Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Overview

South University developed our online Master of Science in Nursing program to reflect our faculty’s belief in caring, communication, critical thinking, professionalism, and holism as the foundation for today’s nursing profession.

This program is designed for RNs who have already obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree. If you do not yet have a BSN degree but would like to pursue a master's degree, please see our accelerated RN to MSN online degree program.

Within the MSN degree program, in addition to our core courses, we are proud to offer an unparalleled range of online specializations:

Nurse Educator Specialization

Students in the MSN program will have the opportunity to focus on the Nurse Educator specialization.This specialization is designed for RNs who want to develop and train nurses to meet the challenges of a rapidly developing and continually changing healthcare environment.

Nurse Informatics in Specialization

Technology is transforming modern healthcare by helping to create more efficient and higher quality outcomes. The specialization in Nursing Informatics is designed to prepare graduates to develop, implement and evaluate new operational data systems, train healthcare professionals in the use of computerized clinical information systems, and collect and analyze data for patient information and improvements of clinical care.

Nurse Administrator Specialization

Graduates with a Nurse Administrator Specialization may be involved in the design of healthcare delivery systems, making policy and financial decisions, promoting patient safety and quality improvements in patient care, and incorporating technology, contemporary practice and ethics into delivery of health care.

Employment Opportunities

“According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Overall job opportunities are expected to be excellent for registered nurses.” Learn more.

The Master of Science in Nursing offered in only the online delivery format through the South University – Online campus is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120; www.aacn.nche.edu; telephone 202-887-6791.

Academic Requirements

To be admitted to South University's online MSN degree program, prospective students must meet the following requirements:

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing (or be a pending graduate) from an accredited collegiate institution and a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester hours (or 90 QH) undertaken.
• Completion of a three semester credit hour undergraduate course in descriptive and inferential statistics with a grade of C or better.
• Completion of an undergraduate nursing research course or equivalent with a grade of C or better.
• Official transcripts from every college or university attended (submission within 12 weeks after initial start date).
• Holds and maintains a valid unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the US state or territory in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure.)
• Submit, along with your packet materials, three references using the Nursing Graduate School Appraisal Form.  At least two of your references should hold a Master's in Nursing degree.
• Submit an essay (goal statement) of 1-2 pages (typed, double-spaced) explaining your career goals, reasons for your choice of specialization, and why you want to pursue an advanced degree in nursing.
• Resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.
• Must meet core Performance Standards as described in the catalog

Note: Provisional admission can be granted for any of the following*:

• A GPA of 2.5 to 2.99 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester hours (or 90 QH) undertaken
• Completion of the statistics or nursing research requirement.

Final admission requires completion of two graduate courses with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in those two courses and, if applicable, completion of the undergraduate statistics or undergraduate nursing research course with a grade of C or better. Failure to meet requirements of provisional admission results in dismissal from the graduate program.

*Provisional admission is not applicable to the nurse practitioner specializations.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - 52 Total Hours

Students pursuing the Master of Science in Nursing are required to take a total of 48-52 credits consisting of 12-13 courses as follows:

• 6 core courses
• 1 capstone courses
• 5-6 specialization courses

Major Curriculum - 24 Credits
Students are required to take 6 major courses as follows:

NSG5000 - Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse: Transformational Leadership in Advanced Practice

This course examines the role of the advanced practice nurse in the clinical, primary care, education, administration, health policy, and research arenas. The historical role of the nurse, change theory and leadership models are emphasized. Self-reflection, self-mastery, professional integrity, empowerment, and ethical decision making will be discussed to help the student transition from clinical nurse to the role of advanced practice nurse.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

NSG5002 - Advanced Theoretical Perspectives

This course explores theories related to nursing, health care and learning. Students will have the opportunity to analyze and critique various theories. Students will demonstrate how theory is applied to research.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

NSG5003 - Advanced Pathophysiology (11-week course)

This course will examine common pathological conditions of the human. Pharmacologic, medical, and nursing interventions will be included.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

NSG6001 - Advanced Nursing Practice I

In this course, the learner will synthesize content from physiology, pharmacology, and nursing treatment modalities in order to develop expertise in nursing and collaborative practice. This course will focus on common health problems across the life span.

Prerequisite(s): NSG5000 NSG5003

Credits: 4

NSG6002 - Advanced Nursing Practice II

In this course the learner will synthesize content from physiology, pharmacology and nursing treatment modalities in order to develop advanced practice skills in health promotion and disease prevention using the focus areas of Healthy People 2010.

