Accelerated MSN/PhD
The Accelerated Master of Science in Nursing/Doctor of Philosophy (MSN/PhD) prepares nurses for advanced practice roles and educational leadership roles at a quicker pace than the separate degree programs.
Graduates will provide leadership as practitioners, teachers, and scholars in support of evidence-based practice for nursing, health care, and education.
The program of study, which builds on baccalaureate nursing education, is designed to prepare nurse faculty leaders to facilitate learning, engage in professional and community service, conduct research, and advance nursing education within higher education. The master's component prepares advanced practice (AP) nurses with a clinical specialty focus such as family nurse practitioner (FNP) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS).
Upon completion of the master's and doctoral level requirements, graduates are eligible for American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification as a clinical nurse specialist with an adult gerontology focus.
- First two years of study consist of master's level courses; a master's degree in nursing is awarded at the end of year two.
- Year three consists of 18 to 21 credits of doctoral level courses; comprehensive examination is completed.
- Year four consists of the dissertation proposal courses
Students must complete 55 credits within the master's level to earn the MSN degree for the advanced practice FNP role. Students must complete 41 credits within the master's level to earn the MSN degree for the CNS role. An additional 48 credits of doctoral course work plus dissertation advisement are required beyond the master's degree level.
Clinical Nurse Specialist : Accelerated MSN/PhD Curriculum
| Year I (22 credits) |
| NURS 601 |
Advanced Pathophysiology |
3 |
| NURS 608 |
Advanced Health Assessment |
3 |
| NURS 634 |
Nursing Leadership |
3 |
| NURS 656 |
Specialization in Adult Nursing I |
4 |
| NURS 702 |
Nursing Science I: Epistemology |
3 |
| NURS 816 |
Quantitative Research I |
3 |
| NURS 817 |
Quantitative Research II |
3 |
| Year II (20 credits) |
| NURS 639 |
Pharmacotherapeutics |
3 |
| NURS 654 |
APN Field Practicum* |
2 |
| NURS 661 |
APN: Clinician Role |
4 |
| NURS 663 |
APN: Current Perspectives |
1 |
| NURS 657 |
Specialization in Adult Health Nursing II |
4 |
| NURS 750 |
Evaluation Methods |
3 |
| NURS 705 |
Psychology of Learning |
3 |
| *A minimum of 500 hours of AP clinical hours is required. At the completion of the MSN level, graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC certification examination. |
| MSN awarded — Total 42 credits, minimum 500 clinical hours. |
| Year III (21 credits) |
| NURS 706 |
Philosophy of Education |
3 |
| NURS 720 |
Curriculum Theory in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 813 |
Nursing Science II: Synthesis in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 815 |
Qualitative Research |
3 |
| NURS 814 |
Nursing Science III: Theory Development in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 820 |
Higher Education Organizations |
3 |
| NURS 853 |
Teaching in Nursing |
3 |
| Comprehensive examination completed. |
| Year IV |
| NURS 900 |
Dissertation Seminar I |
3 |
| NURS 901 |
Dissertation Seminar II |
3 |
| NURS 950 |
Dissertation Advisement
This course must be taken each fall, spring, and summer until the dissertation is completed. |
3 |
Family Nurse Practitioner : Accelerated MSN/PhD Curriculum
| Year I (18 credits) |
| NURS 601 |
Advanced Pathophysiology |
3 |
| NURS 608 |
Advanced Health Assessment |
3 |
| NURS 634 |
Nursing Leadership |
3 |
| NURS 639 |
Pharmacotherapeutics |
3 |
| NURS 816 |
Quantitative Research I |
3 |
| NURS 817 |
Quantitative Research II |
3 |
| Year II (37 credits) |
| NURS 636 |
Dynamics of Family Health Care |
3 |
| NURS 638 |
Issues in Health Care for Underserved Populations |
3 |
| NURS 648 |
Advanced Family Nursing I
Focus on primary care concepts. |
4 |
| NURS 649 |
Advanced Family Nursing II
Focus on the diagnosis and management of acute episodic and chronic disease states. |
6 |
| NURS 655 |
Advanced Family Nursing III
Focus on the strategies of health promotion, health maintenance, and disease prevention in family health care. |
6 |
| NURS 658 |
Advanced Field Practicum
Focus on extensive field practice. |
2 |
| NURS 663 |
Advanced Nursing Practice: Current Perspectives |
1 |
| NURS 702 |
Nursing Science I: Epistemology |
3 |
| NURS 705 |
Psychology of Learning |
3 |
| NURS 706 |
Philosophy of Education |
3 |
| NURS 750 |
Evaluation Methods |
3 |
| *Required to meet 500 minimum AP clinical hours for ANCC certification examination. |
| MSN awarded — Total 46 credits, minimum 672 clinical hours. |
| Year III (18 credits) |
| NURS 720 |
Curriculum Theory in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 813 |
Nursing Science II: Synthesis in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 815 |
Qualitative Research |
3 |
| NURS 814 |
Nursing Science III: Theory Development in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 820 |
Higher Education Organizations |
3 |
| NURS 853 |
Teaching in Nursing |
3 |
| Comprehensive examination completed. |
| Year IV |
| NURS 900 |
Dissertation Seminar I |
3 |
| NURS 901 |
Dissertation Seminar II |
3 |
| NURS 950 |
Dissertation Advisement
This course must be taken each fall, spring, and summer until the dissertation is completed. |
3 |