Master of Science in Nursing

Return to: Graduate Programs

Dr. Carol Gullo Mest,
Director of Graduate Nursing Programs
610.282.1100, ext. 1394
carol.mest@desales.edu

The program prepares nurses to function as collaborative colleagues in health care planning, in policy decision making, and in implementing and directing care.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Division of Nursing at DeSales University is to prepare professional, caring, competent undergraduate and graduate nursing students who have the ability to improve domestic and global health outcomes in the Salesian tradition of Christian Humanism. Graduates are prepared to assume clinical, leadership, and diverse healthcare positions to contribute to the advancement of nursing and other healthcare professions. Graduates are prepared to further their individual advancement through future academic endeavors and lifelong learning.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at DeSales University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Learning Outcomes

The MSN program focuses on preparing professional nurses as collaborative colleagues in the delivering, planning, policy making, and directing of health care. Students gain an advanced core of knowledge in an area of primary, secondary, or tertiary care, or in health care administration.

The MSN program prepares graduates who:

1. Exemplify Christian Humanism through practice excellence in the areas of quality, safety, direct and indirect care, and professional accountability.
2. Model ethical behaviors and apply ethical principles to clinical decisions, team collaboration, and conflict resolution.
3. Engage in scholarly activities through the implementation of evidence-based practice to improve health outcomes.
4. Apply innovation strategies for vulnerable and diverse populations.
5. Participate in policy development to influence health and health care.
6. Apply leadership strategies to create collaborative relationships with patients, inter-professional teams, the healthcare system, and professional organizations.
7. Integrate advanced nursing skills into improvement of clinical outcomes, ensuring inclusion of patients and family members as part of the team.
8. Integrate the use of information systems and health care technologies to support and improve clinical outcomes.
9. Integrate improvement science and interdisciplinary theories to support culturally sensitive and evidence-grounded practice decisions.
10. Apply communication theory and skills to promote high quality, safe patient care.
11. Create a personal philosophy and professional development plan for future practice that acknowledges intentions for life-long learning.

Upon successful completion of the program of study, students are eligible to become certified in their specialty area through examinations offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and/or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Degree and Certificate Options

The Division of Nursing offers the following MSN degree and certificate options:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Program (Adult CNS)
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program (AGACNP)
• Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Program (FNP)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP)
• MSN in Forensic Nursing with Certification in Investigative Forensics (Forensic Nursing)
• MSN in Nursing Informatics with Certification in Healthcare Information Management (Nursing Informatics)
• MSN/MBA Dual Degree Program
• Nurse Educator Certificate Program
• Post-Graduate Certificate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (Adult CNSC)
• Post-Graduate Certificate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNPC)
• Post-Graduate Certificate Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNPC)
• Post-Graduate Certificate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNPC)
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing with Certification in Investigative Forensics
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Informatics with Certification in Healthcare Information Management
• MSN Completion Program for Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

MSN Admission Requirements

The admission criteria for the MSN program is:

1. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a ACEN or CCNE accredited college or university;
2. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (B) is ordinarily required;
3. Satisfactory performance on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) taken within the past five years. GRE/MAT will be waived for applicants with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher;
4. An active registered nurse license, or eligibility for licensure, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
5. For the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track, currently practicing nurses who have only had pediatric or labor and delivery will be required to obtain employment as an RN in the care of the adult while completing the program part-time.
6. For the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track, evidence of the equivalent of two (2) years of full-time nursing practice in an adult acute care/ ICU specialty area (i.e. medical/surgical ICU, trauma ICU, neuro/neurosurgical ICU, cardiac ICU, open heart unit, burn unit, etc.) within 18 months of application completion. Students will be required to continue to work as an Acute Care/ICU registered nurse to fulfill the 2 years of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses;
7. For the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track, evidence of the equivalent of 12 months full-time experience as a practicing psychiatric RN within 18 months of application completion. Students will be required to continue to work as a psychiatric nurse to fulfill the 12 months of nursing practice experience to progress to the specialty clinical courses;
8. Evidence of having completed a basic physical assessment course or its equivalent;
9. Evidence of basic computer literacy including use of Microsoft Office tools and Internet research.

International Admissions Requirements

Graduate Language Requirements

International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores as part of their application.

