Program Overview

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MSN Nurse Educator Program

The MSN Nurse Educator program is designed to prepare graduates to utilize theories of teaching and learning in a variety of settings, with an emphasis on nursing education. The program aims to equip students with the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate nursing education programs.

Program Information

The program coursework is delivered online and includes a field-based practicum. The total credits required for the program are:

• 40 credits for the thesis option
• 35 credits for the non-thesis option

Required Coursework

The program offers two plans: a two-year plan and a three-year plan.

Two-Year Plan

Year One Coursework

• Fall:
  • NURS 615 Foundations of Advanced Nursing (3 credits)
  • NURS 620 Role Development of the Nurse Educator (2 credits)
• Spring:
  • NURS 626 Research in Nursing and Health Care (3 credits)
  • NURS 675 Cultivating a Practice of Cultural Humility in Health Care (3 credits)
  • NURS 670 Health Policy, Legislation, Economics and Ethics (3 credits)
• Summer:
  • PHA 645 Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan: Application to Advance Practice (2 credits)
  • NURS 710 Curriculum Development and Program Evaluation in Nursing (3 credits)

Year Two Coursework

• Fall:
  • NURS 630 Advanced Assessment Across the Lifespan for the CNL/Nurse Educator (3 credits)
  • NURS 623 Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan Advanced Nursing (2 credits)
  • NURS 720 Teaching and Learning Methodologies in Nursing (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • NURS 721 Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education (3 credits)
  • NURS 778/Lab Nurse Educator/Didactic** and Practicum* (2+3 credits)
• Thesis Option Only:
  • NURS 798 Thesis (5 credits)

Three-Year Plan

Year One Coursework

• Fall:
  • NURS 615 Foundations of Advanced Nursing (3 credits)
  • NURS 620 Role Development of the Nurse Educator (2 credits)
• Spring:
  • NURS 626 Research in Nursing and Health Care (3 credits)
  • NURS 675 Cultivating a Practice of Cultural Humility in Health Care (3 credits)
• Summer:
  • NURS 710 Curriculum Development and Program Evaluation in Nursing (3 credits)

Year Two Coursework

• Fall:
  • NURS 720 Teaching and Learning Methodologies in Nursing (3 credits)
  • NURS 623 Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan: Applies to Advance Practice Nursing (2 credits)
• Spring:
  • NURS 721 Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education (3 credits)
  • NURS 670 Health Policy, Legislation, Economics and Ethics (3 credits)
• Summer:
  • PHA 645 Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan: Application to Advance Practice Nursing (2 credits)

Year Three Coursework

• Fall:
  • NURS 630 Advanced Assessment Across the Lifespan for the CNL/Nurse Educator (3 credits)
• Spring:
  • NURS 778/Lab Nurse Educator/Didactic Practicum* (2+3 credits)
• Thesis Option Only:
  • NURS 798 Thesis (5 credits)

Certification Options

Upon completion of this degree, graduates may be eligible for the Certified Nurse Educator certification.

Tuition and Fees

The estimated cost per credit is:

• $640 for South Dakota residents
• $962 for non-South Dakota residents
• $640 for children of alumni
• $640 for students eligible for the South Dakota Advantage

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Incorporate knowledge and theories from nursing and other supportive disciplines to promote and translate evidence into practice
• Use leadership strategies to work with interprofessional teams and recommend quality improvement initiatives
• Assume accountability to influence health policy and improve health care delivery
• Utilize informatics to enhance delivery of health care
• Communicate effectively with populations to improve health
• Analyze and apply administrative functions to influence health care delivery systems
• Develop and implement a nurse educator evidence-based practice in a variety of settings

Admission Criteria

Applicants must:

• Have a current licensure as a registered nurse in the United States or its territories
• Have 1,500 hours of documented nursing practice experience
• Meet the basic requirements for admission to the Graduate School
• Submit a completed and verified application to the graduate nursing program
• Complete compliance requirements, including a clear background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, and other requirements

Application Process

Each applicant is required to complete two applications: the Graduate School application and the NursingCAS application. Eligible applicants will be invited to participate in an online interview and online written assessment.

Requirements After Admission

Applicants who are offered admission to the program will be required to:

• Complete the graduate nursing compliance requirements
• Submit a nonrefundable deposit along with acceptance letter
• Purchase a laptop computer that meets the computer requirements

Compliance Requirements

All students are required to submit SDSU College of Nursing compliance documents, including:

• Immunization records
• Background check
• Drug screen
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification
• Health insurance
• Professional liability insurance
• RN license
• ACLS certification (for certain programs)

Fast Track

The RN to Grad program is designed to help registered nurses with an associate's degree in nursing move ahead in their career. The program allows students to substitute up to four graduate-level courses as part of the RN to BSN curriculum to help jump-start progress towards select master's or doctoral degrees.