BSN-NURS
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program is accredited by the Virginia State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The undergraduate nursing program prepares students to deliver superior nursing care and provide leadership in nursing in the increasingly complex and challenging field of modern health care. Graduates are in demand as professional nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health and other health care agencies. The program emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention, capitalizing on early detection of potential health problems, health maintenance in ambulatory services, and preparation for the managerial responsibilities of nursing.
The School of Nursing offers four pathways to complete the BSN, all of which lead to completion of the objectives of the undergraduate program. The traditional pathway is a two-year curriculum following the completion of general education and prerequisite requirements. The LPN-to-BSN pathway is offered for students holding current LPN licenses and is also a two-year curriculum following completion of general education and prerequisite requirements. An accelerated RN-to-BSN pathway for students holding current registered nurse (RN) licenses can be completed in one year (full-time) following completion of general education and prerequisite requirements. The accelerated, second degree pathway is a 12-month, full-time pathway for students holding a baccalaureate degree outside of nursing. The nursing programs may be completed on a full-time or a part-time basis, with the exception of the accelerated second degree program. Students who are interested in pursuing a major in nursing, with the exception of those currently licensed as RNs, must make an additional and separate application through the School of Nursing and are encouraged to contact the nursing program for advising prior to applying to the nursing major.
Clinical nursing begins at the junior level. Students must complete a prenursing curriculum and be admitted to junior standing or one of the accelerated pathways. These conditions do not apply to students who are already RNs.
Attendance at the first meeting of all nursing courses (lectures, on-campus laboratories, and agency laboratories) is mandatory.
To be eligible to apply for junior standing, traditional prenursing students must complete the designated nursing prerequisites by the end of the spring semester preceding entry to the nursing program. Students must earn a C or better in anatomy and physiology (BIOL 124 and 125, 8 credits); microbiology (BIOL 246 and 306, 4 credits); statistics (STAT 250, 3 credits); nutrition (GCH 295, 3 credits); developmental psychology (PSYC 211, 3 credits); and ethics (PHIL 151 or 309, 3 credits). All university general education requirements, with the exception of ENGL 302, must be completed by the end of the summer semester preceding entry into the nursing program.
Students who are interested in pursuing a major in nursing must make an additional and separate application for junior standing through CHHS. Admission to the nursing major is competitive, based on a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the designated nursing prerequisite course work (wherever taken). The acceptable GPA may increase each year based on the number of spaces available in the nursing program. Transfer students and those changing their majors to nursing are ranked downward from 4.00 on the basis of the number of junior spaces available in any given year. Students admitted as prenursing freshmen must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the designated nursing prerequisites.
Students are accepted for junior standing each fall. The application deadline is March 1, and students are notified of their status in June. Permission to register for courses with NURS prefixes requires prior acceptance into junior standing in nursing. Full-time nursing requires carrying a heavy schedule; therefore, outside obligations should be limited to ensure success. Mason provides opportunity for credit by exam in several courses for students presenting evidence of previous education.
Candidates for the degree must present at least 120 credits. Specific requirements are as follows:
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| General Education | 30 |
| Composition (ENGL 101 and 302) | 6 |
| Communication (COMM 100 or 101) | 3 |
| Information technology (IT 103) | 3 |
| Literature (at the 200 level or above) | 3 |
| Arts | 3 |
| Western civilization (HIST 100 or 125) | 3 |
| Global understanding (GCH 205 recommended) | 3 |
| Sociology or anthropology (SOCI 101 or ANTH 114) | 3 |
| Psychology (PSYC 100) | 3 |
| Designated Nursing Prerequisites | 24 |
| Anatomy and physiology (BIOL 124 and 125) | 8 |
| Microbiology (BIOL 246 and 306) | 4 |
| Ethics (PHIL 151 or 309) | 3 |
| Statistics (STAT 250) | 3 |
| Developmental psychology (PSYC 211) | 3 |
| Nutrition (GCH 295) | 3 |
Traditional Nursing Major
|
62 |
| Electives No more than 3 credits of nursing electives may be used to satisfy this requirement. |
4 |
| Total | 120 |
BIOL 124 and 125 meet the natural science portion of Mason’s general education requirements. Statistics 250 fulfills the quantitative reasoning portion of Mason’s general education requirements. Nursing students must take an approved synthesis course (HHS 465, 3 credits).
To be eligible to apply for junior standing, students who are LPNs must complete the designated nursing prerequisites and general education requirements by the end of the spring semester preceding entry to the nursing program. Students must earn a C or better in anatomy and physiology (BIOL 124 and 125, 8 credits); microbiology (BIOL 246 and 306, 4 credits); statistics (STAT 250, 3 credits); nutrition (GCH 295, 3 credits); developmental psychology (PSYC 211, 3 credits); and ethics (PHIL 151 or 309, 3 credits). Applicants to the second degree pathway must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the designated prerequisite course work.
Students who are interested in pursuing a major in nursing must make an additional and separate application for junior standing through CHHS. Admission to the nursing program is competitive. It is based on a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in the designated nursing prerequisite course work (wherever taken). The acceptable GPA may increase each year based on the number of spaces available in the nursing program.
