Return to: Graduate Programs

Statement of Purpose

The School of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing program offers advanced education in nursing administration and nursing education. The MSN program has as its purpose the preparation of graduate-level nurses capable of practicing as administrators or educators.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to meet the critical need for leaders and teachers. The program is structured around the major components of theory, research, and practice. The concepts of leadership, critical thinking, decision making, and planned change are integrated throughout the curriculum. The graduate nursing student at the University of Mobile will develop specific roles through refinement of existing professional skills, expansion of the knowledge base for practice, and development of advanced competencies in one particular area of practice.

Based upon outcomes competencies guiding the curriculum, on completion of the Master of Science in Nursing Program, the graduate will:

1. Utilize theories from nursing and other disciplines to improve health care and nursing education outcomes.
2. Develop organizing frameworks for the delivery of health care or for teaching nursing.
3. Contribute to the development of the scientific knowledge base in nursing by recognizing researchable problems, and participating in research to advance the practice of nursing and improve nursing education.
4. Incorporate leadership strategies and local, state and national health care policies into plans to effect improvement in nursing education and the health care system.
5. Apply principles of economics and budgeting into fiscal plans for administering health care or nursing education programs.
6. Utilize an identified process for guidance in making ethical decisions.
7. Consider human diversity when planning and implementing health care and teaching activities.
8. Contribute as a leader to the restructuring of professional nursing roles as health care and nursing education needs emerge in society.

Criteria for Admission to the MSN Program

A student seeking admission to graduate study should address all inquiries to the office of graduate programs.

Applicants may be admitted to graduate study in one of the following categories:

Unconditional Admission

To qualify for unconditional admission the student must:

1. Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited program in nursing, such as a CCNE accredited program;
2. File the application for admission to the office of graduate programs and furnish the various materials listed in the instructions;
3. Pay a non-refundable application fee;
4. Furnish official transcript(s) from each institution attended, showing all credits previously earned.
5. Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale; and
6. Submit a satisfactory official report of test scores obtained on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), acquiring a total of at least 290 GRE score on the verbal and quantitative sections and a score of at least 3 on the analytical writing section. A GRE score must be no older than five years.
7. Present evidence of current unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse.
8. Present evidence of current immunizations as requested by the MSN faculty.
9. Be screened for use of illegal chemical substances or abuse of prescription drugs.  This can be prior to admission or following admission as required by clinical agencies with whom the University has a contract, or on a “for cause” basis.  Any required drug screens are conducted at the student’s expense.  The drug testing policy may be found in the School of Nursing Student Manual.
10. Complete background checks required by clinical agencies.  This may be prior to admission or following admission.  These are conducted at the student’s expense.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission may be granted to:

1. An applicant whose GPA is lower than 3.00 but not lower than 2.75; and
2. An applicant who has scored lower than 290 on the GRE and a score of no less than 2 on the analytical writing section.

Appeals may be made to the vice president for academic affairs, the dean of the School of Nursing, and the MSN faculty.

Conditional status may be changed upon the recommendation of the dean of the School of Nursing to unconditional admission for a student who makes a sufficiently high score on a retake of the GRE or makes a “B” or better in the first nine semester hours of approved graduate work at the University of Mobile. A student who is granted conditional admission is expected to maintain a “B” average at all times. A student who falls below this average will be subject to academic suspension.

Comprehensive Examination

Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination is required of all candidates seeking a Master degree in nursing.

The comprehensive examination will cover materials in the curriculum with emphasis on the content of courses within the nursing major. The comprehensive examination must be given no later than two weeks before the commencement at which the degree is to be conferred. If a candidate fails the comprehensive examination, a second examination may be taken only with the approval of the dean of School of Nursing and the office of graduate programs. The second examination may be written, or oral, or both, as determined by the dean. There is no guarantee that a second examination will be given in the same academic period (semester). After two failures, the student will be dismissed from the program.

Graduation Requirements

Application for a degree should be made during the academic period (semester) prior to anticipated graduation. The candidate’s application will be reviewed upon receipt of evidence of:

1. An application for a degree;
2. Fulfillment of all prerequisite requirements;
3. Completion of all course requirements;
4. All requirements for the MSN degree must be completed within 6 calendar years (Any request for extension must be submitted in writing to the chair of the MSN committee.).
5. Successful completion of the comprehensive examination; and
6. A minimum overall 3.00 GPA on all work attempted with no more than six hours of “C” grades accepted toward graduation. A minimum grade of “B” must be achieved in all major courses.

Course Offerings

Please see the Course Descriptions  sections of this catalog for Graduate level course listings.

Programs

• Master of Science in Nursing, M.S.N.

Return to: Graduate Programs