Curriculum

A common core of knowledge at the master’s level provides a foundation for nurses in advanced nursing roles. The theoretical base specific to each specialization is included in the course of study and accompanied by practical experience, thus providing students the opportunity to apply theory in a variety of settings.

Three specializations are offered: Nursing Administration*, Nursing Education*, and Family Nurse Practitioner**.   The Nursing Administration specialization prepares nurses for administrative positions in various health care organizations. The Nursing Education specialization prepares nurses to teach in baccalaureate and associate degree education programs, or in staff development and continuing education fields.  The Family Nurse Practitioner specialization prepares RNs with an undergraduate degree for a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

*Candidates must satisfactorily complete 42 credits, with an overall GPA of Saint Joseph’s College courses of 3.0 or higher. This consists of six core curriculum courses, five additional courses within the specialty and two practica within the specialty.

**Candidates must satisfactorily complete 48 credits of the Family Nurse Practitioner specialization, with an overall GPA of Saint Joseph’s College course of 3.0 or higher.

Additional Admission Requirements

Applicants must be graduates of a baccalaureate nursing program, accredited by CCNE, NLNAC or the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

All applicants applying to and currently enrolled in the MSN program must:

• Possess the functional abilities to perform the skills and behaviors required of a professional nurse. Therefore all nursing students must demonstrate the following functional abilities:
  1. Ability to see, hear, touch, smell, and distinguish colors.
  2. Communicate orally and in writing with clarity, accuracy, and efficiency.
  3. Manual dexterity with gross and fine movements.
  4. Think critically, analyze, assess, solve problems, make judgments.
  5. Emotional stability and ability to accept responsibility and accountability. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2000). Guidelines for Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Schools of Nursing. Washington, DC: American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (Detailed statements relative to these abilities can be obtained from the Nursing Department.)

International applicants educated in countries other than the United States and Canada must contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (COGFNS) for credentialing at:  Commission of Foreign Nursing Schools, 3600 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA. Applicant Inquiries: 215-349-8767. Graduates of foreign nursing schools must submit an official report from the COGFNS. Canadian nurses will be managed on a case by case basis.

Treatment of exceptions is listed below:

1. Consideration will be given to applicants with a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree in another field who are graduates of diploma or associate degree programs in nursing.

International students must be graduates of nursing programs equivalent to NLN- or CCNE accredited baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States, the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing, or meet the same requirements as non-BSN baccalaureate prepared applicants. Foreign nurses who plan to complete practica in the U.S. must meet licensing requirements of the state in which the student will have the practicum and must meet all health requirements of the facility where the practicum will take place.

In addition to the prior educational/work credentials, applicants must:

1. Hold an active, unrestricted RN license. RNs are to provide their license number to Saint Joseph’s College for verification, at no cost to the college.
   Note: Applicants who have had license sanctions must be without restrictions during the two years prior to Saint Joseph’s application.
2. Work history for the last 5 years (required for Non BSN applicants only).
3. Official transcripts from all undergraduate program(s) and applicable master’s degree transcripts.
4. Course descriptions for all graduate courses being considered for transfer.

Pre-Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to have completed a minimum of an undergraduate statistics course.

All applicants with a baccalaureate degree in another field who are graduates of a diploma or associate degree program in nursing have an individualized audit conducted of their application materials.  The Program Director reviews coursework and/or experience related to Community Health Nursing and Nursing Leadership.  As a result of this process students will be required to complete either one or two undergraduate courses (NU405T/NU406T) with at least a B in each, or one or two one-credit courses (NU510/NU511) with a grade of an A.

Summer Program

Students may choose to earn credits during a residential summer session. Course offerings are announced prior to each residency session in a special summer catalog.

RN to MSN Program

The RN to MSN curriculum allows nursing students to substitute certain courses from the Master of Science in Nursing program in lieu of comparable undergraduate courses. See BSN section of the catalog for detailed information.