Georgian Court University

What you'll study

The program is an integrated sequence of required nursing courses taken in order as a cohort. Course examples and credit values include:

• Foundations and professional practice: NU500 Principles & Practices of Prof Nursing (3.0); NU502 Foundations of Prof Nursing Practice (4.0); NU612 Graduate Seminar for Prof Nursing (3.0); NU613 Transition to Professional Practice (6.0).
• Assessment, pathophysiology and therapeutics: NU503 Health Assessment (3.0); NU504 Pathophysiology (3.0); NU505 Pharmacotherapeutics (3.0); NU603 Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostics (3.0); NU604 Advanced Pathophysiology (3.0); NU605 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3.0).
• Adult, specialty and population care: NU506 Adult Nursing I (6.0); NU606 Adult Nursing II (8.0); NU507 Gerontological Nursing (2.0); NU508 Behavioral Health Nursing (5.0); NU609 Perinatal Nursing (4.0); NU607 Pediatric Nursing (4.0); NU608 Population Health (5.0).
• Systems, leadership and informatics: NU611 Nursing Leadership and Management (3.0); NU609 Quality Improv & Safety: Adv Practice (3.0); NU610 Health Care Informatics (3.0).
• Research: NU501 Nursing Research (3.0).

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree (in any non-nursing major) from an accredited institution before beginning the program and typically are admitted only for the fall semester as a cohort. Admission is competitive; meeting minimums does not guarantee acceptance. Minimum academic prerequisites and conditions include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) and completion of specified prerequisite courses prior to admission (or in progress at application): Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs, Microbiology with lab, Chemistry with lab (inorganic, organic or biochemistry preferred), Statistics (including inferential statistics), Psychology (developmental psychology), and an Ethics course (bioethics preferred). Any science or math course must have earned a B- or higher on first enrollment; lab courses must have been completed within the last 10 years. Applicants must demonstrate appropriate psychomotor, cognitive and sensory capabilities to perform in professional nursing roles and tolerate physically demanding clinical situations. Application materials include an online graduate application, current résumé, official transcripts (sealed or electronically sent from registrars), and possibly a personal interview; accepted students submit health forms before matriculation.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to enter professional nursing practice as registered nurses and will have foundational preparation for future advanced practice nursing specialties or leadership positions. The curriculum emphasizes clinical competence across adult, pediatric, gerontological, behavioral health and perinatal care, plus skills in quality improvement, informatics and management that support roles in clinical care, care coordination, quality and safety, or preparation for APRN pathways.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Graduate students in the DE-M.S.N. program are eligible for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with a maximum annual amount of $20,500; this federal loan can cover a substantial portion of program costs. The university also indicates availability of financial assistance and students may pursue outside scholarships for graduate nursing study.