Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Dr. Barbara McAlister, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs
Dr. Carol Rizer, Assistant Dean for Advanced Practice
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs are designed to prepare individuals for careers in service, education, and primary care. Emphasis is given to developing the advanced practice skills necessary to provide expert nursing care to clients either directly through clinical practice, or indirectly through the avenues of administration, informatics, or education. Utilizing advanced knowledge and evidence-based decision making, along with a caring philosophy and strengths-based culture, the program prepares individuals to meet the challenges of health-care delivery.
The Master of Science in Nursing programs build on UT Tyler’s undergraduate program in nursing and provide a firm foundation for doctoral level education. There are several options for the MSN degree: Administration; Education; Informatics, Quality & Safety Family Nurse Practitioner; and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. There is also a Nursing Administration Certificate program, Nursing Education Certificate program, a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program, an Adult Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate program, a Nursing Informatics, Quality & Safety Certificate program, and a coordinated MSN/MBA degree plan.
The MSN-Administration degree prepares the graduate to apply leadership and management skills to become the essential link between the vision and mission of the larger health-care organization and the unit-based system of patient care. Students develop expertise in resource allocation through using professional skills in assessing and analyzing health-care needs in the practice setting.
The MSN-Education degree prepares the graduate to apply teaching-learning theory, principles of curriculum development, evaluation methodology and role socialization as a nurse educator in various settings including health-care organizations and institutions of higher learning. The graduate develops expertise as an educator of nursing students, patients, consumers and other individuals and groups.
The MSN-Informatics, Quality & Safety degree prepares baccalaureate or higher degree prepared nurses as informatics nurse specialists. The graduate develops skills to serve as the essential link among health-care information systems, health-care providers, and consumers.
The MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner degree prepares the graduate for advanced clinical practice roles across the lifespan in various settings. The graduate develops expertise as a primary care provider with advanced practice skills in the assessment and management of health needs as well as in patient education, consultant, and researcher roles.
The MSN-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree prepares the graduate for advanced mental health practice roles across the lifespan in various settings. The graduate develops expertise as a psychiatric mental health provider with advanced practice skills in the assessment and management of mental health needs as well as in patient education, consultant, and researcher roles.
The coordinated MSN-MBA degree prepares the nurse executive to ensure excellence in client care services and to impact the business environment in which nurses practice. This degree plan incorporates content in management, leadership, economics, finance, and marketing into a framework for nursing service and health-care administration. Students enrolling for this coordinated degree option must meet the admission requirements for both Nursing and Business Administration.
Objectives
At the completion of the Master of Science in Nursing program, the graduate will be able to:
- Integrate scientific knowledge and theories from nursing and related disciplines into advanced nursing practice;
- Apply organizational and systems leadership principles and methods for the promotion and evaluation of quality, ethical, and safe patient care;
- Translate, integrate, and disseminate scientific evidence into practice;
- Utilize technologies to deliver, enhance, integrate, and coordinate communication, education, and patient care;
- Intervene at the systems level through the policy development process and employ advocacy strategies to influence health-care;
- Manage care through collaboration with other health-care professionals as a member and leader of health-care teams; and
- Integrate organizational client-centered concepts to provide preventive and population-based care.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program are expected to submit a portfolio for evaluation reflecting the following requirements.
- Submit a one-page personal statement.
- Submit transcripts verifying a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate work.
- Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited nursing program.
- Complete an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C" or better.
- Show proof of current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state(s) where clinical practicum will occur.
- Applicants to advanced practice degree programs are strongly encouraged to submit a CV or a resume.
- Applicants from countries other than the United States must also meet the admission requirements for international students seeking a graduate degree as listed in the University catalog.
Criminal Background and Urine Drug Screening Checks and CPR Requirements
All applicants who are admitted to an MSN degree program are required to complete a criminal background check and urine drug screening. No student will be allowed entry to a nursing course without a clear report or a letter from the Texas Board of Nursing. Applicants must have current BCLS CPR certification before beginning clinical courses.
Student Health Insurance
The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System mandates health insurance for all health-related students enrolled in a clinical course. Every student must complete the health insurance certification process each term they are enrolled in a clinical course. Students must either provide information about their own coverage or confirm their participation in Academic HealthPlans. Charges will show up on student bills until the AHP waiver has been completed and approved.
Semester Credit Hour Limitations
A student may not register for graduate nursing courses unless they are fully or conditionally admitted into the graduate nursing program. Students from other programs may request permission to take a course from the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.
Transfer of Credit
A student may transfer a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit in which a grade of “B” or better has been earned from approved institutions. Transfer credit is subject to the approval of the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs. All coursework applied to the degree must be taken within six-years.
Degree Requirements for MSN Degrees
Core Courses (18 hours)
The following courses are taken according to the MSN program selected.
NOTE: NURS 5382 - except for MSN-PMHNP and MSN-IQS
The following courses are taken according to the role the student selects within the MSN option.
