Course Descriptions

Read about the courses required for completion of the MSN program below or view the University Course Catalog and class schedules.

NURS 502: Health Care Statistics
This course examines selected concepts needed to develop sound judgment about data analysis and appropriate use of statistics. The course prepares students to interpret and critically analyze the results of health care research.
Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate statistics course or permission of the
program director.

NURS 505: Research in Nursing and Health Care
This course focuses on quantitative and qualitative research areas and methods used in health care. Analysis of the research process and application of research findings to health care will be emphasized. Students will design a best practice proposal related to an identified problem in nursing, health outcomes of a specific population or nursing education. At the end of the course students will have completed a literature review and methods section for a research project.

NURS 510: Transcultural Health Care
Using Leininger's Cultural Care Diversity and Universality Theory, this course analyzes the social, political, economic and cultural factors related to transcultural health care. Students will examine the interactions of consumers, providers and health care systems in the provision of quality health care with an emphasis on persons of color and persons who are immigrants to the United States.
Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program.

NURS 515: Concepts and Theories in Nursing
This course examines selected concepts and theories that are derived from nursing and other disciplines for applicability to practice in a variety of health care settings. Strategies used in applying and evaluating nursing theories in relation to providing care will be discussed.
Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program.

NURS 520: Critical Issues in Health Care
This course examines multiple factors affecting the provision of care in an ever-changing health care system. The U.S. health policy-making system; ethical, legal and political aspects of health care; and health care delivery systems will be explored, particularly in relation to their impact on nursing practice and nurses' ability to provide care. A historical perspective will facilitate: a) identification of critical issues, b) how they developed to their current status, and c) what options might exist for current and future nursing participation in resolving or dealing with these issues.
Prerequisites: Admission to the graduate program.

NURS 540: Nursing Administration I
This course examines the multiple roles of the nurse executive in a variety of health care organizations, including long term care, community based care, hospitals and larger integrated delivery systems. Students develop knowledge in the area of health care regulations and accreditation including the impact of technology in the health care environment.
Prerequisite(s): Nursing 510

NURS 541: Economic Policy in the
Health Care System
This course provides basic knowledge of macro- and micro-economics and their relationship to the health care system in the United States.  Concepts associated with supply and demand, normative and positive economics, utility, scarcity, choice, and marginality are explored in terms of the health care system.  The concept of health as an investment opportunity and as a consumer good is also explored.  In addition, the United States health care system is studied from an economic point of view.  Economic decision making in light of professional ethics is emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): Nursing 540

NURS 542: Finance and Accounting in the Health Care System
This course provides an overview of the concepts of financial analysis, financial and managerial accounting, and budgetary practices as they relate to the health care industry. Accounting concepts are understood with the assistance of electronic spreadsheet applications. Financial concepts are understood through the analysis of both for-profit and not-for-profit corporate accounting and public reporting.
Prerequisite(s): Nursing 540 and 541

NURS 546: Nursing Administration II
This course examines the leadership role of the nurse executive in a variety of health care organizations. Content includes leadership theories, motivation, conflict resolution, workforce planning, implementing planned change and effective administration of culturally diverse health care systems.
Prerequisite(s): Nursing 540 and 541

NURS 547: Practicum in Nursing Administration
This course provides the student with experience functioning within selected components of the role of the nurse executive in a variety of health care organizations, including long term care, community based care, hospitals and larger integrated delivery systems. Students are paired with a nurse executive or case manager with a mutually agreed upon agency.
Prerequisites: Nursing 542 and 546

NURS 548: Case Management
This course prepares the student to develop the role of case manager in a variety of settings. The student will use the stages of managed care to determine current agency progress and project future organizational status and programs; develop potential case manager roles in a variety of settings and relate the role of the case manager within multicple forms of managed care. Students will develop a set of indicators of effectiveness and quality of care (care protocols) as well as plan for their analysis. The student will discuss benefits and challenges of various models of managed care.
Prerequisites: Nursing 542 and 546

NURS 549: Nurse as Entrepreneur
This course presents information needed by a nurse entrepreneur to develop innovative forms of nursing practice and care delivery. Emphasis is placed on acquiring skills to develop a nursing business plan, including financial and legal components. Implementation of risk management and total quality improvement plans within the role of the small business setting are also covered.
Prerequisite: Nursing 505, 510, 515 and 520

NURS 550: Principles of Teaching and Learning
The focus of this course is on educational theories and issues, and their implications for the teaching process. Teaching and learning distinctions, the domains of learning and assessment of student learning outcomes are components of this course.
Prerequisites: Nursing 505, 510 and 515

NURS 552: Curriculum Development and Program Planning in Nursing
This course focuses on the analysis and application of curriculum theory in the development and evaluation of programs in nursing education. Development of programs for professionals and/or the public is also a component of the course.
Prerequisite: Nursing 550

NURS 553: Innovative Nursing Education Strategies
This course assists the nurse educator in the development of innovative nursing education strategies in an area of practice of the student’s choice. Emphasis is placed on research-based practice in education through the application of models and theories and the development of  strategies for targeted populations. The majority of the course is web based; however, students meet face to face the first and last weeks of the term.
Prerequisite(s): Nursing 552
Co-requisite: Nursing 556

NURS 556: Teaching Strategies and Evaluation
This course focuses on teaching strategies to enhance the organization and the delivery of educational content. Assessment of student outcomes and of educational programs is also emphasized.
Prerequisite: Nursing 552

NURS 557: Program Planning in Nursing
This course focuses on the analysis and application of program planning and planning on the development and evaluation of programs for continuing education for professionals and/or the public.
Prerequisites: Nursing 553 and 556

NURS 558: Nursing Education:
Implementation and Evaluation
Emphasis of this course is the implementation of the nursing education experience designed in NURS 557. Students also evaluate existing online nursing education experiences ranging from continuing education credit to entire nursing education programs.
Prerequisite(s): Nursing 557 or permission of the instructor.

NURS 599: Major Project in Nursing Education/Nursing Administration
This course is a culmination of the graduate nursing courses in which the student will develop, implement and evaluate a multi-faceted program related to the student's major of study. The program will be research-based and incorporate theories, skills and methodologies. Emphasis will be placed on transcultural dimensions of targeted populations and the compatibility with the mission and culture of the organization in which the project is being conducted.
Prerequisites: All other courses in the major