Master of Science in Nursing with a Major in Nursing

2010 Updates

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Master of Science in Nursing with a Major in Nursing

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The Department of Nursing offers the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a major in nursing and an emphasis in family health. The Master of Science in Nursing program is designed to prepare students for careers as family nurse practitioners or as clinical nurse specialists in gerontology or family nursing. Clinical nurse specialist students select a functional area in either nursing administration or nursing education.

Graduate Admission Requirements

Applicants for unconditional admission to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program must present evidence of: a baccalaureate degree from a nationally accredited nursing school; an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale); completion of prerequisite courses (undergraduate research, physical assessment content, and graduate level statistics); current licensure as a registered nurse; three references, and documentation of current nursing practice. Applicants must submit the Department of Nursing Health Form and documentation of immunizations, departmental application form with an application fee and sign a consent form for a state and national background check, SRS Child Abuse background check. Applicants with a criminal history and/or arrests for which action is still pending will be evaluated on an individual basis with no guarnatee of admision. There are specific requirements for reporting criminal history on the application for admission. The number of admissions is limited; therefore, acceptance into the program is competitive. Application deadlines for first consideration are February 1 for Summer or Fall admission and October 1 for Spring admission. Conditional admission may be granted to applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2.70 or higher. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 800 (verbal plus Quantative) is required for these students prior to full admission. A student who is born outside of the United States is required to submit proof that he or she has taken and passed the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language-Internet Based Test). Minimum scores for the TOEFL iBT are as follows:  Writing-20; Speaking-20; Reading-19; Listening-20, for a total of 79.  Each area must meet the minimum requirement.  At completion of common core courses, students must have:  current ACLS, minimum two years previous clinical experience, unconditional admission to graduate study at PSU, and unconditional admission to PSU graduate nursing department (and completed graduate folder).

All students will participate in the standardized testing program that includes a critical thinking pre test and post test. Testing costs are the responsibility of the student.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 45-47 hours of coursework for the Master of Science in Nursing degree with a 3.00 GPA and no more than two “C’s” in 700 level and above course work in nursing taken as part of the BSN or MSN programs.  According to PSU policy, only six hours may be repeated with no course repeated more than once.  After complet­ing nine hours of graduate coursework, each student is required to submit a program (plan) of study in consultation with the major advisor.  All graduate students are required to pass a comprehensive examination in their last semester of enrollment.

Time Limit to Complete Degree

Credits earned more than six years before the date for granting the degree cannot be counted to meet requirements for the degree unless they are validated by special examination. Required courses more than six years old must be repeated unless they are validated. Examinations and grades for validated courses are given by the course instructor or departmental faculty.

Courses are eligible for validation only if they have been taken within a ten year period from when the candidate's degree will be completed. Courses from other institutions may not be validated; therefore, transferable courses must be no more than six years old at the time of granting the degree.

General Requirements

Students must satisfactorily complete 45-47 hours of approved coursework beyond the bachelor's degree. No fewer than 35 hours must be in courses number 700 to 899. At least 15 hours must be in courses numbered 800 to 899.

Option I Thesis: (NURS 890) includes six hours of thesis credit.

Option II Applied Research: (NURS 891) includes six hours of research problem credit.

Option III course Work: Successful completion of the functional area of Education or Administration (8 credit hours), which is not part of the student's program plan of study.

The graduate program for the Master of Science in Nursing degree includes 45-47 hours
from the following list of courses:

*Pittsburg State University cooperates with the University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and Fort Hays State University to offer a joint advanced practice curriculum.