Students are accepted for junior standing each fall. The application deadline is March 1, and students are notified of their status in June. Permission to register for courses with NURS prefixes requires prior acceptance into junior standing in nursing. Full-time nursing requires carrying a heavy schedule; therefore, outside obligations should be limited to ensure success. Mason provides opportunity for credit by exam in several courses for students presenting evidence of previous education.
Candidates for the degree must present at least 120 credits. Specific requirements are as follows:
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| General Education | 30 |
| Composition (ENGL 101 and 302) | 6 |
| Communication (COMM 100 or 101) | 3 |
| Information technology (IT 103) | 3 |
| Literature (at the 200 level or above) | 3 |
| Arts | 3 |
| Western civilization (HIST 100 or 125) | 3 |
| Global understanding (GCH 205 recommended) | 3 |
| Sociology or anthropology (SOCI 101 or ANTH 114) | 3 |
| Psychology (PSYC 100) | 3 |
| Designated Nursing Prerequisites | 24 |
| Anatomy and physiology (BIOL 124 and 125) | 8 |
| Microbiology (BIOL 246 and 306) | 4 |
| Ethics (PHIL 151 or 309) | 3 |
| Statistics (STAT 250) | 3 |
| Developmental psychology (PSYC 211) | 3 |
| Nutrition (GCH 295) | 3 |
LPN-to-BSN Nursing Major
|
60 |
| Electives | 1 |
| Credit by Exam On successful completion of NURS 334, LPN students will be awarded 5 credits in nursing. |
5 |
| Total | 120 |
BIOL 124 and 125 meet the natural science portion of Mason’s general education requirements. Statistics 250 fulfills the quantitative reasoning portion of Mason’s general education requirements. Nursing students must take an approved synthesis course (HHS 465, 3 credits).
The Accelerated, Second Degree BSN Pathway is designed for students who already hold a degree who are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in nursing. Students must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. This full-time accelerated program begins in the fall semester and is completed in 12 months. Students must earn a C or better in anatomy and physiology (BIOL 124 and 125, 8 credits); microbiology (BIOL 246 and 306, 4 credits); statistics (STAT 250, 3 credits); nutrition (GCH 295, 3 credits); developmental psychology (PSYC 211, 3 credits); and ethics (PHIL 151 or 309, 3 credits). Applicants to the second degree pathway must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the designated prerequisite course work.
Admission to the second degree nursing program is competitive. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in their first degree or a 3.00 GPA in the last 30 credits of the undergraduate degree. They also must complete the application including an intentional essay. To be eligible to apply to this program, students must complete the designated nursing prerequisites by the end of the spring semester preceding entry into the nursing program.
The application deadline is March 1, and students are notified of their status in June. Permission to register for courses with NURS prefixes requires prior acceptance into junior standing in nursing. Full-time nursing requires carrying a heavy schedule; therefore, outside obligations should be limited to ensure success. Mason provides opportunity for credit by exam in several courses for students presenting evidence of previous education.
Candidates for the degree must present at least 120 credits:
24 credits are required prerequisites, and 49 credits are transfer credits from the first degree. Specific requirements are as follows:
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| General Education Mason general education requirements are satisfied by the initial degree and fulfilled through transfer credit. |
49 |
| Designated Nursing Prerequisites | 24 |
| Anatomy and physiology (BIOL 124 and 125) | 8 |
| Microbiology (BIOL 246 and 306) | 4 |
| Ethics (PHIL 151 or 309) | 3 |
| Statistics (STAT 250) | 3 |
| Developmental psychology (PSYC 211) | 3 |
| Nutrition (GCH 295) | 3 |
Second Degree Nursing Major
|
47 |
| Total | 120 |
Nursing students must take an approved synthesis course (HHS 465, 3 credits).
Students who hold current RN licenses need to apply only to the university and have no separate application to the School of Nursing. The Accelerated RN-to-BSN Pathway allows RNs to progress quickly through the program while meeting the objectives of the undergraduate curriculum. On completion of the general education requirements and designated nursing prerequisites, RN students can complete the BSN in two semesters of full-time study. The program can also be completed on a part-time basis.
RN students must satisfy all general education requirements and nursing prerequisites. Transfer credits are accepted for many general education and prerequisite courses that may have been completed at other colleges or universities. RN students may use any 6 credits of psychology to satisfy the PSYC 100/211 requirement. Mason provides opportunity for credit by exam in several courses for students presenting evidence of previous education.
