Dr. Annette Barnes, Graduate Program Chair
410-546-4380
Advisement for the program is available from the School of Nursing .
Graduate education in nursing builds upon generalized preparation at the undergraduate level and previous experience in nursing. Graduate nursing education provides advanced preparation and knowledge in specialized areas of nursing. Salisbury University offers a master’s program with tracks preparing students for roles as health care leaders and clinical nurse educators.
Students seeking the Master of Science in Nursing must complete an approved program of study, including 36-39 semester hours of graduate credit.
All graduate nursing students must complete a core of courses that prepares them for evidence-based advanced nursing practice. Core courses include Epidemiology (NURS 515 ), Qualitative Research (NURS 542 ), Quantitative Research (NURS 544 ), Advanced Statistics (MATH 502 ) and completion of a capstone/thesis/internship requirement. Each concentration then has additional required courses.
Students can transfer no more than one-third of the total number of program credits. All transferred credits must have a grade of B or better.
Preparation for advanced practice roles is offered in the following tracks: health care leadership (HCL) and nurse educator (NE). Graduates of the NE concentration are eligible to take the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Education examination. Graduates of the HCL concentration may be eligible to take the American Organization of Nurse Examiners (AONE) Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) exam.
The time required for completion of the master’s-level program depends on the individual student’s course load, the selected concentration and the course-offering rotation schedule. Generally, the master’s degree can be completed in two to three academic years. Part-time or full-time options are available for most semesters. The master’s curriculum is comprised of core courses, taken by students in all concentrations, and specialty courses, depending on the selected concentration.
M.S.N. Program Admission
Admission to the master’s program requires acceptance to the University for graduate study, as well as acceptance into the Master of Science in Nursing Program. Admission to the program is a competitive process, and the following required items will be considered individually as the final applicant selections are made.
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B.S. in nursing from a nationally accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (except eligible RN-to- M.S.N. students)
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Current and unencumbered United States Registered Nursing (RN) license
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Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
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Current resume or curriculum vitae
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One-two page statement describing academic and professional goals
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Two academic or professional references/letters of recommendation
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Residency/Domicile Information form (for those students applying for in-state tuition)
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Fulfillment of University requirements for international students as outlined in the catalog
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Completion of an interview by the Graduate Program director or members of the Graduate Program Committee
Clinical experience is not required, but students are encouraged to work in professional nursing roles during summers and semester breaks.
M.S.N. Enrollment Requirements
After acceptance into the nursing program and prior to beginning the program, students must:
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Meet all School of Nursing health requirements.
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Provide evidence of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by the American Heart Association for health care providers.
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Provide evidence of current RN licensure in the state of Maryland, a compact state or the state in which the student is currently practicing.
Progression Requirements
Master’s students in the School of Nursing must achieve a grade of B or better in all Thesis, Internship and Capstone courses (NURS 590 , NURS 592 and NURS 593 - NURS 595 ) and all nursing courses that are considered to be practicum courses. These courses include: NURS 562 , NURS 572 , NURS 577 and NURS 578 . In graduate courses that are not practicum courses, the student may receive no more than one grade below a B. The exceptions are the following courses, which result in dismissal from the graduate program without possibility of repeating if a grade of C/C+ or lower is earned: NURS 590 , NURS 592 , NURS 593 , NURS 594 and NURS 595 . Students who receive a grade lower than a B in any course may repeat one course one time in order to achieve a better grade. Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below a 3.0 in any semester will be placed on academic probation according to University policy.
M.S.N. Program Policies
- A minimum of 36-39 semester hours is required in the prescribed sequence according to concentration track selected for the master’s degree.
- Depending on the concentration selected, a minimum 21 of these semester hours must be completed at SU.
- Graduate Nursing Program Grading Policy: A grade of B is required in courses for the program not listed here. The program allows one C/C+ if it is earned from one these courses: NURS 515 , NURS 525 , NURS 526 , NURS 542 , NURS 544 , NURS 560 , NURS 561 , NURS 570 , NURS 571 , NURS 575 , NURS 576 , NURS 580 and NURS 755 . Only one course may be repeated during the program to earn a higher grade. The exception are the following courses, which result in dismissal from the graduate program without possibility of repeating if a grade of C/C+ or lower is earned: NURS 590 , NURS 592 , NURS 593 , NURS 594 and NURS 595 .
- Students whose GPA falls below a 3.0 in any semester will be placed on academic probation according to University policy.
- Students must maintain a valid license as a registered nurse in the State of Maryland or a compact state. If a clinical site is in a non-compact state, additional R.N. licensure for that state is necessary.
- Students must maintain current clinical and health requirements.
Thesis/Capstone/Internship Information
Registration for these courses (NURS 590 , NURS 592 , NURS 593 , NURS 594 , NURS 595 ) requires a “permission code” after selection of a committee chair.
- NURS 590 Thesis - variable credit - may register for 1-3 credits for a total of 3 credits. Students must be registered for at least 1 credit in NURS 590 in the semester that they defend the thesis.
- NURS 592 Internship - 3 credits - Students must be registered for NURS 592 in the semester that they present at the graduate scholarship event.
- Capstone Project - 1 credit each course for a total of 3 credits. Students must be registered for NURS 595 in the semester that they present at the graduate scholarship event.
Checklist
This checklist is an unofficial tool for planning. Matriculated students and advisors should consult the Academic Requirements Report in GullNet before and after registering for classes each semester to track academic progress.
