Master of Science

Residency Requirement

This program has a residency requirement of 24 credit hours.

Students studying to become nurse practitioners choose from three tracks: child, family, or family psychiatric mental health. Students studying to become clinical nurse specialists follow an adult medical-surgical track. We also offer a fast track RN-to-MS option for this degree.

• Nurse Practitioner: Child track (PNP) (Program on HOLD)
• Nurse Practitioner: Family track (FNP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP

Special Options for the Master's program

• RN-to-MS Program (fast Track)
• RNs with a Bachelor's in another field
• Master's Completion for NPs

The master’s program builds on your undergraduate nursing education and focuses on applying advanced theory and evidence-based data to clinical practice.

You may take practicum courses as electives to strengthen your advanced practice skills. You also may participate in faculty­sponsored research or individual research projects under faculty guidance, or practice teaching or nursing administration.

Clinical Opportunities

The master’s program emphasizes clinical practice and requires students to practice advanced nursing under the guidance of experts. In addition to the expertise available on campus (at University Hospital and its many specialty clinics) the College of Nursing has developed an extensive network of physician offices, hospitals, clinics and other agencies that participate in our program. These affiliations give you the opportunity to work in primary and acute care settings with preceptors who special­ize in a vast array of clinical practice areas.

Before graduating, students in the master’s program either complete a master’s thesis or a culminating project exam.

Degree Time Frame

Students may take up to five years to complete the master’s program. On average, part-time students carry three to six credits per semester and finish in three to five years. Full-time students carry a minimum of nine credits per semester and finish in two or three years.

Non­matriculated students may take up to nine credits of course work on a space available basis

Faculty advisors work closely with students to help them fit courses and program requirements into their work and daily lives.

Unique Education Minor

• Education Minor

Students can complete an education minor by completing NURS 565: Nurse as Educator (required by all master's students) and 6 additional credits, NURS 655 Curriculum and Program Development and NURS 665 Educational Evaluation.