Master of Science in Nursing Degree  (36-57 Credit Hours)

MSN with Clinical Concentration (11-18 Courses, 36-57 Credit Hours)

1. Support Courses (3 Courses, 9 Credit hours)

2. Core Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credit hours)

3. Clinical Concentration (4-11 Courses, 15-36 Credit hours)

MSN with non-clinical concentrations (12 Courses, 37 Hours)

1. Core Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credit hours)

2. Non-clinical Concentration (8 Courses, 25 Credit hours)

Course Requirements 

Support Courses (3 Courses, 9 Credit Hours)

1. 9 Credit hours:  NU 518, NU 545, NU 578

MSN/DNP Core Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credit Hours)

1. 12 Credit hours:  NU 607, NU 608, NU 610, NU 613

Clinical Concentrations (4-11 Courses, 15-36 Credit hours)

1. 24 Credit hours: Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 568, AHN 571, AHN 572, AHN 573, AHN 574, AHN 575, AHN 576, AHN 577

2. 24 Credit hours:  Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 581, AHN 588, AHN 591, AHN 592, AHN 593, AHN 594, AHN 595, AHN 596, HSC 601, HSC 602, HSC 603

3. 17 Credit hours:  Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist:  NU 515, NU 516, NU 517, AHN 516, AHN 517, AHN 518, Elective AHN 519

4. 15 Credit hours:  Clinical Nurse Leader:  NU 535, NU 536, NU 537, NU 538

5. 36 Credit hours:  (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care:  AHN 538, AHN 548, AHN 549, AHN 550, AHN 551, AHN 552, AHN 553, AHN 554, AHN 555

6. 36 Credit hours:  Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP):  NU 580, NU 581, NU 582, NU 583, NU 584, NU 585, NU 586, NU 587, NU 588

7. 24 Credit hours:  Family Nurse Practitioner:  CMN 568, CMN 571, CMN 572, CMN 573, CMN 574, CMN 575, CMN 576, CMN 577

8. 24 Credit hours:  Neonatal Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 568, MCN 571, MCN 572, MCN 573, MCN 574, MCN 575, MCN 576, MCN 577

9. 24 Credit hours:  Pediatric Acute Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 558, MCN 562, MCN 563, MCN 564, MCN 565, MCN 566, MCN 567, MCN 571

10. 24 Credit hours:  Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 548, MCN 551, MCN 552, MCN 553, MCN 554, MCN 555, MCN 556, MCN 557

11. 24 Credit hours:  Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner:  CMN 548, CMN 551, CMN 552, CMN 553, CMN 554, CMM 555, CMN 556, CMN 557

12. 24 Credit hours:  Women's Health Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 538, MCN 541, MCN 542, MCN 543, MCN 544, MCN 545, MCN 546, MCN 547

Non-Clinical Concentrations (8 Courses, 25 Credit Hours)

1.  25 Credit hours:  Executive Nursing Administration:  HSC 571, NU 539, NU 553, NU 554, NU 561, NU 565, NU 566, NU 567, NU 568

2. 25 Credit hours:  Nursing Informatics:  ISC 550, ISC 555, NU 539, NU 553, NU 554, NU 556, NU 557, NU 558, NU 559, NU 565 

Subspecialties (8-11 Credit Hours)

Subspecialties are elective courses students may add to the degree program.

1. 11 Credit hours:  Addictions Nursing:  HSC 580, HSC 581, HSC 582, NU 510, NU 511, NU 512  (Elective: NU 513) May be added to any concentration.

2. 9 Credit hours: Advanced Forensic Nursing:  NU 500, NU 501, NU 502, NU 503, NU 504, NU 505  May be added to any concentration.

3. 8 Credit hours:  Cardiovascular:  AHN 630, AHN 631, AHN 632, AHN 633  May be added to Adult-Gerontological Acute NP, Adult-Gerontological Primary NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute NP), Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Family NP, Women’s Health NP, Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP, and any Adult-Gerontological CNS student with a strong background in cardiovascular and/or acute care nursing.

