Entry Level Master's in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader
We Believe Service is the Heartbeat of Nursing Excellence
The Entry Level Master's in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader (ELM-CNL) program is designed to develop highly skilled, compassionate, and caring nurse leaders who will positively influence the nursing profession, transform healthcare systems, and impact communities locally and worldwide. The curriculum prerequisite courses provide a strong foundation for nursing courses while cultivating the development of critical thinking, communication, and other core skills. Nursing specific courses will reflect a unifying theme, which includes the nursing process and is designed to provide students with knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to function in accordance with the registered nurse scope of practice and to meet competency standards of a registered nurse. Grounded in the University's Christian mission, the curriculum cultivates the development of compassionate nurses who are prepared to provide evidenced-based care across the care continuum and lifespan in a variety of settings with diverse individuals and communities.
Accreditation Status
The Entry-Level Master's in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader (ELM-CNL) prelicensure
nursing/clinical nurse leadership program at Pepperdine University is pending approval
by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and the Western Association of
Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC).
Program Details
Quick Facts
- Start: Fall 2025
- Location: Calabasas Campus
- Clinicals: 1,000 hours of clinical training
- Classes: In person
- Length: 7 semesters, 29 months
The ELM-CNL program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field and will allow the graduate to enter the nursing profession with a master of science in nursing degree. The first two years of the ELM-CNL program will focus on prelicensure preparation. After the prelicensure coursework is completed, students will be prepared to sit for NCLEX-RN exam. The third year of the program focuses on graduate level coursework in nursing leadership. By the conclusion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the certification examination for CNL and be licensed as a public health nurse. Program graduates will be qualified for consideration in nurse leadership positions, such as manager, director, and chief nursing officer, across healthcare settings. Additionally, they will be well positioned to continue their education in an advanced practice nursing speciality or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice program.
The ELM-CNL program is a residential program housed at the Pepperdine Calabasas campus, the location of the University's newly constructed and state-of-the-art nursing simulation and laboratory facilities. It has a strong clinical emphasis requiring students to complete 1,000 hours of clinical training and providing direct patient care in five specialty areas: medical/surgical, psychiatric/mental health, obstetrics, pediatrics, and gerontology. Through clinical affiliation agreements with leading healthcare systems and community-based organizations across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, students develop clinical skills with diverse patient populations and in a wide-range of clinical environments.
Graduates of the rigorous Entry-Level Master's in Nursing with a focus on Clinical Nurse Leadership provide direct patient care while leading interdisciplinary teams to coordinate and improve care. They oversee patient care, implement evidence-based practices, promote patient advocacy, and manage safety risks. CNLs assess and enhance care quality, mentor nursing staff, lead quality improvement initiatives, and are prepared for leadership roles such as nurse manager or director. This demanding program equips students with both clinical expertise and leadership skills to improve patient outcomes in diverse healthcare settings.
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Admission Requirements
Tuition information and more admission details coming soon.
Admission to the ELM-CNL program will consist of the following academic requirements.
- Completion of an undergraduate degree (BA/BS) with an overall GPA of 3.300 or higher from a regionally accredited educational institution.
- Completion of the following required prerequisite courses or their equivalents. The
cumulative GPA in all courses must exceed 3.0 with a minimum grade in each course
of a "C".
Course Title Credits BIOL 230 Human Anatomy with laboratory 4 credit hours BIOL 250 Microbiology with laboratory 4 credit hours BIOL 270 Human Physiology with laboratory 4 credit hours CHEM 220 Chemistry with laboratory 4 credit hours PSYC 200 Introduction to Psychology 3 credit hours SOC 200 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours - Completion of the following required prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or higher
in each course.
Course Title Credits ENG 101 English Composition 3 credit hours COM 180 Speech and Rhetoric 4 credit hours STAT 250 Introductory Statistics for Healthcare Professional 3 credit hours
School of Nursing
Mission Statement
Grounded in Christian values, Pepperdine University School of Nursing’s mission is to develop compassionate and caring nurse leaders who will positively influence the nursing profession, transform healthcare systems, and impact communities locally and worldwide.
Vision Statement
Pepperdine University School of Nursing has a vision to be a leading force in transforming healthcare by developing compassionate nurse leaders who excel in academic achievement, scholarship, and clinical practice. We aspire to shape the future of nursing, while advancing the profession and improving healthcare systems worldwide, through excellence, innovation, and compassionate care. Honoring the sacred community, we—faculty, staff, and students—will create an environment that embraces belonging and meets individuals where they live, work, play, and pray. Through community-based and family-centered healthcare experiences, we will promote high-quality, holistic, and compassionate care that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit.
Values
In harmony with the core values of Pepperdine University, the School of Nursing embraces seven Core Values, rooted in the Christian mission of the University, that guide our collective commitment to academic excellence and service.
- Purpose, Service, and Leadership: Pepperdine encourages students to pursue lives of purpose and service while developing as leaders who will positively impact the world.
- Faith and Christian Mission: The university is grounded in Christian values and emphasizes spiritual formation and development, integrating faith with learning and life.
- Academic Excellence: Pepperdine promotes rigorous scholarship and academic achievement, fostering an environment where students can reach their full potential.
- Belonging: The university is committed to creating a community that values diversity and practices inclusion, ensuring that all students have a strong sense of belonging.
- Community: Pepperdine cultivates a sense of community where individuals are connected through shared Christian values, a love of neighbor, and a devotion to service.
- Honor and Integrity: The university upholds a commitment to honesty, responsibility, and ethical behavior in all aspects of life.
- Care and Compassion: Pepperdine School of Nursing nurtures a healing environment where there is a sensitivity to self and others, enabling a presence of an intersection of faith, hope and love.
These values are integral to the mission of Pepperdine University and shape the educational experience of its students.
Meet the Dean
Angel Coaston, PhD, RN, FNP, PHN
Dean, School of Nursing | College of Health Science
Angel.Coaston@pepperdine.edu
Biography
Angel Coaston began service as the inaugural dean of Pepperdine’s School of Nursing in the College of Health Science on July 1, 2024. Coaston has more than 10 years of experience as a full-time faculty member and leader. She came to Pepperdine from California Baptist University, where she served as associate dean of clinical academic practice partnerships and associate professor of nursing. Previously at Azusa Pacific University, Coaston served as the director of the master of science in nursing program and as the site director of the School of Nursing Inland Empire regional campus.
Before and throughout her years in academia, Coaston con-founded and served as CEO of the Well of Healing Mobile Medical Clinic. Under her leadership, clinic volunteers provided free primary care services to homeless, uninsured, and underinsured community members in San Bernardino County. During her leadership, the clinic partnered with universities and health systems and raised over $1 million to support its operations. Coaston also serves on the board of trustees at two local hospitals, the board of directors for two nonprofit community-based organizations, and as a consultant for a mission-driven organization seeking to transform health systems.
Coaston earned a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Phoenix and master of science in nursing and family nurse practitioner degrees from Western University of Health Sciences. She holds a PhD in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco, and a School Nurse Services Credential from Azusa Pacific University.
Contact Us
College of Health Science
Pepperdine University
26750 Agoura Rd
Calabasas, CA 91302