Degree Requirements

BSN-MSN Pathway

MSN with Clinical Concentration Course Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Support Courses
NU 518	Adv Nursing Assessment	3
NU 545	Physio-Patho Basis of Adv Nsg	3
NU 578	Pharm Adv Practice Nurses	3
MSN/DNP Core Courses
NU 607	Scientif Underpinnings Adv Nsg	3
NU 608	EBP & Quality Improvement HCS	3
NU 610	Healthcare Policy & Finance	3
NU 613	Organizational & Sys Leadrshp	3
Clinical Concentrations
Select one of the following concentrations:		15-36
Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
AHN 568	Intro to Adult-Geron Acute NP
AHN 571	HPDP Adult-Geron Acute Care NP
AHN 572	Adult-Geron Acute NP I
AHN 573	Adult-Geron Acute NP Prac I
AHN 574	Adult-Geron Acute NP II
AHN 575	Adult-Geron Acute NP Prac II
AHN 576	Adult Geron Acute NP Prac III
AHN 577	Adult Geron Acute NP III
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
AHN 581	HP/DP Adlt-Geron Prim Care NP
AHN 588	Intro to Adult-Geron Prim NP
AHN 591	Adult-Geron Prim NP I
AHN 592	Adlt-Geron Primary NP Pract I
AHN 593	Adult-Gero Prim NP II
AHN 594	Adult-Geron Prim NP Prac II
AHN 595	Adult-Gero Primary Care NP III
AHN 596	Adult-Geron Prim NP Prac III
Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist
NU 515	Clinical Concepts/CNS Role I
NU 516	Clinical Concepts/CNS Role lI
NU 517	Clinical Concepts/CNS Role III
AHN 516	CNS Adult Geron Pract I
AHN 517	CNS Adult Geron Pract ll
AHN 518	CNS Adult Geron Pract III
AHN 519	Diagnostic Reasoning and Advanced Patient Management for the Clinical Nurse Specialist (Elective)
Clinical Nurse Leader
NU 535	Clin Ldr Role & Competencies
NU 536	Clin Nurse Ldr Pract I
NU 537	Clin Nurse Leader Synthesis
NU 538	Clinical Nrse Ldr Prac II
Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care
AHN 538	HPDP Dual Role (FNP/AGACNP)
AHN 548	Family Prim Care NP I
AHN 549	Family Prim Care NP Prac I
AHN 550	Family Prim Care NP II
AHN 551	Family Prim Care NP Pract II
AHN 552	Adult-Geron Acute Care NP I
AHN 553	Adult-Ger Acute Care NP Prac I
AHN 554	Adult-Geron Acute Care NP II
AHN 555	Adlt-Ger Acute Care NP Prac II
Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP)
NU 580	Hlth Promo & Ds Prev/FNP/ENP
NU 581	Family/Emergency NP I
NU 582	Family/Emerg NP Practicum I
NU 583	Family/Emergency NP II
NU 584	Family/ Emerg NP Practicum II
NU 585	Family/Emergency NP III
NU 586	Family/Emerg NP Practicum III
NU 587	Family/Emergency NP IV
NU 588	Family/Emerg NP Practicum IV
Family Nurse Practitioner
CMN 568	Intro to Family NP
CMN 571	HPDP in Family NP
CMN 572	Family NP I
CMN 573	Family NP Pract I
CMN 574	Family NP II
CMN 575	Family NP Prac II
CMN 576	Family NP Pract III
CMN 577	Family NP III
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
MCN 568	Intro to Neonatal NP
MCN 571	HPDP NNP/Peds Acute NP
MCN 572	Neonatal NP I
MCN 573	Neonatal NP Pract I
MCN 574	Neonatal NP II
MCN 575	Neonatal NP Prac II
MCN 576	Neonatal NP Pract III
MCN 577	Neonatal NP III
Pediatric Acute Nurse Practitioner
MCN 558	Intro Pediatric Acute Care NP
MCN 562	Pediatric Acute Care NP I
MCN 563	Ped Acute Care NP Prac I
MCN 564	Pediatric Acute Care NP II
MCN 565	Ped Acute Care NP Prac II
MCN 566	Ped Acute Care NP Pract III
MCN 567	Pediatric Acute Care NP III
MCN 571	HPDP NNP/Peds Acute NP
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MCN 548	Intro to Ped Primary Care NP
MCN 551	HPDP Pediatric Primary Care NP
MCN 552	Pediatric Prim Care NP I
MCN 553	Ped Prim Care NP Prac I
MCN 554	Pediatric Primary Care NP II
MCN 555	Ped Prim Care NP Prac II
MCN 556	Ped Prim Care NP Pract III
MCN 557	Pediatric Primary Care NP III
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
CMN 548	Introduction to PMHNP
CMN 551	HPDP & Issues for the PMHNP
CMN 552	PMHNP I
CMN 553	PMHNP Practicum I
CMN 554	PMHNP II
CMN 555	PMHNP Practicum II
CMN 556	PMHNP Practicum III
CMN 557	PMHNP III
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
MCN 538	Intro to Women's Health NP
MCN 541	HPDP Women's Health NP
MCN 542	Women's Health NP I
MCN 543	Women's Health NP Pract I
MCN 544	Women's Health NP II
MCN 545	Women's Health NP Pract II
MCN 546	Women's Health NP Prac III
MCN 547	Women's Health NP III
Total Hours		36-57

