Program Outline

The Master of Science in Nursing curriculum is designed to prepare students to become advanced practice nurses with advanced knowledge and clinical experience in diagnosing and treating common medical conditions.

The program prepares individuals in the following specialties:

  • Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners
  • Family Nurse Practitioners
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners

Individuals holding an MSN degree may earn a Postgraduate Certificate in the same specialties. Please see Advanced Practice Nursing Postgraduate Certificate.

Admission requirements

  • Graduation from an accredited entry-level nursing program
  • Undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher (inclusive of all college transcripts
  • Bachelor of Science degree
  • NJ Registered Nurse licensure
  • English-language proficiency (see https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/international/english-proficiency/)
  • Two letters of Recommendation (optional)
  • A course in health assessment is required for all nurse practitioner tracks and strongly recommended for non-clinical tracks.
  • Personal interview may be required
  • A minimum of 1-year clinical nursing experience

Optional/Preferred Requirements

  • Letter of recommendation
  • Substantive healthcare experience with population of interest
  • A course in health assessment is required for all Nurse Practitioner tracks and strongly recommended for non-clinical tracks
  • ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing board certification (PMH-BC) – preferred for Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner applicants

Nursing core degree requirements, 8 credits

These three required courses apply in common to all three specialties.

  • NURS6600 Intro. to Adv. Nursing Philosophies, Theories, Roles & Issues (3 credits)
  • NURS7701 Advanced Research and Evidence Based Practice (3)
  • NURS7754 Advanced Practice Nursing Synthesis (2)

Degree Plan for Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

30 credits including 8 core credits, 555 clinical hours

As an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, graduates will be qualified to diagnose and manage adult and geriatric clients across a wide array of acute, chronic, and complex health problems, as well as provide guidance for health promotion and disease prevention. Students graduate with an MSN in advanced practice nursing (APN) degree and are eligible to take the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification exam (AANP or ANCC) to become certified in the specialty.

  • NURS7702 Advanced Pathophysiology
  • NURS6615 Advanced Pharmacology
  • NURS6620 Advanced Health Assessment
  • NURS6621 Advanced Health Assessment: Practicum
  • NURS6682 Advanced Nursing: Primary Care I
  • NURS6683 Adv Nursing: Primary Care I: Practicum
  • NURS7735 Advanced Nursing: Primary Care II
  • NURS7736 Adv Nursing: Primary Care II: Practicum
  • NURS7759 Advanced Nursing: Primary Care III
  • NURS7760 Adv Nursing: Primary Care III: Practicum

Degree Plan for Family Nurse Practitioner

37 credits including 8 core credits, 650 clinical hours

Graduates of the Family Nurse Practitioner programwill be qualified to diagnose and manage clients throughout the lifespan across a wide array of acute, chronic, and complex health problems, as well as provide guidance for health promotion and disease prevention. Students graduate with an MSN in advanced practice nursing (APN) degree and are eligible to take the Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam (AANP or ANCC) to become certified in the specialty.

  • NURS7702 Advanced Pathophysiology
  • NURS6620 Advanced Health Assessment
  • NURS6621 Advanced Health Assessment: Practicum
  • NURS6615 Advanced Pharmacology
  • NURS6682 Advanced Nursing: Primary Care I
  • NURS6683 Advanced Nursing: Primary Care I Practicum
  • NURS7735 Advanced Nursing: Primary Care II
  • NURS7736 Advanced Nursing: Primary Care II Practicum
  • NURS7794 Advanced Nursing: Family Primary Care I
  • NURS7795 Advanced Nursing: Family Primary Care I: Practicum
  • NURS7810 Advanced Nursing: Family Primary Care II
  • NURS7811 Advanced Nursing: Family Primary Care II: Practicum
  • NURS7812 Family Systems

Degree Plan for Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

39 credits, 555 clinical hours

As a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, graduates will be qualified to diagnose and treat clients with a wide variety of mental illnesses, as well as provide guidance for mental health promotion and disease prevention. Students graduate with an MSN in advanced practice nursing (APN) degree and are eligible to take the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner exam (ANCC) to become certified in the specialty.

  • NURS7702 Advanced Pathophysiology
  • NURS6620 Advanced Nursing I: Health Assessment
  • NURS6621 Advanced Nursing I: Health Assessment Practicum
  • NURS6615 Advanced Pharmacology
  • NURS6701 Psychopharmacology
  • NURS7812 Family Systems
  • NURS6501 Advanced Psych/MH Nursing Theory I: Families and Children
  • NURS6502 Advanced Psych/MH Nursing Theory I: Practicum
  • NURS6503 Advanced Psych/MH Nursing Theory II: Adults
  • NURS6504 Advanced Psych/MH Nursing Theory II: Practicum
  • NURS6505 Advanced Psych/MH Nursing Theory III: Geriatrics
  • NURS6506 Advanced Psych/MH Nursing Theory III: Practicum

To Apply for this Program

Apply for graduate nursing programs either online or by completing the graduate application document (with instructions).

For more information

Dr. Mary Molloy, Director of Advanced-Level Nursing Programs

(201) 692-2882

email: mmolloy@fdu.edu

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