Master of Science in Nursing Program Description
We understand that your life is busy and try as best we can to tailor the MSN program to your schedule. The MSN program offers flexible study for all types of students who want to achieve a higher level of education and quality patient care.
Our full-time and part-time options for study offer a choice of six, advanced practice nursing tracks. The six tracks prepare graduates as nurse practitioners (NP), clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives or clinical nurse leaders. Students who have previously-earned masters degrees in nursing are able to enroll in post-master's coursework in order to complete requirements for nurse practitioner licensure or for advanced practice in each of the advanced practice nursing tracks and a special post-master's track for oncology specialization.
- Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (postmaster's only)
- Nurse Midwifery
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Specialist/Nurse Practitioner
- Public Health Nursing
- Clinical Nurse Leader (advanced nursing generalist)
Students are admitted to the MSN each fall semester and degree requirements vary from 46-52 semester credit hours, depending on the track. Curriculum plans vary from four to five semester for full-time students and from seven to eight semesters for part-time students. A thesis option, requiring additional credits, can be arranged. Graduates are eligible for state (FL) and national certification as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and clinical specialists as relevant to their area of specialization.
The goal of the master's degree program is to prepare nurses for advanced practice and leadership roles. The education program includes both didactic work and clinical practice experience. Each student completes the graduate-nursing core including health promotion, nursing theory, research, statistics, ethics, and health care policy and financing. Specific clinical content includes health care technology, diagnostic evaluation, health supervision and clinical decision-making.
The college's master's degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The college is a member of the Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing of the Southern Regional Board and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Graduates are eligible for the relevant national certification examination of each area of clinical specialization and for State of Florida certification as nurse practitioners and clinical specialists.