Nursing, Master of Science (M.S.) Indicate specialization: adult-gerontology (indicate acute care nurse practitioner, primary care nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist), pediatric nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, nursing administration and leadership, nurse educator*, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner or women’s health nurse practitioner List as track: Traditional M.S. (for R.N. with B.S. in Nursing) or R.N.-M.S. (for R.N. with associate or diploma in nursing)
Degree: M.S.	Semester(s) of entry: Fall only Spring (NAL only)	Deadline dates: Applications received by Mar 15 given priority consideration Applications received by Sep 15 given priority consideration	Test requirements: GRE (required if cumulative undergraduate GPA is less than 3.25)

The graduate program in nursing is based on the goals and the philosophy of the university and the School of Nursing. Differentiation between the undergraduate and the graduate programs is reflected in the philosophy and purpose of graduate education, the characteristics of the graduates and the program objectives. The graduate program is designed to respond to national nursing needs through creative, flexible approaches to graduate nursing education.

Graduate education is professionally oriented and has three major thrusts: (1) integration of three processes including transmission, utilization and development of knowledge in an advanced practice area, (2) development of increased skill in application of knowledge to advanced practice and (3) development of an awareness of the interaction between social, cultural, political and economic forces that have an impact on nursing practice in complex health care delivery systems. Advanced study emphasizes analysis and synthesis of knowledge from nursing and related disciplines with systematic investigation of underlying concepts. Graduates of this program should integrate this new knowledge into nursing practice. Graduates should occupy pivotal roles to improve health care and influence health policy in political arenas. With these three thrusts, graduates of this program have a knowledge base for further research and doctoral study.

Graduate education is directed toward professional practitioners who are self-directed in setting educational goals and in determining learning strategies best suited for their cognitive styles. With guidance and direction, adult learners should be able to integrate past experiences with current learning situations to expand their approaches to problem solving. Graduate education permits greater autonomy in more diverse environments for learning and practice including the political arena, all levels of the health care delivery system and community agencies whose missions are directed toward meeting the health needs of their clients. The graduate program in nursing:

Prepares nurses for advanced practice in an area of specialization utilizing their own conceptual framework, constructed through advanced study
Prepares nurses for advanced practice in an increasingly technological society
Develops leadership skills in an advanced practice area
Provides a foundation for further research and scholarly study

The School of Nursing offers programs of study leading to the Master of Science degree. Concentrations combining major study in advanced practice nursing are:

	Credits
Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner	51
Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner	51
Adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist	51
Family nurse practitioner	55
Nurse educator (*admissions suspended until further notice)	35
Nursing administration and leadership	34
Pediatric nurse practitioner	47
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner	52
Women’s health nurse practitioner	49