Master of Science Program Overview

Curriculum Overview | NET | Program Requirements |
Program Options | Sample Programs

The purpose of the Master of Science Program is to prepare nurses for leadership roles in advanced clinical practice and education or to provide a basis for further research preparation. The curriculum builds on a core of essential content, which includes the study of diverse populations, research and policy. Students develop expertise in a selected area of clinical specialization and prepare for an advanced practice role consistent with their professional goals.

The faculty believe that graduate education should promote and encourage critical thinking. Leadership in nursing can be provided best by members of the profession who demonstrate the spirit and method of productive scholarship through:

• advanced study in nursing and in basic and applied sciences relevant to the practice of nursing;
• the synthesis and use of this knowledge in a specialized area of nursing practice;
• application of a systematic method of study to nursing practice that contributes to the advancement of knowledge and theory in nursing.

The program is designed to meet the needs of nurses in practice who live in the Madison area and at a distance. Opportunities for either full-time or part-time study are available. It is possible to complete the degree in 2 years of full time study or 3-4 years of part time study. Formal courses meet once a week during the morning or afternoon, with some late afternoon offerings available to facilitate scheduling. Some courses are offered online or in a full day, once a week format for 6-8 weeks. These options coupled with clinical experiences that may be completed near the student's home assist distance students to achieve the program goals.

Program Options

Students select both a clinical population area and a functional role focus.*

Clinical population options are:

• Adult Health
• Geriatric
• Pediatric
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
• Women's Health

Within the clinical specialties, the following roles are available:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Educator
• Nurse Practitioner - (Acute Care in Adult, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatric Mental Health, and Women's Health option are available)

In addition there are specialized dual role options available online through the Nurse Educators for Tomorrow (NET) grant:

• Nurse Educator and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Educator and Medical-Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist

* With additional credits, students may choose more than one population or one role focus area to meet their specific needs or intention to certify nationally in these areas.

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Curriculum Overview

Students work with a faculty advisor to plan a program of study to meet the student's individual goals. The advisor-student relationship encourages students to explore options consistent with a specialized patient population, past experience, and professional plans for the future.

The curriculum is designed to maintain a high standard of scholarship, prepare individuals with in depth knowledge and experience in their selected area of practice and also provide essential content identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in the Essentials for Master's Education for Advanced Practice Nursing. Graduates prepare for clinical teaching positions in university or technical college nursing programs and/or prepare for professional certifications as advanced practice nurses. The program meets the guidelines and standards of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), and the National Certification Corps (NCC) programs.

Course work for the Master of Science degree in nursing is distributed among three program components described below. All students complete core requirements in the area of reseach; health policy, organization and finance; health promotion and disease prevention; care of diverse populations; ethics; nursing care delivery systems and role development. Sample programs are included in the admissions packet to illustrate how the curriculum is implemented.

• Population/Clinical Specialization
  This component extends a student's knowledge base for practice within a selected patient population. Students may select a population from broad clinical areas: adult health, geriatrics, pediatrics, or psychiatric-mental health or women's health. N702 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention In Diverse Communities is a core course in this area. A minimum of 12 credits of course work in nursing and related basic or applied sciences is recommended.

• Role Preparation
  Students select role preparation as a clinical specialist, educator, or nurse practitioner (acute care, adult, geriatric, pediatric, psychiatric-mental health, and women's health). Course work and practicum experience in case management are also available to supplement the functional role option in the MS program. Core courses in this component are N703 Health Care and Public Policy in the U.S. and N704 Leadership in Nursing Roles, Ethics and Systems of Care. This component also includes a minimum of 3 credits of N719 Independent Field Study in Clinical Nursing, a required course that provides an opportunity to synthesize and apply scientific knowledge in practice settings with faculty guidance. N613 may be substituted for nurse practitioner students. Clinical experiences may be completed in Madison or at other selected sites. A minimum of 9 credits is recommended. Note : Baccalaureate prepared nurses with non-master's certification as a nurse practitioner may qualify for a waiver of clinical credits.
  

• Systematic Investigation
  The objective of this program component is to further one's ability to apply a systematic method of study to nursing practice and to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and theory in nursing. Students enroll in two research methods courses, N700 Nursing Research and N701 Interpretive Research in Health Care Settings. N700 focuses on the knowledge and skill needed to analyze and criticize nursing research conducted using quantitative approaches. In N701, students explore the interpretive paradigm and how it is reflected in qualitative methods. In addition, students enroll in N798 Master's Research Practicum. Working closely with faculty, students are involved directly with the development and implementation of a research program. A minimum of 9 credits in research is required.
  

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Program Requirements

• The minimum requirements for the Master of Science degree are:
  • minimum of 36 credits
  • master's core courses:

  N700 Nursing Research
  N701 Interpretive Research in Health Care Settings
  N702 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Diverse Communities
  N703 Health Care and Public Policy in the U.S.
  N704 Leadership In Nursing Roles, Ethics, and Systems of Care

  • a research practicum, N798 Master's Research Practicum one semester of clinical field study, N719 Independent Field Study in Clinical Nursing [N613 may be substituted for N719 for students in the nurse practitioner sequences] .

Programs of study for student planning to sit for certification will exceed the minimum program credit requirements.

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Sample Programs

The following sample programs include the essential core requirements for students entering the master’s program.  They include required content areas in research; health policy, organization, and finance; health promotion and disease prevention; care of diverse populations; ethics; nursing care delivery systems; and role development.  Most master’s level full-time programs can be completed within four to five semesters (and a summer session for pharmacotherapeutics for clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioner students seeking advance practice nurse prescriber privileges).  Full-time students complete between 8 and 12 credits per semester.

However, many students elect to attend on a part-time basis choosing one to two courses a semester and completing their graduate program in 3-4 years.  It should be noted that some of the nurse practitioner semesters require a minimum of 6 credits due to course content and clinical precepted experiences.

Sample programs are subject to change.  Every newly admitted student is assigned an academic advisor and should plan a program schedule and direction taking into account the student’s individual situation, current course offerings and program requirements.

The following is a guide to understanding the sample programs.
Essential core courses are offered both fall and spring semesters.  They include:
     - N700 Nursing Research   (N700 or N701 is offered alternate summers)
     - N701 Interpretive Nursing Research
     - N702 Health Promotion & Disease Prevention in Diverse Communities
     - N703 Health Care & Public Policy
     - N704 Leadership in Nursing Roles, Ethics, & Systems of Care
     - N798 Nursing Research Practicum   (Both N700 and N701 are highly recommended prior to N798 Research Practicum)

Students receive a current three-year guide to courses upon admission into the program.

• Acute Care (NP)
• Adult Health (NP, CNS, Educator)
• Geriatrics (NP, CNS, Educator
• Pediatrics (NP, CNS, Educator)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (NP, CNS, Educator)
• Women's Health (NP, CNS, Educator)

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