Candidates for the degree must present at least 120 credits. A minimum of 30 credits must be earned at Mason to fulfill requirements for graduation. Specific requirements are as follows:
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| General Education and Prerequisites | 51 |
| Composition (ENGL 101 and 302) | 6 |
| Communication (COMM 100 or 101) | 3 |
| Information technology (IT 103) | 3 |
| Literature (at the 200 level or above) | 3 |
| Arts | 3 |
| Western civilization (HIST 100 or 125) | 3 |
| Global understanding (GCH 205 recommended) | 3 |
| Sociology or anthropology (SOCI 101 or ANTH 114) | 3 |
| Psychology | 6 |
| Anatomy and physiology (BIOL 124 and 125) | 8 |
| Microbiology (BIOL 246 and 306) | 4 |
| Ethics (PHIL 151 or 309) | 3 |
| Statistics (STAT 250) | 3 |
RN-to-BSN Nursing Major
|
27 |
| Electives No more than 3 credits of nursing electives may be used to satisfy this requirement. |
9 |
| Credit by Exam On successful completion of NURS 334, RN students will be awarded 30 credits in nursing and 3 credits in general education. |
33 |
| Total | 120 |
BIOL 124 and 125 meet the natural science portion of Mason’s general education requirements. Statistics 250 fulfills the quantitative reasoning portion of Mason’s general education requirements. Nursing students must take an approved synthesis course (HHS 465, 3 credits).
Mason requires all students to complete at least one course in their majors designated “writing intensive” at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in nursing fulfill this requirement by successfully completing HHS 465.
Students who earn a final grade lower than a C in a nursing course must repeat the course and earn a grade of C or higher. In these cases, students are placed on nursing academic warning. Students on nursing academic warning must notify the assistant dean for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management of their intent to repeat the course in writing, within two weeks of final exams. Students should be aware that space may not be available in some clinical nursing courses that they may need to repeat. Although attempts at placement will be made, students must understand that they may have to sit out a semester or more until space becomes available.
Nursing majors who fail a course must repeat the course and earn a C or higher to resume progression in classes with the NURS prefix. Before the course is repeated, the student may not register for any other courses with a NURS prefix without permission from CHHS.
Students may repeat a nursing course in which they earned a grade lower than C only one time. Those who fail to earn a C or higher after repeating the course are dismissed from the program. Those who earn a grade of C or higher may resume progress in the sequence of required courses. Earning a grade of less than C in a second nursing course results in dismissal from the nursing program.
Dismissal from any one of the nursing pathways constitutes dismissal from the School of Nursing.
All students in the School of Nursing are expected to adhere to the Professional Conduct Policy outlined for CHHS.
Readmission to the School of Nursing for nonacademic or professional infractions is not automatic. Former students must apply in writing for readmission to the assistant dean for student affairs and enrollment management by September 1 for the spring semester, February 1 for the fall semester, or November 1 for Summer Term. The letter should include a description of the circumstances surrounding the nonacademic suspension, a description of interim activities, steps taken to support success on readmission, reasons readmission is justified, and rationale to support expectation of success on readmission. Students meeting the above criteria are considered for readmission on a space-available basis. Students have the right to appeal unfavorable decisions.
Students in good standing may request a leave of absence from the program of up to two semesters. Readmission following the leave of absence is granted only on a space-available basis.
Faculty members in the nursing program are generally the best judges of a student’s professional performance; however, some students may feel that the faculty member’s judgment of readmission or dismissal is unfair. In such cases, the student should ask the assistant dean for undergraduate programs to reconsider the decision. If the student remains dissatisfied, the matter may be appealed to the director of the School of Nursing. If the director believes the student may have a legitimate complaint, the director will appoint a committee of three faculty members and a student peer to review the decision. After the committee thoroughly reviews the student’s case, it will issue a written recommendation to the director with a copy to the assistant dean for student affairs and enrollment management.
All BSN students in the School of Nursing initiate a learning portfolio during the first semester of their junior year. The portfolio provides evidence of a student’s ability to meet programmatic outcomes as a care provider; designer, manager, and coordinator of care; and member of the profession. The portfolio also demonstrates development of professional values and behaviors by providing evidence of work completed throughout the nursing program. A Best Works Portfolio at the conclusion of the nursing program evaluates program outcomes and is used for ongoing professional development. Each course requires elements of the portfolio and is integrated into the course syllabus.
All BSN students, with the exception of RN-to-BSN students, must participate in preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam as specified in the School of Nursing. This may include taking a practice computerized NCLEX-preparation exam and achieving a passing score, as well as completion of remediation activities. Successful completion of the NCLEX review exam and any required remediation is required to achieve a passing grade in HHS 465.
Fees and expenses specific to the nursing program are as follows: laboratory equipment kit, standardized testing, uniforms, stethoscope, name pin, books, course materials, transportation to and from agencies, CPR certification, review of health forms, immunizations, and any other additional fees as mandated by clinical agencies, such as the criminal background check.
A one-time lab fee and criminal background check are required of all students.
Nursing students are required to obtain a health exam and immunizations before registering for their first clinical course. Students must complete the three hepatitis B immunizations in accordance with current U.S. Public Health Service recommendations before entering the first clinical setting. The cost of the immunizations is the responsibility of the student. Students also must have annual tuberculosis screenings by PPD. Student immunization records are monitored at the CHHS Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
All students must have CPR certification before entering the first clinical nursing course and maintain it through the remainder of the program. Either the American Red Cross Professional Rescuer or the American Heart Association Basic Life Support is required. Clinical agencies sometimes require additional records and documentation before student participation. Any cost is the responsibility of the student.
