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The Master of Science in Nursing

The online Master of Science in Nursing provides two options. The first provides a comprehensive foundation in nursing education with a clinical focus in adult health. The second provides a comprehensive foundation in nursing leadership and management with a clinical focus in leadership. The courses are offered in a part-time, two-and-a-half-year cycle. The student must begin at the beginning of the cycle.

Course Requirements for the Master's Degree: 30 units

Continuous enrollment is required. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of 30 percent of the units counted toward the degree requirements may be special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework.  This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Regional and Continuing Education.

Graduate Time Limit:

All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See Master's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:

The School of Nursing does not admit students to conditionally classified status.

Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:

In addition to any requirements listed above:

In addition to the requirements for admission to the Office of Graduate Studies, individuals seeking admission with Classified Status to the Master of Science Program in the School must have:

  1. An acceptable baccalaureate in Nursing, including public health nursing, from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or an equivalent approved by the School of Nursing.
  2. A current California license to practice as a registered nurse.
  3. At least one year of clinical practice as a Registered Nurse within the last five years prior to enrolling in any practicum.
  4. A 3-unit course in statistics that includes inferential statistics with a grade of B or higher. The course must have been completed within the five years prior to admission to the graduate program.
  5. Completion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) within the last five years with a Writing Score of 4.0 or higher. You may schedule at http://www.csuchico.edu/test/
  6. A cumulative GPA in the last 60 units of coursework of 3.0
  7. A completed application on file at the CSU, Chico Office of Graduate Studies.
    1. A letter of intent/purpose submitted to the Graduate Coordinator in the School of Nursing to document why the applicant is seeking admission to this MSN program and what the applicant's future goals are for this degree.

Advancement to Candidacy:

In addition to any requirements listed above:

  1. Classified graduate standing and completion of 12 semester units of nursing program.
  2. Development of an approved program in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator.
  3. Successful completion and presentation of thesis, professional paper, or project proposal, with approval by the Graduate Committee of the School of Nursing.

Requirements for the MS in Nursing:

Completion of all requirements as established by the School graduate committee, the student's thesis committee, and the Office of Graduate Studies, to include:

  1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 30 units of 400/500/600-level course work as follows:
    1. 30 units in the discipline of Nursing.
    2. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of 30 percent of the units counted toward the degree requirements may be special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework. This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Regional and Continuing Education. (Correspondence courses and UC Extension coursework are not acceptable for transfer).
    3. Not more than 4 units of Nursing Professional Paper (NURS 697P); Master's Thesis (NURS 699T); or Master's Project (NURS 699P).
  2. Demonstrated writing competence (see "Literacy Requirement" below).
  3. Completion of an approved culminating activity of adequate scope and depth.
  4. Satisfactory defense of the thesis, or presentation of the completed project, or completion of the professional paper.
  5. Approval by the student's thesis, project, or professional paper committee and the Graduate Coordinator, and the Graduate Coordinators Committee on behalf of the faculty of the University.

Core Courses: 12 units

Note: All courses must be taken in the sequence outlined. Semester I and II courses are in the options and must be completed prior to completing the Core Courses.

Semester III (Fall):

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This course examines the impact of technology and informatics on the delivery of health care and use in advanced nursing practice, education, and research. This course provides an introduction to the application and optimal use of technologies for both leadership and education. 2 hours seminar. (015876)
Prerequisites: College-level statistics, undergraduate research course.
The focus of this Web-based course is twofold: 1) to hone the analytic skills necessary to apply and conduct graduate-level research in nursing and 2) to explore and analyze the major nursing and health-related models and theories. Use of research and theory to influence changes in nursing care delivery in health care agencies and educational settings across the life span is emphasized. Ethical considerations and cultural competence are explored. The course provides the foundation for the master's culminating activity. 4 hours seminar. (015877)
Semester IV (Spring):

3 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This Web-based course explores the dynamic role of the master's-prepared nurse in a variety of settings. Theories and strategies for implementation of the advanced nursing role are applied, and issues related to the integration of the advanced nursing role are analyzed. 2 hours seminar. (015878)
This Web-based course analyzes the ethical, social, political, cultural, and economic factors influencing the American health care system. Population-based health care is emphasized. Strategies to maximize the use of existing resources are identified, alternative approaches are explored, and plans for implementing change within the current health care system are developed. 2 hours lecture. (015880)
In this Web-based course, students begin the process of writing a research proposal. Students are expected to apply nursing theory, research, and specialty content from previous courses. 2 hours lecture. Credit/no credit grading. (015885)

Major Option Course Requirements: 14 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.  Use the links below to jump to your chosen option.



The Option in Nurse Educator: 14 units

Note: All courses must be taken in the sequence outlined.

