Master of Science in Nursing
The Master of Science in Nursing Program (MSN) provides registered nurses (RN) with advanced knowledge and clinical skills to serve as family nurse practitioners (FNP) for individuals of all ages and their families. FNPs practice in a variety of rural and urban ambulatory settings such as physician offices, outpatient clinics, health maintenance organizations, community health clinics, and specialty clinics. Graduates are eligible for national certification and state specialty certification. The MSN program received full accreditation (10 years) from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in 2003, meeting nationally-mandated standards.
Program Information
The FNP program is a part-time, three year, cohort-based curriculum consisting of 45 credit hours and 720 supervised clinical hours. Courses are delivered using a mix of on-campus and online methods. On-campus courses are scheduled one day per week. Clinical practicum hours may be completed in the student’s community with an approved preceptor. Students must pass a comprehensive examination during the final semester of the program.
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Post-Master’s FNP Certificate Program
The school of nursing also offers a post-master's family nurse practitioner (FNP) certificate. The post-master's FNP certificate is designed for nurses who already possess a nursing master's degree but who wish to pursue an FNP specialty. All candidates must make an application to the program and must meet the admission requirements for the MSN program. Course of study is individualized based upon previous course work.
GRADUATE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES (approved 11/11)
- The graduate program objectives were developed from and reflect the mission of the department:Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other related sciences to provide culturally competent, clinical prevention and health promotion interventions and services to individuals, families, communities, aggregates and/or populations across health care settings.
- Apply critical thinking, research, and evidence-based models of care to design innovative nursing practices intended to improve quality and patient safety outcomes.
- Develop and utilize leadership strategies that promote positive change in the lives of patients and populations when communicating, collaborating and consulting with other health care professionals.
- Integrate the principles of effective communication through the use of written,verbal, non-verbal and information technology modes of communication in professional settings.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the professional values and standards of advanced practice nursing by advocating for policies that improve public health and the nursing profession.
- Acquire a foundation for, and affirm the value of lifelong learning, further education and professional role development.
| MSN Curriculum Time Line: Three-Year Plan | |
| Year 1: Fall Semester | |
| NE 501 Nursing Science & Concepts of Nursing | |
| NE 540 Professional Role Development | |
| Total | |
| Year 1: Winter Semester | |
| NE 510 Nursing Research | |
| NE 541 Advanced Health Assessment | |
| NE 587 Research Practicum/Scholarly Project or | |
| NE 599 Thesis | |
| Total | |
| Year 1: Summer | |
| NE 512 Statistics for Health Care Professionals | |
| Total | |
| Year 2: Fall Semester | |
| NE 552 Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology | |
| NE 554 Advanced Pharmacology | |
| NE 587 Research Practicum/Scholarly Project or | |
| NE 599 Thesis | |
| Total | |
| Year 2: Winter Semester | |
| NE 542 Primary Care Management-1 | |
| NE 543 Practicum-1 (16 hours of clinic/week) | |
| Total | |
| Year 2: Summer Semester | |
| NE 506 Issues | |
| NE 587 Research Practicum/Scholarly Project or | |
| NE 599 Thesis | |
| Total | |
| Year 3: Fall Semester | |
| NE 544 Primary Care Management-1 | |
| NE 545 Practicum-2 (16 hours of clinic/week) | |
| Total | |
| Year 3: Wnter Semester | |
| NE 547 Practicum-3 (16 hours of clinic/week) | |
| NE 587 Research Practicum/Scholarly Project or | |
| NE 599 Thesis | |
Courses Required for Degree
Click here for program policies and the list of courses, descriptions, credits and sequences required for the MSN degree.
National Certification
Students who succesfully complete the FNP curriculum are eligible for national certification and Michigan specialty certification. National certification as a board certified FNP is required to practice in Michigan and many other states.