Student assignments are based on the learning needs of the student without regard to the HIV or HBV status of the client. Failure to practice universal precautions and blood-borne pathogen safety results in dismissal from the program.
No student or faculty member will be discriminated against or denied admission to the nursing program for the sole reason that the student or faculty member has been exposed to, infected with, or diagnosed with HIV or HBV. In the event that a student has a clinical experience or practicum exposure to body fluids of a client, procedures and appropriate incident reports are to be completed according to institutional and nursing policies. Information related to exposure or infection is confidential, and dissemination of such information is based on the need-to-know criteria that apply generally in health care situations. A complete and detailed HIV/HBV policy is available in the CHHS Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
The drop period for nursing courses offered for fewer than 14 weeks is 3 weeks.
Because knowledge, skills, and behavior patterns in the major field of this program are so vital to the health and perhaps even the survival of individuals or groups being served, failure or borderline achievement cannot be tolerated. Therefore, the faculty of the nursing program has established, with approval of university faculty and administration, special major field quality standards that go beyond the general university quality standards printed elsewhere in this catalog.
RN and LPN students are required to submit a copy of their current license prior to entering the first nursing course. RN- and LPN-licensed students must maintain their licensure throughout the academic program.
MSN-NURS
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program is accredited by the Virginia State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The program prepares nurses for a variety of leadership roles in the health care delivery system. The adult, adult/gerontological, and family nurse practitioner primary care concentrations are part of a collaborative program with George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. These concentrations have been approved by the state boards of nursing and medicine in Virginia. The concentration 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 concentration in nursing administration prepares nurses to function in management positions in hospitals, nursing homes, community health agencies, and other health-related facilities. The nurse educator concentration prepares graduates for faculty positions in schools of nursing, as well as nurse educator positions in hospitals and community health care agencies. The clinical nurse leader concentration prepares nurses as generalists with solid foundations in health policy and finance to provide competent care and clinical leadership within the health care system.
In addition to meeting graduate admission requirements, applicants to MSN programs must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 for the last 60 credits of undergraduate work, hold an active license as a registered nurse (RN), and submit two letters of recommendation, a résumé, and a goals statement. 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 a graduate bivariate statistics course. (HHS 597)
Students applying to the advanced clinical nursing, clinical nurse leader, nurse educator, and all the nurse practitioner concentrations must have a health assessment skills continuing education course within 18 months prior to taking NURS 514 or 719. In addition, applicants to the nursing administration concentration are required to have the equivalent of one year’s experience in direct patient care as a registered nurse. Students applying to any nurse practitioner concentration are required to have a minimum of one year experience in direct patient care. It is recommended that students applying to the advanced clinical nursing concentration have the equivalent of one year’s experience in direct patient care as an RN.
Graduate students are required to have annual health exams and immunizations before enrolling in practicum courses. Students must 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 CHHS Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Criminal background checks are required of all School of Nursing students. All students are required to have an active Mason e-mail account.
The master’s program in nursing requires 37 to 48 graduate credits. Of these, a 13-credit core consists of course work in the theoretical foundations of nursing, applications in nursing research, a seminar in the ethics of health care, and a course on the organization of nursing and health care delivery systems. The nursing administration and clinical nurse leader concentrations require an additional 24 credits; the nurse educator concentration, an additional 25 credits; the advanced clinical nursing concentration, an additional 25 to 31 credits; the adult nurse practitioner concentration, an additional 29 credits; and the adult/gerontological and family nurse practitioner concentrations, an additional 35 credits. A graduate course in which a grade of C or below is earned may be repeated only once. Graduate students (both master’s and doctoral) may repeat no more than two courses in their total program of study.
Actual clinical hours may exceed those listed in the catalog. Actual clinical hours will meet those required for certification purposes. Credits listed in the catalog reflect the minimum required credits.
This pathway allows RNs who have completed the general education requirements (as listed in the undergraduate RN-to-BSN Pathway) and have demonstrated substantial involvement in professional nursing within the past two years to earn the MSN degree. Students entering a concentration through this pathway must meet all the requirements for admission to that concentration.
In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for degree status at Mason, applicants must hold a current license to practice nursing, be graduates of an accredited nursing program, have earned a 3.00 GPA in the general education courses at an accredited institution, and demonstrate substantial involvement in professional nursing within the past two years as an RN in clinical practice.
Students in the RN-to-MSN pathway are required to take the following bridge course:
| NURS 595 RN-MSN Transition: Evidence-Based Community Health Nursing | 3 credits |
After completion of the bridge course, students choose one of the seven concentrations and meet all requirements of the graduate program.
