Graduate Nursing

The Masters of Science in Nursing degree is a 35-hour, non-thesis MSN designed to be completed in 5 semesters by the registered nurse who is working full time.

Students must be enrolled in at least 6 graduate hours to be considered full-time.

Students must have a BSN or hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree as determined by the University and RN licensure to be admitted to the MSN program.

The program has a blended leadership and education focus. Graduates from the program will be qualified to find employment in nursing education and leadership in a variety of hospital, community-based, and health care settings. A combination of innovative methods will be used to deliver the curriculum offered within a traditional semester model. The majority of classes will use an extended weekend or short course format with online supplementation of classes using Moodle.

The Master's in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to equip the learner with the knowledge, skills, and values identified in The Essentials of Master's Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (AACN, 1996, Appendix A). The AACN Essentials provide a foundation for the graduate curriculum.

The organizing framework for the master's program include the components of:

research
health care policy
organization of the health care delivery system
health care financing
ethics
professional role development
theoretical foundations of nursing practice
human diversity and social issues
health promotion and disease prevention

The ANA professional nursing standards domains of practice for the role of Nurse educator (Nursing Professional Development) and Nurse leader (Nursing Administrator) and the National League for Nursing Core Competencies of Nurse Educators are discussed within the program curriculum. Graduates who meet work experience and continuing education requirements are prepared for optional national certification as a nurse executive or nurse educator through the American Nursing Credentialing Commission (nurse administrator and professional role development [staff development focus]) or the National League for Nursing (academic nurse educator certification). Optional elective courses in advanced pharmacology and advanced pathophysiology are offered for students choosing to pursue post-masters APN certification.

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