Master of Science
Nursing curriculum at the master's level is designed to produce a graduate with the management and research ability to become a leader in a specialty field. The Master of Science program in nursing offers these specialty options: family nurse practitioner, gerontology nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, enterostomal therapy nurse, leadership and administration, and nurse midwifery. A dual degree program combines nursing with business administration for the M.S./M.B.A. degree.
Admission Requirements
General requirements for admission to the Master of Science program in nursing include a minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average; acceptable scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examinations; current licensure as a Registered Nurse; a bachelor's degree in nursing or a related field; submission of an essay describing the applicant's career goals; completion of an acceptable undergraduate statistics course; and three letters of reference. An interview may be required.
Challenge
As required by the California State Board of Registered Nursing, RNs may challenge undergraduate and graduate courses in the nursing curriculum. Students may not challenge any course for which they have enrolled at USC. See Credit by Special Examination.section.
Program Requirements
The program is a three semester, one academic year, 40-41 unit course of study which includes: theory and research, nursing, health care delivery system, seminar on integration into the health care system, an advanced practicum residency, and a series of courses in the specialty. A comprehensive examination is required. Graduates will be eligible for certification by the American Nurses Association, the American College of Nurse-Midwifery, the Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse Society or the Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Because of the continuous changes in health care that require constant updating of knowledge and skills, the notation that a course duplicates credit in another course does not imply that no further learning experiences will be required to meet course or degree requirements. Students must petition the department to determine whether previous course work will be applied or whether supplementary course work will be necessary.
A student holding a master's degree in nursing may apply for a specialty certificate in Nurse Midwifery, Enterostomal Therapy, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner.
Core Courses for All Graduate Programs
The unifying theme of the master's level curriculum is that of transitions to help people reach and maintain an optimum stage of wellness.
NURS 511 Health Care Delivery System 3 NURS 550 Research: Investigative Inquiry 4 NURS 551 Research Integration: Capstone Experience 1 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practice Roles 3 M.S., Nursing (Enterostomal Therapy)
Students completing this course of study are prepared to be Clinical Specialists in Enterostomal Therapy (ET) nursing with knowledge and skills to provide health care to clients and families experiencing wound, ostomy and/or continence care problems throughout the life cycle. The program is designed to provide the student with management and entrepreneurial skills to develop independent practice options. Students enrolling in the Enterostomal Therapy option must complete the M.S., nursing core courses, advanced courses in pharmacotherapeutics, health assessment, nursing economics, primary care and the enterostomal therapy nursing specialty courses. The program consists of 38 units. Students must have a B.S., Nursing degree or comparable course work and one year of recent nursing experience; an interview may be required. Upon successful completion of NURS 501, NURS 502 and NURS 512L (12 units), students become eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination in Enterostomal Therapy Nursing.
Degree Requirements Units Core Courses NURS 511 Health Care Delivery System 4 NURS 550 Research: Investigative Inquiry 4 NURS 551 Reserch Integration: Capstone Experience 1 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practive 3 Clinical Courses NURS 501 Introduction to Enterostomal Therapy Nursing 4 NURS 502 Advanced Enterostomal Therapy Nursing 4 NURS 512L Enterostomal Therapy Practicum 4 NURS 514 Nursing and Health Care Economics 4 NURS 522 Intensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses 2 NURS 533 Primary Care of the Family 2 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice 3 NURS 570 Seminar on Integration into Health Care System 1 NURS 571L Advanced Practicum Residency 4 ____ Total units: 38 Post-master's Degree Enterostomal Therapy Nursing Certificate
Students with a master's degree in nursing are eligible to apply for enrollment in the post-master's degree ET program. This program prepares students for certification by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Society as enterostomal therapy nurses. This program can be completed in one semester.
Required Courses Units NURS 501 Introduction to Enterostomal Therapy Nursing 4 NURS 502 Advanced Enterostomal Therapy Nursing 4 NURS 512L Enterostomal Therapy Practicum 4 NURS 514 Nursing and Health Care Economics 4 NURS 522 Advanced Health Assessment 2 NURS 533 Primary Care of Family II 3 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practice Roles 3 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 NURS 571L Advanced Practicum Residency 4 ____ 30 M.S., Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner)
Students completing this course of study are prepared to be advanced primary care providers who possess the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive health care with a holistic focus to multiethnic clients and families throughout the life cycle. Students enrolling in the Family Nurse Practitioner option must complete the M.S., Nursing core courses, advanced health assessment and pathophysiology, three sets of practicum and didactic classes and an advanced course in pharmacotherapeutics. The total program consists of 38 units and may be completed in three semesters of full-time study. A flexible pathway which provides for self-paced learning is available.