MSN with Non-clinical Concentrations Course Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MSN/DNP Core Courses
NU 607	Scientif Underpinnings Adv Nsg	3
NU 608	EBP & Quality Improvement HCS	3
NU 610	Healthcare Policy & Finance	3
NU 613	Organizational & Sys Leadrshp	3
Non-Clinical Concentrations
Select one of the following concentrations:		25
Executive Nursing Administration
HSC 571	Managing Healthcare Personnel
NU 539	Intro to Nursing Informatics
NU 553	Administrative Concepts
NU 554	Resource Manag Field Study
NU 561	Nursing Admin Concepts-Theory
NU 565	Nursing Administration Finance
NU 566	Nursing Admin Field Study
NU 567	Nursing Admin Internship
NU 568	Nursing Admin Seminar
Nursing Informatics
ISC 550	Health Data Security & Comp
ISC 555	Health Data Mgt/Decision Supp
NU 539	Intro to Nursing Informatics
NU 553	Administrative Concepts
NU 554	Resource Manag Field Study
NU 556	Informatics & Qual Care Improv
NU 557	Clinical Informatics Pract I
NU 558	Seminar in Nursing Informatics
NU 559	Clinical Informatics Pract II
NU 565	Nursing Administration Finance
Total Hours		37

Subspecialties 

Students can earn a Post-Graduate Certificate Subspecialty when adding the requirements for any of the following subspecialties to their degree program curriculum.

Addictions Nursing

May be added to any concentration.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
HSC 580	OUD/SUD Prevention/Screening	2
HSC 581	OUD/SUD Assessment/Treatment	2
HSC 582	OUD/SUD Recovery/Sys Practice	2
NU 510	Addictions Practicum I	1
NU 511	Addictions Practicum II	2
NU 512	Addictions Practicum III	2
NU 513	Addictions Practicum IV (Elective)	4
Total Hours		15

Advanced Forensic Nursing

May be added to any concentration.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 500	Explore Culture Sexual Assault	2
NU 502	Sexual Assault Vic Practicum	1
NU 503	Trauma Care Sexual Assault Vic	2
NU 504	Adv Pharm Care Post Assault	2
NU 505	Sup Care Comorbid Post Assault	2
Total Hours		9

Cardiovascular

May be added to Adult-Gerontological Acute NP, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP), and Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Family NP, Women’s Health NP, Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP, and any Adult- Gerontological CNS student with a strong background in cardiovascular and/or acute care nursing.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
AHN 630	Dysrhythmias and the Heart	2
AHN 631	Foundations of Cardiac Care	2
AHN 632	Diag & Mgmnt of Acute CVD	2
AHN 633	Dig/Mgmt Complex CV Disorders	2
Total Hours		8

Clinical Lipidology

May be added to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute NP, Adult-Gerontological CNS, Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute NP), Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Women's Health NP, and Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
HSC 595	Evidence Basd Lipid Practice	2
HSC 596	Adv Vascular Biology	2
HSC 597	Adv Pharm Complex Dyslipidemia	2
HSC 598	Diag/Mgt C-plex Dyslipidemia	2
Total Hours		8

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare

May be added to any concentration.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
HSC 501	Found of Diversity Healthcare	2
HSC 502	Diversity Equity & Inclusion	2
HSC 503	Curr Issues & Trends Diversity	2
HSC 504	Lead&Change Mang Adv Diversity	2
Total Hours		8

Emergency Nurse Practitioner

May be added to Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP), or taken as a Post Graduate Certificate if already Family NP certified.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 570	Emergency NP I	2
NU 571	Emergency NP Practicum I	1-3
NU 572	Emergency NP II	2
NU 573	Emergency NP Practicum II	1-3
NU 574	Emergency NP III	2
NU 575	Emergency NP Practicum III	1-3
NU 576	Emergency NP IV	2
NU 577	Emergency NP Practicum IV	1-3
Total Hours		12-20

