Graduate Programs in Nursing
The Master of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Virginia State Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing. The program prepares nurses for a variety of leadership roles in the health care delivery system. The Adult or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care and the Family Nurse Practitioner majors are part of a collaborative program with George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The Adult or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and the Family Nurse Practitioner majors have been approved by the state boards of nursing and medicine in Virginia. The major in Advanced Clinical Nursing prepares nurses to provide and manage care of individuals, families, and groups, including the chronically ill, the elderly, and others with self-care limitations. The major in Nursing Administration prepares nurses to function in management positions in hospitals, nursing homes, community health agencies, and other health-related facilities. The M.S.N./M.B.A. program, offered jointly with the Graduate Business Institute, prepares nurses for mid- and top-level administrative, leadership, and health policy roles in health and health-related organizations. A variety of health care and health-related settings are used for clinical practice experiences.
In addition to meeting the graduate admission requirements, an applicant to this program must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, hold an active license as a registered nurse, and submit three letters of recommendation. Although the GRE is not formally required, applicants may be asked to submit GRE scores at the discretion of the school when it believes those scores will lead to a clearer presentation of the applicant's qualifications. Applicants must have successfully completed undergraduate statistics and research courses.
Students applying to the majors in Advanced Clinical Nursing and the Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care must have a health-assessment course with a skills component within 18 months of their clinical practicum in the master's program.
In addition, applicants to the Nursing Administration major are required to have the equivalent of one year's experience in direct patient care as a registered nurse. Applicants to the M.S.N./ M.B.A. program must have GMAT scores sent directly to George Mason University and must meet the admission requirements for graduate degree status in both the College of Nursing and Health Science and the Graduate Business Institute. It is recommended that students applying to the Advanced Clinical Nursing and the Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care majors have the equivalent of one year's experience in direct patient care as a registered nurse.
Graduate students are required to have annual health examinations and immunizations before enrolling in practicum courses. Students enrolled in the Advanced Clinical Nursing, the Adult or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care, and the Family Nurse Practitioner tracks must be in the process of completing a Hepatitis B immunization series when they enroll for their first practicum course. Nursing administration students who have practicum placements in health care agencies must also be in the process of completing a Hepatitis B immunization series when they enroll for their first practicum course. Student health and immunization records are monitored at the College of Nursing and Health Science Office of Student Academic Affairs, which charges a small fee for this service. All students are required to have an active e-mail account.
The master's program in nursing requires 36 semester hours of graduate credit. Of these, a 12-hour core consists of course work in the theoretical foundations of nursing, approaches to data analysis in nursing research, a seminar in concepts of nursing research, and a research project. Twelve hours must be completed in the tracks of Adult or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care, Advanced Clinical Nursing, or Nursing Administration. The Adult or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care is a 42-credit curriculum with 18 hours in the track. The M.S.N./ M.B.A. program requires 57 semester hours of graduate credit. These hours include graduate nursing, business, decision sciences, and elective courses.
Core Courses (required of all students):
NURS 755 Theoretical Foundations Related to Nursing (3)
NURS 759 Approaches to Data Analysis in Nursing Research (3)
(not required for M.S.N./M.B.A. students)
NURS 790 Principles and Methods of Nursing Research (3)
NURS 791 Projects in Nursing Research (3)
Nursing Tracks (select one)
Adult or Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care
NURS 623 Clinical Concepts in Family Primary Care (3)
NURS 746 Practicum in Primary Care Nursing I (3)
NURS 748 Practicum in Primary Care Nursing II (6)
Family Nurse Practitioner
NURS 623 Clinical Concepts in Family Primary Care (3)
NURS 720 Practicum in Family Primary Care Nursing I (3)
NURS 721 Assessment and Management of the Developing Family (3)
NURS 722 Practicum in Family Primary Care Nursing II (3)
Nursing Support Courses:
*NURS 552/HCS 205 Diagnosis and Management of Health Deviations (5)
*NURS 554/HCS 207 Practicum in Advanced Health Assessment (1)
Related Discipline Support Courses (at George Washington University):
*HCS 206 Clinical Decision Making (2)
*PHARM 207 Pharmacology (4)
*Colisted with George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. All courses offered at George Washington University are charged at George Washington University tuition.
