Program Overview

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Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) Program

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is comprised of two majors: (1) Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and (2) Nursing Education. Students can enter the program as traditional Post-Baccalaureates in Nursing, completing 40-50 semester credit hours of graduate level coursework.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) Program, the following factors are required:

• Online application submitted via NursingCAS
• NursingCAS application service fee
• Bachelor's in Nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing (NLNAC, CCNE)
• Submit official transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended, even if no degree awarded, to NursingCAS
• Grade Point Average of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher on the student's last 60 hours of credit
• Official copy of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score, if international applicant
• Licensure as a Registered Nurse in Texas or compact state with multistate privileges (practicum experiences must be conducted in the state of Texas)
• Current BLS for Healthcare Providers Certification through the American Heart Association
• Current Required Immunizations
• Proof of Current Health Insurance Coverage
• Clear Criminal Background Check
• Three Professional References (Submit via NursingCAS application)
• Professional Goal Statement/Essay (Submit via Supplemental Application, not via NursingCAS application)
• Current resume or curriculum vita
• School of Nursing application fee
• Interview and Admission Essay

Degree Requirements and Graduation

For the Master of Science in Nursing degree, a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of graduate courses is required. All coursework must be completed within five years of enrollment in the program. A student must achieve no less than the total number of semester credit hours for the specific major/degree program, which may exceed 36 semester credit hours, in order to graduate.

Course Delivery

The program is approved for hybrid delivery, meaning 50-85% of the program will be online. The program is designed to be completed in five semesters of full-time study for entering in the fall, however, part-time enrollment is feasible within the program plan.

Curriculum and Plans of Study

M.S.N. Semester Credit Hour Requirements

Graduate courses required for the M.S.N. vary per major. All master's students are required to take 24 hours of coursework in residence. The program is completed through full-time or part-time enrollment.

Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)

The Clinical Nurse Leader is prepared to be a direct care provider accountable for the care outcomes of a clinical population or a specified group of patients/clients in a health care system. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates must complete a total of 40 semester credit hours.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the program Masters of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) graduates will demonstrate the following:

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines into the delivery of advanced evidence-based nursing care tailored to diverse populations across various healthcare settings.
2. Person-centered Care: Design, implement, and evaluate holistic, evidence-based, and coordinated person-centered nursing interventions that address the unique needs of individuals and families.
3. Population Health: Enhance population health by improving care systems, fostering effective community partnerships, and advocating for policies that promote social justice and health equity.
4. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline: Contribute to the advancement of nursing scholarship through the application, analysis, and translation of evidence-based practices in diverse healthcare environments.
5. Quality and Safety: Apply quality improvement methodologies to enhance patient safety and minimize risks within healthcare systems, ensuring a culture of safety for patients and providers.
6. Interprofessional Partnerships: Cultivate effective communication, collegiality, and collaboration within interprofessional healthcare teams to optimize patient care and improve population health outcomes.
7. Systems-Based Practice: Utilize evidence-based strategies and policy development to enhance healthcare system effectiveness, providing high-quality, equitable, and cost-effective care.
8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies: Leverage information and communication technologies to enhance patient safety, improve quality of care, and increase the effectiveness of healthcare systems.
9. Professionalism: Demonstrate a strong professional identity that embodies the core values of the nursing profession, including integrity, accountability, and ethical practice.
10. Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: Exhibit advanced leadership skills that foster personal and professional growth and well-being for oneself and others, promoting a culture of continuous learning and development within nursing practice.

Graduate Program Policies

General Information

Information about academic progression, policies or procedures, as well as curriculum information, may be obtained from the Office for Academic Affairs.

Current Licensure as a Registered Nurse

Each graduate nursing student is required to maintain current licensure in good standing as a registered nurse in Texas, or a Compact State with multistate privileges, throughout the graduate program.

Advisement

Each student enrolled in the graduate program is assigned an advisor in the Office for Academic Affairs.

