Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

Dr. Carrie Johnson, Program Director

Vision

The vision of the Master of Science in Nursing program is to provide a curriculum which:

1. Allows entry into the advanced practice nursing roles.
2. Is based on Christian principles and values, as well as sound nursing and education theory.
3. Promotes evidence-based practice in meeting the health and education needs for select client populations.
4. Promotes life-long learning and a foundation for doctoral study.
5. Focuses on professional and community involvement.

Mission

The Graduate Program in the College of Nursing supports the missions of the College of Nursing and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor through innovative teaching methods and the integration of practical experiences in both clinical and classroom teaching. The Master of Science in Nursing program builds on a foundation of undergraduate nursing education to prepare registered nurses for an advanced functional role that requires increased accountability, expertise, and leadership. The mission of the graduate program of the Scott and White College of Nursing is to prepare excellent nurse educators, leaders, and practitioners by providing specialty practice with an expanded theoretical and empirical knowledge base. The College of Nursing strives to prepare nurses who use Christian values and professional principles.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the curriculum, it is expected that graduates of the program will:

1. Use informatics and technology to design and implement safe, effective, and efficient practice models based on evidenced-based rationales.
2. Integrate professional, ethical, moral, legal and spiritual concepts to improve outcomes within a multi-cultural, global environment.
3. Develop scholarly contributions to enhance the body of nursing knowledge.
4. Evaluate nursing’s contributions to the improvement of healthcare policy and systems in a diverse global society.
5. Formulate strategies to facilitate the education of individuals, families, communities, and aggregates/clinical populations within the multi-disciplinary health care team.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the graduate program in nursing, an applicant must be accepted for admission to the Graduate School of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (refer to the Admissions section of the UMHB Graduate Catalog). Applicants to the M.S.N. program must meet certain additional criteria:

1. A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited school of nursing.
2. Current, unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas or as exempted as a federal employee.
3. Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 in last 60 hours of undergraduate program (BSN).
4. Two academic and professional references reflecting achievement and motivation for graduate study.
5. Completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C” or better.
6. Completion of an undergraduate nursing research course with a grade of “C” or better.
7. Minimum of one year of full time clinical practice as a registered nurse prior to admission in the clinical area selected as the area of clinical specialization. Applicants with less than one year full time clinical experience in the selected clinical area will be considered if currently employed in the area of specialization.
8. Personal interview with the Director of the MSN Program or the director’s designee.