Prerequisite(s): NSG5000 NSG5002 NSG5003 NSG6001

Credits: 4

NSG6101 - Nursing Research Methods (11-week course)

This course prepares the student to critique research studies, identify researchable problems within the clinical setting, and design research projects to generate and apply new knowledge. Both quantitative and qualitative research designs will be addressed.

Prerequisite(s): NSG5000 NSG5002

Credits: 4

Capstone
Students are required to take 1 capstone course as follows:

NSG6999 - Graduate Project in Nursing (11-week course)

The research project course is a cumulative experience where students demonstrate the integration of research, practice, and theory by formalizing their research project proposal.

Prerequisite(s): NSG5001 NSG5002 NSG6101

Credits: 4

Nurse Administrator Specialization
Students are required to take 6 specialization courses as follows:

MHC6306 - Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations

Presentation of human resource management principles as applied in healthcare organizations. Examines the unique aspects of managing healthcare professionals including recruitment and retention; staff privileges; legal issues; job design and analysis; compensation; and labor relations.

 

Prerequisite(s):
Core coursework

Credits: 4

NSG6005 - Essentials of Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses

In this course the student reviews and comprehends the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of drugs commonly used in the management of acute and chronic illnesses of the adult.  Emphasis is on the therapeutic decision-making in drug selection and monitoring therapeutic response for culturally diverse patients.  Patient education, legal, ethical and economic issues are reviewed.  A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Prerequisite(s): NSG6002

Credits: 4

NSG6601 - Managing Complex Healthcare Systems

This course examines the role of the nurse executive within complex health care environments, focusing on the conceptual frameworks of systems theory, complexity science, appreciative inquiry and organizational learning theory, as well as nursing administration models of organizational management.

Prerequisite(s): None
Core coursework

Credits: 4

NSG6605 - Quality Outcomes and Financial Management in Healthcare Organiz

This course provides an overview of quality, safety and performance improvement, including an analysis of care processes through evidence based practice, research and translation of innovation. In addition, this course provides an overview of healthcare financing and financial management for the nurse executive. Topics may include financial accounting, cost accounting, budgeting, capital expenditures, and reimbursement systems.

Prerequisite(s): None
Core coursework

Credits: 4

NSG6620 - Practicum I: Quantitative Skills in Nursing Administration

This course is the first course in a two-course series which synthesizes content from the specialty administrative courses into a culminating “clinical” nursing administrative experience. In both courses the learner enacts the role of the nurse administrator. Content will include didactic and clinical administrative experiences. The course involves obtaining a local mentor and practicing the administrative role under guided mentorship. The majority of didactic course work includes practical experience with budgets, developing and honing leadership style and expertise, initiating collaborative practice and teambuilding, as well as working with change and motivational theories. The learner will incorporate the five pillars of the conceptual framework into administrative experiences. The majority of clinical time will be spent in an administrative organizational setting. The practicum course will consist of 120 hours in the clinical setting. Online time will be used to analyze and evaluate this experience. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Prerequisite(s): NSG6601 NSG6605

Credits: 4

NSG6630 - Practicum II: Qualitative Skills in Nursing Administration

This course is the second in the set of two culminating administrative curricular experiences. It expands on previous didactic and clinical coursework, through didactic work in management areas such as quality management, patient care outcomes, and measurement of health care outcomes. Emphasis is placed on long-term and strategic planning, incorporating personnel management tactics such as performance evaluation, and collective bargaining. The student will continue to assimilate knowledge inclusive of the five pillars of caring, communication, critical thinking, professionalism, and holism into the administrative experience. Clinical time will continue with the mentor and requires spending 120 hours in the chosen administrative setting. Online time will be used to analyze and evaluate this experience. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Prerequisite(s): NSG6620

Credits: 4

Nurse Educator Specialization
Students are required to take 5 specialization courses as follows:

NSG6003 - Teaching and Learning Strategies

This course provides content to assess and motivate learners. Classroom, clinical, simulation and other technology methods will be addressed. The emphasis is on developing the creativity of the nurse educator.

Prerequisite(s): NSG5000 NSG5002 NSG5003

Credits: 4

NSG6102 - Evaluation of Educational Outcomes in Nursing

This course covers content relevant to testing and evaluating learners in classrooms, skills labs, and clinical practice settings. Content includes test construction and design; performance based assessment, assessment of critical thinking and standardized testing.

