The Graduate Program - College of Nursing - Michigan State University

The Master’s Program in the College of Nursing at Michigan State University offers the MSN degree in three distinct advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) concentrations; Nurse Practitioner (NP), Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), and Nurse Anesthesia (NA). The NP offers concentrations in Family or Adult/Gerontology Primary Care. Consistent with the College of Nursing mission, the MSN graduates are prepared as experts in nursing practice and leadership who utilize evidence-based practice.

The MSN core coursework and APRN specific courses all build on the previous learning of the baccalaureate degree in nursing. The graduates of the MSN program are prepared as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and are eligible to sit for certification in their chosen APRN role. The MSN program of study is informed by eight MSN Program objectives that clearly state expected student outcomes for achievement of a MSN degree. In addition, each APRN has further defined student outcomes that support the chosen clinical specialization and are consistent with achievement of overall MSN Program objectives.

The MSN APRN in the Nurse Practitioner role is designed to prepare registered nurses to achieve an advanced nursing practice in primary care. This is a hybrid program, which combines online courses with traditional didactic and practicum courses. This program is a minimum of 45 credits and provides clinical practicum experiences with 650+ clinical hours which exceeds the 500 clinical hours minimum required to sit for the national certification examination in the population focus. Graduates are eligible for Certification as Primary Care Family NPs or Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NPs. The program may be completed in a two (2) year full-time or three (3) year part-time program of study. Students complete the MSN core courses related to role and theory, health policy, statistics and evidence-based practice. Courses in pathophysiology, clinical decision-making, pharmacology, health assessment, and advanced practice nursing issues are required in preparation for management and primary care courses and clinical practica.

The MSN program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Clinical experience is an essential component of the program. Experiences in primary care settings are available in many locations throughout the state. Clinical experiences are based on each student’s goals, needs, and availability of clinical sites. Clinical experiences involve active participation in interdisciplinary management of health care services for patients and their community. The focus is on health promotion, health maintenance, illness prevention, episodic care and long-term care.

The MSN prepared APRN in the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist role is designed to prepare RNs in an advanced practice role as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and equip them with the advanced skills for nursing education. The CNS is prepared to provide a professional leadership role in the design and implementation of strategies to improve patient and organizational outcomes and to teach nursing students in both the didactic and clinical settings. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to sit for American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification as an Adult-Gerontology CNS OR American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) certification as an Adult-Gerontology CNS and the National League for Nursing (NLN) certification as a Certified Nurse Educator.

This program is a minimum of 47 credits and may be completed in a two (2) year full-time or three (3) year part-time program of study. This is an online program that includes didactic courses and a minimum of 650+ clinical practicum hours required to qualify for the national certification. Students will complete the MSN core courses related to role, theory, health policy, statistics and evidence based practice. Courses in curriculum design, teaching/learning, educational technology, pharmacology and pathophysiology are required in preparation for clinical and education internships. A thesis option is available for this program.

The MSN Nurse Anesthesia APRN is a 28-month, full-time program designed to educate RNs in academic knowledge, technical and clinical skills, and professional role in nursing practice to assume leadership as accomplished advanced practitioners in nurse anesthesia who meet the requirements and are eligible for certification as certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and licensure as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).

Content is delivered via face-to-face instruction, interactive television and online. Students complete the MSN core courses related to role, theory community health policy, statistics and evidence-based practice. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) has a minimal academic curriculum for nurse anesthesia programs to include:

• A minimum of 135 hours in Advanced Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology.
• A minimum of 90 hours in Advanced Pharmacology.
• A minimum of 45 hours in Chemistry and Physics Related to Anesthesia.
• The minimum requirement of 90 hours of courses in anesthesia practice provides content such as induction, maintenance, and emergence of anesthesia; airway management; anesthesia pharmacology; and anesthesia for special patient populations such as obstetrics, geriatrics, and pediatrics.

A more complete description of the nurse anesthesia requirements is found in the Nurse Anesthesia Supplement to this handbook. The MSU CON nurse anesthesia program has received accreditation through the council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational programs (COA).

MSN DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

1. Completion of all required courses with an earned grade of 3.0 or higher
2. Satisfactory completion of a scholarly project

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a FULL-TIME student in the Family NP concentration. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

Total Credits 54

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a PART-TIME student in the Family NP concentration. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

Total Credits 54

View a curriculum sample for the AGNP program:  Full-time trajectory or Part-time trajectory

View a curriculum sample for the PMHNP program:  Full-time trajectory or Part-time trajectory

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for FULL-TIME students. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for PART-TIME students. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

Full Time Course Sequence - MSN Nurse Anesthesia

Total Credits 78 (82)

View or Download a pdf of the trajectory

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a FULL-TIME student. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

765 direct care clinical hours FNP/AGNP
240 practicum hours
45 clinical hours in Advanced Physical Assessment
TOTAL=1050 Hours

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a PART-TIME student. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

765 direct care clinical hours FNP/AGNP
240 practicum hours
45 clinical hours in Advanced Physical Assessment
TOTAL=1050 Hours

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a FULL-TIME student. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

810 direct care clinical hours
240 practicum hours
45 clinical hours in Advanced Physical Assessment
TOTAL=1050 Hours

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a PART-TIME student. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

810 direct care clinical hours
240 practicum hours
45 clinical hours in Advanced Physical Assessment
TOTAL=1050 Hours

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a FULL-TIME student. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

The trajectory below presents the standard sequence for a PART-TIME student. Some courses are offered more than once a year.