4. 8 Credit hours:  Clinical Lipidology:  HSC 595, HSC 596, HSC 597, HSC 598  May be added to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological,  Acute NP, Adult-Gerontological CNS, Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute NP), Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Women’s Health NP,  and Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP.

5. 8 Credit hours:  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare Subspecialty:  HSC 501, HSC 502, HSC 503, HSC 504 May be added to any concentration.

6. 15 Credit hours:  Emergency Nurse Practitioner:  NU 570, NU 571, NU 572, NU 573, NU 574, NU 575, NU 576, NU 577  May be added to Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP), or taken as a Post Graduate Certificate if already Family NP certified.

7. 11 Credit hours:  Nurse Educator: NU 620, NU 621, NU 622, NU 623 May be added to any concentration.

8. 9 Credit hours:  Palliative Care: AHN 530, AHN 531, AHN 532, AHN 533 May be added to any concentration. 

Elective Courses (1-3 Credit Hours)

1. 1 Credit hour: NU 509 Bioethics in Advanced Practice Nursing

2. 3 Credit hours:  NU 597 Introduction to Scholarly Writing

3. 3 Credit hours:  HSC 500 Addressing Gender Discrimination and Disparities in Healthcare

4. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 573 Responsible Prescribing of Community Used Drugs

5. 1 Credit hours:  HSC 510 Interprofessional Teams for Behavioral Healthcare in Primary Care Seminar

6. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 511 Interprofessional Teams and Telehealth Delivery of Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Seminar

7. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 512 Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care in Interprofessional Behavioral Healthcare Seminar

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MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (MSN) 

Organized within the graduate school at the University, the College of Nursing has several pathways, specialization, and sub- specialization options within the MSN program. In addition to admitting baccalaureate- prepared registered nurses, the college offers an accelerated BSN/MSN track for non-nurses (see Bachelor of Science in Nursing section), a pathway for associate degree or diploma-prepared nurses who have a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing, a special pathway for highly qualified associate degree and diploma nurses who do not hold a baccalaureate degree, and tracks for MSN-prepared nurses who are interested in certification in a new specialty area.

Master Of Science In Nursing Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing Program, graduates should be able to:

1. Integrate advanced knowledge, evidence, and theories from nursing and related disciplines into a specialized area of advanced nursing practice through the use of scholarly writing.
2. Demonstrate competence in advanced nursing roles to meet current and emerging health needs of a global changing society.
3. Use scientific inquiry to identify problems and individualize patient care designed to improve care outcomes.
4. Apply advanced knowledge of leadership and management to influence health policy to transform care delivery systems.
5. Contribute to the focus and direction of the nursing profession.

Areas Of Specialization

Several concentration areas are offered to meet the career goals of students. Students may prepare as a clinical nurse leader or for advanced nursing practice in one of the nurse practitioner roles or the clinical nurse specialist role. Available NP include Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nursing, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nursing, Dual Role (Family Nursing/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nursing), Dual Role (Family Nursing/Emergency Nursing), Family Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Pediatric Acute Care Nursing, Pediatric Primary Care Nursing, Psychiatric Family Nursing, Women's Health Nursing. Clinical Nurse Specialist is available in Adult-Gerontological Nursing. Concentrations are also available for students pursuing careers in Clinical Nurse Leader, Executive Nursing Administration and Nursing Informatics. Sub-specializations are available in Addictions Nursing, Advanced Forensic Nursing Care, Cardiovascular, Clinical Lipidology, Nursing Education, and Palliative Care. Emergency Nurse Practitioner is offered only as a post graduate certificate. See the MSN section for additional course listings.

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to students in full-time status. Additional information and an application can be obtained by contacting the College of Nursing graduate office.

