Nursing, Quality and Safety Specialization, MSN

Description of Program

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is a 36-credit hour master’s degree with an emphasis on leadership in contemporary health care organizations. The mission of the MSN program is to enhance the knowledge of the nurse leader, who is a key member of an interdisciplinary team that can have a positive impact on healthcare outcomes. The faculty believes that graduate nursing education should provide nurses with a theoretical base and competencies that can be used in meeting diverse nursing goals.

Click here for potential career opportunities within the MSN.

.**Note: Program availability may vary by state - please contact the Enrollment Office for more information**

Learning Outcomes

• Assess nursing care against professional standards of care and community needs
• Recommend professional nursing practices using research and evidence-based practice models
• Prioritize accountability and responsibility in professional judgment, ethics and actions
• Recommend new models for nursing in an expanded role of citizen in the global society
• Evaluate policies and economics related to healthcare delivery

Basis for Admission

Basis for Admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program requires:

• A degree in nursing at the bachelor’s level or higher from an institution accredited by either a regional accrediting agency or an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• GPA 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale
  • Applicants who meet all general admission requirements to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program, but who have a cumulative GPA for the BSN degree between 2.75 to 2.99, may be granted admission with additional screening.
• Current, active unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the student’s state of residence.
  • All students must maintain licensure throughout the program of study.
  • License number and expiration date are required.
• Graduates of a foreign school must have the BSN equivalency as determined by the Council on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).

• Employment verification or verified access to an applicable healthcare environment for practice experience requirements for the Capstone Course.

Degree Requirements

The Masters of Nursing program requires a total of 36 graduate credits, including a minimum of 140 practice experience hours, for graduation.

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the Master of Science in Nursing for graduate coursework completed at an accredited college or university while enrolled in a graduate program with a grade of “B” or better.

All NCU master’s degree program have the following graduation requirements:

• A minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed through the University
• Completion of subject area competency requirements for the graduate program
• Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B” or higher)
• Official documents on file for the basis for admission
• Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
• All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their diploma and/or degree posted transcript.

Time to Completion

NCU allows 5 years to complete all Master’s programs of 36 credits or less.

The median time to completion for this program is 28 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most NCU students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 26 months.

Note: It is an expectation of the Nursing Department that students complete the MSN program within 42 months.  

Program Specific Accreditation Information

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has approved the application for initial accreditation of the Masters in Nursing at Northcentral University. NCU is pursuing initial accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education www.ccneaccreditation.org for the Masters in Nursing degree program.  NCU is in the process of writing its self-study and scheduling the required accreditation visit for Spring, 2021. 

Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted. 

Course Sequence

The Master of Science in Nursing program can be completed with a minimum of 36 credit hours, but may require additional credit hours, depending on the completion of practice hours. If needed, additional courses will be added to the student degree program in alignment with the SAP and Academic Maximum Time to Completion policies. Students who do not complete their program in accordance with these policies may be dismissed.

• MSN-5000 - Dynamic Healthcare Environments
• MSN-5001 - Theoretical Foundations of Human Behavior
• MSN-5002 - Population Health Management
• MSN-5003 - Health Outcomes Research
• MSN-5004 - Quality and Safety
• MSN-5005 - Health Policy
• Specialization Course 1
• Specialization Course 2
• Specialization Course 3
• Specialization Course 4
• Specialization Course 5
• MSN-5999 - Capstone Experience