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.

All master's degree students complete the following:

Core courses (9 credits):

• 900, The Discipline of Nursing
• 901, Nursing and Change in Health Services
• 960, Translating Research for Evidence Based Practice

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, Advanced 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)
• 944, Population Health and Risk Reduction
• 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
• 958, Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone (112 clinical hours)

Evidence-Based Nursing:

• 908, Clinical Application of Human Physiology
• 909, Health and Illness Appraisal
• 925, Health Care Systems and Leadership
• 944, Population Health and Risk Reduction
• 951, Clinical Epidemiology and Decision Analysis
• 953, Promoting Quality Management
• 955, Practicum in Advanced Nursing Practice (300 clinical hours)
• 956, Capstone Project Seminar

Master's thesis (6 credits)

Students may opt to complete a six credit thesis, NURS 899, Master's Thesis.  A thesis option may replace NURS 956, Capstone Project Seminar; it requires more than the usual credit hours for program completion.  The thesis option must be declared within the first nine credits of graduate work and approved by your adviser prior to registering.  A formal presentation of the completed thesis is required.

Concluding Experience

The capstone course for clinical nurse leader (CNL), NURS 958, and for evidence-based nursing (EBN), 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/NURS 958. If a student opts to do a thesis, the student should discuss this option with a faculty adviser early in the program of study. The capstone course for family nurse practitioner (FNP), NURS 939, is the final integrated clinical practicum.