MSN-Administration (36 hours)
Dr. Danice Greer, Coordinator
The MSN-Administration degree requires three theoretical/practicum courses consisting of 37.5 practicum hours each. The student must also select appropriate electives to complete the 36 SCH required for the degree.
MSN Core Courses (18 hours)
Electives (9 hours)
MSN-ADM Required Courses (9 hours)
| NURS 5331 | Leadership in the Healthcare Environment | |
| NURS 5335 | Legal, Regulatory, and Financial Management | |
| NURS 5337 | Nursing Administration: Delivery of Care | |
MSN-Education (36 hours)
Dr. Julie George, Coordinator
The MSN-Education degree consists of four required courses (one integrated practice course, two theoretical nursing education courses and one practicum course consisting of 112.5 practicum hours). The student must also select appropriate electives to complete the 36 SCH required for the degree.
MSN Core Courses (18 hours)
Electives (6 hours)
MSN-EDU Required Courses (12 hours)
The role area of education consists of four required courses.
| NURS 5327 | Nursing Education Curriculum Development | |
| NURS 5328 | Evaluation in Nursing Education | |
| NURS 5329 | Nurse Educator Role Strategies and Practicum | |
| NURS 5355 | Integrated Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology | |
MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner (47 hours)
Dr. Valerie Miller, Coordinator
The Family Nurse Practitioner degree requires ten courses. All courses have a clinical component except for NURS 5350, NURS 5354, and NURS 5111. A total of 47 SCH and 675 clinical hours are required for the degree.
MSN Core Courses (18 hours)
MSN-FNP Required Courses (29 hours)
MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (49 hours)
PMHNP Coordinator
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree requires a total of 49 SCH and 500 clinical hours for the degree.
MSN Core Courses (15 hours)
MSN - PMHNP Required Courses (34 hours)
| NURS 5350 | Advanced Pathophysiology | |
| NURS 5352 | Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Practitioners | |
| NURS 5354 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | |
| NURS 5111 | The Advanced Practice Role | |
| NURS 5357 | Neurobiology Overview: Mental Health and Illness | |
| NURS 5359 | Psychopharmacology: Prescribing Practices in Mental Health | |
| NURS 5363 | Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders | |
| NURS 5365 | Psychotherapeutic Theories and Modalities | |
| NURS 5367 | PMHNP Practicum I | |
| NURS 5368 | Integrated Mental Health Care I - Adult/Gerontology | |
| NURS 5370 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum II | |
| NURS 5373 | Integrated Mental Health Care II Capstone | |
MSN - Informatics Quality and Safety (36 hours)
Dr. Cheryl Parker, Coordinator
The MSN-IQS degree requires a total of 36 SCH and 112.5 -200 clinical hours for the degree.
MSN Core Courses (12 hours)
MSN - IQS Elective Courses (9 hours)
MSN - IQS Required Courses (15 hours)
| NURS 5381 | Healthcare Informatics for the 21st Century | |
| NURS 5383 | Applied Informatics: Quality, Safety and Cost | |
| NURS 5385 | Information Systems Life Cycle | |
| NURS 5387 | Data Analysis and Healthcare Technology | |
| NURS 5389 | Informatics, Quality and Safety Capstone | |
NOTE: In order to meet current American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) educational requirements for taking the certification examination in informatics nursing through academic achievement, the optional practicum course (
NURS 5389) must be taken, and 200-hours of practicum experience gained. These requirements are subject to change based on the requirements set forth by the ANCC at
Informatics Nursing Certification (NI-BC™) | ANA (nursingworld.org).
The Coordinated M.S.N./M.B.A.
Dr. Danice Greer, Coordinator
Students enrolling for this coordinated degree option must meet the admission requirements listed elsewhere in this catalog for both Business Administration and Nursing. Students complete a total of 63 SCH. In addition to the 36 hours required for the MSN degree, students take 36 hours of coursework for the MBA. Nine of the hours for each degree are shared electives, resulting in the dual degree for 63 hours rather than the 72 hours required if each degree is pursued separately. The MSN and MBA degrees are awarded simultaneously at graduation.
MSN Core Courses (18 hours)
MSN-MBA Required Courses (18 hours)
| NURS 5331 | Leadership in the Healthcare Environment | |
| NURS 5335 | Legal, Regulatory, and Financial Management | |
| NURS 5337 | Nursing Administration: Delivery of Care | |
MBA Coursework (36 hours)
The Soules College of Business Graduate Advisor develops the MBA portion of the dual degree plan.
Graduation Requirements
All candidates for a Master of Science in Nursing degree at The University of Texas at Tyler must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum grade-point of 3.0 on all graduate level work taken at UT Tyler. No course with a grade below “B” may be applied toward this degree.
- Nursing courses within an MSN curriculum may be repeated once; only two courses may be repeated.
- Only two course withdrawals are permitted. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances.
- Satisfactory completion of all degree requirements.