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| MSN Core Courses (required of all students) | 13 |
| NURS 660 Seminar in the Ethics of Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 680 Theoretical Foundations Related to Nursing | 2 |
| NURS 685 Advanced Nursing Research Methods | 3 |
| NURS 686 Projects in Nursing Research | 2 |
| NURS 688 Organization of Nursing and Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
Nursing Concentrations (select one):
| Course Work | 17 |
| NURS 623 Clinical Concepts in Community-Oriented Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 746 Practicum in Adult Primary Care Nursing I | 6 |
| NURS 748 Practicum in Adult Primary Care Nursing II | 8 |
| Course Work | 23 |
| NURS 623 Clinical Concepts in Community-Oriented Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 746 Practicum in Adult Primary Care Nursing I | 6 |
| NURS 748 Practicum in Adult Primary Care Nursing II | 8 |
| NURS 780 Practicum in Gerontological Primary Care Nursing I | 3 |
| NURS 781 Practicum in Gerontological Primary Care Nursing II | 3 |
| Course Work | 23 |
| NURS 623 Clinical Concepts in Community-Oriented Primary Care | 3 |
| NURS 720 Practicum in Family Primary Care Nursing I | 4 |
| NURS 721 Practicum in Assessment and Management of the Developing Family | 8 |
| NURS 722 Practicum in Family Primary Care Nursing II | 8 |
| Nurse Practitioner-Related Discipline Support Courses* | 12 |
| NURS 719 Advanced Health Assessment | 2 |
| NURS 723 Clinical Decision Making | 2 |
| NURS 745 Pharmacology | 3 |
| NURS 747 Pharmacology in Disease and Pathophysiology | 1 |
| NURS 756 Advanced Pathology and Pathophysiology | 4 |
* Required for ANPR, AGNP, and FNUP concentrations.
Colisted with George Washington University (GWU) School of Medicine and Health Sciences. All courses offered at GWU are charged at GWU’s tuition rates. Nurse practitioner students must have taken a continuing education health assessment course with a skills component within 18 months of taking NURS 719.
| Course Work | 25 |
| NURS 513 Advanced Pharmacology in Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 514 Application of Advanced Health Assessment Methods* | 1 |
| NURS 550 Pathophysiologic Bases for Major Health Deviations of Individuals | 3 |
| 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 Electives | 6 |
*A continuing education health assessment course with a skills component is required within 18 months prior to taking NURS 514.
Clinical Nurse Specialist EmphasisStudents in the advanced clinical nursing concentration may opt for the clinical nurse specialist emphasis and accrue 500 clinical hours by completing NURS 740 Clinical Nurse Specialist Internship. NURS 740 is 3 credits and can be repeated for up to 6 credits.
| Course Work | 12 |
| 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 Administration Support Courses | 12 |
| NURS 654 Nursing Administration Financial Management or HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Organizations |
3 |
| Management/organizational theory Recommended courses include HAP 621, LRNG 601, or PUAD 620. |
3 |
| Nursing or related discipline electives | 6 |
| Course Work | 15 |
| NURS 556 Principles of Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education or EDRS 531 Educational and Psychological Measurement |
3 |
| NURS 726 Perspectives in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NURS 727 Application of Nursing Education Principles to Curriculum and Program Development | 3 |
| NURS 728 Practicum and Seminar in Nursing Education I | 3 |
| NURS 729 Practicum and Seminar in Nursing Education II | 3 |
| Nurse Educator Support Courses | 10 |
| NURS 514 Application of Advanced Health Assessment Methods* | 1 |
| NURS 550 Pathophysiologic Bases for Major Health Deviations of Individuals | 3 |
| Nursing or related discipline electives | 6 |
*A continuing education health assessment course with a skills component is required within 18 months prior to taking NURS 514.
| Course Work | 17 |
| HAP 586 Quality Management in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 654 Nursing Administration Financial Management | 3 |
| NURS 730 Leadership Strategies for the Clinical Nurse Leader | 2 |
| NURS 731 Clinical Nurse Leader Role Integration | 2 |
| NURS 732 Practicum: Clinical Nurse Leader | 7 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader Support Courses | 7 |
| NURS 513 Advanced Pharmacology in Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 550 Pathophysiologic Bases for Major HealthDeviations of Individuals | 3 |
| NURS 514 Application of Advanced Health Assessment Methods* | 1 |
*A continuing education health assessment course with a skills component is required within 18 months prior to taking NURS 514.
The MSN prepares nurses for a variety of leadership roles in health care delivery systems. Courses are held on the Fairfax Campus and in distributed local health care facilities. Most classes are offered after 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mason is a public institution with excellent tuition rates for those who qualify for Virginia residency. Peace Corps volunteers accepted into the MSN program who are not Virginia residents may be eligible for the tuition support program to obtain the in-state rate. The program has been rated in the top 50 graduate nursing programs by U.S.News & World Report.
The Master’s International (MI), a joint program of Mason and the Peace Corps, enables participants to prepare for Peace Corps service while earning the MSN. Participants apply separately to the Peace Corps and to Mason. The MSN offers several concentrations, but two are more appropriate to the Peace Corps experience: advanced clinical nursing, a 38-credit program, and nursing administration, a 37-credit program. Students are able to complete initial requirements of 31 or 32 credits within one year (to include summer sessions). Six credits are earned as practicum credits for the overseas Peace Corps service. Students return to Mason for their final project presentation, during which they discuss and share their Peace Corps experiences with faculty and other MSN students.
