MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) IN NURSING DEGREE PROGRAM
Options
Nursing Education: The Nursing Education option prepares students for a position in nursing education as well as the educator role in varied settings such as hospitals, health department, clinics, among other practice areas. Students are prepared as nurse leaders to respond to current and projected changes in the health care system. Grounded in adult learning theory, coursework includes a teaching/learning lab/practicum and a focus on teaching with technology. Students are required to complete 38 to 40 semester hours of credit which includes 288 lab/practicum hours in varied settings.
The curriculum pattern for the Master in Nursing Education can be found here.
Nursing Leadership: The Nursing Leadership option is designed to prepare nurses to assume leadership roles within acute, ambulatory care, or community based settings. Content includes organizational and leadership theory, strategic planning, policy and finance, human resource management, clinical and outcomes management, and health service administration. Students are required to complete 38 to 40 semester hours of credit which includes 288 on site lab/practicum hours in varied settings.
Finances
Professional Fee for Nursing MSN
In addition to ISU tuition and fees, a professional fee is assessed for all graduate students in the School of Nursing. Professional fees for the Master's program are $1,017.00 per semester including any summer session regardless of number of credits in which the student is enrolled. There is also a $35.00 per credit e-ISU fee.
Professional fees for the nursing programs are used to support faculty salaries, instruction support services, durable & disposable equipment and supplies, faculty and staff program travel, capital equipment and a reserve for maintenance and purchase of major capital items.
Costs for tuition and general fees at
ISU are listed on the Cost of Attendance Page
Scholarships
The School of Nursing annually awards approximately $42,000 in scholarships.
See Idaho State University scholarship information
Admission Requirements
The student must apply to and meet all requirements for admission to the Graduate School. In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, the student must comply with the following:
- Earned Bachelor of Science (B.S. or BSN) degree in Nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (calculated based on previous 60 credits of undergraduate coursework).
- Competitive GRE score (see below).
- English Proficiency Exams: Students whose native language is not English must provide evidence of satisfactory scores on the English Foreign Language (TOEFL) or on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). (See Graduate Catalog for details).
- Satisfactory TOEFL requirements for admission include: 1) Internet-based total test score of 80 with a score of at least 20 on each Section and 23 or above on the Speaking Section; or 2) Computer-based total test score of 213 with a score of at least 21 on Section 1 (Listening Comprehension); or 3) Paper-based total test score of 550 with a score of at least 55 on section 1 (Listening Comprehension).
- Satisfactory IELTS requirement for admission include scoring 6.5 or higher on the total band and 6.5 on the speaking test component.
- Completed application to the SON by established deadline which includes an essay describing applicant's interest in pursuing the Master of Science degree and vision of how this preparation will facilitate career goals.
- Verification of valid and current unencumbered Registered Nursing license.
NOTE: Achievement of minimum GPA and GRE requirements does not guarantee admission to the Master's degree program. Individuals who do not meet these admission requirements may be considered for admission as a classified student with program restrictions until all requirements are met, or candidate is evaluated for progress based on established SON guidelines, policies and/or procedures. The School of Nursing Master of Science Admissions committee will make the final recommendation regarding admissions. This decision will be based on evaluation of established admission and application requirements.
Admission to the Education or Leadership options is dependent on a full cohort as determined by the School of Nursing.
Application Requirements
The student must apply to and meet all requirements for admission to the Graduate School. In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, the student must comply with the following:
- Application to the Graduate School AND to the School of Nursing with payment of appropriate fees (separate application process).
- Submission of official transcripts of all degrees including completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN or B.S. in Nursing) degree from an accredited nursing program. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Graduate School from the Registrar's office of the applicant's previous institution(s) of study.
- Submission of official report of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores taken within the previous five years. Applicants should achieve at least a 40th percentile on one of the three aptitude sections (Verbal, Quantitative, or Analytical). No standardized test (GRE) is required if GPA is 3.5 to 4.0 for the previous 60 semester credits of undergraduate work.
- Evidence of completing prerequisite descriptive or inferential statistics course with a C grade or better. A descriptive or inferential statistics course may be taken during the admission process; course must be completed prior to starting the program.
- Submission of a professional essay (2-3 pages) describing applicant's interest in pursuing the Master of Science degree and vision of how this preparation will facilitate career goals.
- Three professional reference forms attesting to the applicant's capacity and potential for master's study. (It is recommended two references should be from academic sources and one from a recent employer.)
- Submission of professional vitae or resume.
Selection Process
Applications for the Education option, full time status remains open (for entry fall of 2013).
Applications for full time entry into the Nursing Education option will be accepted through July 15th, 2013 with courses scheduled to begin August 26, 2013.
The application cycle for the ISU School of Nursing Master's program, Leadership option is now closed for entry fall semester of 2013. The next application cycle will open in October of 2013 for enrollment August of 2014.
More Information
Questions related to this degree program should be addressed to:
Karen S. Neill, Ph.D., R.N., SANE-A
Associate Director for Graduate Studies
Idaho State University School of Nursing
Division of Health Sciences
neilkare@isu.edu
208.282.2102 (Office)
Questions related to technical aspects of submitting the online application should be addressed to:
Morgan Scadden
Idaho State University School of Nursing
Division of Health Sciences
mikemorg@isu.edu
208.282.2325 (Office)