Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares registered professional nurses for leadership roles in advanced nursing practice. Within the program, students select one of two concentrations which contain specific role options. One concentration prepares students in one or more roles of Clinical Nurse Leader, Administrator, Educator, and/or Informaticist. The other prepares students for the role of Family Nurse Practitioner. The graduate program assumes a foundation of concepts and skills acquired in undergraduate programs in nursing. The MSN program facilitates acquisition of knowledge and expertise in the following:

1. Advanced concepts related to nursing phenomena.
2. Theoretical knowledge as a basis for practice. 
3. A selected area of advanced nursing practice.
4. An enactment of advanced role specific interventions for populations.
5. Critical analysis and utilization of research-based knowledge.
6. Transformation of nursing and health care through ongoing analysis, challenge, and/or reformulation of assumptions.
7. Strategic communication to facilitate transformational leadership.

Admission Requirements*

1. Completed application for graduate admission.
2. BSN GPA of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale) preferred or Step 1 of the RN to MSN program with a GPA of 3.00 preferred.
3. Licensure to practice nursing in the United States; or eligible for Michigan license.
4. Resume which includes education, employment, scholarship, service, and professional involvement.
5. One page statement of academic and professional goals.
6. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from colleagues with a graduate degree in nursing. For applicants who have completed their BSN within the past three years, one letter of recommendation must be from a nursing faculty member.
7. Personal Interview.

*Additional admission criteria (e.g., standardized test results) may be required based on interview and record review.

International Student Admission Requirements*

1. Completed international application for graduate admission.
2. Official results of a credentials review by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (http://cgfns.org).
3. Official TOEFL results.
4. Resume which includes education, employment, scholarship, service, and professional involvement.
5. One page statement of academic and professional goals.
6. Evidence of financial support.

*Additional admission criteria (e.g., interview) may be required based on record review.

M.S.N. Admission Status

Applications to the M.S.N. program are accepted by the Office of Admissions and processed for admission by the Crystal M. Lange College of Nursing and Health Sciences throughout the year. The options for granting admission status to applicants include:

1. Full admission — all admission requirements have been completed successfully.
2. Provisional admission — student’s file is missing certain admission requirements; when all of these are received, review for admission can be completed. Students with this admission status may take up to two core nursing courses while they fulfill the admission requirements.
3. Post-master’s admission — a student with a master’s degree in nursing is admitted to complete the requirements for a concentration and receive a certificate to that effect.

Program Requirements

The M.S.N. program at Saginaw Valley State University consists of a minimum of 39 credits of required and elective courses. Students who have prior graduate credits may be able to enter with advanced standing. A minimum of 19 credits must be completed in nursing at the graduate level at Saginaw Valley State University. The time limit for completing the degree is seven years from the beginning of the first course in which credit was earned toward the M.S.N. at SVSU.

Other specific requirements students must meet to complete the M.S.N. program include:

1. To register for any fieldwork/practicum course (NURS 663 and NURS 674), a student must provide a) a copy of their current Michigan license, b) a health form reflecting a recent health examination, and c) evidence of professional liability insurance.
2. To register for NURS 671 in the Advanced Clinical Practice concentration, the equivalent of 3 years of full time work experience as a registered nurse is a prerequisite.

Academic Regulations

1. In required MSN courses, students must earn a grade of “B” or better to remain in good standing.
2. If a grade of “I” is earned, course requirements must be satisfied prior to enrolling in additional required courses. 
3. A required course can be repeated only once. Failure of a repeated course or a second required course results in dismissal from the program. 
4. In Health System Nurse Specialist electives or cognates, a grade of “C” or above is required, with only 6 credits allowed at the “C” level.