Nurse Educator

May be added to any concentration.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 620	Prin Teach/Learn/Assess Nu Ed	3
NU 621	Curr Design/Outcome Eval Nu Ed	3
NU 622	Current Topics in Nu Education	2
NU 623	Nsg Educ Synthesis Practicum	3
Total Hours		11

Palliative Care

May be added to any concentration.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
AHN 530	Found Palliative Care/Adv Role	2
AHN 531	Adv Palliative Cr/End of Life	2
AHN 532	Adv Chronic Illness Care	2
AHN 533	Adv Palliative Care Practicum	3
Total Hours		9

Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare

May be added to any concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
HSC 510	IPT for TI-IBH Primary Care	1
HSC 511	IPT Telehealth Deliv TI-IBH	1
HSC 512	TI-MI in IBH Seminar	1
NU 526	Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Practicum I	1
NU 527	Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Practicum II	2
NU 528	Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Practicum III	2
Total Hours		8

Elective Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NU 509	Bioethics Advan Practice Nsg	1
NU 597	Intro to Scholarly Writing	3
HSC 500	Address Gender Discrimination	3
HSC 573	Resp Prescrib Common Used Drug	1

Additional Information

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Organized within the graduate school at the University, the College of Nursing has several pathways, specialization, and sub- specialization options within the MSN program. In addition to admitting baccalaureate- prepared registered nurses, the college offers a special pathway for highly qualified associate degree and diploma nurses who do not hold a baccalaureate degree, and tracks for MSN-prepared nurses who are interested in certification in a new specialty area.

Master of Science in Nursing Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing Program, graduates should be able to:

1. Integrate advanced knowledge, evidence, and theories from nursing and related disciplines into a specialized area of advanced nursing practice through the use of scholarly writing.

2. Demonstrate competence in advanced nursing roles to meet current and emerging health needs of a global changing society.

3. Use scientific inquiry to identify problems and individualize patient care designed to improve care outcomes.

4. Apply advanced knowledge of leadership and management to influence health policy to transform care delivery systems.

5. Contribute to the focus and direction of the nursing profession.

Areas of Specialization

Several concentration areas are offered to meet the career goals of students. Students may prepare as a clinical nurse leader or for advanced nursing practice in one of the nurse practitioner roles or the clinical nurse specialist role. Available NP include Adult- Gerontological Acute Care Nursing, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nursing, Dual Role (Family Nursing/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nursing), Dual Role (Family Nursing/Emergency Nursing), Family Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Pediatric Acute Care Nursing, Pediatric Primary Care Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Women's Health Nursing. Clinical Nurse Specialist is available in Adult-Gerontological Nursing. Concentrations are also available for students pursuing careers in Clinical Nurse Leader, Executive Nursing Administration and Nursing Informatics. Sub-specializations are available in Addictions Nursing, Advanced Forensic Nursing Care, Cardiovascular, Clinical Lipidology, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare, Nurse Educator, Palliative Care, and Trauma-Informed Integrated Behavioral Healthcare. Emergency Nurse Practitioner is offered only as a post graduate certificate. See the MSN section for additional course listings.

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to students in full-time status. Additional information and an application can be obtained by contacting the College of Nursing graduate office.

BSN-Prepared RN’S

Regular Admission Criteria

1. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.

2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.

3. Graduate of an approved regionally accredited bachelors program with a major in nursing.

4. A minimal grade-point average of 2.75 on all BSN work (A=4.00).

5. Submission of a résumé which documents clinical experience.

6. Prior to enrolling in nurse practitioner clinical course, students are required to have at least 2 years of experience in an area appropriate to the specialty track.

7. Students are admitted to a specialty track and may not change their track without permission.

8. Students must be in good standing with all academic institutions/nursing programs that they have attended in order to be admitted to the MSN program.

Non-Degree Admission Criteria

1. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.

2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.

3. Hold a bachelor's degree from an approved regionally accredited institution. 

4. A minimal grade-point average of 2.75 on all BSN work (A=4.00).

5. Students must be in good standing with all academic institutions/nursing programs that they have attended in order to be admitted 

6. Enrollment in selective courses may not be available to non-degree students due to class size or required prerequisite.

Contingency for Admission and Initial Registration

Admission and initial registration is contingent on completion of the following requirements:

1. Acceptance Packet

2. Negative Drug Screen

3. Acceptable Background Check

4. All Health Requirements as outlined in the Medical Documents Manager.

5. Letter of Clinical Commitment.

Notification of missing documents will be sent to your JagMail email account. Only students who have successfully completed the Acceptance Packet in its entirety, have a negative drug screen and acceptable background check, and completed all required portions of the Medical Documents Manager will be permitted to register for classes. 