Transfer of Credit

Students may, with the approval of the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS), transfer from another accredited institution a maximum of six semester credit hours (nine quarter hours) of graduate credit applicable to their course of study leading toward the Master of Science in Nursing.

Readmission

Individuals who have previously been enrolled in graduate nursing courses should complete an Application for Readmission. Transcripts from any colleges or universities attended since the time of the previous enrollment in the graduate programs must be submitted.

Courses

The following courses are part of the Master of Science in Nursing program:

• NURS 5306: Advanced Theory for the Practice of Nursing
• NURS 5307: Using Research for the Practice of Nursing
• NURS 5338: Advanced Pathophysiology
• NURS 5339: Leadership and Health Policy for Quality and Safety
• NURS 5356: Financial and Economic Evidence In Health Care
• NURS 6104: Integration and Transition Seminar
• NURS 6108: Nursing Administration Practicum 1
• NURS 6110: Advanced Health Assessment: Clinical Application
• NURS 6120: Clinical Nurse Leader Role 2: Seminar
• NURS 6121: Advanced Health Assessment: Clinical Application
• NURS 6130: Nurse Practitioner Conceptual Basis For Advanced Practice Nursing
• NURS 6132: Population State of the Science
• NURS 6134: Clinical Application: Curriculum Design and Evaluation
• NURS 6136: Clinical Application: Teaching and Learning Strategies Across Settings
• NURS 6138: Clinical Application: Assessment and Evaluation in Education
• NURS 6202: Nursing Administration Practicum 2
• NURS 6210: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
• NURS 6230: Clinical Nurse Leader 1: Role of The Adv. Generalist in Healthcare Microsystems
• NURS 6233: Clinical Nurse Leader 1: Role Of The Adv Generalist In Healthcare Microsystems - Clin Applications
• NURS 6250: Health Promotion and Population Health
• NURS 6260: Intro: Nursing Education Theories & Trends
• NURS 6262: Curriculum Design and Evaluation
• NURS 6264: Teaching and Learning Strategies Across Settings
• NURS 6266: Assessment and Evaluation in Education
• NURS 6302: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
• NURS 6312: Advanced Mental Health Concepts
• NURS 6313: Program Planning and Evaluation for Transitions, Transformation and Integration
• NURS 6314: Nursing Administration Practicum 3
• NURS 6315: Informatics & Health Care Technologies
• NURS 6330: Nursing Administration Practicum 4
• NURS 6331: Economics and Advanced Financial Management
• NURS 6338: Advanced Pathophysiology
• NURS 6380: Epidemiology & Statistical Methods in Population Health
• NURS 6405: Transforming Complex Healthcare Systems for Quality and Safety
• NURS 6412: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Mgmt: Concepts and Theory 1
• NURS 6416: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Diagnosis And Mgmt: Concepts & Theory 2
• NURS 6423: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care Diagnosis And Management: Concepts And Theory 1
• NURS 6428: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care Diagnosis And Management: Concepts And Theory 2
• NURS 6451: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Diagnosis Management of Young Families: Concepts & Theory
• NURS 6452: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Diagnosis Management of Aging Families: Concepts & Theory
• NURS 6455: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Management: Concepts And Theory 1
• NURS 6456: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Management: Concepts And Theory 2
• NURS 6615: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care Diagnosis and Management 1: Clinical Application
• NURS 6616: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care Diagnosis & Management 2: Clinical Application
• NURS 6620: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Diagnosis & Management of Aging Families: Clinical Application
• NURS 6621: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Diagnosis & Management of Young Families: Clinical Application
• NURS 6623: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Diagnosis & Management 1: Clinical Application
• NURS 6624: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Diagnosis & Management 2: Clinical Application
• NURS 6655: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Management 1: Clinical Application
• NURS 6822: Clinical Nurse Leader Role 2: Clinical Application For The Advanced Nursing Generalist
• NURS 7302: Leadership in Healthcare
• NURS 6361: Foundational Topics in Nursing Education
• NURS 6321: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Didactic
• NURS 6121: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Clinical Application
• NURS 6430: Advanced Pathophysiology