Degree Requirements

Master of Science in Nursing Degree Requirements

MSN With Clinical Concentrations 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
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
HSC 601	Intro to Introprofessional Ed
HSC 602	Team Building
HSC 603	Assmnt Vulnerable Populations
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)
Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP)
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 Care 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
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

Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Requirements

24 Credit Hours Remaining after Completion of NU 607, NU 608, NU 610, and NU 613

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
NU 611	Translat Evidence Practice Sys	3
NU 612	Clinical Prev Population Hlth	3
NU 615	Qual Improv & Outcomes Assmnt	3
NU 616	Data & Dec Mkng Healthcare Sys	3
DNP Residency Courses
Select one of the following:		12
Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
AHN 604	Adult-Geron Acute Care NP PP&D
AHN 617	AG ACNP Residency I
AHN 618	AG ACNP Residency II
AHN 619	AG ACNP Residency III
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
AHN 693	Adult-Geron Primary NP PP&D
AHN 694	Adult-Gero Primary Cr NP Res I
AHN 695	Adlt-Gero Primary Cr NP Res II
AHN 696	Adlt-Gero Prim Care NP Res III
Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist
AHN 634	Adult-Geron CNS PP&D
AHN 635	Adult-Geron CNS Residency I
AHN 636	Adult-Geron CNS Residency II
AHN 637	Adult-Geron CNS Residency III
Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP) Option A Family NP
AHN 680	Family NP (DR) PP&D
AHN 681	Family NP (DR) Residency I
AHN 682	FNP (DR) Residency II
AHN 683	FNP (DR) Residency III
Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP) Option B Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP
AHN 670	AG-ACNP(DR) PP&D
AHN 671	AG/ACNP (DR) Residency I
AHN 672	AG-ACNP (DR) Residency II
AHN 673	AG-ACNP(DR) Residency III
Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP
NU 680	Family/Emergency NP PP&D
NU 681	Family/Emerg NP Residency I
NU 682	Family/Emerg NP Residency II
NU 683	Family/Emerg NP Residency III
Executive Nursing Administration
NU 661	Executive Nsg Admin PP&D
NU 662	Nurse Exec Admin Res I
NU 663	Nurse Exec Admin Res II
NU 664	Nurse Exec Admin Res III
Family Nurse Practitioner
CMN 680	Family NP PP&D
CMN 681	Family NP Residency I
CMN 682	Family NP Residency II
CMN 683	Family NP Residency III
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
MCN 674	Neonatal NP PP&D
MCN 675	NNP Residency I
MCN 676	NNP Residency II
MCN 677	NNP Residency III
Nursing Informatics
NU 656	Nursing Informatics PP&D
NU 657	Nursing Informatic Residency I
NU 658	NU Informatics Residency II
NU 659	NU Informatics Residency III
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MCN 604	Pediatric Acute Care NP PP&D
MCN 617	Pediatric Acute Care NP Res I
MCN 618	Pediatric Acute Care NP Res II
MCN 619	Pediatric Acute Cre NP Res III
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MCN 654	Pediatric Primary Care NP PP&D
MCN 655	Ped Prim Care NP Residency I
MCN 656	Ped Primary Care NP Res II
MCN 657	Ped Primary Care NP Res III
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
CMN 604	PMHNP PP&D
CMN 617	PMHNP Residency I
CMN 618	PMHNP Residency II
CMN 619	PMHNP Residency III
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
MCN 644	Women's Health NP PP&D
MCN 645	Women's Health NP Residency I
MCN 646	Women's Health NP Residency II
MCN 647	Women's Health NP Res III
Total Hours		24

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
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

BSN to DNP Pathway

The BSN to DNP curriculum consist of 69 to 87 credit hours. The program can be completed in ten semesters of full-time study or in sixteen semesters of part-time study. Full-time study is defined as six or more credit hours per semester. Permission to take more than twelve credit hours per semester must be obtained from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the student enrolling. The program must be completed within 7 years of matriculation.

Course work is offered on-line and students are required to come to campus at least one time when they begin the clinical portion of their specialty program for an intensive classroom, clinical skills, and evaluation sessions. Specialty tracks within the College of Nursing's graduate program require a practice component. Faculty assist students in locating a site and preceptor if it is indicated. Students who are unsuccessful in being accepted by an agency in their home community may have to travel to another area to complete practice requirements.

The program does not require a thesis or dissertation; however, students are required to complete a major synthesis project that results in a quality improvement change and has a substantial effect on health care outcomes. Residency requirements for the synthesis project can be completed in the student's home region with an approved mentor.

Admission Criteria

To be considered for admission to the DNP program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

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. Applicants to the BSN to DNP pathway must have a minimal grade-point average of 3.0 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 DNP program.

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.

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
condnpadmit@southalabama.edu
Telephone: (251) 445-9400.

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 DNP 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 three times a year, and must adhere to the following application deadlines:

• Fall Semester Deadline is March 1

• Spring Semester Deadline is July 15

• Summer Semester Deadline is December 1

Academic Progression Policy

Students in the BSN-DNP 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 these programs can have a maximum of two “C”s.

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. The final outcome of the DNP Project Planning and Development course and the DNP Incomplete Extension course is "Successful/ Unsuccessful." Students receiving two grades of “U” in these courses will be academically dismissed.

7. 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 students 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for readmission to the DNP program and is not eligible for admission to the MSN program.

DNP Residency Coursework Policy

The DNP Residency Coursework includes the DNP Project Planning and Development, Residency I, Residency II, and Residency III. Students who do not meet all requirements in a course must complete a DNP Incomplete Extension Course prior to moving forward with the next course in the DNP Residency progression.

Scientific Review Committee Policy

The DNP project will be reviewed by the USA College of Nursing DNP Scientific Review Committee to evaluate rigor and feasibility. The review process will occur during Project Planning and Development. The DNP project must be reviewed by the Scientific Review Committee before enrolling in Residency I.

Graduation Information

Students in the BSN-DNP program will apply for two separate graduations. Applications should be submitted to the Registrar's Office the semester before the anticipated graduation. Each candidate must submit an application for the Master of Science in Nursing degree upon completion of the degree requirements. Upon completion of requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, each candidate must submit an application for that degree. The student's curriculum schedule indicates the semester in which each degree should be awarded. See the Registrar's Graduation Website for specific application deadlines.