Graduate Program in Nursing
M.S. Degree Requirements
The requirements for the Graduate Program in Nursing for the master of science degree includes a total of 48 credit hours for family nurse practitioner, 34 credit hours for clinical nurse leader and 32 credit hours for evidence-based nursing.
Post-Master's Certificate Requirements
The Department of Nursing offers the Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (PM-FNP) Certificate Program for students who completed a master’s of science degree in nursing. The PM-FNP program includes a total of 30-39 credit hours. Depending on track, programs are designed to be completed in 3-4 semesters of full-time study. Individual plans of study are available for those wishing to pursue part-time study.
Although no guarantees are given, we do try to accommodate student requests to the extent possible. Family nurse practitioner courses will only be offered with sufficient enrollment. The department of nursing subscribes to the practice that selected nursing courses may be offered via an online or hybrid online format. The program of study is designed as follows:
All master's degree students complete the following:
Core courses (9 credits):
- 900, The Discipline of Nursing
- 901, Nursing and Change in Health Services
- 905, Research in Nursing
Specialty courses for their chosen track of study are as follows:
Family Nurse Practitioner and Post-Master's FNP Certificate Program:
- 810, Families in Health and Illness
- 907, Pharmacology
- 908, Clinical Application of Human Physiology
- 909, Health and Illness Appraisal
- 925, Health Care Systems and Leadership
- 935, Primary Care of Families I
- 936, Practicum in the Primary Care of Families I (168 clinical hours)
- 937, Primary Care of Families II
- 938, Practicum in the Primary Care of Families II (168 clinical hours)
- 939, Seminar and Practicum in the Primary Care of Families III (336 clinical hours)
- 942, Advancing Evidence in Complex Health Challenges
- 951, Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis
Clinical Nurse Leader:
- 908, Clinical Application of Human Physiology
- 925, Health Care Systems and Leadership
- 951, Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis
- 952, Clinical Nursing Leadership I (immersion experience 300 clinical hours)
- 953, Promoting Quality Management
- 954 Clinical Nursing Leadership II (112 clinical hours)
- 956, Capstone Project Seminar
Evidence-Based Nursing:
- 908, Clinical Application of Human Physiology
- 925, Health Care Systems and Leadership
- 951, Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis
- 953, Promoting Quality Management
- 955, Practicum in Advanced Nursing Practice (300 clinical hours)
- 956, Capstone Project Seminar
- support course (3 credits)
Master's thesis (6 credits)
Students may opt to complete a six credit thesis. A six credit thesis option may either replace NURS 956, Capstone Project Seminar, your elective credit requirements, or require more than the usual credit hours for program completion, depending on track. The thesis option must be declared within the first nine credits of graduate work and approved by your advisor prior to registering. A formal presentation of the completed thesis is required.
Concluding Experience
For clinical nurse leader (CNL) and evidence-based nursing (EBN) tracks, the capstone course, NURS 956, requires students to complete a scholarly project which synthesizes advanced practice knowledge and skills to address substantive nursing practice issues. CNL and EBN students may elect to complete a thesis, NURS 899 (6 credits), as the capstone course in place of NURS 956. If a student opts to do a thesis, the student should discuss this option with a faculty adviser early in the program of study. For family nurse practitioner track, the capstone course, NURS 939, is the final integrated clinical practicum.