Please note that graduate admissions requires the following minimum scores on the TOEFL, IELTS, or the Cambridge English Language Assessment: Advanced (CAE):

Language Requirement Exceptions

Language skills assessment and other exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee. Examples of some language requirement exceptions could include:

• If an applicant completed a degree from a postsecondary institution in an English speaking country
• If an applicant attended a U.S. community college, college, or university full-time for at least two years without English of Speakers with Other Languages (ESOL) coursework
• If an applicant has worked full-time in the U.S. for at least two years (non-healthcare programs only)

An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the appropriate program at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034.

Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Web site at www.ets.org/toefl
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) https://www.ielts.org
• The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE): http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency

*All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales MSN program.

Official Transcripts

All undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034.

Proof of Finances

A statement of finances that covers the cost of the attendance and living expenses for at least one full year must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Admissions/Designated School Official (DSO) upon acceptance to a graduate program.

Obtaining an F-1 Student Visa

The Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO will advise international applicants and students on the steps to obtain an F-1 Student Visa.

Current F-1 Students Transferring to DeSales

Upon admission to a graduate program, the Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO will provide forms for the student to complete for their current institution, requesting the Form I-20 to be transferred to DeSales.

Maintaining F-1 Student Status

Each F-1 student will meet with the Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO upon acceptance into the program regarding maintaining F-1 student status.

Admission Requirements, Post-Graduate Certificates

Requirements for admission to a Post-Graduate Certificate program consist of:

1. Meeting all admission requirements to the MSN program.
2. Official documentation of the completion of a MSN or its equivalent from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution.
3. Minimum of one-year experience as a practicing licensed registered nurse within the past two years.

Applicants who hold a master’s degree in nursing can apply to one of the Post-Graduate Certificate programs. Options include Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Forensic Nursing with Certification in Investigative Forensics, and Nursing Informatics with Certification in Healthcare Information Management. Previous academic education and clinical practice (as applicable) will be used to determine an individual course of study. The completion of required didactic courses and clinical hours will depend upon waived credits and/or clinical hours. Depending upon the number of courses transferred in, the student may complete a Post-Graduate Certificate program in one calendar year. Students must satisfy the remaining required credits and course requirements for the Post-Graduate Certificate program of study via graduate courses taken at DeSales University. Post-Graduate Certificate graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination offered through the ANCC, AANP, and/or AACN.

Admission Requirements-Post-certificate MSN completion program for Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

Requirements for admission to the MSN completion program consist of:

1. BSN from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program.
2. Meeting all admission requirements to the MSN program.
3. Submitting official documentation of a national midwife, nurse practitioner, or nurse anesthesia certificate.

Up to 26 graduate credits may be transferred to the MSN completion program. The equivalency is calculated from didactic and clinical requirements of the original certificate program. Equivalency is determined on a case-by-case basis, culled from educational experiences in the certificate program only. Continuing education in other forms will not be considered for equivalency credit (e.g. continuing education units or contact hours).

Admission Requirements, MSN/MBA Program

Admission requirements to the MSN/MBA program consist of:

1. Meeting the admissions requirements to the MSN program.
2. Meeting the admissions requirements to the MBA program.
3. Completing the necessary forms for application to both the MSN and MBA programs, forwarding all materials to the Division of Nursing.

MSN Application Procedure

NOTE: All applicants must apply and submit required forms and documentation via the DeSales “Recruit” on-line application system. Further information regarding the application process is available at desales.edu/ msn. To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the following as part of their application:

1. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended. All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Inc., with the resulting report submitted directly to the Division of Nursing;
2. Copy of current RN license;
3. Two letters of recommendation: one from a faculty member or direct supervisor from present employment and one from a professional colleague;
4. Current résumé or curriculum vitae; this should reflect all evidence of professional career achievements, publications, presentations, or other forms of professional scholarship;
5. A brief (100 word) summary of your professional goals with completion of the particular MSN track.
6. Copy of the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) taken within the past five years. GRE/MAT will be waived for applicants with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
7. International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 2021.

Admission requirements are rigorous; demonstrating minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the MSN program. The Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee will review and act on all applications. Individuals who are undecided about seeking admission are permitted to enroll as a special student in one graduate level core course without completing all admission requirements. All admission requirements must be completed before enrollment in subsequent courses. All written exception requests submitted to the Director of Graduate Nursing programs will be considered by the Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee.

Applications to the non-Nurse Practitioner MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate Tracks are admitted on a rolling basis. A sub-committee of the Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee will review and act on all applications to the non-nurse practitioner tracks.

