Graduate Programs: The M.S. Degree Program

The M.S. degree program has two
options: Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner. In addition,
a post-Master's certificate program is available for preparation as a Family Nurse Practitioner. All courses are available by interactive television at
both Hershey and University Park. The courses are also selectively offered at other sites. All graduate students register as University Park students, and students at outlying classrooms travel to University Park to meet Graduate School residency requirements.

The MS curriculum is made up of five components: 1) core courses required of all MS students, 2) specialty theory courses, 3) specialty practicum courses—requires 45 hours for each credit designation, 4) specialty support courses as required or electives, and 5) thesis or scholarly paper. Post-master’s certificate students take all courses except core and thesis/scholarly paper.

Both part-time and full-time studies are available initially for all students. When the practitioner students begin their clinical courses they must study full time due to the clinical load and required sequencing. Qualified students who are not yet admitted may enroll as non-degree students in selected courses with the permission of the Professor-in-Charge. These courses may be transferred into the student’s program after admission.

On admission the student is assigned, as an academic advisor, the coordinator of the particular option. Once the student’s plan of study is selected, the student may be assigned to a faculty academic advisor who will guide the student in course scheduling and selection of a thesis/ scholarly paper topic. Questions regarding the program are directed to the program options coordinator, course faculty, the advisor, the graduate program staff assistant, or the Professor-in-Charge, as appropriate. All faculty and staff stand ready to assist students in any way possible to make this program of study the richest experience possible.

Nurse Practitioner Option

Penn State's Nurse Practitioner option offers
a master's degree for registered nurses
who want to function in an expanded role as a
family nurse practitioner, providing direct care
to individuals and families throughout the life span. The role of the independent practitioner
in rural and medically underserved communities is emphasized. The program, open to baccalaureate-prepared nurses, combines advanced knowledge and research in nursing with knowledge from the sciences, medicine,
and related disciplines.

As part of the program, students complete three clinical rotations at a variety of approved clinics, health centers, and private practices, with at least one rotation being in a rural or underserved community. The program is designed to be completed in two years (four semesters) of full-time study. Part-time study and post-master's options are also available. Graduates are eligible for state and national certification as family nurse practitioners.

The total number of credits required is 47-50, which include 765 hours of clinical practice. A post-master's option is available which requires 39 credits and leads to a Penn State Certificate verifying program completion. The Family Nurse Practitioner specialty can be completed through full-time study within four semesters, or can be spread out over a part-time schedule. Graduates are eligible for state recognition as a registered nurse practitioner and to take the ANCC or AANP certification exams. A limited number of traineeships and assistantships are available to full-time master's students.

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) option enables the student to acquire advanced knowledge and clinical practice skill in direct care of individuals, families and aggregate populations in primary care settings. On admission, students plan either a part-time or full-time program of study with the NP option Coordinator. Students may also elect to include courses in their program of study that support expertise development in sub-specialty areas, e.g. cardiac care, diabetes care or other specialized areas of practice.

Full-time Study: Sample Degree Plan (meet with advisor to plan part-time study)

Family Nurse Practitioner (minimum 47- 50credits)

*Note: Student electing to complete a thesis instead of a scholarly paper will need to complete N600 (6 credits), adding an additional 3 credits to the program of study.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Option

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) option
enables the student to acquire advanced knowledge of health care for individuals, families and aggregate populations and to develop the skills needed to engage in a specific advanced practice nursing role. On admission, students select a specific program of study that will prepare the graduate for recognition and/or certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in that designated health care area. The following specialties may be selected within the CNS option: Adult Medical/Surgical; Community Health; Gerontology; Nursing Administration; or Clinical Trials Research. Students may also elect to include courses in their program of study that support sub-specialty practice, e.g. cardiac care, diabetes care or other specialized areas of practice.

Full-time Study: Sample Degree Plans (meet with advisor to plan part-time study)

Adult Medical Surgical Specialty (minimum 34-37* credits)

Community Health Specialty (minimum 37-40* credits)

Nursing Administration Specialty (minimum 37-40* credits)

Gerontology Specialty (minimum 38-41* credits)

Note: Boldface type in this example illustrates courses in the minor in Gerontology. Oher minors or intensives (10 credits of concentrated study) may also be developed in other specialities.

*Note: Student electing to complete a thesis instead of a scholarly paper will need to complete N600 (6 credits), adding an additional 3 credits to the program of study.

Admission Requirements for the Master's Program

• Complete application for admission to the Penn State Graduate School
• Baccalaureate degree from a NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited program
• Transcripts from alla professional/undergraduate programs of study
  • Expectation: GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Current Pennsylvania license to practice professional nursing
• Undergraduate courses in basic statistics and basic research
• Two Confidential Letters of Evaluation from professional colleagues, including one from someone who can attest to your academic ability
• Statement of Purpose or application essay;
  • Expectation: Coherent writing style with no grammatical errors; description of relevant work experience; clearly articulated reasons for applying to the selected option and specialization; long-term goals or career aspirations
• Report of Graduate Record Examination scores (GREs may be waived for candidates demonstrating exceptional academic performance in all earlier programs of study, strong recommendations, and a well-crafted statement of purpose)
  • Expectation: 50th percentile in each component of the exam

Reminder: If you already took the GREs and submitted the scores to Penn State, they will be reviewed as part of your application.

• International students for whom English is not the primary language: TOEFL scores
  • Expectation: a score of 550 or above on paper-based test (or 213 or above on a computer-based test) is the minimum TOEFL iBT designated by the PSU graduate school

For more information on graduate study in nursing at Penn State, send email 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: 1-814-863-2211