Accelerated Associate to Master s Degree in Nursing

Accelerated Associate to Master s Degree in Nursing

Table of Contents Admissions Information... 4 Application Process... 4 Seat Fee... 5 Program Highlights... 5 Additional Information... 6 For More Information:... 6 Curriculum Schematic - ATM... 7 Estimate of Program Costs Spring 2011*... 8 Financial Aid... 10 TEST OF ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC SKILLS... 10 Registration Instructions... 10 SCORES... Error! Bookmark not defined. Frequently Asked Questions..11 2 P a g e

Dear Prospective Applicants, Thank you for your interest in the Associate to Master s (ATM) degree program, a cooperative venture of the nursing programs of the Community College of Baltimore County and Towson University. This rigorous program is designed for qualified individuals who are seeking a registered nursing degree with a graduate emphasis in education. The curriculum pattern, approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing, is planned to be completed in approximately three years. I am excited to have the opportunity to offer this innovative approach to nursing education. I suggest you read through this informative guide to the ATM program and its requirements. Please feel free to contact those listed on page 6 if you have further questions about the program. Best wishes in your pursuit of a nursing career. Sincerely, Mary Kay DeMarco MS, RN, CNE Associate Professor and Campus Director CCBC Essex Nursing Program 3 P a g e

Admissions Information The Associate to Master s (ATM) program is designed for students who already have any non-nursing Bachelor s degree and want to obtain a Master s degree in nursing with a concentration in education. The goal of the program is to expand the number of Master s prepared registered nurses who want to teach in a nursing program. The program is a collaborative effort between CCBC and Towson University. Students will complete an Associate degree in nursing (ADN) at the CCBC Essex campus and continue to completion of the Master s degree at the Towson University campus. Portions of the coursework at CCBC or Towson University may be in an online hybrid format. Students will be enrolled full-time and year-round and will complete the program within 3 years. This program is offered only at the Essex campus and admission occurs once each year, into the spring semester. Application Process 1. If you have not done so already, you must apply to the College. The CCBC application can be found online at: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/admissions/application.html or in the admissions office on any campus. 2. Admission to the nursing program is a separate process from admission to the college. Once you have your student ID number, you may log into your SIMON account and apply to the SHP Nursing ATM program by the application deadline. The non-refundable $20 application fee is due at time of submission. 3. Send original external transcripts including official college transcripts, CLEP scores, AP scores, and international transcript evaluations to the School of Health Professions Admissions Office by the application deadline. Mailing Address: School of Health Professions Admission Office CCBC Essex Building J, Room 101 7201 Rossville Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21237 4 P a g e

Seat Fee Applicants who are accepting a seat into the Registered Nursing programs are required to pay a non-refundable $200 seat fee to accept their offer of admission and reserve their space in the RN programs or the PN program. The fee will be applied to the student account after the first several weeks of class. Students who accept their seats and pay the fee, and then change their plans and do not attend the RN program at CCBC, WILL NOT be eligible for a refund of the $200.00 fee. Program Highlights Application deadline: August 15. It is strongly recommended that complete applications be submitted early for best consideration. Applicants must have a non-nursing Bachelor s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The overall Bachelor s GPA must be at least 3.00. Those with a GPA less than 3.00 may be considered for admission on a provisional basis. Prerequisite Courses BIOL 220 Human Anatomy & Physiology I* BIOL 221 Human Anatomy & Physiology II* BIOL 230 General Microbiology* BIOL 256 Nutrition SPCM 101 Fundamentals of Communication ENGL 101 College Composition I* ENGL 102 College Composition II MATH 153 Introduction to Statistical Methods* CHEM 107/108 Fundamentals of PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology Chemistry, with lab* PSYC 103 Human Growth & SOCL 101 Introduction to Sociology Development *Must have a grade of C or better for these courses. The minimum GPA for all of the prerequisite courses is 3.00. All prerequisites must be completed prior to beginning the program in the spring semester. Other Prerequisites o Interview, by invitation only o Writing Sample, to be provided at the interview o Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) preadmission examination, completed by the August 15 th application deadline 5 P a g e

