Post Master’s Certificate Programs
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:
Post Master’s Certification in Nursing
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.
Graduate education in nursing prepares nurses to assume leadership roles in nursing practice, education and administration. Whereas all advanced practice nurses share professional characteristics of graduate nursing preparation, roles differ in clinical application.
Students have the option of choosing 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 at the vocational, associate and baccalaureate level.
- Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) – Designed for certified advanced practice nurses with little or no perioperative nursing experience who wish to become an RN First Assistant during operative and other invasive procedures.
Post Master’s Certification in Nursing
Application Information
Applicants must submit:
- Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing Program Application
- Proof of current unencumbered licensure or eligibility for unencumbered licensure as a registered professional nurse in the state where the clinical practicum requirements will be completed
- Three professional letters of recommendation.
- Copy of CPR card
- A completed Student Immunization Record Form
- A completed Criminal Background Check through the agency contracted by the nursing program
Prerequisites
These programs are available to individuals who already have a master’s degree:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist: To enter the program and be eligible for national certification, individuals must hold a master’s degree with a major in nursing.
- Family Nurse Practitioner: To enter the program and be eligible for national certification, individuals must hold a master’s degree with a major in nursing.
- Nurse Educator: This program benefits registered nurses with a non-nursing master’s degree or M.S.N. graduates who want to develop expertise in curriculum development, teaching strategies (including online strategies) and evaluation.
- Registered Nurse First Assistant: Prerequisites are certification as an advanced practice nurse, BCLS (ACLS preferred) and basic computer skills.
Preferred Application Deadlines
Fall Enrollment: July 1
Spring Enrollment: Oct. 1
Certificate Plans
CNS Certificate Courses (21 semester credit hours)
- NUR 6324* Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 6318* Pharmacotherapeutics
- NUR 6331* Advanced Health Assessment
- NUR 6333 Internship in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NUR 6335 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR 6343 Adult Health I
- NUR 6344 Adult Health I Practicum
- NUR 6345 Adult Health II
- NUR 6346 Adult Health II: Practicum
- NUR 6350 Foundations of Health Promotion
*May be waived if student has successfully completed equivalent courses in the last five years.
Family Nurse Practitioner Courses (25 semester credit hours)
- NUR 6324* Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 6318* Pharmacotherapeutics
- NUR 6331* Advanced Health Assessment
- NUR 6105 Advanced Skills for Advanced Practice Nurses
- NUR 6325 Family Primary Care I
- NUR 6327 Family Care I Practicum
- NUR 6326 Family Primary Care II
- NUR 6336 Family Care II Practicum
- NUR 6337 Integrated Clinical Practice
- NUR 6351 Mental Health Concepts for Advanced Practice Nurses
- NUR 6335 Role Development: The Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR 6350 Foundations of Health Promotion for Individuals and Communities
*May be waived if student has successfully completed equivalent courses in the last five years.
Nurse Educator Courses (12 semester credit hours)
- NUR 6319 Curriculum and Instruction in Nursing Education
- NUR 6306 Teaching Strategies in Nursing Education
- NUR 6307 Evaluation in Nursing Education
- NUR 6308 Practicum in Nursing Education
Registered Nurse First Assistant Courses (7 semester credit hours)
- NUR 6309 Role of the RNFA
- NUR 6401 RNFA Practicum
