Master of Science in Nursing

Return to: Graduate Programs

Dr. Carol Gullo Mest,
Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs
610.282.1100, ext. 1394
carol.gullo-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 DeSales University Division of Nursing is to prepare nursing graduates who improve domestic and global health outcomes among diverse populations incorporating Salesian core values and traditions of gentleness, humility, gratitude, and wisdom. Graduates are prepared to assume clinical and leadership positions, contributing to the advancement of nursing, healthcare, academia, interprofessional collaboration, 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, informatics/data analytics, and forensics.

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), or the Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification (CFNC).

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/MSIS Dual Degree in Data Analytics (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 MSIS in Data Analytics

MSN Admission Requirements

The admission criteria for the MSN program is:

1. Baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
2. 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;
3. An active registered nurse license, or eligibility for licensure, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, New Jersey licensure as a registered nurse is also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all MSN programs;
4. Evidence of the equivalent of 12 months full-time nursing practice within the last three (3) years;
5. For the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track, currently practicing nurses who have only had pediatric, women’s health, or labor and delivery RN experience 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;

International Admissions Requirements

Graduate Language Requirements

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

Please note 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 MSIS in Data Analytics. 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 to two calendar years. 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, AACN, and/or CFNC.

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.

Admission Requirements, MSN/MSIS Program

Admission requirements to the MSN/MSIS program consist of:

1. Meeting the admissions requirements to the MSN program.
2. Meeting the admissions requirements to the MSIS program.
3. Completing the necessary forms for application to both the MSN and MSIS 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 or via NursingCAS. 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 (500-750 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.

Applications to the non-Nurse Practitioner MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate Tracks are admitted on a rolling basis up until the following deadlines:

• The deadline is May 15 for a July (Summer semester) start
• The deadline is June 15 for an August (Fall semester) start
• The deadline is November 15 for a January (Winter semester) start
• The deadline is February 15 for an April (Spring semester) start

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 Chair 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 550 , NU 552 , NU 553 , NU 576 , NU 600 , NU 622 , NU 626 , NU 628 , NU 631 , NU 633 , NU 634 , NU 713 , NU 714 , NU 715 , NU 717 , NU 719 , NU 722 , NU 723 , NU 724 , NU 725 , NU 726 , NU 727 , NU 728 , NU 729 , NU 731 , NU 734 , NU 735 , NU 737 , NU 738 , NU 739 , NU 740 , NU 741 , NU 743 , NU 744 , NU 799 , 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 , CR 510 , IT 511 ,  IT 513 , IT 541 , IT 562 , and IT 580 .

Students in the MSN/MBA concentration must abide by the Department of Business’s minimum grade requirements for CR 501 , CR 504 , CR 505 , CR 506 , CR 507 , HC 503 , HC 504 , HC 505 , and HC 506 .

MSN students must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students whose cumulative 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 meet the Essential Standards and Functional Capabilities for Graduate Nursing Students as outlined in the MSN Student Handbook.

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.

Students must adhere to and abide by content in the MSN Student Handbook and the Graduate Catalog. Any deviation or failure to comply with the content may warrant dismissal from the program. 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 to complete and approve an alternative program plan. This plan must include an anticipated date for completion of studies. This program plan must be approved by the Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs. This type of request may not necessarily be granted, depending upon clinical site and instructor availability. If the student does not ensure that such a plan is filed in the Division of Nursing, he/she may not be assured future clinical site placement and continuance in the program.

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 may formally 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 Specialty Concentration

Students are accepted into a specific concentration, or program, of study upon admission to the MSN Program. If a student wishes to switch concentrations after acceptance, the student must first meet with his or her advisor. 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 affiliate 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 must provide the 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, including but not limited to an illness or injury.  The healthcare provider’s note must specifically state the date(s) excused and state the date the student is cleared to return to normal class and clinical/laboratory experiences. In addition, the provider’s note must specifically state that the student has either no restrictions or specify the current restrictions. Students may be withheld from class or clinical/laboratory experiences if appropriate health clearance is not provided to the Division of Nursing by the deadlines set forth.