Additional Information Students who have failed out of a nursing program or have earned two failing grades in another nursing program are eligible to apply for admission to the CCBC RN program if the original program failure was at least 5 years prior to the application deadline. Students who have failed out of another allied health program at CCBC or another institution are eligible to apply for the ATM program. For More Information: Contact the nursing program case manager, Ms. Gwen Jones at the Essex campus: 443-840-2100 or gjones@ccbcmd.edu or Ms. Gwyn Degner at the Catonsville campus: 443-840-4352 or gdegner@ccbcmd.edu Contact the School of Health Professions Admissions Office at the Essex campus: 443-840-1406 or lsimmons@ccbcmd.edu. Contact the program administrator at Towson University Dr. Vicky Kent vkent@towson.edu or program management specialist Cathy Wolf clwolf@towson.edu. 6 P a g e

Curriculum Schematic - ATM 11 terms / approximately 35 months / Total nursing credits 84 Accelerated Associate to Master s Degree in Nursing Term 1 Spring Term 2 Summer Term 3 Fall Term 4 Winter Term 5 Spring CCBC NURN 153 Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts 8 credits/15 weeks 349 Health Assessment and Health Promotion Across the Life Span 4 credits/15 weeks CCBC NURN 160 Nursing Concepts I 6 credits/8 weeks CCBC NURN 218 Maternal Newborn Concepts 3 credits/5 weeks CCBC NURN 217 Mental Health Concepts 3 credits /6 weeks CCBC NURN 222 Pediatric Nursing Concepts 3 credits /5 weeks CCBC NURN 234 Nursing Concepts II 3credits/4 weeks 416 Multicultural Health Care 3 credits CCBC NURN 236 Nursing Care Concepts III 8 credits/15 weeks 433 Professional Nursing 3 credits /15 weeks A.S. Degree Awarded 12 credits 9 credits 9 credits 3 credits 11 credits / subtotal = 44 Term 6 Summer Begin TU / Master s Track: Theoretical Foundations N 601 3 credits Term 7 Fall 4 credits Research N 431/603 combined / 3 credits Nursing in HCS N 404/605 combined 3 credits Ethical, legal & human diversity issues IDHP 741 3 credit Term 8 Winter Curriculum Development N 610 3 credits WORK requirement Seminar/ 1 credit Term 9 Spring Community N 455/700* combined 6 credits The Adult Learner N 712 3 credits Term 10 Summer Teaching and Learning in Nursing N 612 3 credits Evaluation in Nursing N 710 3 credits Term 11 Fall Community N 800 / 3 credits Teaching Practicum N 810 / 3 credits Elective / 3 credits M.S. Degree Awarded 9 credits 3 credits 9 credits 6 credits 9 credits / sub total : 40 credits CCBC Courses TU Courses Combined TU undergraduate and graduate courses Total 84 credits 7 P a g e

2011 Estimate of ATM Program Costs CCBC CCBC tuition costs based on Spring 2011 rates Undergraduate Tuition 34 credits x $103 = $3,502 + fees Towson University Towson University Towson University tuition costs based on Spring 2011 rates Undergraduate Tuition Graduate Tuition 10 units x $239 = $2,390 + fees 40 units x $337 = $13,480 + fees Estimate for tuition and fees $ 20,000.00 $22,000.00 Approximate costs for books, equipment, uniforms $1,500.00 *Does not include health insurance, CPR, transportation, incidental fees or college fees. All costs are subject to change without notification. Please go to the following websites for most up to date information regarding tuition and fees: For CCBC: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/registration/tuition.html For Towson University: http://www.towson.edu/adminfinance/fiscalplanning/bursar/tuitionand fees/fall.asp 8 P a g e

Estimate of CCBC Program Costs Spring 2011* In order that you can plan for your financial obligations during the CCBC portion of the program, we have developed the following table. Expense Additional Costs When Cost Incurred Books $700 first semester $200-$300 for next 3 semesters Basic CPR $80 Prior to Semester I Uniforms $330 Semester I Accessories $150 Semester I Physical Exam including titres, vaccinations, and lab results $10-$100 Depending upon insurance plan of student Prior to Semester I Health Insurance Varies - Can start @ $70 a month Over 4 semesters Skills Practice Kit $67.27 Prior to Semester I Learning Harbor $10.00 Prior to Semester 1 Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) $128.00 With Registration Criminal Background Check and Urine Drug Screening $94.50 Prior to Semester 1 *Costs are estimated for the Spring 2011 Semester and are subject to change. Note: Please see the CCBC Catalog for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees. 9 P a g e