Applications to the Nurse Practitioner MSN and MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate Tracks follow the same application procedures bur are required to attend a live interview session on campus. These interviews are held twice per year. Deadlines for having a complete application in the system to be scheduled for the interview are:

• August 31 for October or November On-Campus Interview (Spring class start)
• February 28 for April or May On-Campus Interview (Fall class start)

Students who do not meet the acceptance criteria will not be invited to the on-campus interview.

Individuals who are undecided about seeking admission are permitted to enroll as a special student in one graduate level core course without completing all admission requirements. All admission requirements must be completed before enrollment in subsequent courses. All written exception requests submitted to the Director of Graduate Nursing programs will be considered by the Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee.

MSN Re-Application Procedures

A student whose application is not approved by the Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee may reapply to the MSN program. A new application packet must be submitted as outlined in the “Application Procedure”. It is the applicant’s responsibility to include additional elements that may strengthen his/her portfolio. An applicant may elect to take an MSN core course with special student status, in order to demonstrate ability to perform graduate level work. Successful completion of the course does not guarantee future admission to the MSN program.

MSN Transfer Policy

Ordinarily, written approval must be provided by the Director of Graduate Nursing programs before taking and transferring courses from another institution into the MSN program. The MSN program will generally accept up to six (6) transfer credits or two (2) courses into the declared MSN track based upon the following criteria:

1. Course work must have been completed within five (5) years before admission to the MSN program.
2. Courses transferred must be similar in credits, scope and subject matter to courses offered in the MSN program. The student must provide a course syllabus and topical outline for any courses requested for transfer.
3. Only courses from an ACEN or CCNE accredited college or university will be accepted for transfer.
4. Grades for transfer courses must be a B or higher.
5. All transfer credits must be approved by the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs.
6. Transfer credits are not calculated into the cumulative GPA that the student receives while a student at DeSales University.

An exception is made for credit transfer in the Post-Graduate Certificate, and MSN completion options (see specific program policies). All requests for acceptance of transfer of credits must be made through the student’s advisor, and approved by the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs. Official course transcripts must accompany the request for transfer of credit. In addition, a course description and syllabus is required.

MSN Student Categories

Applicants are admitted to the MSN program in one of the following categories:

Full Acceptance

The student has satisfactorily met all admission and application requirements.

Provisional Acceptance

The student may need to fulfill either a single admission requirement or additional requirements set forth by the Graduate Admissions and Standards Committee. The student will be eligible for full acceptance when all requirements have been met. Ordinarily, provisionally accepted MSN students may take one MSN course while on provisional status. The student must gain full acceptance status before taking subsequent MSN courses.

Special Student

The student has not formally applied to the MSN program, and is normally permitted to petition the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs to take one graduate level course as a special student. The completion of this course does not imply or guarantee acceptance into the MSN program.

General MSN Program Policies

These policies are applicable to all students admitted to and enrolled in MSN courses.

Academic Standing

Students in the MSN programs may receive no more than two grades at the B- level or below. Course failure is defined as any course grade less than the required minimum course grade, as noted above. Students must attain a grade of PO in any Pass/Fail course. A grade of FO is considered a course failure. Students who do not attain the minimum course grade must repeat the course. A student’s second failure will result in dismissal from the program.

Students must attain a minimum grade of B in all advanced core, clinical,and specialty courses. These courses include NU 551 , NU 552 , NU 553 , NU 622 , NU 625 , NU 626 , NU 628 , NU 633 , NU 635 , NU 711 , NU 712 , NU 713 , NU 714 , NU 715 , NU 717 , NU 719 , NU 729 , NU 731 , NU 734 , NU 735 , NU 737 , NU 739 , NU 740 , NU 741 , NU 742 , NU 743 , NU 744 , NU 799 , CR 510 , CJ 510 , NU 576 , NU 600 , NU 724 , NU 726 , NU 727 , NU 728 , CJ 510 , CJ 516 , CJ 532 , CJ 533 , CJ 535 , CJ 544 , IT 511 ,  IT 513 , IT 532 , IT 541 , IT 562 , and IT 580 .

MSN students must also maintain a GPA of 3.0. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation. A student may be placed on Academic Probation only once. Academic Probation for a second time results in dismissal from the program. Students who meet the minimum course grade requirements but whose cumulative GPA does not meet the minimum standard of 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation. Students unable to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 within six credits, or two courses, following the semester where the minimum cumulative GPA was not achieved, will be dismissed from the program. Students who do not meet the minimum course grade requirements must repeat the course. Students unable to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 within six credits, or two courses, following the successful completion of the repeated course will be dismissed from the program. Only one course may be repeated due to failure based on the above criteria; failure of a second course will result in dismissal from the program.