Advanced Clinical Nursing
NURS 773 Advanced Clinical Nursing I (3)
NURS 775 Advanced Specialty Practice I (3)
NURS 776 Advanced Clinical Nursing II (3)
NURS 778 Advanced Specialty Practice II (3)
Nursing Support Courses:
NURS 550 Pathophysiological Bases for Major Health Deviations of Individuals (3)
Nursing elective in specialty area (chronic care, gerontology, or oncology) (3)
Related discipline support courses (6)
Nursing Administration
NURS 763 Administrative Theory in Nursing (3)
NURS 765 Practicum in Nursing Administration I (3)
NURS 766 Administrative Strategies in Nursing (3)
NURS 768 Practicum in Nursing Administration II (3)
Nursing Support Courses:
NURS 654 Nursing Administration Financial Management (3) or NURS 760/HSCI 760 Health Care Financial Management (3)
NURS Support Course (3)
Related Discipline Support Courses:
Management/Organizational Theory (3)
Recommended courses include SOCI 602, PUAD 620, PSYC 632, or MGMT 600
Related discipline support course (3)
M.S.N./M.B.A. Program
M.B.A. Courses
ACCT 600 Financial Accounting
ACCT 650 Managerial Accounting
BULE 700 Regulatory Structure and Ethics
DESC 600 Managerial Statistics
DESC 650 Operations Management
FNAN/DESC 601 Managerial Microeconomics
FNAN 650 Managerial Finance
MGMT 600 Organizational Behavior and Development
MGMT 750 Strategy and Policy Management
MIS 600 Computer Systems for Management
MKTG 650 Marketing in Management
M.S.N. Courses
NURS 755 Theoretical Foundations Related to Nursing
NURS 760/HSCI 760 Health Care Financial Management
NURS 763 Administrative Theory in Nursing
NURS 765 Practicum in Nursing Administration
NURS 766 Administrative Strategies in Nursing
NURS 768 Practicum in Nursing Administration II
NURS 790 Principles and Methods of Nursing Research
NURS 791 Projects in Nursing Research
The Ph.D. program at George Mason University builds on the M.S.N. degree and requires 60 semester hours beyond the master's degree. The objective of the Ph.D. in Nursing program is to prepare nurses for executive roles in selected areas of nursing and health care. The graduate of the Ph.D. in Nursing program will do the following:
1. Exemplify administrative and leadership characteristics essential to assuming executive roles
2. Conduct and support research in nursing and health care ethics, health care administration, and health policy
3. Influence the formation and implementation of public policy in health care through analysis of sociocultural, economic, fiscal, political, ethical, and governmental processes
In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements for graduate degree status, the applicant must have earned a master's degree from an accredited program and have a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in the master's program. The applicant must submit evidence of at least one year of professional nursing experience, and Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores, along with evidence of current licensure to practice professional nursing. (Students on foreign student visas must present evidence of professional standing in their respective countries.) Three letters of recommendation are required from professional or academic sources. At least two of the references must be from persons in contact with the applicant within the last two years. An interview with one or more persons on the Graduate Admissions Committee and a short essay describing the applicant's doctoral study goals are also required.
The Graduate Admissions Committee may offer provisional admission to a degree-seeking applicant even though all admission requirements for degree status have not been met if there is sufficient evidence to suggest capacity to pursue graduate work. Students admitted provisionally must resolve all deficits and be moved to degree status by completing 12 semester hours of doctoral-level study.
In addition to meeting graduate admission requirements, students must satisfy the specific Ph.D. degree requirements. To earn the Ph.D. degree at George Mason University, the doctoral candidate must have earned a minimum of 90 graduate-level semester credits beyond the baccalaureate degree and a minimum of 60 graduate-level semester credits beyond the master's degree. A minimum of 48 graduate-level semester credits after admission to degree status in the Ph.D. program at George Mason University are required, 36 of which must have been earned at George Mason University. The candidate may apply a maximum of 12 graduate-level credits toward the Ph.D. degree, but may present only graduate-level credits in which satisfactory grades have been earned and that meet the requirements of the Ph.D. curriculum.
A written comprehensive examination must be successfully completed in addition to the program of studies outlined in the curriculum of the Ph.D. in Nursing program. Successful completion of a dissertation for which nine credits are awarded but to which no grade is assigned and the final oral doctoral examination are required.
The curriculum of the Ph.D. in Nursing program includes the nursing core (24 semester hours), research core (21 semester hours), and nursing and related discipline electives (15 semester hours). Before advancing to candidacy and enrolling for dissertation credit, the student must have his/her program of study approved within the College of Nursing and Health Science and by the coordinator of the doctoral program of the College of Nursing and Health Science.
Students are required to enroll in a one-semester internship, NURS 865 Internship in Health Care Administration (6), for experiential learning in health care administration, which includes planned seminars. For the internship, a student is assigned to a doctorally prepared executive who serves as the preceptor in the student's concentration.
A field experience of 200 hours is required and NURS 865 is scheduled at the end of the course sequence in the program of study.
After a student has successfully completed the qualifying examinations and all required course work, the coordinator of the doctoral program of the College of Nursing and Health Science approves advancement to candidacy.
The Doctoral Dissertation Committee is composed of at least three George Mason faculty: the director and reader in nursing and a reader from outside nursing. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee must be approved by the dean of the College of Nursing and Health Science. Additional members who hold membership in the George Mason faculty or individuals from outside the university who present credentials equivalent to criteria for faculty may join the committee at the discretion of the committee and with the approval of the dean of the College of Nursing and Health Science.
