The graduate program of the School of Nursing is offering this unique graduate nursing concentration designed to meet the advanced educational goals of school nurses and community health nurses practicing in child health nursing. This learner-centered program combines internet/web based instruction and student tailored clinical practica to meet the needs of nurses with other life responsibilities.

Curriculum

A total of 42 credit hours are required for completion of the Master of Science degree with a concentration in Community/School Health Nursing. The curriculum consists of two components: a nursing core and a specialty in the area of community/school health. The nursing core emphasizes the theoretical underpinnings of advanced practice nursing and research. The specialty core provides a foundation for the role of advanced practice in communities and schools. Students can complete the program in five to eight academic semesters. The program includes courses and clinical practica in

• Nursing Theory, Nursing Research,
• Community/School Health Assessment,
• Program Planning, Advanced Health Assessment,
• Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology,
• Primary Health Care Problems of Children and Adolescents,
• Special and Chronic Health Care Needs of Children,
• Psychoeducational Strategies for Advanced Practice, and
• Community/School Health Management.

All courses are offered on the web, with students able to access the course material 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Clinical practica, involving diverse clinical activities are tailored to meet individual learning needs and can be completed in settings identified by the student.

Admission

Students must meet the general requirements of the University of Massachusetts Graduate School as well as those of the School of Nursing. Students must have a baccalaureate degree from a national League of Nursing (NLN) or American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) accredited school of nursing. If a student has a non-nursing baccalaureate degree, he/she is eligible to enroll on the School of Nursing Graduate Program.

Special Admission Note

Students who are not currently matriculated in the graduate nursing program at UMass Amherst can register for courses as non-degree students. Interested nurses can then apply for admission into the UMass Amherst graduate nursing program. Once admitted, students can then transfer up to 6 credits taken prior to admission into the School of Nursing graduate program.

Cost

$400 per credit, plus $35 registration fee. Most courses are three credits.

For further information or application materials

You may access information concerning the Community/School Health Concentration by linking to the School of Nursing website at www.umass.edu/nursing.

To receive Community/School Health Concentration materials, to obtain University of Massachusetts graduate application materials, and to inquire about course information and registration procedures, contact Karen Carlson, Graduate Program, at kcarlson@nursing.umass.edu; 413-545-1302; fax: 413-577-2550; or at the School of Nursing, 229 Arnold House, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-3240.

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