Nursing, Master of Science

Master’s education prepares a nurse for advanced nursing practice roles and is based on the creative application of knowledge, skills, and processes from the behavioral and natural sciences, nursing, and humanities. The master’s program extends the theoretical foundations of nursing practice. It is designed to prepare an individual who is highly knowledgeable in advanced clinical nursing and who is able to make a significant contribution to health care. Nurses at the master’s level are prepared to lead and manage collaborative efforts with physicians and other members of the health care team to conduct research and to improve practice environments. While the generalist functions as caregiver, manager of client care, health care advocate, and change agent, the master’s-prepared nurse assumes advanced practice roles to the full extent of their education and training.

The Department of Nursing prepares safe, competent, effective, and efficient nurses to provide or facilitate health care to diverse populations and underserved communities. Integral to this mission is a supportive and diverse faculty delivering comprehensive and technologically enhanced didactic and experiential learning activities. These learning activities support the holistic development of students as learners, leaders, and contributing members of society who embody the ideals of professional nursing in a global society. This program culminates with the student earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as a Family Nurse Practitioner, which grants them eligibility to take either the American Association of Nursing Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Corporation (ANCC) examinations.

Albany State University proudly offers the following program tracks to allow our students to complete this degree quickly and conveniently:

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Graduate Nursing Program is designed for students who have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited program and who wish to continue their education in order to earn their Master of Science in Nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse to provide comprehensive family-focused healthcare with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.

The application process for this program is as follows: Students should apply to the Graduate School for admission for the Summer semester, designating Nursing as their preferred major. Students should simultaneously apply for the FNP program itself via the "Nursing Application" section, being mindful of the application period. Please note that while the deadlines for Graduate School applications and documentation are later than those of the graduate program, students intending to begin the FNP program in the Fall should submit their application to and documentation for the Graduate School by NO LATER THAN February 28/29. While we will honor the Graduate School's deadlines, submission prior to this deadline will ensure that students receive ample time to schedule their required interviews with our program director(s) before their Summer courses begin. Beginning in April, students who have completed both application processes detailed previously will be eligible to arrange an interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director and the Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director, during which their application will be reviewed and their admission status determined.

In whole, the FNP program is designed to last six (6) consecutive semesters (comprising 44 credit hours), which includes the first Summer semester spent taking the courses necessary for student to become eligible to begin the FNP program in the Fall. This program culminates with the student earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as a Family Nurse Practitioner, which grants them eligibility to take either the American Association of Nursing Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Corporation (ANCC) examinations.

The Nurse Educator (NE) Graduate Nursing Program is designed for students who have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited program and who wish to continue their education and earn their Master of Science in Nursing in order to work within an academic or healthcare setting as faculty/clinical instructors or staff-development specialists, respectively.

The application process for this program is as follows: Students should apply to the Graduate School for admission for the Summer semester, designating Nursing as their preferred major. Students should simultaneously apply for the NE program itself via the "Nursing Application" section, being mindful of the application period. Please note that while the deadlines for Graduate School applications and documentation are later than those of the graduate program, students intending to begin the NE program in the Fall should submit their application to and documentation for the Graduate School by NO LATER THAN February 28/29. While we will honor the Graduate School's deadlines, submission prior to this deadline will ensure that students receive ample time to schedule their required interviews with our program director(s) before their Summer courses begin. Beginning in April, students who have completed both application processes detailed previously will be eligible to arrange an interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director, during which their application will be reviewed and their admission status determined.

In whole, the NE program is designed to last five (5) semesters (comprising 36 credit hours), which includes the first Summer semester spent taking the courses necessary for student to become eligible to begin the NE program in the Fall. The semester progression proceeds as follows: Summer, Fall, Spring, Fall, and final Spring. This program culminates with the student earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as a Nurse Educator, which grants them eligibility to take the National League for Nursing (NLN) examination.

Nursing Informatics (NI) Program

The Nursing Informatics Graduate Nursing Program is designed for students who have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited program and who wish to continue their education and earn their Master of Science in Nursing in order to work within an academic or healthcare setting as faculty/clinical instructors or informatic specialists, respectively. 

The application process for this program is as follows: Students should apply to the Graduate School for admission for the Summer semester, designating Nursing as their preferred major. Students should simultaneously apply for the NI program itself via the "Nursing Application" section, being mindful of the application period. Please note that while the deadlines for Graduate School applications and documentation are later than those of the graduate program, students intending to begin the NI program in the Fall should submit their application to and documentation for the Graduate School by NO LATER THAN February 28/29. While we will honor the Graduate School's deadlines, submission prior to this deadline will ensure that students receive ample time to schedule their required interviews with our program director(s) before their Summer courses begin. Beginning in April, students who have completed both application processes detailed previously will be eligible to arrange an interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director, during which their application will be reviewed, and their admission status determined. 

In whole, the NI program is designed to last six (6) semesters (comprising 35 credit hours), which includes the first Summer semester spent taking the courses necessary for student to become eligible to begin the NI program in the Fall. The semester progression proceeds as follows: Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, and final Spring. This program culminates with the student earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Informatics. 