Students must pass both the didactic and clinical portions in order to pass the course. Failure in either the clinical or didactic component results in a failure for the entire course.

Program dismissal may result from a variety of non-academic circumstances, including, but not limited to, scholastic dishonesty, unethical behavior, or non-professional behavior. These circumstances are fully described earlier in the Graduate Catalog and in the MSN Student Handbook.

Requested academic references for students who have been dismissed from the program will only include the dates of attendance.

Remediation Policy

Students who do not progress in a clinical course, whether for didactic or clinical non-progression, and who wish to return the following year to complete the course must develop a Remediation/Performance Improvement Plan in conjunction with the course faculty and academic advisor. Students are required to self-identify goals for improvement and methods by which those goals will be addressed during their absence from the program. The course faculty will complete the remainder of the plan in conjunction with the student in order to help prepare the student for returning to class and to assure maintenance of skills and knowledge in the intervening period.

Course Enrollment

Students are expected to continuously enroll in courses according to their curriculum plan. Students who wish to alter their curriculum plan in any way must seek approval from their Academic Advisor. Students who have not taken a course within a 12-month period are considered withdrawn from the MSN program: If the student decides in the future to return to complete the MSN degree, he or she will need to reapply to the program. Re-admission is not guaranteed.

Students with an Incomplete on their transcript may not register for another course until the Incomplete is made up and the minimum course grade is achieved.

Change of Track

Students who request to change their specialty track must:

• be in good academic standing (GPA 3.0 or higher),
• adhere to the Professional Integrity Policies as noted in the MSN Student Handbook), and
• receive approval from both the Specialty Track Coordinator and the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs.

Progression policies apply, as previously stated, in terms of course and clinical grades.

Students who wish to transfer tracks must follow these guidelines:

1. Students who wish to transfer specialty tracks must seek approval from their Academic Advisor, who will communicate the request to the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs.
2. Students who wish to transfer tracks must complete a Change of Track Request Form.
3. Acceptance of a transfer of tracks is contingent upon the availability of clinical sites and space in existing clinical cohorts.
4. Students who are accepted as a Specialty Transfer Student will matriculate in that program for the remainder of their graduate nursing studies.
5. A student may transition specialty tracks one time only throughout the course of their MSN studies.

MSN Clinical Requirements

Students accepted into the MSN program must meet all health, drug, and background clearance checks that are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and by individual clinical agencies. These requirements may change over time. Students are expected to remain in compliance with all of these clearance requirements or risk being unable to practice clinical and progress in the program.

A student who is determined to be a risk to patients, staff, or themselves at any given health care agency will not be allowed to attend clinical at other health care agencies. In this instance, the student may be liable for dismissal from the program. Students may be asked to supply a clinical instructor or course coordinator with a valid note of excuse from a health care provider following an illness or a change in health status. This note must provide a clearance date for a student’s return to class/clinical and outline any medical restrictions the student may be under.

The cost of all health, drug, and criminal clearance requirements is the responsibility of the student. Each year nursing students receive communication from the graduate clinical liaison of the Division of Nursing providing direction for completing all clearance requirements.

Failure to submit and/or satisfactorily complete mandated health, drug, and criminal clearance requirements and/or any other clearances mandated by the Divison of Nursing and/or affiliating agencies will result in a student not being allowed to attend clinical experiences. Inability to meet clinical requirements will result in course failure.

The following documentation of reasonably good health and disease prophylaxis is to be submitted to the Division of Nursing at least one month before registering for clinical courses.

1. Complete physical examination, including specified laboratory results (form provided by the Division of Nursing).
2. Current immunizations for poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and pertussis (must be within the last ten years), and diphtheria.
3. Varicella (if unable to provide documentation of having had the disease), mumps, rubella, rubeola, and Hepatitis B antibody titers.
4. Hepatitis B Vaccination (series of three injections).
5. Influenza vaccination.
6. Tuberculosis test.
7. Any additional health, drug, criminal clearance, or certification documentation as set forth by the clinical agency or the Division of Nursing. Clinical agencies retain the right to refuse any student a clinical placement based on results of health, drug, and/or criminal clearances results. This may result in the inability to meet course objectives.

In addition, a current copy of the student’s Pennsylvania registered nurse license, copy of CPR certification, proof of professional liability insurance, proof of medical insurance, proof of automobile insurance, Certified Nationwide Background Check including PA State Police Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse History Clearance, FBI Fingerprint Check, and drug testing clearances (instructions for obtaining/providing appropriate and valid clearance documentation are provided by the Division of Nursing), must be on file in the Division of Nursing. It is the student’s responsibility to submit updated forms and certifications as renewals are received. All nurse practitioner students must also obtaini a New Jersey RN license.

