MSN: NURSING EDUCATION Master of Science in Nursing The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program prepares students for leadership roles in nursing. The goal of the MSN program is to educate nurses who can demonstrate knowledge and behaviors of advanced preparation. Each graduate will demonstrate critical thinking and decision-making skills in evaluating the health and illness of selected populations. Graduates will formulate more comprehensive concepts and principles related to nursing education and patient care management. The graduate program in nursing prepares students to continue study at the Doctoral level. Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Education The education concentration provides theory and practice, which builds upon the knowledge and experiences students bring to the curriculum and facilitates the further development of skills in the art of teaching nursing. The teaching role option offers the choice of focusing on adult education (staff development and/or continuing education in a healthcare agency) or higher education (teaching nursing students in a degree-granting institution). The 36-credit-hour program requires 18 credits in MSN core courses and 18 credits in specialization courses. A student may take up to two courses per 16-week session. MSN Core Courses Credits NUR 510 Nursing Theory & Research I 3 NUR 511 Advanced Community Health 3 NUR 520 Nursing Theory & Research II 3 NUR 536 Nursing Topical Electives 3 NUR 550 Research-Based Project/Thesis 3 NUR 551 Advanced Role Practicum 3 Total MSN Core Credit Hours 18 The MSN in Nursing Education requires a total of 18 credit hours from the following: MSN: Nursing Education Courses Credits EDU 501 Human Growth and Development 3 EDU 508* Introduction to Philosophy of Education 3 EDU 601* Measurement, Evaluation & Assessment in Education 3 EDU XXX Education Elective 3 NUR 506* Nursing Leadership and Health Policy 3 NUR 528* Management of Information Technology 3 NUR 548* Curriculum Development in Nursing 3 Total Nursing Education Credit Hours 18 * These courses are mandatory. Student may choose between the education elective or Human Growth and Development to complete their 18 hours.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION Admission is open to qualified men and women of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin. Below is a summary of the application requirements. To apply to the MSN program, please call a University Alliance program representative at (866) 768-6276. Completed application $35 nonrefundable application fee Active U.S. RN license Current driver s license or government-issued ID Graduate from an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited BSN nursing program with an overall undergraduate grade point average above a 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale. Official transcripts from the college or university from which a BSN was earned. Students whose overall undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must submit an official copy of GRE scores reflecting a total score of 900 or more on the combined verbal and quantitative sections. Three recommendations; two of which should be professional references. References should be from a supervisor familiar with the student s clinical abilities and, if possible, an educator who taught the student. An essay discussing reasons for pursuing an advanced degree and professional goals. Professional resume TOEFL if the applicant s primary language is not English. Program Completion Students must successfully complete all coursework no later than five (5) years after completion of the first graduate-level course. Academic Standards MSN candidates must maintain an academic grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (B) during their enrollment in the program. In order to graduate, students must have at least a 3.0 (B) GPA. Academic Standing MSN students will be placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA drops below 3.0 (B). Those who do not achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) within two semesters of being placed on academic probation will be dismissed from the program. A student who receives one C will be placed on probation. A subsequent grade of C will dismiss them from the program regardless of GPA. A student who receives an F will be dismissed from the program. Students dismissed from the MSN program may appeal the action to the School of Nursing Admission Committee. Provisional Admission Students may be provisionally admitted to the MSN program and permitted to take up to six (6) credit hours, at which time they must fulfill the criteria for full acceptance. This may occur as the student waits for official transcripts or the GRE score.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS MSN Core Courses NUR 510. Nursing Theory and Research I (3) Three semester hours credit. The purpose of this course is to develop a comprehensive knowledge about how nursing theories are formulated and their relationship to nursing research. Principles of theory development are applied toward critiquing theory from nursing and related fields. Students develop an integrated literature review and research framework on a topic of interest based on a critical examination of research literature and theories from nursing and related fields. NUR 511. Advanced Community Health (3) Three hours per week of theory. Prerequisite: Permission of nursing faculty. The purpose of this course is to explore factors that influence global public health. Epidemiological, sociopolitical, and cultural influences on the health and wellness of populations are investigated. The role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in population-based healthcare and public policy development is explored. NUR 520. Nursing Theory and Research II (3) Three semester hours credit. Prerequisite NUR 510. The focus of the course is on the application of theory and research process in the design and implementation of a research-based project/thesis. Critical analysis of available literature and proposed research methods including quantitative and/or qualitative approaches to research, sampling procedures, data collection methods and data analysis plan are emphasized. Prepares students to use evidence-based practices in their specialized area of professional nursing and develop a proposal for a research-based project/thesis by the end of the session. NUR 536. Nursing Topical Electives (3) (var.) Three hours per week. Variable. Taught or co-taught in the School of Education, College of Business or School of Nursing. Topical electives may be repeated for different topics in the sessions in which they are offered, and will cover a variety of subject matter as deemed appropriate by the graduate faculty to augment the graduate curriculum in nursing. NUR 550. Research-Based Project/Thesis (3) Three semester hours credit. Prerequisites: Completion of NUR 510 and NUR 520 and all core/cognate classes. The course is pass/fail. Student will choose either a research-based project or thesis in their area of interest. The purpose of the research-based project/thesis is to operationalize theoretical principles in the investigation of a significant nursing problem within the graduate s specialty area of practice. Major emphasis of the course is to implement proposed research methodology, analyze and interpret data, and make recommendations for the development of evidence-based nursing practice. The project/thesis facilitates in the integration of concepts and research principles learned throughout the educational experience.