Clinical Preparation Before enrolling in the first clinical course, students must have completed a course on health assessment and achieve a passing grade on a written and clinical evaluation of health assessment skills..
Applicants for the Family Nurse Practitioner program must have at least one year of experience as a registered nurse in addition to meeting all admission requirements for the M.S. program; an interview may be required.
Degree Requirements Units Core Courses NURS 511 Health Care Delivery System 4 NURS 550 Research: Investigative Inquiry 4 NURS 551 Reserch Integration: Capstone Experience 1 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practive 3 Clinical Courses NURS 521 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice 2 NURS 522 Intensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses 2 NURS 523 Primary Care of the Family I 4 NURS 524L Practicum in Primary Care of the Family I 4 NURS 533 Primary Care of the Family II 4 NURS 534L Practicum in Primary Care of the Family II 4 NURS 543 Seminar on Advanced Clinical Topics in Primary Care 1 NURS 544L Advanced Clinical Residency in Primary Care 4 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 NURS 570 Seminar on Integration into Health Care System 1 ____ Total units: 38 Post-Master's Degree Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Students with a master's degree in nursing are eligible to apply for enrollment in the post-master's degree FNP program. This program prepares students for certification by the California Board of Registered Nursing and the American Nurses' Association as Family Nurse Practitioners. The program can be completed in three semesters of full-time study or on a part-time basis.
Admission requirements include, in addition to the master's degree in nursing, three letters of reference from professional colleagues and/or former graduate school faculty. Before enrolling in the first clinical course, students must have completed a physical assessment course and achieved a passing grade on a written clinical evaluation of physical assessment skills. Applicants for the Family Nurse Practitioner program must also have at least one year of experience as a registered nurse. The total requirement for completion of the program is 30 units of course work.
Required courses Units NURS 521 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice 2 NURS 522 Intensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses 2 NURS 523 Primary Care of the Family I 4 NURS 524L Practicum in Primary Care of the Family I 4 NURS 533 Primary Care of the Family II 4 NURS 534L Practicum in Primary Care of the Family II 4 NURS 543 Seminar on Advanced Clinical Topics in Primary Care 1 NURS 544L Advanced Clinical Residency in Primary Care 4 NURS 562 Leadership in Advanced Practice 3 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice 3 Cognate (elective) 3 ____ 30 M.S., Nursing (Midwifery)
Students completing this course of study are prepared for the rapidly expanding discipline of nurse midwifery. Students enrolling in the M.S., Nursing (Midwifery) emphasis must complete the core courses as well as specialty practicum and didactic classes in nurse midwifery. The total program consists of 38 units.
In addition to the M.S. program admission requirements, applicants for the nurse midwifery emphasis must have one year's experience as a registered nurse. Six months of experience in labor and delivery is strongly preferred. A license to practice nursing in California and an interview are required.
Degree Requirements Units Core Courses NURS 511 Health Care Delivery System 4 NURS 550 Research: Investigative Inquiry 4 NURS 551 Reserch Integration: Capstone Experience 1 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practive 3 Clinical Courses NURS 522 Intensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses 2 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 NURS 579 Basic Nurse Midwifery Assessment and Management 4 NURS 580 Intermediate Nurse Midwifery Assessment and Management 4 NURS 581 Primary Care in Nurse Midwifery 2 NURS 582 Internship in Primary Care for Nurse Midwives 1 NURS 583 Nurse Midwfery Assessment and Management of Well Woman Gynecolory 3 NURS 585 Reproductive Physiology/Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice 2 NURS 586 Internship for Well Woman Gynecology 1 NURS 587 Internship in Basic Nurse Midwifery Practice 3 NURS 588 Internship in Intermediate Nurse Midwifery Practice 1 NURS 589 Internship in Advanced Nurse Midwifery Practice 2 ____ Total units: 38 Post-Master's Degree Nurse Midwifery Certificate
Students with a master's degree in nursing are eligible to apply for enrollment in the post-master's degree Nurse Midwifery program (N.M.W.). This program prepares students for certification by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. The program can be completed in three semesters of full-time study. The total program consists of 30 units.
Applicants must have at least two years of recent experience as a registered nurse. Six months recent experience in labor and delivery is strongly preferred. A license to practice nursing in California and an interview with the faculty is required. Applicants will be asked to submit three letters of reference from professional colleagues and/or former graduate school faculty.