The proposal must focus on a topic in nursing and must be approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, doctoral program coordinator, and College of Nursing and Health Science dean. The dissertation proposal and written dissertation must be consistent with the guidelines of the university outlined in Guide for Preparing Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Projects.
Before enrolling for dissertation credit, the student must have advanced to candidacy. The student must also have an approved program of study and an approved doctoral dissertation proposal. The student's completed dissertation must be approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, doctoral program coordinator, and College of Nursing and Health Science dean.
The chair of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, upon preliminary approval of the doctoral dissertation by the committee, petitions the doctoral program coordinator, College of Nursing and Health Science, to schedule the final oral doctoral examination, which includes a defense of the doctoral dissertation. The final oral doctoral examination also demonstrates the Ph.D. candidate's intellectual command and maturity of judgment in the area of concentration chosen by the candidate and approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. At the close of the final oral doctoral examination, the Doctoral Dissertation Committee makes a final judgment regarding approval of the doctoral dissertation and successful completion of the Ph.D. degree requirements. The original and two copies of the approved doctoral dissertation must be submitted to the university doctoral coordinator, College Hall.
The student must complete all planned course work, excluding electives, and must advance to candidacy within six years of admission to degree or provisional status in the Ph.D. program. The student must successfully complete the doctoral dissertation, final oral doctoral examination, and all Ph.D. degree requirements within five years following the semester of advancement to candidacy.
Continuing nursing education is a commitment of the College of Nursing and Health Science and the university. Activities are planned to meet the special needs of individuals and groups in the community. The College of Nursing and Health Science offers opportunities for credit and noncredit courses. Contract courses are offered in a variety of health care agencies in the Northern Virginia area. These credits can be applied to a program of study in nursing.
Graduate Certificate Programs
The graduate certificate in international nursing provides an opportunity for students to enrich their understanding of international health through a sequence of courses including, but not limited to, international nursing, anthropology, international relations, and economics.
Program Requirements
A student applying to the certificate program must be in degree status in the graduate nursing program or hold a master's degree from a program accredited by the National League of Nursing. Application is made through the university's Office of Admissions.
Required Courses: 6 credits
HSCI 698 International Health Care: Theoretical
and Practical Dimensions (3)
HSCI 699 Practicum in International Health Care (3)
Elective Courses: 9 credits
Graduate courses related to international nursing as approved by the student's adviser.
Total: 15 credits
Students must complete all courses with a 3.0 GPA to earn the certificate.
The certificate program offers formal study in theory and practice in nursing administration in the health care delivery system.
Program Requirements
Applicants to the certificate program must have either a master's degree in nursing, or a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in another discipline from an accredited institution. Application is made through the university's Office of Admissions. A requirement for the certificate is 15 credits of graduate course work in which a 3.0 GPA is earned.
Required Courses: 6 credits
NURS 763 Administrative Theory in Nursing (3)
NURS 765 Practicum in Nursing Administration I (3) or
NURS 768 Practicum in Nursing Administration II (3)
Elective Courses: 9 credits
Graduate courses related to nursing administration as approved by the student's adviser.
Total: 15 credits
The graduate certificate in nursing education combines foundation courses in education with courses in the principles and practices of nursing education. The program prepares students to function in nursing educational roles in both academic and nonacademic settings.
Program Requirements
Individuals applying to the graduate certificate in nursing education must be in degree status in the graduate nursing program or hold a master's degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League of Nursing. Application is made through the university's Office of Admissions.
Required Courses
NURS 657 Perspectives in Nursing Education (3)
NURS 658 Practicum and Seminar in Nursing Education (3-6). (Those who qualify for a three-credit practicum because of their educational experiences may choose the remaining three credits from courses designated by the graduate nursing program.)
EDRS 531 Educational and Psychological Measurement (3)
EDCI 701 Educational Program Development (3) or NURS 610 Curriculum Development (3)
Students must complete 15 credits with a 3.0 GPA.
The graduate certificate in gerontology is housed in the College of Nursing and Health Science. The certificate program combines theoretical and applied course work in aging with the student's graduate curriculum in one of several departments. Because gerontology is by definition multidisciplinary, students in the program are required to take course work outside their major field. Various academic units participate in the program: the College of Nursing and Health Science, and Departments of Psychology and Sociology and Anthropology. The program is administered by the college and supervised by a committee with representatives from the participating academic units.
Program Requirements
Students applying to the certificate program must have graduate degree status or a master's degree in a related discipline. Students who already hold master's degrees must choose a specialization and should be in nondegree status for graduate study. The certificate requires 18 credits of graduate course work: 6 credits in the consentration or area of specialization, 6 credits outside the consentration, and 6 credits of practicum. A maximum of three credits may be transferred from outside the university. For more information, call (703) 993-1911/1900.
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