Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Tracks I - III Post Licensure

Master of Science in Nursing

With a solid grounding in the three North Park core values of Christian perspective, city-centered commitment, and intercultural recognition, the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs are designed to fully prepare nurses to meet healthcare needs of the future. Students may choose to pursue a master’s degree with a focus in leadership and management (LM) or choose from adult- gerontology primary care or family nurse practitioner (NP) options.

Admissions

Applications for the M.S.N. degree program are processed on a continuous basis throughout the academic year, including the summer term. Application deadlines are Fall - August 1, Spring - December 1, and Summer - April 20. Mandatory onsite orientations are scheduled. To ensure confidentiality, admission decisions are released solely by written documentation. Admission Requirements are summarized below:

Requirements	MS in Nursing L and M Track	MS in Nursing NP Track	Post-Master's NP Track	Dual Degree***
Application	X	X	X	X
BSN/BS with a major in nursing from an accredited program or its equivalent*	X	X	X	X
Minimum of 2 years (FTE) clinical experience as a nurse*	X	X	X	X
MSN/MS with a major in nursing from an accredited program or its equivalent			X
Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended**	X	X	X	X
Cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 for all undergraduate courses	X	X	X	X
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all MS program courses	X	X	X	X
Essay	X	X	X	X
Resume	X	X	X	X
Two letters of recommendation - one from the supervisor who can attest to nursing skills/competences	X	X	X	X
Current Illinois RN license	X	X	X	X
Satisfactory completion of the following courses at a grade C or higher:
Statistics	X	X	X	X
Nursing Research	X	X	X	X
Health Assessment	X	X	X	X

*Evaluated on a case-by-case basis (e.g. RN’s with non-nursing baccalaureate degrees are considered for admission to L and M track)

**Graduates of foreign nursing schools are required to submit their transcripts for evaluation to either World/Educational Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) for a course by course analysis and determination of a GPA.

***Applicants to the dual degree programs need only apply to the School of Nursing and Health Sciences; if admitted, they are concomitantly accepted into the School of Business.

Admission Requirements: Transfer Students

Graduate nursing students may transfer a maximum of 9 semester hours of equivalent coursework from an NLN or CCNE accredited Master of Science in Nursing program to North Park. Transferred courses must have a grade of B or higher and be no longer than five years old. The credentials examiner, in consultation with the academic standing committee of the graduate nursing faculty, will ascertain the transferability of a course.

Expenses

All graduate students are assessed a fee for graduation. Nurse Practitioner students are assessed a fee for certain nurse practitioner population specific courses to cover electronic logs, simulation experiences and other program related expenses. Other students enrolled in courses involving the simulation center are also assessed a fee. There is also a per credit hour technology fee for all graduate students. Proof of liability insurance will be required for each practicum experience. Additional costs may include outlays for student health insurance, background checks, drug screening tests, etc.

Graduation with Distinction

Students whose final cumulative grade point average is 3.9 or higher receive an M.S.N. degree with Distinction. Dual-degree students’ grade-point averages are considered on a program specific basis.

Grievance

If a student wishes to file a grievance or present an appeal, he or she is to follow the procedures outlined in the Graduate Student Handbook for the School of Nursing.

Leave of Absence

A student may be granted a leave of absence for academic or personal reasons with approval from the Director of the Graduate Nursing program. Although individual circumstances determine justification and duration, the typical leave of absence is one semester in length. Each graduate student in good standing has a maximum of five years to complete degree requirements.

MSN Program requirements

Requirements for graduation from the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program include completion of four core courses, and specialty courses for each option. All students are required to register for ACSR 0500 - Online Orientation during the first semester of the study unless they test out during the onsite orientation. Each candidate for the M.S.N. degree must complete a minimum of 25 semester hours of graduate credit at North Park University. Students may complete any of the programs on a part-time or full-time basis. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above is required for graduation or certificate completion.