Application Procedures

Admission to the program is limited and selective. Application forms and other information may be obtained from the College of Nursing's Website or by contacting the college directly at:

College of Nursing
University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama 36688
congradapp@southalabama.edu
Telephone: (251) 445-9400

To be considered for admission to the MSN program, the applicant must submit the following requirements:

1. Completion of the Primary Application: 

   1. Primary Application submitted through Nursing Centralized Application System (NursingCAS).

   2. Official transcripts of all college and university studies, regardless of the outcome of enrollment, must be sent directly from the home institution to the NursingCAS. These documents become the property of the NursingCAS and will not be returned to the applicant. Applicants are responsible for any fees required by NursingCAS for their services.

   3. Personal Goal Statement is required. The Personal Goal Statement is a description of the applicant's purpose for completing the graduate degree. This essay serves as a writing sample to be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee to determine the applicant’s scholarly writing skills.

   4. Submission of a résumé which documents clinical experience.

2. Completion of the Supplemental Application:

   1. The Supplemental Application is submitted electronically directly to the MSN Office at the USA College of Nursing.  Under Academic Information please select the appropriate semester for admission.  Select "graduate" under both student type and academic level of interest.  A new option will appear asking if you are applying for a graduate nursing program, select "yes" and this will take you into the nursing application.

   2. Please note that the Supplemental Application should be completed AFTER you have completed your NursingCAS application and it has moved through the following stages: received, complete then VERIFIED.  Once it is verified you may complete the Supplemental Application.

   3. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their completed Supplemental Application is submitted by the deadline for the semester for which they are applying. Incomplete applications will not be processed. 

   4. This application requires a non-refundable processing fee of $100.00.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted year round, and must adhere to the following application deadlines:

• Fall Semester Deadline is March 1

• Spring Semester Deadline is September 1

• Summer Semester Deadline is February 1

Academic Progression Policy

Students in the BSN-MSN program must meet the following requirements to progress in the program:

1. Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. Any term in which a graduate student drops below a 3.0 Program GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a period of two terms to attain a 3.0 Program GPA or be dismissed.

2. Students in this program can have a maximum of two Cs.

3. A maximum of two (2) courses with a grade of "C" can be counted towards a degree; however, only one (1) "C" is permitted in support or specialization courses. If a second "C" or lower is earned in a support (NU 518, NU 545, NU 578) or specialization course, the course in which the second "C" or lower is obtained must be repeated before a student may move forward with a specialty course. All corresponding specialty clinical and didactic courses must be taken in sequence.

4. A student earning a third "C" or lower will be academically dismissed from the program.

5. A student earning two grades of "F" in the program will be academically dismissed.

6. Failure to show good ethical and moral character including but not limited to any of the following may result in dismissal from the program:

   1. conviction of a crime,

   2. disciplinary action against a nursing license in Alabama or any other state,

   3. positive drug test,

   4. adverse background check, or

   5. disruptive behavior, including online behavior.
      All student must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours of any of the above stated incidents.

7. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours following an arrest. Failure to report an arrest may result in removal from the program.

8. All students are subject to testing for controlled substances and must submit to random drug testing as requested. A positive test or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.

9. All students are subject to a background check and must submit to additional background checks as requested. An adverse finding or refusal to submit to a background check may result in removal from the program.

10. A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for readmission to the MSN program.

Policy for Students Who are Dismissed from a Clinical Setting for Unprofessional Behavior or Refused Approval by the Setting due to Previous Experience with the Student

Professional behavior is expected of all USA CON students within the clinical setting. Students who are asked to leave a clinical setting (by an administrator or preceptor) due to unprofessional behavior will be removed from the clinical site with no approval of return to the same site.

Should a clinical agency refuse to allow a student to obtain clinical hours in their facility for any reason, the agency’s request will be honored by the college.

Students dismissed from a clinical site or refused by a clinical agency will be assisted to find an appropriate clinical placement at an affiliated clinical site at the college’s discretion.  Students who decline the placement provided will be delayed in completing the program. 

Depending on the nature of the unprofessional behavior, action taken by the college may include dismissal from the academic program.

Graduation Requirements for BSN-prepared RN’S

The MSN program must be completed within 5 years of matriculation. MSN students who will complete all degree requirements are required to apply for graduation by the application deadline established by the Registrar’s Office. Deadlines for each semester application are located on the Registrar’s Graduation Website.