M.S. Degree Program in the Penn State School of Nursing
In This Section:
The M.S. degree program has two options:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Adult
- Gerontology/Gerontology Educator
- Clinical Trials
- Nursing Administration
- Community Health
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
The purpose of the M.S. degree program in Nursing is to prepare: (a) advanced practice nurses in a specialty area as nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists or advanced-level nurses as nurse executives and community health nurses (b) scholars who are competent to conduct, evaluate, use and disseminate research; and (c) candidates for doctoral study.
The graduate program emphasizes the development of nursing knowledge and the translation of knowledge into practice. It provides advanced study in human health and development throughout the life span. Nursing’s role in providing health services in diverse care settings to individuals, families, and communities of varied cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds throughout the world is emphasized.
In addition, a post-master's certificate program is available to prepare students for additional certification as a nurse practitioner or as a gerontology educator.
All nursing courses are delivered using synchronous videoconference modalities between University Park and Hershey and are extended to the Fayette and Altoona campuses (based on enrollment) with selected courses delivered using an asynchronous online delivery system.
Under a special initiative through the Penn State Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence, the delivery of the gerontology specialization of the CNS option will be extended beyond the usual four-campus delivery network of the M.S. program. The CNS Gerontology specialization program of study features greater integration of Web-based/Web-enhanced learning with both synchronous and asynchronous class sessions.
Please note: the CNS Gerontology specialty is the only program of study available for extended distance learning; all other programs of study are offered only at the above campuses (based on enrollment).
Teaching faculty may be physically located at any site (most commonly University Park, Hershey, or Fayette) and often rotate the originating site for their presentation of lectures. Students at all locations have equal access through the videoconferencing system and are oriented to the system during new student orientation and in courses.
The M.S. curriculum is made up of four components:
- M.S. Program Core: 9 credits required of all students
- Advanced Practice Core: 9 credits required for the following programs:
- Adult and Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult, Gerontology, Gerontology Educator, Clinical and Community Health (who wish to certify as a CNS upon graduation)
- Capstone Experiences: 6-8 credit practicum. 3-6 credits scholarly paper or thesis required of all students.
- Option Core (variable credit dependent on the option/specialty)
Dr. Mona Counts, Eloise Ross Professor of Nursing stands by the mobile health unit, offering much needed healthcare to rural areas. Counts, founder of the Primary Care Center of Mt. Morris, acquired funding to secure the first and only mobile clinic in the area.
Both part-time and full-time studies are available. (Please note: the credit load of required concurrent didactic/clinical courses in the NP option is 8-10 credits, so some full-time study is required in the NP program of study.)
Qualified students may enroll as nondegree students in selected courses. These courses may be transferred into the student's program after admission.
Nondegree students should not take more than 9 credits before being accepted into the master's program
On admission the student is assigned to a faculty academic adviser who will guide the student in course scheduling and selection of a thesis/scholarly paper topic. All faculty and staff stand ready to assist students in any way possible to make this program of study the richest experience possible. Pre-admission questions should be directed to the graduate office (814-863-2211). Post-admission questions should be directed to the academic adviser, option coordinator, or professor-in-charge of the graduate program.
For more information on graduate study in Nursing at Penn State, send an e-mail to nursgrad@psu.edu or call or write:
The Pennsylvania State University
School of Nursing Graduate Programs
210 Health and Human Development East
University Park, PA 16802
Telephone: 814-863-2211