Nursing, M.S.

The master’s program in nursing is open to registered nurses who wish to continue their education by obtaining an advanced degree. There are two admission options: RNs with a baccalaureate degree in nursing and RNs prepared at the associate or diploma level that have had outstanding practice experience and professional involvement. RNs who do not have a baccalaureate degree in nursing must complete additional undergraduate course work as prerequisites to master’s course work.

The following are unique admissions requirements for the Master of Science degree in nursing program:

• Two letters of recommendation: the letters should be from individuals knowledgeable of your academic and/or professional abilities and include contact information. If the applicant has been out of nursing school for less than five years, a former faculty member must submit one letter.
• Resume: include education, work experience, professional development, professional, community and volunteer activities, and research and publications.
• Statement of purpose/goals: include a statement of your educational and career goals.
• Writing sample‐-a two-page position paper on a social or health issue written in APA format, including references. Type in 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11” paper with one-inch margins on all sides.
• Transcripts: submit official transcripts from each college or university attended. Transcripts are required regardless of the length of stay or if the grades appear on another school’s transcript, including hospital schools of nursing.
• Entrance exam:Miller Analogies Test (MAT) preferred, but the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are also accepted. Scores cannot be more than five years old from the desired semester of entry.The MAT score should be sent directly to Georgia State from Harcourt Assessment, Inc. The institution code is 2753. A department code is not necessary. If you have an official copy of your MAT scores, please send a photocopy with your application to expedite application processing. Visit the MAT website or call 1‐800‐622‐3231 for information and registration. The GRE score should be sent directly to Georgia State from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The institution code is 5251. If you have an official copy of your GRE scores, send a photocopy with your application to expedite application processing. Visit the GRE website or call 1‐800‐GRE‐CALL for information and registration. The entrance exam is waived for MS nursing applicants who hold a graduate degree in a non‐nursing field (i.e., MEd, MBA, MPH, etc.), Post‐master’s certificate applicants OR if you have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
• Experience required: one to two years of clinical practice as a registered nurse. (Note: For clinical specialties, clinical practice should be in an area related to the specialty track chosen for the master’s program (for example, one to two years in medical‐surgical nursing practice to apply for adult health or family nurse practitioner specialty track.)
• International Applicants
  Additional requirements may apply if you are an international applicant. Learn more about the requirements for international applicants.
• Official TOEFL scores: for applicants whose native language is not English, include a copy of your TOEFL score in your application packet. Scores cannot be more than two years old from the desired term of entry.
• Certificate of immunization is required for accepted applicants who have never attended Georgia State. Upon admission, print the form found at www.gsu.edu/health and submit to Georgia State Health Services before registration.
• Citizenship verification: please review the requirements to verify lawful presence in the United States.
• RN to MS applicants must take the GRE or MAT exam to apply.

Additional requirements include the following:

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. The GPA is based on all undergraduate college-level course work attempted at regionally accredited institutions.
• Registration as a professional nurse in Georgia or another U.S. state and evidence of application to the Georgia Board of Nursing.
• One to two years of clinical practice in the specialty area for master’s education is preferred for applicants in the clinical practice specialist.

Master of Science in Nursing Application Checklist

The curriculum consists of a minimum of 48 semester hours of study, 22 hours of core courses and 26 hours of specialty courses. See the following list and description of required courses for each specialty track.

R.N.s without a bachelor’s degree in nursing must complete additional undergraduate coursework before taking master’s courses. See additional information tab.

The master’s program uses The Essentials of Masters Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011) as professional nursing standards and guidelines.  The master’s program outcomes and objectives are congruent with the essentials.

Upon completion of the master’s program in nursing, graduates should be able to:

• Integrate evidenced-based findings from the interdisciplinary fields of sciences and humanities for the continual improvement of nursing practice across diverse settings.
• Demonstrate organizational and systems leadership skills that promote high quality ethical, culturally responsive and safe patient care for the practice of nursing at the master’s degree level.
• Use quality standards to improve all aspects of healthcare.
• Translate knowledge in planning, implementing and evaluating ethical, evidence-based data and professional standards of care to effect change in nursing practice and healthcare organizations.
• Use patient care technologies and integrate appropriate innovations to assist in all aspects of patient care and coordination across the healthcare continuum.
• Employ policy development process skills and advocacy strategies to facilitate system change and positively affect health and healthcare.
• Demonstrate effective leadership of interdisciplinary healthcare teams and coordination of patient care.
• Integrate broad organizational, client centered, culturally sensitive concepts using evidenced-based science for individuals, families and diverse groups with a focus on vulnerable and urban populations.
• Integrate advanced scientifically based direct and indirect nursing interventions that will positively influence the outcomes of individuals, systems and population.

Required preliminary coursework for the R.N. with an associate degree or diploma

All R.N.s with an associate degree or diploma are required to meet university and College of Nursing requirements for undergraduate non-nursing coursework (courses below) and take two bridge courses NURS 6910 (Caring for Families and Communities – 5 credit hours) and NURS 6930 (Leadership and Management in Nursing – 3 credit hours). Students admitted to the R.N.-M.S. Program and requiring the bridge courses, NURS 6910 and NURS 6930, must work closely with the course administrators. NURS 6910 requires clinical site arrangement ONE semester before registering for the course. If the clinical site arrangement is not made the semester before, students will not be eligible to take NURS 6910.

Students who have not completed an undergraduate health assessment course must complete an online health assessment course. These prerequisites may change without notice. Information about additions, deletions, etc. to this list will be updated and available at the time they occur.

Georgia State core requirements

• English Composition I and II
• College Algebra or Math Modeling
• Georgia State institutional options
• Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language (See notes below)
• Chemistry I and II with a lab
• Elementary Statistics
• U.S. History
• American Government
• General Psychology
• World History, Global Economics or Global Affairs
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II with a lab
• Microbiology with lab
• Health & Human Lifespan Development
• Abnormal Psychology

Georgia State institutional options (select two courses)

(The School of Nursing recommends Phil 1010 and Spch 1000.)

• Phil 1010 Critical Thinking
• Spch 1000 Human Communication
• Pers 2001 Perspectives on Comparative Culture
• Pers 2002 Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems

Humanities and Fine Arts (select one course from two of these three categories)

• Humanities
  World Literature; British Literature; American Literature; Introduction to Philosophy; Media, Culture and Society
• Fine Arts
  Survey of Art I, II or III; History of the Motion Picture; Jazz: Its Origins, Styles and Influence; Dramatic Music/Renaissance through 20th Century; Survey of Music from Bach to Bernstein; Introduction to the Theatre
• Foreign Language
  Any foreign language course numbered 1002 or higher.