Financial Aid Financial aid is available for this program. When completing the FAFSA, choose Towson University as the receiving institution. For detailed instructions, visit http://towson.edu/main/finaid/ For additional questions, contact Kinton Stamper, financial aid advisor at Towson University at kstamper@towson.edu or 410-704-4236. TEST OF ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC SKILLS (TEAS) TEAS testing update, effective immediately: for all students applying to any CCBC nursing program or the dental hygiene program, April 15, 2011 is the last application deadline for which the TEAS 4.0 will be acceptable. For any application deadlines after April 15, 2011, the TEAS V will be required. For testing information or schedules, please go to www.ccbcmd.edu/selectiveadmiss Registration Instructions You must take the TEAS V as part of the application process. The score you receive on the test will be considered as part of the selective admissions process. If you do not participate in the TEAS V before the application deadline and have ATI send/email a copy of your score to the CCBC School of Health Professions Admissions Office J101, Baltimore, MD 21237, your application will not be evaluated. For TEAS V registration information go to www.ccbcmd.edu/selectiveadmiss/teas.html 10 P a g e

Frequently Asked Questions for the Associate to Master s Nursing Program Q 1. What can I do with a degree in Nursing Education? A. With a master s degree in Nursing Education, the field is wide open. You are first a registered nurse and, therefore, you may practice in any number and types of health care facilities- hospitals, long term care facilities, community settings like clinics and doctors offices to name a few. Nurse educators typically work in academic settings at nursing schools, community colleges, and technical schools. Some also work in health care settings as staff development specialists or clinical supervisors. Also see: http://www.explorehealthcareers.org/en/career.150.aspx Q 2. After completing my master s degree in Nursing Education, what will I have to do before I am eligible to work as a nursing instructor? A. There are no testing requirements, however, most schools of nursing will require at least two years of clinical practice before being considered for a position as a clinical instructor. Q 3. My undergraduate GPA is not a 3.0, should I still apply? A. You may wish to contact the case manager for nursing, Ms. Gwen Jones (443-840-2100), to discuss your specific situation. In many cases, you will be encouraged to submit your application. It will be carefully reviewed and you may be accepted on a provisional basis. You then must achieve and maintain a 3.0 while in the ATM program. Q 4. If I have to leave the program before entering the BS and MS portion, can I use the nursing credits I have completed at a later date? A. Any student who leaves the ATM Nursing Program in good standing must meet with the ATM Coordinator to determine progression status and seat availability. Students may be allowed to re-enter the program, however, a 3.0 GPA must be maintained. Q 5. Who should I contact regarding financial aid questions about the ATM program? A. All financial aid concerns are handled at Towson University. The financial aid representative assigned to the ATM program is Kinton Stamper and he may be reached at 410-704-4272. The Towson University Financial Aid Office is located in the Enrollment Services Center, Room 339, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252-0001. 11 P a g e

Q 6. Accelerated Associate to Master s Degree in Nursing Are students allowed to work while in the ATM Program? A. Many students work part-time while in the ATM Program, however, it is unrealistic to expect to work fulltime while pursuing this rigorous program of study. It is strongly recommended that you reduce work hours to the minimum particularly for your first semester to ensure your success. Q 7. If I completed many of my pre-requisite courses at CCBC, do I have to request a transcript to submit with my application, or will someone at CCBC be able to access those grades? A. No, we will be able to obtain access to any courses that were completed at CCBC. Q 8. My pre-requisite courses are now 5 years old (I completed them between the summer and fall of 2006). Will I still be able to apply to the program? A. Yes, we do not have a time limit on courses. Q 9. If someone has received their primary childhood vaccinations and can produce the record, will additional vaccinations be required in order to complete clinical? A: You may need some additional vaccinations. For example, each fall clinical agencies require that all students must obtain a flu vaccine. Once you are accepted into the program, you will receive (during orientation) a health form. It must be completed by your physician and it will document the current status of your health and that you have received all required immunizations Q 10. Do students in the program still get a few days off in between the end of one semester and the start of another? A. Yes, students get short breaks during the course of the program. Please be advised that this is a year round program that requires both summer and winter session attendance in addition to attendance during the more traditional fall and spring semesters. Q 11. At Towson, is it possible for an interested student to apply to both the ATM program and the second BS in Nursing? A. Both the ATM and the second BS in Nursing are competitive programs. You may apply for both, however, be aware that each program has a nonrefundable application fee. It is advisable that you choose which program best suits your needs to avoid duplicate application fees. FAQs ATM final 3.23.11 12 P a g e