2016-2017 University Catalog
Nursing, MSN
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Banner Code: HH-MSN-NURS
College: College of Health and Human Services
Department: School of Nursing
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 gerontology and family nurse practitioner primary care concentrations have been approved by the state boards of nursing and medicine in Virginia. 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.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission standards and application requirements specified in the Admissions section of the catalog, and apply using the online Application for Graduate Admission. Except for the RN-to-MSN pathway, applicants must be graduates of accredited baccalaureate (BSN) programs in nursing. MSN applicants must hold an active state-based/US license as a registered nurse (RN), a current CPR card, and work experience as an RN. The application process is competitive, and applications are considered for the fall and spring semesters. For application deadlines and detailed application requirements, please refer to the CHHS Admissions website.
Transfers Between Programs or Concentrations
Students may not transfer between programs or concentrations. If a student wishes to be considered for another nursing program or concentration, a completed application to that program or concentration must be submitted using the online Application for Graduate Admission. Applicants will be considered for admission with all other applicants for that program or concentration, with no guarantee of acceptance. If accepted, please be aware that more than half of the credits earned for the new degree must be taken after acceptance to the new nursing program or concentration.
Transfer of Credit
Students may transfer a maximum of 9 credits into the MSN in Nursing program from graduate courses taken at other institutions or taken at Mason in non-degree status, including courses offered through the college’s Academic Outreach program. Transfer credit is subject to university and college policies and must be approved by the program director and the dean. Students who enroll initially through non-degree studies or the Academic Outreach program should seek course advising through the department and should submit their application to the MSN program in their first semester of study.
Special Requirements
Graduate students are required to have up-to-date annual health exams, current immunizations and CPR certification. Criminal background checks are required of all School of Nursing students. Student health exams, immunization records, and criminal background checks are part of the final admission process. No student may attend practicum courses unless all the requirements for CPR, health exams, immunizations, and criminal background checks are met. All students enrolled in the School of Nursing are required to maintain health insurance at all times. Students must be in the process of completing a hepatitis B immunization series when they enroll for their first practicum course. All students are required to have an active Mason e-mail account.
Professional Conduct
All students in the School of Nursing are expected to adhere to the Professional Conduct Policy of the College of Health and Human Services.
Appeal Process
Although faculty members in the nursing program are generally the best judges of a student’s professional performance, some students may feel that the faculty member’s judgment is unfair. Students in the School of Nursing wishing to appeal a grade are expected to follow the Mason guidelines for grade appeals, found in the Academic Policies section of the Mason University Catalog.
Honor System and Code
The School of Nursing supports academic integrity and follows the standards and procedures as described in the University catalog and available at academicintegrity.gmu.edu.
Academic Termination
A degree-seeking nursing graduate student is terminated from the program after accumulating unsatisfactory grades (B-minus or below) in two graduate courses. Any graduate course in which a student earns a B-minus grade or below must be repeated before progressing any further in course work.
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