Academics

The 35-credit online 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