Masters of Science of Nursing (MSN) Degree Program (starting may 2023 pending SACSCOC approval)
Two Tracks
Family Nurse Practitioner
Clinical Nurse Specialist/Adult/Gerontology - Nurse Educator
The MSN degree program is a six semester, 48 credit hour, hybrid (online/in-person) program with two advanced practice nursing licensure tracks. The first is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track with a clinical practicum hour requirement of 840 hours, and the second is a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) track with a focus on Adult/Gerontology population and Nurse Educator (NE) coursework with a clinical practicum hour requirement of 540 for the CNS and 120 for the NE. Twenty-three credit hours are shared by both tracks as "core courses". At the completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to sit for national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner or a Clinical Nurse Specialist with Adult/Gerontology focus per their respective tracks. Graduates of the CNS/Nurse Educator track are intentionally prepared to take the certification exam for the CNS role and are eligible to be considered by the National League for Nursing to sit for the Nurse Educator Certification Exam, however, they are not exclusively or intentionally prepared for the purpose of taking the exam. The course of study for the Nurse Educator component provides rigorous content to assure that graduates have the necessary skills and competencies for effective teaching. The School of Nursing does not put forth the expected program or student outcome that these graduates are to take the certified Nurse Educator Certification Exam, however, these graduates would be considered eligible and are welcomed to do so should they so desire. The MSN program is an online program with hybrid intensive sessions preparing nurses to qualify for advanced practice licensure.