To enter the program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a concentration as either a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Nurse Educator (NE), or Nursing Informatics (NI), the student must first meet the requirements established by and apply to Albany State University’s Graduate School, which is the overarching school containing the various major-related concentrations and programs, and be accepted to the University in good standing. Please be aware that admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee acceptance into its graduate nursing programs. The prospective student should contact the Graduate Admissions Office or the Department of Nursing’s Graduate Nursing Programs Director well in advance of the planned entry date. Additionally, applicants should be aware of the following:

• The Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) program currently accepts applicants every year, provided there are sufficient applicants to run the program-specific courses.
• The Nurse Educator (NE) program currently accepts applicants every year, provided there are sufficient applicants to run the program-specific courses.
• The Nursing Informatics (NI) program currently accepts applicants every year, provided there are sufficient applicants to run the program-specific courses.

Applicants must:

1. FIRST, submit an application to Albany State University's Graduate School and be admitted in good standing.
   • To enter the program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing Degree, the student must meet the requirements established for all graduate degree programs at Albany State University, as established by its Graduate School.
2. AFTER being accepted as a graduate student at Albany State University, submit the completed application and the $20.00 application fee money order by the application deadline.
3. Possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program.
   • Students applying to the Family Nursing Practitioner (FNP) graduate program must also possess 1 year of clinical experience within a healthcare setting, preferably specialized in an adult medical-surgical area.
4. Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or 2.0 (on a 3.0 scale).
   1. Provisional Admission:  Applicants who do not fully meet the requirements for regular admission may be considered for provisional admission.  An undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.8 Is required.
5. Complete the following undergraduate courses: Assessment in Health Care/Health Assessment (NURS 3510); Pathophysiology/Pathophysiology for RN's (NURS 3320/NURS 3620); Research/Research in Nursing (NURS 4131); and Introduction to Statistics (MATH 2411).
6. Have documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in their state of practice prior to entering the functional track.
   • Students intending to practice or satisfy clinical requirements within the state of Georgia must also provide documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in Georgia.
7. Arrange for a personal interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director.
8. Submit two (2) references regarding professional accomplishments and academic potential (if the references submitted to the Graduate School are not professional references).
9. Following admission to the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the course’s established pre-clinical deadline: certificate of immunization, current basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers, malpractice insurance, proof of active health insurance (or enrollment into the student health insurance plan), a complete criminal background check, a drug test, and an annual health physical at the expense of the student. The criminal background check will be completed utilizing PreCheck.com.
   • Certificate of Immunization: Must be on file in Student Health Services indicating that all immunizations are current based on their age. Immunizations include Hepatitis B (or waiver), MMR, tetanus, varicella, tuberculosis, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site.
   • BLS Card: A current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers card. All students must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in child and adult BLS for health care providers. This certification must be maintained throughout the program (renewed every 2 years). An outdated CPR certification will prohibit the student from attending clinical practice experiences.
   • Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substance as a provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site. The student may not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.
10. A student who has failed (C, D, F, or WF) two (2) graduate nursing courses—whether at ASU or another graduate-level program—will be ineligible for admission (or continuation) in the nursing program at ASU. Students who have been dismissed for two (2) nursing failures or for cause may request readmission after one (1) year of receiving notice of dismissal. For readmission policies, please refer to the appropriate section in the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook.

In addition to the criteria listed above, students who have a Master’s Degree in Nursing and graduated with at least a 3.0 GPA may be admitted for a Post-Master’s certification in Nursing Education (NE) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The applicant must meet with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director, the Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director, and/or a graduate nursing faculty advisor to design a program of study to complete post masters requirements.

READMISSION

Students who have not been in attendance for one or more semesters must apply to Albany State University’s Graduate School for readmission.

NOTE: Summer semester is not included as a semester of non-attendance.

READMISSION FOLLOWING SCHOLASTIC TERMINATION

A graduate student who is excluded from the institution for academic reasons may petition to be reinstated. A student who petitions to be reinstated must have been out of the institution for at least twelve months. A petition to be reinstated must be approved by the Appeals Committee of the Graduate Council and the Dean of the Graduate School. Any graduate student who has been is excluded twice for scholastic reasons will not be readmitted to the Graduate School.

Family Nursing Practitioner (44 Hours)

Comprehensive Examination Policy

The purposes of the comprehensive examination is to: (a) evaluate the student's theoretical and analytical knowledge of nursing, research, and other critical scientific concepts, issues, and processes presented in advanced core courses; and (b) evaluate the student's ability to apply critical nursing and other scientific theory in clinical decision making at the advanced level of nursing practice. To be eligible to take the departmental comprehensive examinations, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater.

The departmental comprehensive examination is administered by Graduate Faculty representing the student's area of clinical concentration or specialization at the completion of clinical coursework and prior or the same semester the student will be completing enrollment in Thesis/Project.

The student has one opportunity to retake the comprehensive examination. Additional study may be required before the exam maybe retaken, as determined by the faculty advisor and the student. A student who does not pass the examination on the second attempt is not permitted to continue in the program.

