The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program consists of four 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 Goal
The goal of the MSN degree program is to educate registered professional nurses and those who will become registered professional nurses at the master’s level.
These nurses are prepared to use advanced knowledge and skills to translate evidence to practice and assume leadership roles to facilitate innovative, interprofessional teams to improve health outcomes for diverse populations in the context of family and community.
This goal is congruent with that of the University and the School of Nursing, and will be supported through implementation of the strategic plan.
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 Concentration
Core (Master’s Graduate Nursing Core)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 9 |
NURS 500 Issues affecting Heath Care & Health Policy | 3 credits |
NURS 520 Nursing Research & Evidence Based Practice | 3 credits |
NURS 510 Informatics & Data Management | 3 credits |
Business Administration Coursework (Indirect Care)
These courses are taken in the Feliciano School of Business
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 7.5 |
MGMT 561 Achieving Competitive Advantage | 1.5 credits |
MGMT 562 Organizational Behavior | 1.5 credits |
MGMT 565 Project Management | 1.5 credits |
MGMT 566 Negotiation in the Workplace | 1.5 credits |
MGMT 571 Leadership | 1.5 credits |
The above coursework reflects 7.5 credits.
Students then choose one of the following courses for 1.5 credits:
Course | Credits |
---|---|
MGMT 570 Strategic Human Resource Management | 1.5 credits |
MKTG 561 Applied Marketing Management | 1.5 credits |
MKTG 562 Market Analysis and Customer Insight | 1.5 credits |
Total Credits: 9
Nursing Administration Coursework (Advanced Practice Role)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 13 |
NURS 605 Context of Healthcare for Nursing Leadership | 3 credits |
NURS 615 Resource Utilization & Development | 3 credits |
NURS 625 Program Planning & Evaluation | 3 credits |
NURS 635 Strategic Management Practicum | 4 credits |
Nursing Capstone
Course | Credits |
---|---|
NURS 640 Nursing Synthesis Capstone Project | 4 credits |
Program Total: 35
Nursing Education Concentration
Core (Master’s Graduate Nursing Core)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 9 |
NURS 500 Issues affecting Heath Care & Health Policy | 3 credits |
NURS 520 Nursing Research & Evidence Based Practice | 3 credits |
NURS 510 Informatics & Data Management | 3 credits |
Nursing Coursework (Direct Care)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 13 |
NURS 505 Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 credits |
NURS 515 Advanced Pharmacology | 3 credits |
NURS 525 Advanced Health Assessment | 4 credits |
NURS 535 Genetics & Genomics | 3 credits |
Nursing Education Coursework (Advanced Practice Role)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 9 |
NURS 600 Assessment & Evaluation | 3 credits |
NURS 610 Curriculum Development | 3 credits |
NURS 620 Teaching Methods Seminar & Practicum | 3 credits |
Nursing Capstone
Course | Credits |
---|---|
NURS 640 Nursing Synthesis Capstone Project | 4 credits |
Program Total: 35
Clinical Research Coordination Concentration
Core (Master’s Graduate Nursing Core)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 9 |
NURS 500 Issues affecting Heath Care & Health Policy | 3 credits |
NURS 520 Nursing Research & Evidence Based Practice | 3 credits |
NURS 510 Informatics & Data Management | 3 credits |
Nursing Coursework (Direct Care)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 13 |
NURS 505 Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 credits |
NURS 515 Advanced Pharmacology | 3 credits |
NURS 525 Advanced Health Assessment | 4 credits |
NURS 535 Genetics & Genomics | 3 credits |
Clinical Research Coursework (Advanced Practice Role)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Total | 9 |
NURS 618 Clinical Research Coordination | 3 credits |
NURS 608 Research Ethics | 3 credits |
NURS 628 Special Topics in Clinical Research Trials | 3 credits |
Nursing Capstone
Course | Credits |
---|---|
NURS 640 Nursing Synthesis Capstone Project | 4 credits |
Program Total: 35 Credits