Semester I (Fall):

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
The focus of this Web-based course is an analysis of major concepts and research on learning theory and teaching-learning strategies for the traditional and non-traditional learner. Evaluation processes such as clinical evaluation and test construction are explored. Cultural/ethnic, and ethical issues as applied to the educational setting are examined. Emphasis is on the development of the educator role. 4 hours seminar. (015882)
The focus of this Web-based course is an analysis and evaluation of major concepts and research related to curriculum development. Students have the opportunity to work in groups to develop a curriculum and to evaluate a curriculum. 2 hours seminar. (015883)
Semester II (Spring):

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This Web-based course examines advanced and complex physical, emotional, spiritual, and developmental changes as they relate to young, middle, and older adults, and frail elderly individuals from various cultural/ethnic groups. Selected bioethical, cultural/spiritual and socio-economic issues are briefly examined. Selected clinical phenomena are analyzed for their effect on adult individuals of various ages. Case studies are used to apply the course content holistically. 4 hours seminar. (015879)
This practicum course integrates the content from previous and concurrent courses using a preceptor model. Students provide advanced nursing care to a selected population. The impact of social, cultural, political, economic, and ethical factors on this population are analyzed. Appropriate strategies to provide advanced nursing care are implemented and evaluated. The implementation of an advanced nursing care role in a selected setting is analyzed and evaluated. 6 hours clinical. (015881)

Semesters III and IV courses are listed in the core above.

Semester V (Fall):

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This practicum course incorporates advanced nursing knowledge, teaching-learning theory, research, simulation methodology and outcome evaluation. Students gain experience through application of nursing knowledge in both the clinical setting and the simulation laboratory. 6 hours laboratory. (015884)

The Option in Nursing Leadership: 16 units

Note: All courses must be taken in the sequence outlined.

Semester I (Fall):

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This course focuses on theoretical foundations and conceptual principles of nursing leadership and the skills necessary to practice leadership competently in broad based health care environments. Transformational leadership is one of the key formative theories for this program. Accountability for quality assurance in nursing leadership, interdisciplinary communication, and collaborative relationships are emphasized. Legal authority for nursing practice, the impact of political and legislative processes, and ethical issues in leadership are also discussed. The course is designed to enhance leadership self-awareness and to encourage students to fashion personal perspectives on how to lead professionally. Analyzing trends and issues in the current health care system that have implications for exercising leadership will help students determine the way in which they can make a difference. 4 hours seminar. (021460)
This course provides an introduction to the ethics and principles of fiscal management in the health care environment, covering financial and managerial accounting, cost analysis, budgeting, planning, and control. The goal of this course is to prepare nursing leaders in gaining an understanding of the financial management of the organizations for which they work. The student gains a significant insight into and skill with budget development, implementation, and control processes in different health care settings. In addition, the student gains a working knowledge of budgetary support processes such as strategic and business planning, corporate compliance, contracting, case management, and risk management. 2 hours seminar. (021478)
Semester II (Spring):

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This course focuses on understanding universal principles of leadership and management that form the basis of the study of change in health care organizations. Building on knowledge of these principles, the course examines change processes in contemporary health care organizations as well as the evolving roles of management and transformational leadership. Students develop skills to lead change, encourage resilience, and manage transitions. Complexity theory is used to expand upon change theory and quality models being utilized in health care settings. 4 hours seminar. (021477)
This course is a continuation of the NURS 680A course with ongoing discussion on fiscal management in the health care environment. Focus includes strategic management, policy, managing resources, and forecasting. The goal of this course is to prepare nursing leaders in gaining an understanding of the financial management of the organization for which they work. 2 hours seminar. (021459)

Semesters III and IV courses are listed in the core above.

Semester V (Fall):

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This course promotes the synthesis and application of knowledge and skills from the nursing core courses and the leadership courses. Students identify a mentor and develop a relationship through which they examine the connection between theory and practice. Students engage in leadership activities (e.g. committees, projects, staff education, and quality improvement) and, through reflection and writing, analyze and evaluate leadership behaviors and processes. 6 hours laboratory. (021476)

Culminating Activity: 4 units

All core and option courses must be completed before enrolling in the culminating activity.

4 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: Completion of all semester IV requirements.
Corequisite: NURS 683 for Nursing Leadership students or NURS 685 for Nurse Educator students.
You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (020652)
Prerequisites: Completion of all semester IV requirements.
Corequisite: NURS 683 for Nursing Leadership students or NURS 685 for Nurse Educator students.
This course is offered for 1.0-6.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. 9 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (006619)
Prerequisite: Completion of all semester IV requirements.
Corequisite: NURS 683 for Nursing Leadership students or NURS 685 for Nurse Educator students.
This course is offered for 1.0-6.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. 9 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (006617)

Students must take 2 units of NURS 697P, NURS 699P or NURS 699T.

Graduate Requirement in Writing Proficiency:

Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.

Nursing majors will demonstrate their writing competence through successful completion of NURS 620, Advanced Nursing Research and Theory.

Graduate Grading Requirements:

All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study - 697, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 697, 699P, 699T and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the University that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all coursework taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all coursework taken at CSU, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program.

Graduate Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory each semester for all Nursing majors. Consult the Graduate Coordinator for specifics.

Catalog Cycle:18