Applicants should hold a BSN. They must submit a completed application for graduate admission, along with the nonrefundable application fee; application for Virginia in-state rates for those claiming eligibility; original transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities; GRE scores (cumulative undergraduate GPA may allow for waiver of the entrance exam requirement); two letters of recommendation from professional sources; résumé; and a goals statement.
Applications are reviewed throughout the year for admission to either the fall or the spring semester, although new students may take their initial course during Summer Term. Students accepted into the program but waiting for notification of acceptance from the Peace Corps may begin their master’s program but will not be eligible for tuition support until they have been accepted into the Peace Corps.
For more information about Master’s International, contact the Peace Corps regional office at 1-800-424-8580. For the Fellows/USA program, call the above number and then extension 1440.
MSNBA-NBA
The MSN/MBA Program, offered with the School of Management (SOM), 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. The program requires 58 graduate credits, including graduate nursing, business, decision sciences, and elective courses.
Applicants must have GMAT scores sent directly to Mason and must meet admission requirements for graduate degree status in both CHHS and SOM.
| HAP 703 Financial Management of Health Systems | 3 |
| NURS 660 Seminar in the Ethics of Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 680 Theoretical Foundations Related to Nursing | 2 |
| NURS 685 Advanced Nursing Research Methods | 3 |
| NURS 686 Projects in Nursing Research | 2 |
| NURS 688 Organization of Nursing and Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
| 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 |
| MBA 603 Managerial Economics and Decisions of the Firm | 3 |
| MBA 612 Managing Costs and Evaluating Performance | 1.5 |
| MBA 613 Financial Reporting and Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 623 Marketing Management | 3 |
| MBA 633 Statistics for Business Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 638 Managing Operations and Technology for the Digital Enterprise | 3 |
| MBA 643 Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA 653 Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MBA 663 Introduction to Information Technology and Management | 3 |
| MBA 673 Legal Environment for Management | 1.5 |
| MBA 678 Strategy and Organizational Leadership | 3 |
CERG-NUAD
This program offers formal study in theory and practice in nursing administration in the health care delivery system.
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Application is made through CHHS.
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| Required Courses | 15 |
| NURS 763 Administrative Theory in Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 765 Practicum in Nursing Administration I or NURS 768 Practicum in Nursing Administration II | 3 |
| Electives: Graduate courses as approved by the student’s advisor | 9 |
To earn the certificate, students must complete all courses with a 3.00 GPA.
CERG-NUED
This program combines foundation courses in education with courses in the principles and practices of nursing education. It prepares students to function in nursing educational roles in academic and nonacademic settings.
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Application is made through CHHS.
| Required Courses | 15 |
| NURS 556 Principles of Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education or EDRS 531 Educational and Psychological Measurement |
3 |
| NURS 726 Perspectives in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NURS 727 Application of Nursing Education Principles to Curriculum and Program Development | 3 |
| NURS 728 Practicum and Seminar in Nursing Education I | 3 |
| NURS 729 Practicum and Seminar in Nursing Education II | 3 |
(Students who qualify for a 3-credit practicum because of their educational experience may choose the remaining 3 credits from courses designated by the graduate nursing program.)
To earn the certificate, students must complete all courses with a 3.00 GPA.
CERG-FRNN
This program provides advanced education at the graduate level to students who are actively involved or wish to pursue a career in forensic nursing. The certificate will provide the educational requirements for certification as a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) through the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IFAN) and as a certified forensic nurse through the American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFE).
Applicants must have a current nursing license and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Courses are open to other graduate students, with the exception of NURS 734, which requires students to have a current nursing license.
| Required Courses | 15 |
| NURS 733 Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| NURS 734 Role of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Interpersonal Violence* | 3 |
| NURS 735 Crime Lab and Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| NURS 736 Psychological and Legal Aspects of Forensic Science | 3 |
| NURS 737 Investigation of Injury and Death | 3 |
*Students who are currently certified as a SANE take GCH 602 Global Health Issues Related to Violence in place of NURS 734.
PHD-NURS
The PhD in Nursing Program builds on the MSN degree. The objective of the program is to prepare nurses for executive and educational roles in nursing and health care. Graduates of the program exemplify the administrative and the leadership characteristics essential to assuming executive roles; conduct and support research in nursing and health care ethics, health care administration, health policy, and nursing education; and 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 admission requirements for degree status in CHHS, applicants must hold a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program equivalent to 30 credits or a master’s degree in a related health field with a baccalaureate degree in nursing. They must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale in a master’s program. They also must show evidence of one year of experience as an RN prior to enrollment. Other requirements are as follows:
Students are admitted for fall semester only. All materials for admission must be submitted to Mason’s Admissions Office by March 1 of the year of application.
Students must supply official transcripts documenting satisfactory grades for graduate-level semester credits (as designated by the educational institution where taken), as well as official catalog descriptions of each course petitioned for transfer. Students may transfer up to 12 credits from other academic institutions. Transfer credits may be applied to degree requirements pending approval from the director of the program. Other requirements are as follows:
The PhD in Nursing Program offers a concentration in nursing education (minimum 58 credits), a concentration in nursing administration (minimum 58 credits), and an individualized area of concentration (minimum 51 credits). Before advancing to candidacy and enrolling for dissertation credit (12 credits), students must have their program of study approved by CHHS and the director of the CHHS doctoral program.
