MSN Admits Terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Post-Masters Admits Terms: Fall, and Summer
Credit Requirement: 38 credits for the MSN; 23-27 credits for the Post-Masters
Enrollment Mode: Curriculum includes both online and on-campus courses
Estimated Total Cost: $14,990
The MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration program sets a high educational standard as reflected by the US News and World Report ranking as the best graduate nursing school in the Gulf Coast Region of Texas. The program prepares graduates to be nurse leaders in highly complex and dynamic healthcare settings. MSN graduates will have the knowledge and skills necessary to apply evidenced-based management principles to achieve high quality clinical outcomes in complex and changing healthcare environments. By mastering the precepts of organizational efficiency and effectiveness, graduates will be poised to contribute to the advancement of nursing practice and improvement of our nation’s healthcare delivery system.
The program is dynamic and offers courses both online and on campus. This blended format enhances the overall student experience by balancing the convenience of online courses with the personal and professional benefits of in-class learning and networking with other emerging nurse leaders. In-class experiences also provide opportunity to dialogue with nationally renowned nurse leaders. The length of time spent on campus is typically two (2) days per month. Schedules for on-campus classes are provided well in advance to give working professionals adequate time to adjust personal and professional responsibilities to attend class. Three (3) courses and the capstone preceptorship provides flexible practice immersion experiences with parallel application of classroom content.
The MSN program is grounded in standards of practice for nursing leadership and administration and essential nurse manager knowledge, skills, and attitudes. This curriculum fully meets national quality standards and guidelines for graduate education in nursing leadership and administration. Leadership theory, evidence-based management, business concepts, finance, and advanced knowledge of nursing and healthcare management are included in this program of study.
The Nursing Leadership and Administration program is a self-paced program allowing students the flexibility to decide their level of enrollment every semester; students can graduate in as few as five (5) semester, or take up to nine (9) to complete.
The post-master's program requires students, in most cases, to take only the track courses. The number of courses required will be determined during the admission interview, if offered.
| MSN General Core Courses | |
|---|---|
| Nursing Informatics: Introduction to Concepts and Health Information Technologies | 2 |
| Evaluation and Application of Research in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Preparation of Scholarship Skills in Advanced Nursing Practice | 1 |
| Nursing Research and Epidemiology for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing | 2 |
| Nursing Leadership and Administration Courses | |
| Transforming Healthcare through Nursing Leadership | 3 |
| Organizational Development: Creating Cultures of Excellence | 2 |
| Nursing Leadership and Administration Practice 1 (60 hours) | 1 |
| Developing and Leading Human Performance | 3 |
| Analyzing Issues in Quality Improvement | 1 |
| Organizational Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 2 |
| Nursing Leadership and Administration Practice II (60 hours) | 1 |
| Healthcare Financial Management | 3 |
| Nursing Leadership and Administration Practice III (60 hours) | 1 |
| Nursing Leadership and Administration Role Focus | 2 |
| Nursing Leadership and Administration Preceptorship (180 hours) | 3 |
| Role of the Nurse Leader in Advancing the Health of Populations | 2 |
| Project Management Foundations | 1 |
| Healthcare, Policy, Law, and Ethics | 2 |
| Total credits | 38 |
Each student will be assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission to the program. The student and the academic advisor will complete a degree plan to specify which courses will be taken to complete the degree requirements. Degree plan policy and procedures may be found in MSN Program Policy G5320 (pdf).
Additional details on preceptorships are available for review in the Preceptor Guidelines. This webpage provides an outline of criteria for selection of preceptors and clinical sites, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the student, preceptor, faculty, and clinical site in the precepted clinical experience.
Cizik School of Nursing is proud of its commitment to graduate education through the offering of merit and need-based scholarships and grants. The application process is competitive and begins during the application review cycle. To be considered for a Cizik SON award, please submit the School of Nursing Scholarship Application after applying for admission. To receive the greatest amount of consideration, interested students are encouraged to apply by the MSN priority application deadline date.
Q: Is it possible to take all of my courses online?
A: Many of the courses are fully online; course numbers followed by W are online. Some of the specialty courses have face-to-face classes 1-2 days per month or semester. On-campus dates and times are communicated well in advanced to accommodate for those in the program who are working while in the program. Class time focuses on leadership skill building, such as presentation skills and professional etiquette, and guest presentations for nurse leaders in the Texas Medical Center and from across the country.
Coordinator, Nursing Leadership Track
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