BSN-Prepared RNs
Regular Admission Criteria

1. Graduate of an approved regionally accredited bachelors program with a major in nursing.
2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary, disciplinary, alternative program, cannot be admitted.
3. A minimal grade-point average of 2.75 on all BSN work (A=4.00).
4. Submission of a résumé which documents clinical experience. Prior to enrolling in nurse practitioner clinical course, students are required to have at least 2 years of experience in an area appropriate to the specialty track.
5. Submission of Health Data Forms and evidence of health insurance required upon admission.
6. Admission will be contingent on a negative drug screen and results of an acceptable background check.

Non-Degree Admission Criteria

1. Hold a bachelor's degree from an approved regionally accredited institution.
2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.
3. A minimal grade-point average of 2.75 on all BSN work (A=4.00).

Enrollment in selective courses may not be available to non-degree students due to class size or required prerequisite.

Application Procedures

Admission to the program is limited and selective. Application forms and other information may be obtained from the College of Nursing's website at https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/msn/msnadmiss.html or by contacting the college directly at College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688; congradapp@southalabama.edu; Telephone: (251) 445-9400.

To be considered for admission to the MSN program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.
2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions.  Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.
3. Completion of Primary and Supplemental Applications:
   1. Primary Application submitted through Nursing Centralized Application System (NursingCAS) at www.NursingCAS.org from the home institution to the NursingCAS.  These documents become the property of the NursingCAS and will not be returned to the applicant.  Applicants are responsible for any fees required by NursingCAS for their services.
   2. Supplemental Application submitted directly to USA Admissions Office.  This application requires a non-refundable processing fee of $100.00, a Personal Goal Statement, and a résumé/CV documenting clinical experience.  Prior to enrolling in nurse practitioner clinical courses, students are required to have at least 2 years of experience in an area appropriate to their specialty.
4. Students are admitted to a specialty track and may not change their track without permission.
5. Students must be in good standing with all academic institutions/nursing programs that they have attended in order to be admitted to the MSN program.
6. BSN degree must be from a regionally accredited institution.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted year round, and must adhere to the following application deadlines:

• Fall Semester Deadline is March 1
• Spring Semester Deadline is July 15
• Summer Semester Deadline is December 1

Academic Progression Policy

Students in the BSN-MSN program must meet the following requirements to progress in the program:

1. Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.  Any term in which a graduate student drops below a 3.0 Program GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a period of two terms to attain a 3.0 Program GPA or be dismissed.
2. Students in this program can have a maximum of two Cs.
3. A maximum of two (2) courses with a grade of "C" can be counted towards a degree; however, only one (1) "C" is permitted in support or specialization courses. If a second "C" or lower is earned in a support (NU, 518, NU 545, NU 578) or specialization course, the course in which the second "C" or lower is obtained must be repeated before a student may move forward with a specialty course. All corresponding specialty clinical and didactic courses must be taken in sequence. 
4. A student earning a third "C" or lower will be academically dismissed from the program. 
5. A student earning two grades of "F" in the program will be academically dismissed. 
6. Failure to show good ethical and moral character including but not limited to any of the following may result in dismissal from the program: (a) conviction of a crime, (b) disciplinary action against a nursing license in Alabama or any other state, (c) positive drug test, (d) adverse background check, or (e) disruptive behavior including online behavior. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours of any of the above stated incidents.
7. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours following an arrest. Failure to report an arrest may result in removal from the program.
8. All students are subject to testing for controlled substances and must submit to random drug testing as requested. A positive test or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.
9. All students are subject to a background check and must submit to additional background checks as requested. An adverse finding or refusal to submit to a background check may result in removal from the program.
10. A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for readmission to the MSN program.

Graduation Requirements for BSN-prepared RN’s

The MSN program must be completed within 5 years of matriculation. MSN students who will complete all degree requirements are required to apply for graduation by the application deadline established by the Registrar’s Office.  Deadlines for each semester application are located on the Registrar’s website at https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/registrar/commencement/index.html