Students are expected to notify the graduate clinical liaison of the Division of Nursing immediately of any changes in the following while in the nursing program.

• Health Status
• Certified Nationwide Background Check; Including PA State Police Criminal Record Check
• Child Abuse History Clearance
• FBI Fingerprint Check
• Drug testing status
• Any student enrolled in the nursing program who has criminal charges filed against him/her, or has any type of change in his/her criminal history at any time during the program must immediately disclose the information to the graduate clinical liaison of the Division of Nursing.

Failure to notify the graduate clinical liaison of the Division of Nursing of any changes may result in immediate dismissal from the nursing program. Pending court dates, pending charges, and arrests are considered a change to criminal history.

The Division of Nursing may withdraw an offer of admission or dismiss a student from the nursing programs based on any type of positive background and/or drug clearance results.

MSN Grading Policies

All nursing courses have the following scale:

MSN Program Leave of Absence

Students who have matriculated into the MSN program may request a leave of absence (LOA) for personal, financial, family, or other reasons. A LOA may be granted only once throughout the program, and may not exceed 12 months.

Students requesting a LOA must put their request in writing to the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs.

The request must include the student’s plan for completion of the MSN after the LOA. LOA requests are considered jointly among the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs, the chair of the Division of Nursing, and the student’s advisor. The LOA form can be obtained from the Blackboard Organization “Nursing Department News.”

Students should be aware that there is no guarantee of meeting the original time line for degree completion if a LOA is granted.

Students who do not register for a course by the LOA end date will be considered withdrawn from the program and must reapply for admission.

MSN Course Drop and Add

A student may drop or add a course by the date noted on the academic calendar. The dropped course is not listed on the student’s permanent transcript. Dropping or adding a course requires the approval of the student’s academic advisor and the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs.

MSN Course Withdrawal

A student may withdraw from a course either during or after the official withdrawal period noted on the academic calendar with the permission from the director of the MSN programs. However, tuition is not refunded after the deadline for official withdrawal.

A student who withdraws during the first half of the course will be given a grade of W, WP, or WF. The grade depends upon the completion of course requirements as of the date of withdrawal. Withdrawal after the second half of the course has begun results in a failing grade (F), except in cases exempted by the appropriate admissions and academic policies committee as the result of the student’s appeal.

Withdrawal from a course at any point must be approved by both the student’s academic advisor and the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs. Students who wish to withdraw from a course after the Drop/Add period must complete a Graduate Course Withdrawal form, which can be obtained from the Blackboard Organization “Nursing Department News.” Refer to the “Course Withdrawal Refund Amount” section for information/policy on withdrawal deadlines and tuition refunds.

Course Withdrawal Refund Amount

Withdrawal during the add/drop period: 100% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 1st class after the close of the add drop period: 80% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 2nd class after the close of the add drop period: 65% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 3rd class after the close of the add drop period: 50% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 4th class after the close of the add drop period: 25% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 5th class after the close of the add drop period: No refund

Academic Schedule

The MSN programs are designed for nurses wishing to engage in either part-time or full-time study. Scheduling of courses is planned to meet the needs of nurses who are employed fulltime. Courses are offered in three 12-week semester blocks running Fall, Winter, and Spring, and one 6-week block running in the Summer. The MSN program is offered in an online, on-campus, or hybrid format. Online courses use both synchronous and asynchronous technology options. Hybrid classes meet periodically on-site at the Center Valley campus, as arranged by the course faculty before the start of classes, using online learning as enhancement to the classroom experience. Nursing courses are offered primarily 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and are scheduled Monday through Thursday.

The MSN Academic Calendar may be found at https://www.desales.edu/academics/graduate-studies/master-of-science-in-nursing-msn-nurse-practitioner-np/academic-calendar.

The Division of Nursing reserves the right to cancel courses for insufficient enrollment. A minimum number of registrants is generally six students.

Student Status

A full-time student is one who carries at least six (6) credits in a given term. A half-time student is one who carries at least three (3) credits in a given term.

International Student Status

In addition to the criteria described in the Academic Regulations section, an international student (F-1 visa) needs to

• maintain full-time student status,
• carry at least one classroom based course in each semester, and
• take no more than one distance-education (online) course in each semester.