A student must be registered during the semester in which the comprehensive examination is taken. A letter of intent to write the examination must be filed with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director during the semester for the term in which the examination is to be written. The comprehensive examination can be taken only once in a given semester with a maximum of [two] attempts permitted. The student will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the examination. Examination objectives will be given to the student prior to scheduled testing.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing degree, a student must meet the criteria identified below:

1. Earn a 3.00 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment.
2. Complete a minimum of a 35 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 44 hours (Family Nurse Practitioner program), or 33 hours (Nursing Informatics) of prescribed curriculum with an overall grade point average of 3.00 or better.
3. Earn a 3.0 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment in the program.
4. Earn a minimum of 26 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 35 (Family Nurse Practitioner program),  24 (Nursing Informatics) in residence.
5. Complete all course work within 6 years of the date of admission or beginning of the first clinical nursing course, whichever is later.
6. Pass all departmental comprehensive examinations and complete a thesis or major research project.

Nurse Educator (35 Hours)

Comprehensive Examination Policy

The purposes of the comprehensive examination is to: (a) evaluate the student's theoretical and analytical knowledge of nursing, research, and other critical scientific concepts, issues, and processes presented in advanced core courses; and (b) evaluate the student's ability to apply critical nursing and other scientific theory in clinical decision making at the advanced level of nursing practice. To be eligible to take the departmental comprehensive examinations, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater.

The departmental comprehensive examination is administered by Graduate Faculty representing the student's area of clinical concentration or specialization at the completion of clinical coursework and prior or the same semester the student will be completing enrollment in Thesis/Project.

The student has one opportunity to retake the comprehensive examination. Additional study may be required before the exam maybe retaken, as determined by the faculty advisor and the student. A student who does not pass the examination on the second attempt is not permitted to continue in the program.

A student must be registered during the semester in which the comprehensive examination is taken. A letter of intent to write the examination must be filed with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director during the semester for the term in which the examination is to be written. The comprehensive examination can be taken only once in a given semester with a maximum of [two] attempts permitted. The student will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the examination. Examination objectives will be given to the student prior to scheduled testing.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing degree, a student must meet the criteria identified below:

1. Earn a 3.00 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment.
2. Complete a minimum of a 35 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 44 hours (Family Nurse Practitioner program), or 33 hours (Nursing Informatics) of prescribed curriculum with an overall grade point average of 3.00 or better.
3. Earn a 3.0 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment in the program.
4. Earn a minimum of 26 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 35 (Family Nurse Practitioner program),  24 (Nursing Informatics) in residence.
5. Complete all course work within 6 years of the date of admission or beginning of the first clinical nursing course, whichever is later.
6. Pass all departmental comprehensive examinations and complete a thesis or major research project.

Nursing Informatics (33 Hours)

Comprehensive Examination Policy

The purposes of the comprehensive examination is to: (a) evaluate the student's theoretical and analytical knowledge of nursing, research, and other critical scientific concepts, issues, and processes presented in advanced core courses; and (b) evaluate the student's ability to apply critical nursing and other scientific theory in clinical decision making at the advanced level of nursing practice. To be eligible to take the departmental comprehensive examinations, the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater.

The departmental comprehensive examination is administered by Graduate Faculty representing the student's area of clinical concentration or specialization at the completion of clinical coursework and prior or the same semester the student will be completing enrollment in Thesis/Project.

The student has one opportunity to retake the comprehensive examination. Additional study may be required before the exam maybe retaken, as determined by the faculty advisor and the student. A student who does not pass the examination on the second attempt is not permitted to continue in the program.

A student must be registered during the semester in which the comprehensive examination is taken. A letter of intent to write the examination must be filed with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director during the semester for the term in which the examination is to be written. The comprehensive examination can be taken only once in a given semester with a maximum of [two] attempts permitted. The student will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the examination. Examination objectives will be given to the student prior to scheduled testing.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing degree, a student must meet the criteria identified below:

1. Earn a 3.00 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment.
2. Complete a minimum of a 35 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 44 hours (Family Nurse Practitioner program), or 33 hours (Nursing Informatics) of prescribed curriculum with an overall grade point average of 3.00 or better.
3. Earn a 3.0 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted, including transfer credit approved in advance of enrollment in the program.
4. Earn a minimum of 26 semester hours (Nurse Educator program), 35 (Family Nurse Practitioner program),  24 (Nursing Informatics) in residence.
5. Complete all course work within 6 years of the date of admission or beginning of the first clinical nursing course, whichever is later.
6. Pass all departmental comprehensive examinations and complete a thesis or major research project.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Full-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Spring Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Summer Entry

Post-Master Certification, Spring Entry

Nurse Educator

Full-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Spring Entry 

Part-Time Plan of Study, Summer Entry 

Post-Master Certification, Spring Entry 

Nursing Informatics

Full-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Fall Entry

Part-Time Plan of Study, Spring Entry

 Part-Time Plan of Study, Summer Entry

Post-Master Certification, Spring Entry