Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The Department is currently not accepting applications.
The master’s nursing program is comprised of four core courses that cover current issues in advanced practice nursing, research, health promotion, and systems leadership. These core courses provide the foundation for graduate nursing study and are taken by all MSN students. Additionally, students in the FNP and PMHNP specialization take advanced physiology and pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced clinical assessment. Each student is required to take the advanced practice specialty courses in their specialization. The specialty courses are listed under each specialization heading.
Admission Requirements
An applicant for the degree program must possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a CCNE, ACEN, or CNEA accredited program; have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 or other evidence of ability to complete successfully a graduate program such as grades in other post-baccalaureate courses, scores from national graduate school entrance examinations, or a record of progressively higher work experiences; and be licensed as a registered nurse in the state of Pennsylvania The applicant should have completed undergraduate or equivalent approved courses in basic physical assessment and statistics. The applicant must submit three professional references and a 300-word essay identifying career goals, demonstrating communication and writing skills. A personal interview with the program director or a faculty member to clarify goals and objectives is required. Applicants for the certificate program must possess proof of fully vaccinated Covid status and a master’s degree in nursing from a CCNE, ACEN, or CNEA accredited program. A gap analysis will be conducted on an individual basis. Additionally, they must comply with the same admission requirements as for the degree program (except for the essay) as listed above.
A registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree who wishes to take graduate level courses without necessarily pursuing a graduate degree may make application for Non-Degree status (refer to Admission and Registration).
Thesis Option
Candidates for a Master of Science in Nursing degree may opt to do a thesis. Students who wish to pursue the thesis option should consult with the program director. Those who opt to do a thesis are governed by The University of Scranton Graduate Thesis Policy.
Curriculum
Total credits for program: 37 credits
These programs will be available beginning in fall 2025.
The MSN and post-master’s certificate program with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specialization (PMHNP) prepare registered nurses to diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic psychiatric and mental health illnesses across the lifespan. The core of the psychiatric nurse practitioner specialization is to support the therapeutic relationship between the client and the nurse. The program will focus on excellent communication skills, in-depth knowledge of therapeutic interventions, medication management, clinical decision-making, and diagnostic reasoning.
The PMHNP specialization is offered as a 42-credit master’s degree for baccalaureate-prepared nurses, and as a 33 credit post-master’s certificate for nurses already holding a master’s degree in nursing. Transcripts of students with an entry-level master’s in nursing degree will be evaluated individually for transfer credit.
Graduates will be eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center national certification examination for the PMHNP and the American Academy Nurse Practitioner exam for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Completing the program and passing the certification examination will make graduates eligible for certification as a PMHNP in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing.
Curriculum and Format
The MSN and post-master’s certificate program with a PMHNP specialization will be delivered in an online format with didactic courses offered with both synchronous and asynchronous learning, two clinical intensives on-campus and traditional face-to-face precepted practicum courses taking place in clinical settings. Students will be admitted to the MSN and post-master’s certificate program with PMHNP specialization annually in the fall semester.
Each student is required to complete clinical practicum courses. These courses (NURS 528 - PMHNP Practicum I , NURS 538 - PMHNP Practicum II , and NURS 548 - PMHNP Practicum III ) are taken over three semesters. The faculty will assign the student to practitioner(s) who will serve as preceptor(s) for the clinical practicum in the graduate nursing program with a PMHNP specialization. The preceptor must be a PMHNP, or psychiatrist. Each credit of clinical practicum equals 125 hours per semester so that the total clinical practicum time is 750 hours for the PMHNP specialization. The third practicum course includes an intensive campus-based evaluation of psychiatric mental health nursing competencies at the beginning of the term.
Scheduling
The MSN graduate nursing program with the PMHNP specialization can be completed in 21 months of full-time study. Courses are offered online except for two 12-hour clinical intensives (in NURS 530L - Advanced Clinical Assessment Lab and NURS 548 - PMHNP Practicum III ) that take place on-campus, and clinical practicums at appropriate clinical sites. Didactic courses include synchronous and asynchronous components, with the synchronous components generally being scheduled one day per week. The practicum courses generally include two days of clinical work each week. It also includes a weekly small group seminar to discuss pertinent clinical processes and role development. Part-time study is also available.
Required Software
The students in the graduate nursing program with a PMHNP specialization are required to purchase nurse practitioner student tracking software to document their clinical experiences.
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