Prerequisites for this concentration are PUAD 620 Organizational Behavior and HHS 597 Approaches to Quantitative Data Analysis in Health Care Research, or the equivalent.
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Base/Research Core | 19 |
| NURS 804 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis for Health Care Research I | 3 |
| NURS 805 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis for Health Care Research II | 3 |
| NURS 855 Ethics in Health Administration | 3 |
| NURS 875 Research internship | 1 |
| NURS 920 Qualitative Research in Nursing and Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 930 Quantitative Methods in Nursing and Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 955 Philosophical Bases of Inquiry | 3 |
| Nursing Education Core | 18 |
| NURS 556 Principles of Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education or EDRS 531 Educational and Psychological Measurement or EDEP 651 Test Design and Interpretation |
3 |
| NURS 727 Application of Nursing Education Principles to Curriculum and Program Development | 3 |
| NURS 810 Evaluation Research in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NURS 811 Nurse as Educator and Scholar | 2 |
| NURS 870 Nursing and Health Care Administration I | 3 |
| NURS 874 Internship Health Care Administration/Policy/Education | 4 |
| Dissertation (minimum 12 credits) | 12 |
| NURS 998 Dissertation Proposal Development (may be repeated up to four times) | 3 |
| NURS 999 Doctoral Dissertation | 1–9 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total | 58 |
Prerequisites for this concentration are PUAD 620 Organizational Behavior and HHS 597 Approaches to Quantitative Data Analysis in Health Care Research, or the equivalent.
| Scientific Base/Research Core | 19 |
| NURS 804 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis for Health Care Research I | 3 |
| NURS 805 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis for Health Care Research II | 3 |
| NURS 855 Ethics in Health Administration | 3 |
| NURS 875 Research internship | 1 |
| NURS 920 Qualitative Research in Nursing and Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 930 Quantitative Methods in Nursing and Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 955 Philosophical Bases of Inquiry | 3 |
| Nursing Administration Core | 18 |
| HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Organizations | 3 |
| NURS 750 Legal Issues Relevant to Health Care Administration | 3 |
| NURS 866 Health Care Public Policy | 3 |
| NURS 870 Nursing and Health Care Administration I | 3 |
| NURS 871 Nursing and Health Care Administration II | 2 |
| NURS 874 Internship Health Care Administration/Policy/Education | 4 |
| Dissertation (minimum 12 credits) | 12 |
| NURS 998 Dissertation Proposal Development (may be repeated up to four times) | 3 |
| NURS 999 Doctoral Dissertation | 1–9 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total | 58 |
The prerequisite for this concentration is HHS 597 Approaches to Quantitative Data Analysis in Health Care Research or the equivalent. Other prerequisites are determined individually.
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Base/Research Core | 21 |
| NURS 804 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis for Health Care Research I | 3 |
| NURS 805 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis for Health Care Research II | 3 |
| NURS 855 Ethics in Health Administration | 3 |
| NURS 875 Research internship | 3 |
| NURS 920 Qualitative Research in Nursing and Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 930 Quantitative Methods in Nursing and Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 955 Philosophical Bases of Inquiry | 3 |
| Individualized Core (minimum 18 credits) | 18 |
| NURS 866 Health Care Public Policy | 3 |
| NURS 874 Internship in Health Care Administration/Policy/Education | 4 |
| Electives Students must complete a minimum of 11 credits from a cohesive set of existing doctoral-level university courses designed with their advisor and the program director to contribute to the student’s program of research. Course work must focus on specific content areas, such as biostatistics, bioterrorism, gerontology, and genetics. |
11 |
| Dissertation (minimum 12 credits) | 12 |
| NURS 998 Dissertation Proposal Development (may be repeated up to four times) | 3 |
| NURS 999 Doctoral Dissertation | 1–9 |
| Total | 51 |
Students are required to enroll in NURS 874 Internship in Health Care Administration/Policy/Education, a one-semester, 4-credit internship that includes seminars for experiential learning in health care administration. Students are assigned to a doctorally prepared executive who serves as the preceptor in the student’s field of emphasis. A field experience of 126 hours is required. NURS 874 is scheduled at the end of the course sequence in the program of study.
After students have successfully completed the qualifying exam and all required course work, the director of the School of Nursing doctoral program approves advancement to candidacy.
The proposal must focus on a topic in nursing and be approved by the doctoral dissertation committee, the doctoral program director, and the CHHS dean. The dissertation proposal and written dissertation must be consistent with the guidelines outlined in Mason’s Guide for Preparing Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Projects.
Before enrolling for dissertation credit, the student must have advanced to candidacy. The completed dissertation must be approved by the doctoral dissertation committee, the doctoral program director, and the CHHS dean.
