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College of Nursing |
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Graduate ProgramsThe college offers the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing.Master of Science in NursingThe Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) requires 33-52 s.h. of graduate credit, depending on the choice of concentration area. The program is designed to build on general and professional baccalaureate study. Graduation from an approved baccalaureate degree program is one of the admission requirements. Options are available for registered nurse applicants with a non-accredited B.S.N., a non-nursing B.A. or B.S., or a B.S.N. from a foreign country.The degree ordinarily requires four semesters of full-time study. Part-time study is available for some specializations. The M.B.A./M.S.N. and anesthesia nursing programs require a minimum of six semesters of full-time study. The M.S.N. curriculum consists of a core component and areas of specialization enhanced by supporting course work in the College of Nursing or in related disciplines. Students may take two to three supporting courses related to their nursing specialization in the social, behavioral, or biological sciences or in business administration, law, or health management and policy. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.75 and must successfully complete a thesis, project, or portfolio. The M.S.N. curriculum consists of the following components. ADVANCED NURSING CORECore courses are taken by all students in the program. The core consists of 12 s.h. of course work, including leadership in nursing (3 s.h.), research application (3 s.h.), health policy and economics (3 s.h.), and nursing informatics in nursing and health care (3 s.h.).NURSING SPECIALIZATIONSpecialization allows students to build a specialized area of knowledge and practice that extends beyond the advanced nursing core. Students may pursue clinical specialization in adult and gerontological nursing, child health nursing, genetics nursing, community health nursing, occupational health nursing, psychiatric/mental health nursing, anesthesia nursing, pediatric nurse practitioner, adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, and family nurse practitioner. Nonclinical specializations include nursing administration, the M.B.A./M.S.N. joint degree program, the M.S.N./M.P.H. joint degree program, and informatics. Some areas of specialization require special acceptance procedures. Students with unique career goals have the option of modifying their plans of study under the direction of their academic advisors.Students in the practitioner programs take an advanced clinical core that includes advanced physiology, pharmacology, health assessment, health promotion, and a professional role course. Students in other clinical options may be required to take one or more of these courses. Some of the clinical core courses are open to other students. Students in a clinical or management specialization develop their knowledge and practice through course work and fieldwork. SUPPORTING COURSESSupporting course work varies with each specialization area. Supporting courses can be selected from varied academic departments at the University and should relate to the student's interest and specialization area.Some specialization areas require students to take some courses in other departments. For example, students in the community health nursing specialization must complete an upper-division or equivalent course in epidemiology and a management course; students in the management option select supporting courses from business, health management and policy, or allied study areas. Students select supporting course work in collaboration with their faculty advisors. THESIS/PROJECT/PORTFOLIOAll M.S.N. students must take a final examination. Students satisfy this requirement by completing a thesis, project, or portfolio. Students, with their advisors, select the option that best serves their individual career objectives.The master's thesis is a systematic inquiry into a nursing problem. Methodologies may include historical research, case studies, analytical literature review, surveys, or experimental studies that meet the requirements of the University of Iowa Graduate College. Students earn a total of 5 s.h. for the thesis. The master's project is an in-depth synthesis and analysis of a chosen topic in nursing. The 15-to-20-page paper of publishable quality may not replicate previous course assignments. Students earn 2-3 s.h. for the project. The master's clinical portfolio is a written description of the clinical experiences that contributed to the development of the advanced practice role and a self-assessment of clinical competencies and areas for future growth. Students in the nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesia, and clinical specialty tracks are eligible to complete the clinical portfolio. The master's professional portfolio is a written description of practicum experiences and competencies. Students in the nonclinical tracks are eligible to complete the professional portfolio. Students earn no credit for the portfolio. AdmissionApplicants to the M.S.N. must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog. Applicants must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and must have a g.p.a. of at least 3.00.In addition, the College of Nursing requires the following: a bachelor's degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program (options are available for registered nurse applicants with a non-accredited B.S.N., a non-nursing B.A. or B.S., or a B.S.N. from a foreign country); the legal requirements for the practice of nursing in Iowa; current written recommendations from three persons familiar with the applicant's competence in the practice of nursing and potential for leadership and scholarship (forms required); current résumé, goal statement, and supplemental/information form; completion of an upper-division nursing research course in the undergraduate program; and successful completion of an upper-level statistics course (or equivalent) within five years of registering for 096:206 Nursing Science and Inquiry. Applications for admission to the M.S.N. program are reviewed twice a year. For review, the applicant's file must be complete, with all relevant materials submitted. Application deadlines are February 15 for fall admission and October 1 for spring admission. Students in the practitioner programs and the anesthesia program may begin those programs only in fall. Application deadline for the anesthesia program is October 1. A criminal background check is conducted for all graduate students upon admission. All Graduate College policies pertaining to academic standing, probation, and dismissal are applicable to graduate students in nursing. Transfer credit applicable to the master's degree program is limited and must be approved by the director of the graduate program in nursing and by the student's advisor. Course work taken 10 years or more before the final examination must be updated, according to University policy. Joint M.B.A./M.S.N.The joint Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Nursing requires 61 s.h. The program is designed for students with previous clinical and administrative experience. Separate application to each program is required. For more information, contact the College of Nursing Graduate Programs Office.Joint M.S.N./M.P.H.The joint Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health requires 60 s.h. The program is designed for students who want to pursue careers that include professional activities in nursing and public health. Separate application must be made to each program. Contact the College of Nursing Graduate Programs Office for more information.Nursing Home Administrator LicensureThe nursing home administrator program offers students an efficient option for completing requirements for licensure examination while obtaining a M.S.N. Students may complete the requirements for licensure by supplementing study in adult and gerontology health nursing, adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, or nurse manager.Doctor of PhilosophyThe Doctor of Philosophy in nursing requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. The program prepares scientists to conduct research in nursing, extend their knowledge base relevant to nursing, and contribute to the body of knowledge in the discipline of nursing. Study requires expertise in clinical nursing and competence in research that relates to nursing practice and health care delivery.B.S.N. students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. in nursing may be eligible to enter the doctoral program directly, once they have completed the B.S.N. Contact the College of Nursing Graduate Programs Office for more information. Students choose from the curriculum's five focal areas: nursing in aging, nursing administration, nursing informatics, child and family nursing, and an individualized focus. Graduates of the program aspire to careers as researchers, college and university faculty members, consultants, and as leaders in the nursing profession, in health policy-making agencies, and in health care delivery systems. Degree RequirementsAll students must take the following courses.
