Master of Science in Nursing Programs
The fall 2011 advising list is now available.
The graduate nursing program is designed to provide you with the opportunity for study in selected areas of advanced and specialized professional nursing practice.
As you read more about our programs, don’t forget to check out these helpful links:
Master of Science in Nursing Programs
ASU's Master of Science in Nursing programs are offered online through Blackboard, a course delivery system. On-campus attendance requirements are kept to a minimum and are dependent upon the educational track to which you are accepted. Clinical requirements can usually be completed in the student's city of residence (within Texas) or at the nearest approved clinical site(s), provided course objectives are met. Preceptors at approved clinical site(s) are subject to approval per course requirements and expected course objectives.
Master’s degree students choose one of these areas of specialization:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Provides direct patient care for a specialized client population, develops innovative therapeutic nursing interventions, provides education to both nurses and other health care workers, and develops and implements continuous quality assessment and improvement programs
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Provides direct care to families and individuals across the lifespan and interfaces with other provider team members to supply broad-based comprehensive health care
- Nurse Educator – Gives graduates with advanced nursing knowledge an additional nursing education focus. Graduates are prepared to teach in a variety of nursing programs, including those at the vocational, associate and baccalaureate levels.
- Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program with Texas Tech – Allows master’s degree students to choose one of three nurse practitioner specialization tracks: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (GNP) and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Master of Science in Nursing Programs
Application Information
In addition to the general requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies, applicants for regular admission to the M.S.N. program must file a separate departmental application to the Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences and meet the criteria listed below:
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, or the AACN Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
- Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale*
- A basic statistics course (equal to three semester credit hours) completed with a grade of C or higher
- A basic pathophysiology course (equal to three semester credit hours) completed with a grade of C or higher
- A current, unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Texas or the state where the student will engage in clinical experiences
- Evidence of inclusion of basic physical assessment content in an undergraduate nursing program or demonstrated proficiency in health assessment
- A basic computer literacy course (equal to three semester credit hours) or demonstrated proficiency
- Acceptance to the College of Graduate Studies
- Three professional letters of recommendation
- 500-word essay
Prior to their first clinical course, graduate students must have the following on file in the nursing office:
- Current CPR (professional level) certification
- Evidence of meeting state-mandated immunization requirements
- Proof of current health insurance
* When an applicant's GPA is below 3.0, but between 2.75 and 2.99, and if the applicant has achieved a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, the applicant may be granted provisional admission.
Prerequisites
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for Nursing or AACN Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education. Graduates from non-accredited programs may be accepted on an individual basis.
- Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- A basic statistics course (equivalent to three semester credit hours), completed with a grade of C or higher within the last five years
- Evidence of inclusion of basic physical assessment content in an undergraduate nursing program or completion of a course in physical assessment
- A basic computer literacy course (equivalent to three semester credit hours) or evidence of proficiency
Preferred Application Deadlines
Fall Enrollment: July 1
Spring Enrollment: Oct. 1
Degree Requirements
| Course Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 6324 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 6313 | Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 6301 | Design and Methodology of Quantitative and Qualitative Research | 3 |
| NUR 6331 | Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning (45 clock hours) | 3 |
| NUR 6318 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NUR 6317 | Health Policy and Ethics | 3 |
| NUR 6356 | Statistical Analysis in Health Care Research | 3 |
| NUR 6103 | Professional Scholarship | 1 |
Clinical Nurse Specialist Track (21-24 credit hours)
- NUR 6335 Role Development – Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR 6350 Foundations of Health Promotion for Individuals and Communities (45 clock hours)
- NUR 6343 Adult Health I: Foundations of Advanced Nursing Care of the Adult
- NUR 6344 Adult Health I: Practicum in Advanced Nursing Care of the Adult (115 clock hours)
- NUR 6345 Adult Health II: Diagnosis and Management
- NUR 6346 Adult Health II: Practicum in Diagnosis Management (115 clock hours)
- NUR 6333 Internship in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NUR 6351 Mental Health for APNs (optional)
Total semester credit hours required: 46-49
Family Nurse Practitioner Track (25 credit hours)
- NUR 6105 Advanced Skills for APNs (45 clock hours)
- NUR 6335 Role Development: The Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR 6325 Family Primary Care I
- NUR 6327 Family Primary Care I Practicum
- NUR 6326 Family Primary Care II
- NUR 6336 Family Primary Care II Practicum
- NUR 6337 Integrated Clinical Practice: FNP
- NUR 6350 Foundations of Health Promotion for Individuals and Communities
- NUR 6351 Mental Health for APNs
Total semester credit hours required: 47
Nurse Educator Track (12 credit hours)
- NUR 6319 Curriculum Design and Instruction in Nursing Education
- NUR 6306 Teaching Strategies in Nursing Education
- NUR 6307 Evaluation in Nursing Education
- NUR 6308 Practicum in Nursing Education
Total semester credit hours required: 34
Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program with Texas Tech Degree Requirements
| Course Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 6301 | Design and Methodology of Quantitative and Qualitative Research | 3 |
| NUR 6313 | Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 6317 | Health Policy and Ethics | 3 |
| NUR 6318 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NUR 6324 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 6331 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (45 clock hours) | 3 |
| NUR 6356 | Statistical Analysis in Health Care Research | 3 |
With a choice of one of the three following Nurse Practitioner Options
(27 semester credit hours to be taken at Texas Tech)
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track
- Elective (3 semester credit hours – Graduate level)
- Computer Science or Elective (3 hrs – Graduate level)
- N5111 The Advanced Practice Nurse Role: Foundations for APN
- N5222 Diagnostic Methods and Procedures for Advanced Practice
- N5450 ACNP Concepts and Diagnostic Skills I: Adult
- N5451 ACNP Concepts and Diagnostic Skills II: Adult
- N6050 Acute Care Practicum
- N5392 Application of Advanced Research – non-thesis*
- Elective (3 semester credit hours) – non-thesis*
- N6000 Thesis (optional - 6 hours minimum)
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
- Elective (3 semester credit hours – Graduate level)
- Computer Science or Elective (3 hrs – Graduate level)
- N5302 Community Health Foundation for Advanced Practice
- N5111 The Advanced Practice Nurse Role: Foundations for APN
- N5222 Diagnostic Methods and Procedures for Advanced Practice
- N5333 GNP I: Management of Acute and Episodic Conditions
- N5334 GNP II: Management of Chronic Health Conditions in Older Adults
- N6090 GNP Practicum
- N5392 Application of Advanced Research - non-thesis*
- Elective (3 semester credit hours) – non-thesis*
- N6000 Thesis (optional - 6 hours minimum)
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Elective (3 semester credit hours – Graduate level)
- Computer Science or Elective (3 hrs – Graduate level)
- N5302 Community Health Foundation for Advanced Practice
- N5111 The Advanced Practice Nurse Role: Foundations for APN
- N5222 Diagnostic Methods and Procedures for Advanced Practice
- N5380 Pediatric Primary Health Care I
- N5381 Pediatric Primary Health Care II
- N6080 Pediatric Nursing Practicum
- N5392 Application of Advanced Research - non-thesis*
- Elective (3 semester credit hours) – non-thesis*
- N6000 Thesis (optional - 6 hours minimum)
Total semester credits required: 48