Registration and Advising Policies

Each MSN student is assigned a nursing faculty advisor from the Division of Nursing. Students must confer with their academic advisor immediately upon acceptance into the MSN program and before registering for the first MSN course. The purpose of this initial meeting is to jointly develop a curriculum plan to guide the student’s progress through the program. The curriculum plan includes anticipated dates for taking the required courses and for graduating. Students may not register for a course until the curriculum plan is in place.

The original curriculum plan may be amended, depending upon course availability; and only after consultation with and approved by the faculty advisor. However, there is no guarantee that changes will meet the student’s timeline for program completion due to course timing, sequencing, and enrollment. Students who wish to alter a program plan, take a LOA, or change their part-time or full-time student status must petition their faculty advisor and the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs.

The registration process is conducted online using WebAdvisor (accessible at https://portal.desales.edu). Registration for classes generally begins six to eight weeks before the first class meeting. Students registering for their first course must do so through the Division of Nursing after having met with the faculty advisor and having a signed, approved program plan.

The University reserves the right to limit enrollment or cancel a class if enrollment is not sufficient.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are available at www.desales.edu.

Matriculation

A student is considered matriculated once they have been accepted into the program and have successfully completed their first course.

Graduation Requirements

The MSN degree is awarded to candidates who have satisfied the following requirements: 1. Completion of the approved course of graduate study. 2. A GPA of at least 3.0 for all course work related to the degree. 3. Demonstration of grades at the level of B or better in all clinical and specialty courses. 4. No more than two grades at the “B-” level or below. 5. Submission of all preceptor, site, and self-evaluation forms. 6. Resolution of all Incomplete grades. 7. Resolved financial obligations to the University. 8. Payment of the graduation fee.

MSN Program Structure

The program of study leading to the MSN degree consists of the following components

• Core Courses
• Advanced Core Courses
• Specialty Courses
  Adult CNS
  AGACNP
  FNP
  PMHNP
  Nurse Educator
  MSN/MBA
  Forensic Nursing
  Nursing Informatics
• Clinical Courses
  Adult CNS
  AGACNP
  FNP
  PMHNP
  MSN/MBA
  Forensic Nursing
  Nursing Informatics

Nurse Scholars

Academically qualified undergraduate nursing students may be eligible to matriculate directly into one of the MSN programs through the Nurse Scholars program. The Nurse Scholars program is a highly-accelerated degree completion program, in which five approved graduate level courses may be applied to both the BSN and MSN degrees. These participating students must fulfill all requirements for the BSN degree before obtaining graduate student status.

The Nurse Scholar student may select from the following core and advanced core courses:

MSN Level Courses

NU 522  Health Policy, Organization & Financing
NU 530  Applied Research
NU 534  Principles of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
NU 536  Clinical Prevention in Population Health
NU 538   Health Informatics, Quality & Safety

Students in the Nurse Scholars program must adhere to, in addition to all undergraduate policies, all policies stated for the MSN Program. These policies include progression, curriculum planning, and graduation policies.

Nurse Scholars may matriculate directly into the MSN Program upon passing the NCLEX examination on the first attempt. Nurse Scholars who are entering the FNP, AGACNP, or PMHNP Programs must meet the required RN clinical experience prior to starting the MSN clinical year.

This required experience includes:

1.  the equivalent of two (2) years of full-time RN practice in the care of the adult while completing the program part-time for the FNP track.
2. the equivalent of two (2) years of full-time RN practice in an adult acute care/ICU specialty area (i.e. medical/ surgical ICU, trauma ICU, neuro/neurosurgical ICU, cardiac ICU, open heart unit, burn unit) while completing the program part-time for the AGACNP track.
3. the equivalent of 12 months full-time experience as a practicing psychiatric RN while completing the program part-time for the PMHNP track.

Programs

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Program (Adult CNS) (MSN)
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program (AGACNP) (MSN)
• Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Program (FNP) (MSN)
• Forensic Nursing with Certification in Investigative Forensics Program (MSN)
• MSN/MBA Dual Degree Program (MSN/MBA)
• Nursing Informatics with Certification in Healthcare Information Management (MSN)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP) (MSN)

• Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate (Adult CNSC)
• Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate (AGACNPC)
• Post-Graduate Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate (FNPC)
• Post-Graduate in Forensic Nursing with Certification in Investigative Forensics Certificate
• Post-Graduate Nursing Informatics with Certification in Healthcare Information Management Certificate
• Post-Graduate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate (PMHNPC)

• Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate

Return to: Graduate Programs