Academic Programs Catalog

The Master of Science in Nursing degree prepares graduates for roles that reflect current, emerging and expanding roles of nurses as providers and educators. The curricula for these advanced practice roles are designed in the context of related challenges, needs and increasing complexities within the systems of health care delivery, higher education, and professional nursing. The Master of Science in Nursing degree has been fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program offers four concentrations: Nurse Practitioner-Family, Nurse Practitioner-Adult Gerontology Primary Care, Nurse Practitioner-Psychiatric Mental Health, and Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. The first three concentrations prepare advanced practice registered nurses, while the Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration focuses on preparing advanced practice registered nurses for specialized acute care in adult-gerontology.

Nurse practitioners are an advanced practice registered nurse who use specialty skills and knowledge to provide primary and specialty care to clients Nurse practitioners may diagnose and treat health conditions and focus on prevention for specific populations. The Family Nurse Practitioner provides primary care to clients across the lifespan. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner provides care from ages 13 years to older adults. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners diagnose and treat clients with mental health needs.  Our nurse practitioner curriculum prepares nurses to function interdependently in collaboration with other health care providers to provide primary care. They assess the physical, socio-emotional, and developmental states of individual clients and their families, analyze health behavior, apply clinical judgment, and intervene in a manner to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care delivery. Nurse practitioners provide health promotion therapeutics, as well as early recognition and prompt treatment and management of illness, prevention of complications, and needed rehabilitation. Client and family education, guidance, and advocacy are vital characteristics of the nurse practitioner's role. Graduates of the program will be eligible for certification as a nurse practitioner in their population focus area.

The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration is designed to prepare registered nurses to assume an advanced practice role as a clinical nurse specialist.  This graduate assumes a professional leadership role to inform nursing practice, education, and health care delivery systems in the design and implementation of strategies to improve organizational, educational, and individual client, student, and nurse provider outcomes. Advanced practice clinical expertise is reflected in the application of innovative evidence-based practice interventions and the development of collaborative relationships in order to address the health care needs of a diverse population. Graduates of the program will be eligible for certification as a Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Students must meet the requirements of the university as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog, in addition to the requirements of the College of Nursing specified below.

Students who are enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing degree program may elect a specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood. For additional information, refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood in the College of Social Science section of this catalog.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program, an applicant must have:

1. Submitted a university application for admission and a curriculum vita.
2. Completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree from an accredited college or university.
3. Current unrestricted RN license without probationary status in the applicant’s state or country. For those applicants practicing in Michigan, a current Registered Nurse Michigan license is required. Applicants who hold Registered Nurse licensure from other states or countries and who are in the Nurse Practitioner concentration may be admitted provisionally with the requirement that a United States and Michigan Registered Nurse license must be obtained prior to progression to clinical courses.
4. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for total credits completed during the second-half of the four-year baccalaureate nursing program.
5. Completed a 3-credit undergraduate statistics course with a grade of 2.0 (4.0 scale) or better within the last five years or completed a 3-credit graduate statistics course with a grade of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or better within the last five years.
6. Submitted a written essay that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for graduate study in the selected area of specialty nursing practice: nurse practitioner or adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist.
7. Submitted three letters of recommendations. The reference letters must be from a source that has direct knowledge of the applicant’s work and educational experience specifying the applicant’s ability to do graduate work.
8. Completed an admission interview with the College of Nursing faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the Dean of the College based on the requirements for admission and the personal interview.
9. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum average score of 550, no subscore below 52 on the paper-based test (PBT).  If the applicant completes the Internet-based test (iBT), no subscore below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 22 and a minimum average score of 80. Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University Office of Admissions.

Provisional Status

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for regular admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program may be accepted provisionally.  Provisionally admitted students are required to satisfy deficiencies as specified in the letter of admission and will be formally removed from provisional status once the deficiencies are satisfied. Students on provisional status may not progress in the program if deficiencies are not satisfied in the specified time frame.

Requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing Degree in Nursing

A  total of 54 credits is required for the degree under Plan B (without thesis) depending on the student’s area of concentration. Students must meet the requirements specified below:

Part–time Students

Although many nursing students pursue the master's degree on a part–time basis, all degree candidates will be expected to maintain minimum degree progress standards established by the College and published in the College of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook. Students are also expected to complete at least one course per semester until the degree is earned.

Academic Standards

A cumulative grade–point average of 3.0 and a grade of 3.0 in each nursing course is required.

Transfer Credits

Up to 25% of graduate course work may be transferred into the Master of Science in Nursing program from other accredited programs upon approval of the College of Nursing, i.e., Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), and/or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Time Limit

The time limit for completing the degree is six years from the beginning of the first semester in which credit toward the degree was earned.