NUR 551. Advanced Role Practicum (3) One hour per week theory/nine practicum hours per week for the nurse educator and administrator cognate. Prerequisites: all core/cognate courses. The purpose of the practicum experience is to operationalize theoretical principles within the graduate s specialty area of practice. The practicum focuses on the synthesis and integration of concepts learned throughout the educational experience. Content regarding professional role development, advanced practice roles and relationships, and regulatory requirements for advanced practice are included. Effective participation in multidisciplinary, partnership and team relationships is an expected outcome. Professional advocacy, assertiveness and leadership in the specialty role are necessary for successful completion. NUR 560. Research-Based Project/Thesis Continuous Enrollment (1) Prerequisite NUR 550. This course is pass/fail. May be repeated for credit. Students must enroll in NUR 560 each subsequent semester until the completion of the research-based project/thesis. Faculty will periodically review individual student s progress in meeting course goals and completing the project/thesis. Upon completion of the project/thesis, faculty will approve the final paper and arrange for final paper presentation sessions. Students are expected to complete all objectives for NUR 550 and finalize their projects for committee approval prior to their presentations. Nursing Education Specialization Courses EDU 501. Human Growth & Development (3) Three hours per week. A study of basic principles of human growth and development. Special study and emphasis upon development processes from infancy to adulthood with application to the teaching-learning process. EDU 508. Introduction to Philosophy of Education (3) Three hours per week. A study of various philosophies of education and their influence upon modern education. EDU 601. Measurement, Evaluation & Assessment in Education (3) Three hours per week. Basic concepts underlying test construction and design, use, administration and interpretation. Standardized, informal, group and individual tests are studied. Students learn to evaluate and assess measurement tools and tasks so that appropriate instruction may be planned. EDU XXX Elective to be determined. NUR 506. Nursing Leadership & Health Policy (3) Three semester hours credit. The purpose of this course is to develop a comprehensive knowledge of how health policy is formulated, how to affect this process, and how it impacts clinical practice and health care delivery. Ethical decision-making related to health policy will be addressed. Professional role development related to leadership in advanced practice will be emphasized.
NUR 528. Management of Information Technology (3) Three semester hours credit. This course is intended to provide insight and understanding of the increasingly important area in business of information systems and the technology that drives those systems. It addresses the use of information in making strategy for the health care system. The course recognizes that information systems technology has greatly transformed the business landscape over the past decade and continues to be cited by many health care system leaders as critical to the future success of an individual health care system. Students obtain an understanding of the technology and also learn how health care system managers can leverage the technology to enhance their company s chances of success in the increasingly competitive environment and global business. NUR 548. Curriculum Development in Nursing (3) Three semester hours credit. Prerequisite: Permission of nursing faculty. The course applies concepts basic to the educational process in Nursing Practice. Emphasis is on the science of teaching/learning that includes theories and characteristics of active learning, whole brain learning and engaged learning. The art of teaching includes theories of curriculum design and process, creation of functional objectives and effective instructional methods. The technology of education includes implementation of clinical teaching, evaluation of educational resources and the measurement of educational outcomes.