Nursing Master's Degree Requirements

Faculty | Master's | Doctoral | Courses

Master of Science Program

Course of Study

The Master of Science Program in Nursing builds on previous nursing education and clinical experience, prepares students for advanced practice in a variety of health care agencies and programs, and lays a foundation for doctoral education. It offers the following concentrations: Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Community/School Health Nursing, and a joint M.S./M.P.H. degree. The latter two are offered online through the Division of Continuing Education under the auspices of the School of Nursing and the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. The Nursing Program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national nursing education accrediting body.

The Master of Science Degree Program strengthens health care delivery by teaching the advanced knowledge and skills needed to provide comprehensive, across-the-life-span nursing services to individuals, families, and groups. The program's teaching, inquiry, and outreach prepare professional nurses to think critically and reflectively, respect others and relate well to them, and manage care autonomously while holistically assessing and treating both health care needs and human responses to illness. The program also promotes social accountability: students are educated and encouraged to work for reform in the health care system at the community, regional, and national levels.

Program Objectives

The graduate program builds on the core competencies of the baccalaureate program as a basis for the curriculum. Therefore, the terminal objectives for the graduate program are defined at a more advanced level of practice and specialty and relate to:

Managing
Incorporate the core knowledge of nursing into an advanced practice role to promote, maintain and restore health of clients.
Utilize advanced knowledge of pharmacology, pathophysiology and health assessment in the provision of direct client care.

Respecting
Provide culturally competent care at an advanced level in response to human diversity and societal needs.

Thinking
Integrate research findings and professional standards and guidelines into advanced nursing practice.

Relating
Collaborate with clients, health care providers and community leaders to effect change that improves health and the environments of care.

Credit Transfer

Students who have taken non-degree courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst may transfer a maximum of six credits. Six additional credits may be transferred from institutions other than the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The completion of graduate courses as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission into the program. Students who are admitted and matriculated into the program will be able to enroll in any course. Non-degree students may enroll on a space-available basis. Non-matriculated students who wish to take online graduate nursing courses must register through the Division of Continuing Education. Only matriculated students may enroll in clinical practica.

Admission Criteria

Students must meet the general requirements of both the University of Massachusetts Graduate School and the School of Nursing and have a baccalaureate degree from a nationally accredited school of nursing or be an R.N. with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree. All students must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (B) and provide: transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs attended, documentation of R.N. licensure, Graduate Record Exam scores, TOEFL scores (if needed), and courses in Health Assessment and Elementary Statistics (not for the M.S./M.P.H. Program). Applicants must provide a sample of their own scholarly writing, a written statement of professional goals, and two letters of recommendation. Admission priority is given to applications completed and postmarked by February 1.

Course Requirements

Depending on the concentration chosen, the Master of Science Program in Nursing requires anywhere from 36 to 60 credit hours to complete. The program must be completed within three years (five years for the M.S./M.P.H. Program). It includes required theory, research, core courses, and clinical practica. A research project or participation in a research seminar is also required. Courses meet Tuesdays and Thursdays (except for the Community/School Health Nursing and the M.S./M.P.H. Concentration, which are online 24 hours a day); clinical practica are offered at other times throughout the week. Selected courses are offered during the summer or Wintersession through the Division of Continuing Education. Clinical requirements for the M.S./M.P.H. Program are arranged in the student's locality.

Certification

Students who wish to qualify for national certification exams must complete all required concentration courses. Nurse practitioner students take certification exams immediately upon graduation. Clinical nurse specialist students may be required to obtain additional post-master's clinical experience to qualify for certification. No certification exam yet exists for the Community/School Health or the M.S./M.P.H. concentrations.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance is available through the School of Nursing Professional Nurse Traineeship Grant. To be eligible, matriculated students must be enrolled full-time at the University for a minimum of nine credits per semester. Students are also eligible to compete for University-wide financial aid, including assistantships and Stafford Student loans.