B.S.N. graduates who enter the Ph.D. directly must take the following courses in addition to those listed above.
Two masters-level specialization courses, such as one of the following pairs:
In addition, all Ph.D. students must take the seminars and practicums appropriate for their focus area. Aging Focus
Nursing Administration Focus
Nursing Informatics Focus
Two of these:
Child and Family Nursing Focus
Two of these:
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM, DISSERTATIONAll Ph.D. students must complete a written comprehensive examination. They earn 12 s.h. for work on the dissertation by completing 096:497 Dissertation Research Seminar I: Scholarship Development (1 s.h.), 096:498 Dissertation Research Seminar II (0 s.h.), and 096:499 Dissertation Research (11 s.h.), which includes a dissertation prospectus, the dissertation, and an oral defense.AdmissionAll applicants to the Ph.D. program must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog. Applicants must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, preferably within the preceding five years. They must have completed an accredited basic nursing program and must hold a current license to practice nursing (special license for international students). Applicants must submit:a two-to-three-page statement describing their educational objectives and identifying a focal area for their doctoral study; three recommendations from nursing professionals that speak to the applicant's potential as a scholar; a current résumé or curriculum vitae; and a complete transcript of all college programs and courses. B.S.N. graduates who apply directly to the Ph.D. program must have a grade-point average of at least 3.00 and must have successfully completed an upper-division course in statistics. They also must submit a strong statement of their research focus and career goals. Applicants whose first language is not English must score at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 81 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Nursing Service Administration CertificateThe Certificate in Nursing Service Administration provides ongoing education for nurses who have a bachelor's degree but do not wish to pursue the M.S.N. Students in the 15 s.h. certificate program must hold a B.S.N. and have an RN license.Advanced Practice Nursing CertificateThe post-master's degree Certificate in Advanced Practice Nursing allows for advanced clinical training in four specialty tracks: pediatric nurse practitioner, adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric/mental health nursing. Certificate requirements include advanced clinical core courses and a sequence of specialty courses. Students formulate a plan of study with the advice and counsel of their advisor and/or the director of the master's program. Successful completion of the specialty sequence qualifies a student to sit for professional certification examinations. Completion of the certificate program is noted on the student's transcript.Nursing Informatics CertificateThe Certificate in Nursing Informatics is a program for graduate students. Course work for the certificate focuses on methods and technologies of information handling and knowledge building in nursing. Certificate students must earn 20 s.h. in courses that cover the development, support, and evaluation of applications, tools, processes, and structures used to manage data for patient care and administrative support.Health Informatics CertificateThe Certificate in Health Informatics is a program for graduate students. Certificate students must earn 20 s.h. in courses numbered 100 or above, including two required core courses.Health Informatics I (096:283, 3 s.h.) is an interdisciplinary course intended primarily for graduate students, faculty, and health care clinicians. It explores decision-making processes and technological tools to support health care administration, management, and practice. Health Informatics II (096:289, 3 s.h.) is an interdisciplinary course focused on field projects related to one or more health informatics topics under the direction of established researchers/educators. It includes a seminar. Students select electives (9-14 s.h.) from outside their major program of study. For example, a student working toward a nursing degree and the Certificate in Health Informatics can use only non-nursing electives for the certificate. Students choose electives with the guidance of their academic and certificate advisors. Students who earn credit for a thesis, project, or independent study in their major program of study may apply the credit to the Certificate in Health Informatics if the certificate advisor determines that the subject matter is pertinent. Professional ImprovementRegistered nurses who wish to take University of Iowa course work to fulfill professional or personal improvement objectives may request admission in the professional improvement (PI) category. This admission status allows students to take some graduate courses at the University without committing to a degree objective.Admission as a nursing professional improvement student requires a formal application, including submission of three current written recommendations and all academic transcripts. GRE General Test scores, required by the University, must be submitted before the end of first semester registration. Deadlines are July 15 for fall semester admission, December 1 for spring semester admission, and May 1 for summer session admission. Since acceptance as a PI student does not influence acceptance to the M.S.N. or Ph.D. programs, PI students interested in master's or doctoral study in nursing must follow the application procedures for those programs (see the appropriate sections, above). Only 6 s.h. or two required nursing core courses taken under professional improvement status may be used to fulfill M.S.N. requirements. Professional improvement students may not enroll in Ph.D. courses. |
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