Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing (RN-M.S.N.) Programs
The summer/fall 2012 advising list is now available.
The ASU 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: RN-M.S.N. Track
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.
The RN-M.S.N. track is an accelerated mobility track that allows highly qualified registered nurses who are graduates of an accredited associate or diploma program to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing without completing all baccalaureate degree nursing courses. Students in this track complete all required B.S.N. academic courses (27 credits) and six prescribed B.S.N. nursing courses (17 credits) in addition to required courses for the Master of Science in Nursing program.
RN-M.S.N. students choose one of these areas of specialization:
- 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 level.
- 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: RN-M.S.N. Track
Admission requirements for the RN-M.S.N. track
- Applicants must be accepted into the College of Graduate Studies. A separate departmental application for the RN-M.S.N. track must also be completed.
- An associate degree or diploma from a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing. Graduates from non-accredited institutions may request special consideration.
- The applicant must have completed all academics toward their BSN.
- Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Current unencumbered licensure or eligibility for unencumbered licensure as a registered professional nurse in Texas. Proof of current licensure must be demonstrated by the beginning of the fall term in which nursing courses will be taken. MSN Core Curriculum and Advanced Practice Practicums are required to be completed in Texas.
- A basic statistics course (equivalent to three semester credit hours), completed with a grade of C or higher
- A basic computer literacy course (equivalent to three semester credit hours)
- A basic pathophysiology course (equal to three semester credit hours) completed with a grade of C or higher
- Two professional references regarding aptitude for graduate study
- One faculty reference regarding aptitude for accelerated RN-M.S.N. track
- Prior to taking the first graduate-level nursing course, students must have completed a minimum of 90 undergraduate hours.
- All other admission requirements, including proof of immunization records, for the RN-B.S.N. program (see ASU’s Undergraduate Catalog) and the M.S.N. program (Graduate Catalog) must also be met.
- The number of openings in the RN-M.S.N. track is limited. Graduate faculty will evaluate each application and admit the most qualified applicants until all positions are filled.
- 500-word essay
Students enrolled in the RN-M.S.N. track must satisfy Angelo State University’s undergraduate and graduate residency rules. Students must complete all prescribed B.S.N. courses (17 semester credit hours) at ASU. A maximum of nine credit hours of M.S.N. course work may be transferred to ASU. Students must also meet Texas Core Curriculum requirements for the B.S.N. degree.
Prerequisites
- An associate degree or diploma from a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing. Graduates from non-accredited institutions may request special consideration.
- A grade point average (GPA) of at least 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
- A basic computer literacy course (equivalent to three semester credit hours) or demonstrated competency
- A basic pathophysiology course (equivalent to three semester credit hours), completed with a grade of C or higher
- Prior to taking the first graduate-level nursing course, students must have completed a minimum of 90 undergraduate hours.
- All other requirements for the RN-B.S.N. and the M.S.N. programs must be met.
The number of openings in the RN-M.S.N. track is limited. Graduate faculty will evaluate each application and admit the most qualified students until all positions are filled.
Preferred Application Deadlines
Fall Enrollment: July 1
Spring Enrollment: Oct. 1
Courses to Meet ASU Core Requirements
- Math 1302 or 1311 (College Algebra or Business Math)
- English 1301
- Computer literacy
- Pathophysiology (three semester credit hours)
AASN Prerequisites*
| Course Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1302 or 1324 | College Algebra or Finite Mathematics or Contemporary Math | 3 |
| Computer Literacy | 3 | |
| NUR 2324 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| ENG 1301 | English Composition | 3 |
B.S.N. Requirements*
| Course Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART/TH/MUS | 3 | |
| COMM 2301 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENG 1302 | Writing Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| ENG 2323, 2324 or 2325 | Sophomore Literature | 3 |
| POLS 2301 | Federal and State Government | 3 |
| POLS 2302 | Federal and State Government | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | U.S. History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | U.S. History 1865 to Present | 3 |
| MATH 3321/NUR 4337/PSY 3321 | Statistics | 3 |
| Course Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUR 4302 | Management in Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 4407 | Community Health Nursing - Lecture | 4 |
| NUR 4344 | Cultural Diversity in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 4349 | Baccalaureate Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 4403 | Research for Nursing Practice: an Evidence-Based Approach | 4 |
*Students who desire to earn the B.S.N. must complete the Angelo State University B.S.N. degree requirements to include: the Texas core curriculum required for the B.S.N. degree, all courses listed above AND nine (9) graduate (6000-level) hours including the following:
NUR 6313 - Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing
NUR 6317 - Health Policy & Ethics
NUR 6331 - Advanced Health Assessment
M.S.N. 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 |
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