Online Master of Science (in Nursing)/Master of Public Health Dual Degree Program

For R.N. professionals with busy work and/or family schedules, the M.S./M.P.H. dual degree master's program provides the opportunity to achieve professional advanced degrees in both public health and nursing with an emphasis on public health leadership. The program allows students to earn two degrees at once, thus saving money and promoting career goals in a timely manner. There is no residency requirement; therefore, students do not have to come to campus to take courses at any time.

In addition to the faculty, a national public health nurse leader mentors students to provide career coaching, practical applications, and leadership development. In online courses, traditional classroom exchanges are replaced with online chats, discussions, and assignments of critical learning activities necessary for a contemporary public health workforce. Students take courses with professionals and faculty from other disciplines so that learning reflects the perspective and practice of the interdisciplinary environment in population practice. Clinical experiences are arranged with the students in their own areas.

Eligibility Requirements

Students must have a current licensure as a registered nurse and a baccalaureate degree in any field. They should also have an undergraduate GPA of a least 3.0.

Admission Requirements

1) Graduate School Application (with fee) and School of Nursing Master's Application.

2) Personal statement.

3) GRE score report (unless holding a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college/university in the U.S.).

4) Original transcripts in duplicate.

5) Two letters of recommendation.

6) Documentation of R.N. Licensure.

7) Evidence of having successfully completed elementary statistics course.

8) Sample of scholarly writing.

Faculty

M.S./M.P.H. program faculty are the graduate faculty in the School of Nursing with expertise in public health nursing; and, from the five core domains of public health at the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) as well as expert faculty nationally who have received appointments to SPHHS. The most current faculty listings are posted on the School of Nursing and the SPHHS websites.

All courses are offered online through the Division of Continuing Education. Students are able to access the course materials 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Clinical practicums involve diverse clinical activities tailored to meet individual learning needs and are completed in settings identified by the student. Cost is $400 per credit plus a $35 registration fee.

Post Master's Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

The School of Nursing offers a Post Master's Certificate Program to give master's-prepared nurses the opportunity to acquire either family or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification. This program is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialling Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and builds on the student's advanced practice education and clinical experience. To be eligible for this program one must have a master's degree in Nursing.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must have a master's degree from a nationally accredited school of nursing or be an R.N. with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree. They must also have current R.N. licensure and provide a written statement of professional goals, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all graduate programs attended.

Course Requirements

The Post Master's Certificate Program includes 24-41 credit hours taken as a non-degree student. Through the evaluation of individual transcripts a plan of study is created, tailored to meet the unique learning needs and educational goals of each student. The Post Master's Program may require core courses, electives, and practicums to meet the needs of the individual students, and prepare students for advanced practice and a national certification examination.

Online Post Master's Certificate Program in Community/School Health

The School of Nursing offers a Post Master's Certificate Program in Community/School Health designed to meet the advanced educational goals of school nurses and community health nurses. This online learner-centered program combines internet/web-based instruction and student-tailored clinical practicums to meet the needs of nurses with other life responsibilities. The graduate program is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and builds on the student's advanced education and clinical experience. To be eligible for this program, applicants must have a master's degree in a relevant area, which does not have to be in Nursing.

Admission Criteria

Students must have a degree in Nursing and master's degree from an accredited school, college or university. They must also have a current licensure as a registered nurse, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all graduate programs attended.

Course Requirements

The Post Master's Program includes 15-30 credit hours taken as a non-degree student. A plan of study is created, tailored to meet the unique learning needs and educational goals of each student, from the list of courses below. Completion of the program is dependent upon the number of courses needed to provide a sound educational and clinical base for advanced practice in Commuity/School Health. This Post Master's Program plan of study may include core courses, selectives, and practicums.

All courses are offered online through the Division of Continuing Education. Students are able to access the course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Clinical practicums involve diverse clinical activities tailored to meet individual learning needs and are completed in settings identified by the student. Cost is $400 per credit plus a $35 registration fee.