Master of Science in Nursing
Nurse Practitioner Program

CNP to MSN Pathway

This track is available to individuals who are certified as a nurse practitioner in any specialty, but do not have a Master's Degree in Nursing. The program course requirements will vary depending on whether or not the applicant has a baccalaureate degree at all, holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing or in another field. Applicants who have no baccalaureate degree or hold one outside of nursing will need to make individualized programs of study with the CHHS Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (703) 993-1925 and the CHHS Associate Dean for Graduate Programs (703) 993-1913.

The BSN-NP to MSN Degree

This program offers formal study in theory and practice for the nurse holding a BSN and Certificate as a Nurse Practitioner, leading to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree in Advanced Clinical Nursing. There are open admissions to this program; however students are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Applications are made through the College of Health and Human Services and the applicant must meet all the following admissions criteria:

• BSN from an NLN or CCNE accredited institution of higher learning
• GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Licensed as a registered nurse
• Current Certification as a Nurse Practitioner
• Completed application form

Please note: Each applicant will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and may be required to have a personal interview.

Upon review of the transcripts from the applicant's nurse practitioner educational program, 18 advanced placement credits may be awarded. The student will then need 19 additional credits for the MSN as follows:

• Four CORE courses (13) - See below
• NURS 623 (3)
  Clinical Concepts in Community-Oriented Primary Care
• Elective (3) - Through Advisement
• Graduate advanced placement credit (18) - For course work completed in the NP certificate program
• Total = 37 Credits

Please refer to the GMU Catalog for Course Descriptions.

• Core Courses (13)
  • NURS 660 (3:3:0)
    Seminar in the Ethics of Health Care
  • NURS 688 (3:3:0)
    Organization of Nursing and Health Care Delivery Systems
  • NURS 685 (3:3:0)
    Advanced Nursing Research Methods
  • NURS 686 (2:2:0)
    Projects in Nursing Research
  • NURS 680 (2:2:0)
    Theoretical Foundations Related to Nursing
• Suggested Electives
  • Spring
    • NURS 654 (3:3:0)
      Nursing Administration Financial Management
    • NURS 530 (3:3:0)
      Nurses as Writers
    • NURS 543 (3:3:0)
      Global Health: Trends and Policies
    • NURS 611 (3:3:0)
      Anthropology of Health
  • Fall
    • NURS 542 (3:2:1)
      Health Policy
    • NURS 660 (3:3:0)
      Seminar in the Ethics of Health Care
    • NURS 570 (3:3:0)
      Cultural Dimensions of Aging
    • GCH 637 (3:3:0)
      Normal Aging and Health Deviation

May also take courses outside of nursing as approved, such as Conflict Resolution

Explanation of Credit Hours
Course titles are followed by numbers in parentheses (0:0:0), separated by colons. The numbers have the following significance:

• First Number: credits for the course
• Second Number: hours of lecture or seminar per week for the course
• Third Number: hours of laboratory for the course

For independent study, readings, topics, or similar courses, individual instructors set hours.