The program consists of four sequential phases.
- Phase One: Core curriculum. Students in all specialties enroll in these courses, which focus on research, health policy and information technology within the context of nursing practice and health care service delivery.
- Phase Two: Students focus on indirect and direct care competencies based on their chosen advanced practice role and specialty concentration. Indirect care competencies concentrate on aggregates, systems and organizations. Direct care competencies include coursework in physiology/pathophysiology, health assessment and pharmacology.
Advanced Practice Role |
MSN Concentration |
Direct/Indirect Focus |
Nurse Administrator |
Nursing Administration |
Indirect Care |
Nurse Educator |
Nursing Education |
Direct Care |
Clinical Nurse Researcher |
Clinical Research Coordination |
Direct Care |
- Phase Three: Students focus on the advanced practice role and specialty concentration. Coursework includes didactic and practicum experiences. The coursework prepares students for employment in the specific role and functional concentration.
- Phase Four: Students engage in the Nursing Synthesis Capstone Project. This seminar and practicum experience is conducted with a faculty mentor and content expert in the student’s advanced practice specialty role and area of concentration. Students have scheduled meetings where they engage with students and mentors across advanced practice roles and concentrations to expand students’ perspectives regarding the contributions of their own work in relation to other specialty concentrations and the role of nursing in health care delivery. These meetings also provide an opportunity for student and faculty reflection on individual and professional growth.
Students in the MSN degree program complete 35 credits of graduate study.
Program Objectives
The MSN program objectives are:
- Innovative Nursing Practice in the Context of Community
- Systems Leadership and Transprofessional Collaboration
- Application of Best Clinical Evidence to Improve Practice
- Translating Scholarship for Practice Innovation
- Data Management to Improve Quality and Safety
- Information Technology to Support Decision Making
- Policy and Advocacy to Optimize Health
Nursing Administration Specialty
Core (Master’s Graduate Nursing Core)
Business Administration Coursework (Indirect care)
These courses are taken in the Feliciano School of Business
The above coursework reflects 7.5 credits.
Students then have the option of choosing one of the following courses for 1.5 credits:
Total Credits: 9
Nursing Administration Coursework (Advance Practice Specialty)
Nursing Capstone
Program Total: 35
Nursing Education Specialty
Core (Master’s Graduate Nursing Core)
Nursing Coursework (Direct Care)
Nursing Education Coursework (Advance Practice Specialty)
Nursing Capstone
Program Total: 35
Clinical Research Specialty
Core (Master’s Graduate Nursing Core)
Nursing Coursework (Direct Care)
Clinical Research Coursework (Advance Practice Specialty)
Nursing Capstone
Program Total: 35 Credits