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

*All post-master students will have an individual assessment of the gap between their Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) master’s curriculum and the DNP.  All missing competency areas will be required.  All students will take the 3-course project sequence and have 1000 post- BSN clinical practice hours with a minimum of 300 hours in the post-master’s program.  A minimum of 23 credits are required for the post-master’s DNP program.

The criteria for admission to the BSN to DNP program are listed below. Applicants to the Nurse Anesthesia APRN should review the Nurse Anesthesia Supplemental Handbook for the additional admission criteria that apply to that APRN.

Admission Criteria for BSN to DNP:
To be considered for admission to the DNP, post BSN entry program, an applicant must:

1. Submit a university application for admission and a curriculum vitae.
2. Complete a Bachelor of Nursing degree from an accredited college or university.
3. Possess a current unrestricted license to practice nursing as a registered nurse in the applicant’s state or country. For those applicants practicing in Michigan, a current registered nurse Michigan license is required. Applicants who hold registered nurse licensure from other states or countries and who are in the Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia concentration may be admitted provisionally with the requirement that a United States and Michigan registered nurse license must be obtained prior to progression to clinical courses.
4. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for total credits completed during the second-half of the four-year baccalaureate nursing program.
5. One year of current full-time clinical experience or equivalent as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit is required for the Nurse Anesthesia concentration. 
6. Complete a 3 credit undergraduate or graduate statistics course with a grade of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or better within the last five years.
7. Submit a written essay that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for graduate study in the selected area of specialty nursing practice: nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist.
8. Submit three letters of recommendation. The reference letters must be from a source that has direct knowledge of the applicant’s work and educational experience specifying the applicant’s ability to do graduate work.
9. Complete an admission interview with the College of Nursing faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the Dean of the College based on the requirements for admission and the personal interview.
10. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum average score of 550, no subscore below 52 on the paper-based test (PBT).  If the applicant completes the Internet-based test (iBT), no subscore below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 22 and a minimum average score of 80. Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University Office of Admissions.

Admission Criteria for Post Master's DNP:
Admission to the Post Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is limited to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with a master’s degree from a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) accredited program and who have current national certification in their specialty.

To be considered for admission to the Post Master's DNP program, and applicant must:

1. Submit a university application for admission and a curriculum vitae.
2. Complete a Master of Nursing degree from an accredited college or university.
3. Possess a current unrestricted license to practice nursing as a registered nurse in the applicant's state or country and specialty certification. 
4. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the Master of Science in Nursing
5. At least one year of full-time professional experience as an advanced practice registered nurse.   
6. Approved graduate-level statistics, research methods and health policy courses of at least 3 semester credits, each.  Each must have been successfully completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The statistics course must have been completed within 5 years prior to admission.
7. Submit a written essay that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for graduate study in the selected area of specialty nursing practice: nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist.
8. Submit three letters of recommendation. The reference letters must be from a source that has direct knowledge of the applicant’s work and educational experience specifying the applicant’s ability to do graduate work.
9. If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum average score of 550, no subscore below 52 on the paper-based test (PBT).  If the applicant completes the Internet-based test (iBT), no subscore below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 22 and a minimum average score of 80. Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University Office of Admissions.

Following initial screening, applicants identified as well-matched with the College of Nursing academic standards and program focus will be contacted for a required personal interview with program faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the Dean of the College based on the requirements for admission and the personal interview.

Applicants from Chinese Universities: Please arrange for a verification report of your university academic records with the China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). The report must be mailed directly to the department to which you are applying by the CDGDC, rather than by you or any third party.

China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center
Verification Division
B-17, Tongfang Scientific Plaza
No.1 Wangzhuang Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, P.R.China
Tel: +86-10-82379480
Fax: +86-10-82378718 (24 hours)
Email: cqv@cdgdc.edu.cn
Website: www.chinadegrees.cn

Michigan State University permits concurrent applications for admission to two graduate programs, each with a separate application fee.  Admission into one program doesn't mean admission into both.

MSU is not authorized to offer online education in certain jurisdictions, and a change in your residency may impact your ability to continue in the program.

Please be aware that students who relocate to another state after admission to an online or hybrid CON program will be subject to regulations for distance education of the new resident state. Many states have regulations regarding out-of-state distance education providers, which may include restrictions from online courses with didactic and clinical practicum requirements required for your CON program. In the event that you are considering relocating to another state or completing clinical requirements in agencies outside of Michigan it is imperative that you contact your CON advisor immediately.