Master of Science in Nursing

The Gardner-Webb University School of Nursing provides the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program which offers two areas of study designed to meet the needs of nurses seeking expanded roles in their profession: Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The MSN Degree with specialty concentration requires 30 to 36 semester hours of graduate credits. In addition to the two areas of concentrated study, the MSN program offers the MSN/MBA dual degree and the RN to MSN option.

The Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Education is designed to prepare students to become professional educators in an academic or health care setting.This program of study allows students the opportunity to enhance their clinical expertise from a theoretical perspective and to apply nursing education and learning principles in practice settings.

The Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Administration is offered in collaboration with the Graduate School of Business.This program of study seeks to prepare the professional nurse for leadership roles in health care organizations. The RN to MSN program is designed to facilitate an accelerated and integrated progression from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) curriculum to the Master of Science in Nursing curriculum.This program of study allows nurses to apply six hours of graduate course credit to the BSN degree.

The MSN/MBA dual degree program is a 63-semester-hour program. This interdisciplinary program combines nursing leadership with a working knowledge of business and managerial skills. Dual degree students must apply to the Graduate School as well as to the Graduate School of Business, following the admission requirements of the respective programs, and be accepted to each in order to pursue both degrees. Also, when academic policies and standards differ between the two schools, the policies and standards of the appropriate school apply to the respective portion of the dual degree. Candidates for the dual degree must complete the requirements for both degrees prior to graduation. Should a student opt not to pursue one of the degrees before completion, he or she will be responsible for paying any difference in the per course rate(s) actually charged based on pursuing the dual degree and the rate(s) which would have been charged for courses applied toward the selected degree.The student will also be responsible for repaying any scholarships or grants received based on pursuing a dual degree which the student would not have been eligible for based on the selected degree. Additional financial obligations must be satisfied before the student can be awarded the selected degree. In no case will the University refund money when a student opts out of a dual degree program.

The courses in the MSN programs of study are offered in a logical sequence from the core requirements of theory, issues, research, statistics, and caring to courses in the major area of concentration. Elective requirements allow students to expand their educational perspective to other disciplines. The MSN educational experience culminates in a capstone course requiring the application of knowledge in a thesis or project.

Coordinator: Dr. Rebecca Beck-Little