Nursing, M.S. Program
Program Description
The Cal State East Bay Master of Science in Nursing Program seeks to prepare nurses from our diverse, multicultural community to be effective nurse educators, leaders and administrators in clinical, organizational, or academic settings. The curriculum builds and expands upon baccalaureate nursing practice and seeks to prepare nurses with broad knowledge and advanced skills needed for a higher level of nursing practice and leadership. The program allows for a seamless pathway to a practice or research doctoral education for those interested in a doctoral degree. The program provides graduate nursing education in an accessible and flexible delivery approach of online and hybrid courses. The program is designed to be completed in 4 semesters.
The MSN Program provides two practice concentrations (Online programs apply through Continuing Education at https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/):
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Leadership and Administration.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing program, graduates will be able to:
- Integrate theoretical and scientific knowledge of ethical/legal principles, advanced nursing practice and clinical excellence in professional practice as well as role development in clinical, organizational and academic settings.
- Lead change to improve quality outcomes and demonstrate effective leadership in advanced practice roles in nursing our diverse, multicultural community.
- Critically analyze evidence in the advanced practice of nursing and in the planning, delivery and evaluation of quality care in clinical, organizational and academic settings.
- ntegrate healthcare technologies to facilitate interprofessional collaboration that improves clinical practice, education and organizational management.
- Design culturally inclusive, ethical, and innovative nursing care practices and systems in clinical prevention and population care for individuals, families, and communities across the healthcare system.
- Develop and cultivate interprofessional partnerships that foster a culture of lifelong learning and professional development to advance excellence in nursing practice.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the M.S. in Nursing program will be prepared to work in clinical, organizational, and academic work settings. Graduates of the Nursing Education concentration will be equipped to work as clinical education leaders in practice settings or as educators in academic nursing programs. Graduates of the Leadership and Management concentration will be prepared for mid-level administration and leadership positions in clinical practice settings.
The workforce demands and employment opportunities are projected to be exceptionally strong for nurse educators and nurse administrators nationally as well as in California. As the workforce demands for Registered Nurses increases, the need for nurse educators with MSN degrees to serve as faculty and clinical instructors will increase. Expansion of the Registered Nurse workforce needs will require an increase in nurse administrators and leaders for supervision in the workplace. Labor reports predict a “much faster than average” growth rate for both nurse educators and healthcare manager positions.
Admission Criteria
The M.S. in Nursing degree program is open to applicants who have a baccalaureate degree in Nursing from an accredited institution and are licensed or eligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse in California. Admission will be granted based upon the Admission Committee’s overall assessment of the student’s qualifications and academic/career potential, using the following criteria:
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Valid RN license, or be eligible for CA RN Licensure.
- One year or more professional nursing experience is preferred.
- Two professional letters of recommendation (on letterhead), indicating the applicant’s potential for success in graduate education and a nursing leadership role.
- Goal Statement - A two-page essay indicating the applicant’s career interests and goals, their purpose for seeking this advanced degree, and how you are prepared to meet the demands and requirements of this program.
- Interview - To be arranged following receipt of the application.
- All undergraduate/graduate transcripts must be sent to University Admissions.
- STAT 100 Elements of Statistics and Probability, or its equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better prior to starting the MSN program and within the past ten (10) years. Please note: To request a waiver of this recency requirement, contact the Nursing Department.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Science Degree in Nursing Program, students must complete two separate application forms:
- University Application Cal State Apply, and
- Nursing Supplemental Application (NursingCAS)
Please review the detailed application instructions on the MSN program website for prospective students at MSN Program website for prospective students.
Major Requirements
The M.S. in Nursing program requires completion of 33 semester units consisting of required core courses, concentration specific courses, a practicum experience and the Masters Synthesis Project. Generally, all units must be taken at Cal State East Bay. Transfer credits are rarely accepted in the MS in Nursing Program.
Students will complete a Masters Synthesis Project in their selected area of interest. This culminating project will address a significant nursing practice/education issue to make change and improve practice demonstrating advanced professional practice, and comprehensive knowledge integration and mastery in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership.
A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained in all 33 semester units taken to satisfy the degree requirements. Students who fail to maintain progress by falling below a 3.0 GPA in their graduate courses for two consecutive semesters will be academically disqualified from the university. The program mandates that the degree must be completed within four years.
Students accumulating more than six units of work graded “I” may not register for courses applicable to the degree until the “I” grades are removed.
Cause for Dismissal from Program
Students may be dismissed from the program at any time “for cause.” “For cause” includes, but is not limited to, poor academic or fieldwork performance or academic dishonesty, as well as behavior that is destructive to students or faculty, and/or interferes with the educational environment, and/or represents a threat to potential clients. “For cause” also includes student behaviors that are inconsistent with the legal, ethical, and/or personal responsibilities of professional nurses.
Nursing Degree Requirements (33 units)
Core Requirements
The following 18 units of core coursework is required:
Concentrations
Students must choose one (1) of the following concentrations to complete their major degree:
Nursing Leadership and Administration Concentration
The Nursing Leadership and Administration concentration is designed to prepare aspiring nurse leaders for advancement to leadership and management roles in clinical practice and healthcare organizational settings. The curriculum includes five core courses in advanced nursing knowledge, knowledge synthesis, population health, health informatics, and healthcare policy. In addition to the core curriculum, the nursing leadership and administration concentration includes five courses with coursework including content such as organizational systems, financial management, human resource management, leadership role development, change management, and quality improvement for healthcare outcomes. Masters students enrolled in the Nursing Leadership and Administration concentration will have opportunity to integrate this knowledge of nursing leadership and administration into practice in the required Leadership Practicum in a nurse administrative role in an organizational setting.
Other Graduate & Post-Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the University requirements for graduation as described throughout this catalog. These include the 70% unit residence requirement; the five-year rule on currency of subject matter; the minimum number of units in 600-level courses; the “C” minimum grade for each graduate course; the 3.00 cumulative grade point average; and the University Writing Skills Requirement, if applicable.
Note: For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see Graduate Policies or call the Testing Office at (510) 885-3661.
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