Prerequisite(s): NSG5000 NSG5002

Credits: 4

NSG6103 - Curriculum Design & Evaluation in Nursing Education

This course prepares the learner to design, examine, revise, and evaluate nursing curriculum. Connecting nursing curricula content to philosophy, objectives, and outcomes will be analyzed.

Prerequisite(s): NSG5000 NSG5002

Credits: 4

NSG6201 - Practicum in Nursing Education I (11-week course)

In this course the learner enacts the role of the nurse educator. The focus of this course is health across the life span. Content will include both didactic and clinical teaching experiences. This course involves obtaining a local mentor and practicing the role of the nurse educator. The learner will synthesize caring and wholism into teaching experiences. The majority of course time will be spent in an educational setting mutually agreed upon by the instructor and the student. Online time will be used to analyze and evaluate this experience. This course will run concurrent with MSN6999.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

NSG6202 - Practicum in Nursing Education II (11-week course)

This course gives the learner the opportunity to choose an area of nursing education. The learner will obtain a local mentor and enact the role of the chosen nurse educator. The learner will synthesize the five pillars of caring, communication, critical thinking, professionalism, and wholism into clinical teaching experience. This course will run concurrently with NSG6999.

Prerequisite(s): All nursing courses except NSG6999 Research Project.

Credits: 4

Nursing Informatics Specialization
Students are required to take 6 specialization courses as follows:

IST5010 - Information Technology Infrastructure

Concepts, systems development and effective use of up-to-date tools and application software, focusing on IT infrastructure, systematic approach to management, processes involved in managing IT infrastructures, best practices to IT service support and service delivery, the place of IT infrastructure and IT service in an organization, IT management frameworks, and concepts of the work processes used to manage an IT infrastructure.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

NSG6005 - Essentials of Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses

In this course the student reviews and comprehends the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of drugs commonly used in the management of acute and chronic illnesses of the adult.  Emphasis is on the therapeutic decision-making in drug selection and monitoring therapeutic response for culturally diverse patients.  Patient education, legal, ethical and economic issues are reviewed.  A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Prerequisite(s): NSG6002

Credits: 4

NSG6650 - Introduction to Nursing Informatics

This course explores the role of the nurse informaticist using the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Informatics. Informatics theories, including Rogers Theory of Diffusion of Innovation, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Locsin’s Technology Competence as Caring in Nursing will be examined.

Prerequisite(s):
Core coursework

Credits: 4

NSG6652 - Issues and Trends in Nursing Informatics

This course examines issues and trends in nursing informatics from sources such as professional and governmental regulations, technology developments, academic and professional literature, and case studies. Topics may include the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, meaningful use, and Health Level 7, with an emphasis on how these issues affect nursing informaticists and their current and future roles.

Prerequisite(s): NSG6650

Credits: 4

NSG6670 - Practicum I: Database Management in Nursing Informatics

This course is the first course in a two-course series which synthesizes content from the specialty informatics courses into a culminating “clinical” nursing informatics experience. In both courses the learner enacts the role of nursing informatics professional. Content will include didactic and clinical informatics experiences. The course involves obtaining a local mentor and practicing the informatics role under guided mentorship. The didactic portion of this course will involve setting up and maintaining a database to address current challenges in nursing informatics. Data will be collected, stored, and analyzed using database software. The majority of clinical time will be spent in an informatics organizational setting mutually agreed upon by the instructor, the mentor, and the student. The practicum course will consist of 120 hours in the clinical setting. Online time will be used to analyze and evaluate this experience. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Prerequisite(s): IST5010 NSG6652

Credits: 4

NSG6680 - Practicum II: Project Management in Nursing Informatics

This course is the second course in a two-course series which synthesizes content from the specialty informatics courses into a culminating “clinical” nursing informatics experience. In both courses the learner enacts the role of nursing informatics professional. Content will include didactic and clinical informatics experiences. The course involves obtaining a local mentor and practicing the informatics role under guided mentorship.  The didactic portion of this course will involve managing a nursing informatics project through the life cycle using project management software. The majority of clinical time will be spent in an informatics organizational setting mutually agreed upon by the instructor, the mentor, and the student. The practicum course will consist of 120 hours in the clinical setting. Online time will be used to analyze and evaluate this experience. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

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