Graduate Nursing Opportunities at Eastern Michigan University

The School of Nursing offers the following graduate opportunities:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Adult Health Nursing (40–49 credits) with three tracks and four concentration options

• Three tracks or outcomes:
  • MSN in Adult Health and Concentration (42 credits)
  • MSN in Adult Health, Clinical Nurse Specialist (40 credits)
  • MSN in Adult Health, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Concentration (49 credits)

• Four Concentrations (12–16 credits)
  • Teaching in Health Care Systems
  • Quality Improvement in Health Care
  • Gerontology
  • Individualized Study


• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
  • Teaching in Health Care Systems and Quality Improvement in Health Care are both approved certificate programs.

Combine the MSN with a Certificate
Requires an application and fee both for the track and for the certificate.

Master of Science in Nursing Program
This program focuses on the preparation of nurses to meet the needs of the community for health care providers/nurses with advanced practice knowledge and skills. Graduates are prepared for clinical practice in adult health nursing and for roles as Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), clinical managers and educators in health care settings such as hospitals, community agencies, clinics, home health care agencies and community colleges. Students select a track and may select one role concentration from a course sequence in teaching in health care systems, quality improvement (QI) in health care, gerontology or an individualized study.

The program includes:

• Eight core courses (24 credits)
• Three clinical courses (9–16 credits), and may include:
• Three concentration courses (9 credits)
  

Students work with master's prepared preceptors in health care agencies and settings related to their interests. Courses are currently held in the evening one night a week.

Core Courses (24 credit hours)

• NURS 500 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
• NURS 502 Advanced Health Assessment (3)
• NURS 506 Nursing Theory for Practice & Research (3)
• NURS 510 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
• NURS 605 Health Status and Trends (3)
• NURS 606 Advanced Practice Role Development (3)
• NURS 640 Evidence Based Nursing I (3)
• NURS 642 Evidence Based Nursing II (3)
  

Clinical Courses
Option 1: Clinical Nurse Specialist Track (16 credit hours)

• NURS 652 Advanced Adult Health CNS I (5)
• NURS 662 Advanced Adult Health CNS II (5)
• NURS 667 Advanced Practicum CNS (6)
  

Option 2: Advanced Clinical Preparation Track (9 credit hours)

• NURS 650 Advanced Adult Health Nursing I (3)
• NURS 660 Advanced Adult Health Nursing II (3)
• NURS 665 Advanced Practicum (3)
  

Total: 40 to 49 credit hours

Role Concentration Options
Students in the advanced adult health track must select one of the four concentration options to complete the program. Students in the advanced adult health CNS track may elect one of the four concentrations if desired to complete the program.

Teaching in Health Care Systems Concentration
This concentration assists the student in developing skills in curriculum development, teaching strategies and curriculum evaluation. The courses can also lead to a certificate in teaching in health care systems with a separate application.

• NURS 605 Health Status Trends and Health Care Delivery Systems (Three credits; one of the core courses)
• NURS 620 Teaching in Health Care Systems: Instructional Strategies and Skills (3)
• NURS 622 Teaching in Health Care Systems: Curriculum/Program Development and Evaluation (3)
• NURS 624 Seminar and Practicum in Teaching in Health Care Systems (3) [135 practicum hours] 

Quality Improvement in Health Care Concentration
This concentration assists students in developing skills in quality improvement with emphasis on outcome measurement and process improvement. This concentration is designed for nurses, performance improvement coordinators, risk management personnel, education coordinators, managers and staff in health care facilities. The courses can also lead to a graduate certificate in continuous quality improvement with a separate application. There are 12 credits required for this concentration:

• NURS 605 Health Status Trends and Health Care Delivery Systems (3 credits; one of the core courses)
• NURS 686 Practicum in QI in Health Care Systems (3)
• HLAD 525 Quality Improvement in Health Care (3)
• One of the following:
  • MGMT 638 Building Continuous Improvement Teams (3)
  • QUAL 568 Lean Service Quality (3)
  • QUAL 546 Total Quality Management (3)

Gerontology Concentration
This concentration is collaboration between the School of Nursing and the interdisciplinary gerontology program to promote advanced knowledge and care to elderly clients. There are 13–16 credits required based on student interest.

• NURS 605 Health Status Trends and Health Care Delivery Systems (3 credits; one of the core courses)
• NURS 665 Advanced Practicum in Adult Health Nursing (3 credits, 135 clock hours) or NURS 667 Advanced Practicum CNS (6 credits, 240 clock hours) focused on elder care.
• BIOL 570 The Biological Aspects of Aging (2)
• GERT 512 Applied Psychosocial Aspects of Aging (3)
• SWRK 553 Ethnicity and Gender Issues Among the Aged (2) OR SWRK 620 Policy Issues and Older People (3)
  

Individualized Study Concentration
This concentration is designed to meet specific needs and professional goals of the student. Courses will be determined by student and faculty advisor. Twelve graduate credits are required for this concentration.

Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the School of Nursing, students must first meet requirements set by the Graduate School as described in the Eastern Michigan University Graduate Catalogue.

Specific admission requirements for the MSN Programs in the School of Nursing are:

1. Complete an application for admission to EMU at www.emich.edu/admissions
2. Select a program code: NUR/MSN-HH for the MSN program.
3. Possess a BSN degree or hold an R.N. license with a bachelor’s in another discipline may apply for a conditional admission.
4. Have at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) college GPA. (Applicants may seek conditional admission with a GPA of 2.75).
5. International students must have a minimum score of 550 (paper) or 79 (internet) on the TOEFL or 77 on the Michigan English Language Ability Battery (MELAB) or 6.5 on IETLTS, or 53 on Pearson Test of English. (These scores are the same requirements as the EMU Graduate School.)
6. Have a current license to practice as a professional registered nurse in Michigan or eligibility to obtain a Michigan license.
7. Submit two (2) professional references that document competence in nursing practice and potential for success in a graduate program of study. (Complete the reference forms provided).
8. Submit a two to three page essay about professional goals, reasons for obtaining a MSN degree (or certificate) and your future plans.
9. Submit a four to five page (excluding title and reference pages) sample of your writing using peer-reviewed literature to support your ideas. Essays will be evaluated based on your ability to express yourself, degree of scholarly content, spelling, grammar, and use of the American Psychological style with a minimum of three references.
10. Have successfully completed an approved basic statistics course that includes descriptive and inferential statistics within the last 10 years.
11. Have successfully completed a basic health assessment course.
12. RNs with a bachelor’s in another discipline have to complete the  Community Health Nursing (CHN) and practicum courses (NURS 450/451) or successfully complete the ATI test for CHN.

Applicants submit all documents related to items 6, 7, 8 and 9 above, and all transcripts directly to the Graduate School Office of Admission.

Requirements for Admission for Teaching Certificate

• Satisfy Graduate School admission requirements
• Select program code: HCS/CTHC-HH
• Minimum GPA of 2.5

Requirements for Admission for Quality Improvement Certificate

• Satisfy Graduate School admission requirements
• Select program code: CQI/CT-HH
• Minimum GPA of 2.5

Requirements for Admission for BOTH MSN and Certificate

• Complete two separate applications including separate fees
• Meet requirements for both applications

Requirements for admission for graduate course work in "non-degree" option:

• Contact Extended Programs and Educational Outreach at 800.777.3521.

Accreditation
In 2002, Eastern Michigan University’s graduate programs in nursing received 10-year, full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

For More Information

Coordinator, Graduate Nursing Program
School of Nursing
Eastern Michigan University
311 Marshall Building
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.487.2310 | Fax: 734.487.6946