price estimates, please review the SLU cost calculator.

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing offers scholarship and graduate research assistantship opportunities to eligible graduate students. Additionally, most nursing students will participate in a tuition assistance program provided through their employer.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certificate program at Saint Louis University's Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 665 K Street N.W., Suite 750, Washington, D.C., 20001. The commission's phone number is 202-887-6791.

Accreditation Note: Saint Louis University is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing to conduct practice experiences in the state of Washington for the a). MSN PCPNP b). MSN FNP; c). DNP FNP; d). post master’s certificate FNP programs, e) MSN PMHNP, f) BSN-DNP PMHNP, g) post master’s certificate PMHNP, and h) post master’s DNP PMHNP.

Licensure Disclosure

For information about whether this program meets any state board of nursing's educational requirements for eligibility to take a state licensure exam, please see our Professional Licensure Disclosure page.

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Evaluates nursing’s distinct and shared disciplinary perspectives and synthesizes theoretical and empirical knowledge from the humanities and natural, social, behavioral, and nursing sciences to support advanced clinical judgment and practice innovation.

2. Person-Centered Care: Leads nursing care through the relational lens, which fosters caring relationships, mutuality, active participation, and individual empowerment in the delivery and communication of compassionate person-centered nursing care through Cura Personalis.

3. Population Health: Directs diverse stakeholders in advancing effective partnerships, health policy, and the improvement of equitable population health outcomes related to the social determinants of health.

4. Scholarship for Nursing Discipline: Integrates, synthesizes, and facilitates best evidence and client values into clinical decision making.

5. Quality and Safety: Optimizes quality of care while minimizing risk of harm to clients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance.

6. Interprofessional Partnership: Coordinates across professions with care team members, clients, families, communities, and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and strengthen outcomes.

7. Systems-Based Practice: Strategically integrates resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations within complex healthcare systems to address social and structural determinants of health.

8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies: Implements information processes and technologies to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high quality, and efficient healthcare services.

9. Professionalism: Models a sustainable professional nursing identity, accountability, perspective, collaborative disposition, and ethical principles that reflect nursing’s characteristics and values.

10. Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: Engages in activities and self-reflection through Ignatian pedagogy which fosters personal health, resilience, and well-being while supporting the acquisition of nursing expertise, lifelong learning, and the leadership continuum.

Admission Requirements

The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to our University’s and school’s mission and goals. While we do consider academic metrics, we also look at applicant experiences, attributes, potential for success, and how applicants may contribute to the school’s learning environment and to the profession.

Applicant Criteria

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• An unencumbered registered nurse license in the state in which clinical experience will be done. You must have a registered nurse license at the time of application.
• Current CPR certification from the American Heart Association and a negative drug screening are required after acceptance into the M.S.N. program.
• Completion of a beginning-level health assessment course or the equivalent thereof prior to enrollment in “Advanced Health Assessment.”

Application Requirements

Applying for the M.S. program in nursing requires careful planning to ensure that all admission requirements are met. You may experience a delay in processing if the application instructions are not followed exactly as listed. Interested applicants should reach out to slunurse@slu.edu for more information.

Requirements for International Students

All Saint Louis University admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students applying to SLU must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English language proficiency
• Academic records must include an English translation. Unofficial copies may be accepted in some cases for initial admission review, however official copies must be received prior to enrollment. Course-by-course transcript evaluations are accepted and are required in some cases.

Students must submit financial documents to be issued an I-20 for their F-1 visa application. Proof of financial support must include:

• A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
• A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Application Deadlines

Admissions are rolling, with the following deadlines:

• Fall semester start: July 15
• Spring semester start: December 15
• Summer semester start: April 15

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed shortly after all application requirements have been submitted.

Program Requirements

Nurse Educator Option

Nurse educator courses provide an opportunity for course work and practicum experience in nursing education. After completion of the three educator courses, students will be eligible to take the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact the School of Nursing's recruitment and enrollment staff:

Undergraduate Inquiries
314-977-8995 
slunurse@slu.edu 

Graduate Inquiries
314-977-8995
slunurse@slu.edu