Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
M.S.N. Program Requirements
Program Policies
The structure of the M.S.N. program is flexible. Its design and delivery system are based on the needs of nurses who wish to pursue graduate study while continuing their work. The exception is the nurse anesthesia concentration, which requires full-time study and is sufficiently intensive that students are unable to work during either classroom studies or clinicals.
Attendance
The university expects all students to maintain regular attendance at scheduled seminars and classes. Attendance at all on-campus sessions is mandatory for students in the nurse anesthesia concentration. While class attendance is not mandatory for students in other concentrations, it is strongly encouraged. Some courses can be completed through nontraditional study.
Course Sequencing
Because specialty courses are sequenced, you are encouraged to plan your registration carefully. Most course assignments allow you to focus on a population, topic, or problem of interest. Previous coursework can also serve as the basis for thesis or project work. This approach to assignments does not mean that you can submit the same work for multiple courses but is designed to give you the opportunity to develop knowledge of a given topic through exploration of several bodies of literature or empirical applications.
Examinations and Course Performance
Evaluation of your course performance is the responsibility of the individual faculty member. All students are expected to take examinations on the day given unless advance permission is obtained from the faculty member. Arranging for make-up examinations is the shared responsibility of the faculty member and student.
Students in the administration/education and FNP concentrations are required to take a comprehensive M.S.N. examination one to two semesters before scheduled program completion. Concentrations may require an additional comprehensive exam.
Clinical Courses and Placement
The following GNURS courses contain a clinical component:
501L Health & Illness Appraisal Lab (1 clinical hour)
502L Clinical Nursing Practice of Children and Adolescents (3 clinical hours)
603L Clinical Nursing Practice of Adults (3 clinical hours)
604L Clinical Nursing Practice in All Age Groups (6 clinical hours)
FNP and admin/ed clinical courses are on a three-to-one clock-hour ratio, which means that each course hour equals three clock hours. The clock-hour ratio varies for clinical courses in the nurse anesthesia concentration. You are responsible for submitting clinical placement documentation before beginning clinical assignments and for keeping these documents up to date in your student file.
Faculty members and students are jointly responsible for arranging clinical placements. Every effort is made to meet each student’s needs. After agreeing on a site, either you or the assigned faculty member contacts the preceptor. The program provides clinical objectives and forms to the preceptor and generates a contract. The university’s legal office must send and finalize all clinical contracts, a process that may take up to two months to complete.
If you and the assigned faculty member cannot agree on a site, the program will make an assignment to the most appropriate site available. Student evaluations of past sites are available in the program office.
Clinical experiences for students in the nurse anesthesia concentration are established by the program. Clinical assignments are structured to ensure completion of all accreditation and licensure requirements.
Independent Study / Special Topics
Graduate courses in special topics provide the opportunity to undertake an individual independent study project in partial fulfillment of your coursework or as extra hours to complete your thesis or project. You can enroll in a special topics course by finding a graduate faculty member who is willing to supervise the course, then submitting a completed enrollment form, signed by the faculty member and the program director, together with a written proposal. You must complete registration during the regular registration period.
You and the faculty member must arrange a regular schedule for conferences and submission of work throughout the semester, including the date the final paper is due. You may register for no more than 6 semester hours of special topics. The University cannot guarantee that all students will be able to undertake a special topics course.
Program Completion
The nurse anesthesia concentration is designed as a 30-month full-time program of study. A full-time program of study in the other concentrations can generally be completed within two years, while part-time study often takes three to four years. All students must complete program requirements within five calendar years from the date of their first graduate enrollment.
Choices
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