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 Division 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. Negative Hepatitis C antibody test.
6. Influenza vaccination.
7. Tuberculosis test.
8. Any additional health, drug, criminal clearance, orientation, or certification documentation as set forth by the affiliate 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 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 obtain 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
• Medical Insurance
• Any student enrolled in the nursing program who has had criminal charges filed against him/her, or has charges filed against them during the program must immediately disclose the information to the graduate clinical liaison of the Division of Nursing.

Pending court dates, pending charges, and arrests are considered a change to criminal history.

Continued participation/acceptance in the MSN program is dependent upon continuous negative results of all required documentation as outlined above. Admission or participation in the program may be revoked upon receipt of any positive results. The Division of Nursing maintains a zero tolerance policy.

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 Chair 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 Chair 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. Once the LOA is approved, a new curriculum plan will be provided to the student and must be followed, in accordance with policies outlining adherence to the program plan.

Students who do not register for a course by the LOA end date will be considered withdrawn from the program and may formally 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 Chair 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 Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs. However, tuition is not refunded after the deadline for official withdrawal.

It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Bursar and/or the Financial Aid Office for additional information about the implications of any change in course load for their tuition or financial aid. 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 Chair 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 offers courses 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 Chair 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 as well as completing the MSN New Student Orientation.

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

*Not required for the PMHNP, MSN/MBA, Forensic Nursing, and MSN/MSIS concentrations.

Students in the Nurse Scholars program must adhere to, in addition to all undergraduate policies, all policies stated for the MSN Program, which are located in the “MSN Program/Post-Graduate Certificate/Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Student Handbook”. These policies include progression, curriculum planning, and graduation policies.

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

This required experience includes:

1. For the AGACNP track: 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.
2. For the FNP track: the equivalent of  two (2) years of full-time RN practice in the care of the adult while completing the program part-time. Applicants  who have only had pediatric, women’s health, or labor and delivery RN experience will be required to obtain employment as an  RN in the care of the adult while completing the program part-time.
3. For the PMHNP track: 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 while in the program if they have less than 2 years of psychiatric nursing experience prior to program acceptance.

​Accelerated Direct-Entry BSN + MSN Program (Accelerated BSN Plus)

Academically qualified Accelerated BSN students may be eligible to matriculate directly into one of the MSN programs through the Accelerated BSN Plus program. The Accelerated BSN Plus program is a highly accelerated second degree completion program, in which three 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 ABSN Plus student may choose to complete the following MSN core courses toward both the BSN and MSN degree requirements:

NU 530  Applied Research
NU 538  Health Informatics, Quality, & Safety

The ABSN Plus student may also choose one of the following MSN core courses to count as a BSN free elective and MSN core requirement:

NU 522  Health Policy, Organization & Financing
NU 534  Principles of Epidemiology & Biostatistics*
NU 536  Clinical Prevention in Population Health

*Not required for the PMHNP, MSN/MBA, Forensic Nursing, and MSN/MSIS concentrations.

Students in the Accelerated BSN Plus program must adhere to, in addition to all undergraduate policies, all policies stated for the MSN Program, which are located in the “MSN Program/Post-Graduate Certificate/Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Student Handbook”. These policies include progression, curriculum planning, and graduation policies.

Accelerated BSN Plus students may matriculate directly into the MSN Program upon completion of the Accelerated BSN Plus Program with a 3.0 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale), passing the NCLEX-RN examination on the first attempt, and securing a full-time RN position.  Accelerated BSN Plus students who are entering the AGACNP, FNP, or PMHNP Programs must meet the required RN clinical experience prior to starting the MSN clinical year and are subject to clinical site availability.

This required experience includes:

1. For the FNP track: the equivalent of  two (2) years of full-time RN practice in the care of the adult while completing the program part-time.
2. For the AGACNP track: 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.
3. For the PMHNP track: the equivalent of 12 months full-time experience as a practicing psychiatric RN while completing the program part-time.

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)
• MSN/MSIS Dual Degree in Data Analytics(MSN/MSIS)
• 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 Certificate with MSIS in Data Analytics
• Post-Graduate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate (PMHNPC)

• Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate

Return to: Graduate Programs