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Master's Information

Program Description | Purpose and Objectives | Core Courses | Admission Criteria

Master's Program Majors

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Program Description

The master's program leads to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, and varies in credits depending on the major. The majors can be completed as full-time or part-time study. The curriculum design includes core courses, area of concentration core courses, advanced practice specialty courses, role development courses, and electives. Students in any of the majors may also elect to add a minor in nursing administration, nursing education, nursing informatics, nursing research, or health care genetics.

Students may select a major with a clinical practice focus. These majors include nurse anesthesia, nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse specialist. Within the nurse practitioner major, there are six areas of concentration: acute care, adult, family, neonatal, pediatric, and psychiatric primary care. Within the clinical nurse specialist major, there are two areas of concentration: adult medical/surgical nursing and psychiatric/mental health nursing. An alternative to the clinically focused majors, the student may select preparation for a specialty role: The Nurse Specialty Role (NSR) major has five areas of concentration: nursing administration, clinical nurse leader, nursing education, nursing informatics, and nursing research.

Registered nurses who do not yet have a BSN may enter the Master's program via the RN Options, early admission to MSN. Registered nurses with a bachelor's degree in another discipline will be individually considered for admission to the Master's Program. Registered nurses who already have a master's degree in nursing have the option of earning a second master's degree in nursing. Earning the second master's will require completing the course requirements for the specific Major or Area of Concentration and may require taking more credits than are required for certification alone. Master's and Post-master's students also have the option of enrolling in a number of certificate programs. The School of Nursing offers certificate programs in genetics, nursing research, and school nursing and post-masters’ certificates in health care genetics; education; informatics; and as an acute care, neonatal or psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the Master's Program is to provide an organized sequential plan of study that leads to preparation of an advanced practice nurse or preparation in a specialized nursing role. This purpose is fulfilled through:

  • Preparation in advanced nursing practice or in a specialized role
  • Preparation in research methods and skills
  • Provision of a foundation for further study at the doctoral level

The graduate of the Master's Program will:

  • Demonstrate mastery of advanced knowledge and skills in a specialty area of advanced practice nursing or in a specialized role.
  • Critically evaluate knowledge and theories from nursing and other disciplines for their contribution to nursing practice.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use the steps of evidence-based practice to develop clinical practice guidelines and design projects to improve health care delivery.
  • Initiate collaborative relationships with other health professionals to ensure quality care to the patient/client and to mobilize health and social resources for individuals, families, groups, and communities.
  • Demonstrate leadership activities to advance the profession of nursing.
  • Critically evaluate issues relative to nursing practice and health care in light of scientific knowledge and personal and societal values.
  • Formulate and implement plans for individual professional development.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate ideas both orally and in written form in an articulate, literate, and organized manner.

Core Courses

The following courses, from the School Core Courses, are required for all students enrolled in the Master's Program:

  • NUR 2000 - Research for Evidence Based Practice 1
  • NUR 2007 - Research for Evidence Based Practice 2
  • NUR 2011 - Applied Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice
  • NUR 2010 - Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations

The following are required of all students in the Nurse Anesthesia, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Nurse Practitioner majors:

  • NUR 2004 - Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
  • NUR 2031 -The Diagnostic Physical Exam Across the Life Span
  • NUR 2034 - Advanced Pharmacology
  • NUR 2009 - Leadership and Healthcare Systems: Policy, Organization and Financing of Health Care Module

Admission Criteria to the Master's Program

Applications to the Master's Program in nursing are reviewed by the faculty in the applicant's Major/Area of Concentration. Applicants must be considered qualified for advanced study.

Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era.

Applicants to the master's program in nursing must have:

  • A baccalaureate degree in nursing or a graduate level first professional degree in nursing, preferred. Registered nurses with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree may be considered for admission.
  • An RN Option, Early Admission to MSN is available.
  • A current license to practice nursing in a state or territory of the United States.  All students must obtain a Pennsylvania license prior to beginning clinical courses.
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the undergraduate degree.
  • Relevant clinical experience: Specified by the Major/Area of Concentration.
  • A pre-admission interview. If the applicant resides at a great distance, a telephone interview may be conducted.
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE may be waived if the GPA is 3.5 or higher.
  • A prerequisite undergraduate statistics course of at least three credits, with a minimum of a C grade is required.
  • The following requirements can be uploaded into the online application.
  • Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant's capacity and potential for master's study from each of the following:
    • The director or a faculty member from the most recent academic program attended (if applicant has been a nursing student in the last 5 years);
    • A recent employer; and,
    • A person who can speak to the applicant's professional work.
  • A typed essay of a minimum of 500 words stating:
    • Your philosophy of nursing;
    • Your reasons for wanting to study in a particular area of concentration;
    • What you expect from the master’s program; and,
    • Your future career goals.

Procedure

  1. Application forms are secured from and returned to the Student Services Office. Applicants wanting full time study are encouraged to apply for Fall Term admission.
  2. Applicant's materials are assembled and filed in the Student Services Office, 239 Victoria Building and must include:
    1. Completed Master's program application including the essay as directed on the application itself.
    2. Application fee (non-refundable and does not apply to the payment of tuition)
    3. Complete transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
    4. Standardized test results (GRE).
      1. You can arrange to take the GRE by calling the Test Center in the Cathedral of Learning (G-35CL) on campus at 412-424-9103. The fee is currently $140.00.
      2. Kaplan offers GRE preparation courses
      3. 2 - 3 weeks to receive scores
      4. Both the Test center and CCAC states there scheduled offerings each term/semester.
    5. Three (3) references.
    6. Copy of a current license to practice nursing.
    7. Resume.

MSN Majors and Areas of Concentration Available

For more information, please contact:
Student Services
1-888-747-0794 or 412-624-4586
Email: sao50@pitt.edu