The doctoral dissertation committee chair, on preliminary approval of the doctoral dissertation by the committee, petitions the doctoral program director in the CHHS to schedule the final oral doctoral exam, which includes a defense of the doctoral dissertation. The final oral doctoral exam also demonstrates the candidate’s intellectual command and maturity of judgment in the area of emphasis chosen by the candidate and approved by the doctoral dissertation committee. At the close of the final oral doctoral exam, the committee makes a final judgment regarding approval of the doctoral dissertation and successful completion of PhD degree requirements.
Students must complete all planned course work, including electives, and advance to candidacy within six years of admission to degree or provisional status in the PhD program. The student must successfully complete the doctoral dissertation, final oral doctoral exam, and all PhD degree requirements within five years following the semester of advancement to candidacy.
(pending SCHEV approval)
DNP-NURS
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) builds on the MSN degree. The objective of the program is to prepare graduates for the highest level of nursing practice. Emphasis will be placed on evaluating and applying the evidence that supports practice, understanding and creating practice delivery systems based on patient outcomes, and assuming leadership roles in practice settings. Along with these core competencies, the degree will offer concentrations to develop greater expertise in education and leadership in clinical practice. The DNP will be the terminal practice degree in the profession. The degree will draw on expertise from throughout CHHS in such areas as health economics, health policy, and epidemiology. Graduates of the program will be able to assume many roles in the health care system, including direct patient care, clinical nursing faculty, practice management, and policy development.
In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for the CHHS, applicants for the DNP must have a master of science degree in nursing from an accredited program equivalent to a minimum of 30 credits and be currently licensed as an RN. They must be advanced practice nurses with evidence of certification and a minimum of 500 practice hours in their field. They must demonstrate a GPA of 3.50 or better in their graduate program. Students must show evidence of a graduate course in research methodology. Students seeking admission will be asked to provide a 500-word statement outlining an area of practice inquiry interest. Other requirements are as follows:
Applicants will be accepted for the fall semester only. All application material must be submitted by June 1 of the year in which admission is sought.
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| DNP Core | 21 |
| GCH 714 Epidemiology for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems | 3 |
| HAP 866 Health Care Public Policy | 3 |
| NURS 870 Nursing and Health Care Administration I | 3 |
| NURS 880 Informatics Inquiry for the Doctor of Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 881 Issues and Methodology in Translational Research | 4 |
| NURS 882 Theoretical Foundations Related to Human Health Behaviors | 2 |
| Concentration Courses (Education or Clinical Leadership) | 15 |
Course listings are detailed below. It is anticipated that students will take advantage of other courses not listed here that are offered in departments throughout the university based on their experience, educational needs, and interests with the guidance of their advisor.
Select from the following courses:
| EDUC 606 Education and Culture | 3 |
| EDUC 612 Inquiry into Practice | 3 |
| EDUC 615 Educational Change | 3 |
| NURS 556 Principles of Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education or EDRS 531 Educational and Psychological Measurement |
3 |
| NURS 726 Perspectives in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NURS 727 Application of Nursing Education | |
| Principles to Curriculum and Program Development | 3 |
| NURS 728 Practicum and Seminar in Nursing Education I | 3 |
| NURS 729 Practicum and Seminar in Nursing Education II | 3 |
| NURS 810 Evaluation Research in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NURS 811 Nurse as Educator and Scholar | 3 |
Select from the following courses:
| GCH 637 Normal Aging and Health Deviations | 3 |
| GCH 722 Infectious Disease Epidemiology | 3 |
| HAP 727 Program Evaluation in Health Care | 3 |
| HAP 730 Health Care Decision Analysis | 3 |
| HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems | 3 |
| HHS 750 Legal Issues Relevant to Health Care | 3 |
| HHS 855 Ethics in Health Care Administration | 3 |
| NURS 733 Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| NURS 734 Role of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Interpersonal Violence | 3 |
| NURS 735 Crime Lab and Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| NURS 736 Psychological and Legal Aspects of Forensic Science | 3 |
| NURS 737 Investigation of Injury and Death | 3 |
| PUBP 730 National Policy Systems and Theory | 3 |
| PUBP 753 Ethics and Public Policy | 3 |
| PUBP 762 Social Institutions and Public Policy | 3 |
| Practice Inquiry* | 8 |
| NURS 980 Practice Inquiry I | 4 |
| NURS 981 Practice Inquiry II | 4 |
| Total | 44 |
* Required of all DNP students
The final step in completion of the degree is the implementation of a practice inquiry project. The proposal for this project must be prepared with ample time for submission to the Human Subjects Review Board at George Mason University. The student will identify a committee of three faculty members to serve as advisors for the practice inquiry. At a minimum, the chair and one member of this committee must be from the School of Nursing. The third member may be drawn from other university faculty with expertise in the area of practice inquiry or from outside the university with permission from the committee chair and the director of the DNP program. The committee is responsible for approving the final written report of the project and its oral defense by the student. The practice inquiry project must demonstrate to the committee’s satisfaction knowledge in the core competencies of finance, policy, technology, and health care delivery systems. This project will be completed within two semesters.
The student must successfully complete all aspects of the program within 6 years of admission to the program.