Required courses Units NURS 522 Intensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses 2 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practice 3 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 NURS 579 Basic Nurse Midwifery Assessment and Management 4 NURS 580 Intermediate Nurse Midwifery Assessment and Management 4 NURS 581 Primary Care in Nurse-Midwifery 2 NURS 582 Internship in Primary Care for Nurse Midwives 1 NURS 583 Nurse Midwifery Assessment and Management of Well Woman Gynecology 3 NURS 585 Reproductive Physiology/Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice 2 NURS 586 Internship for Well Woman Gynecology 1 NURS 587 Internship in Basic Nurse Midwifery Practice 3 NURS 588 Internship in Intermediate Nurse Midwifery Practice 1 NURS 589 Internship in Advanced Nurse Midwifery Practice 2 ____ 30 M.S., Nursing (Gerontology Nurse Practitioner)
Students completing this course of study are prepared to be advanced primary care providers who possess the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive health care to multiethnic clients and families in the older age population. Students enrolling in the Gerontology Nurse Practitioner emphasis must complete the M.S., Nursing core courses, three sets of practicum and didactic classes, advanced courses in pharmacotherapeutics and advanced health assessment. The total program consists of 40 units and may be completed in four semesters of full-time study.
Clinical Prerequisite
Before enrolling in the first clinical course, students must have completed a course on health assessment and achieved a passing grade on a written and clinical evaluation of health assessment skills.
Students wishing to pursue the gerontology nurse practitioner option must meet all admission requirements for the M.S. program. Applicants for the Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program must also have at least one year of experience as a registered nurse.
Degree Requirements Units Core Courses NURS 511 Health Care Delivery System 4 NURS 550 Research: Investigative Inquiry 4 NURS 551 Reserch Integration: Capstone Experience 1 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practive 3 Clinical Courses NURS 521 Inteisive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses 2 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 NURS 572 Nurse Anesthesia I 4 NURS 573 Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice 4 NURS 574 Pathophysiology Related to Anesthesia Practice 4 NURS 575L Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I 4 NURS 576 Nurse Anesthesia II 5 NURS 577L Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I 3-8 NURS 578L Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia II 4-8 PHBI 583 Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Physiology 4 ____ 34-43 Total units: 45-54 Post-Master's Degree Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Students with a master's degree in nursing are eligible to apply for enrollment in the post-master's degree Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program. The total program consists of 32-34 units.
Applicants must have at least one year of recent experience as a registered nurse. A license to practice nursing in California is required as well as an interview with the faculty. Applicants will be asked to submit three letters of reference from professional colleagues and/or former graduate school faculty.
Required Courses Units GERO 510 Physiology of Development and Aging (4), or GERO 520 Life Span Developmental Psychology (2) 2-4 NURS 521 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice 2 NURS 522 Intensive Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses 2 NURS 525 Primary Care of Geriatric Clients I 3 NURS 526L Practicum in Primary Care of Geriatric Clients I 4 NURS 543 Seminar on Advanced Clinical Topics in Primary Care 3 NURS 544L Advanced Clinical Residency in Primary Care 4 NURS 548 Primary Care of Geriatric Clients II 3 NURS 549L Practicum in Primary Care of Geriatric Clients II 4 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practice 3 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 ____ 32-34 M.S., Nursing (Nurse Anesthesia)
This course of study prepares qualified nurses in the specialty of nurse anesthesiology and qualifies the graduate to sit for the certification examination given by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. The graduate attains a high level of clinical competence with an extensive body of didactic knowledge relevant to the specialty and advanced practice nursing. Students enrolling in the M.S., Nursing (Nurse Anesthesia) course of study must complete the M.S.N. core courses as well as specialty practicum and didactic classes. The program consists of 45-54 units and is completed in 24 months of continuous enrollment (six semesters).
In addition to the M.S., Nursing program admission requirements, applicants to the nurse anesthesia option must have completed appropriate undergraduate course work in physiology, chemistry, biochemistry and physics. A minimum of one year of experience in critical care nursing as a registered nurse is required. Licensure as an RN in California, current BCLS and ACLS certification are required prior to enrollment. All students enrolled in this option must be proficient with word processing and must own or have access to an IBM or compatible computer with modem for communication purposes and academic assignments. Conversational Spanish is strongly recommended. Applicants will be interviewed and must demonstrate an acceptable understanding of the roles and responsibilities of certified registered nurse anesthetists.
Required Courses
Units Core Courses NURS 511 Health Care Delivery System 4 NURS 550 Research: Investigative Inquiry 4 NURS 551 Reserch Integration: Capstone Experience 1 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practive 3 Clinical Courses NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 NURS 572 Nurse Anesthesia I 4 NURS 573 Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice 4 NURS 574 Pathophysiology Related to Anesthesia Practice 4 NURS 575L Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I 4 NURS 576 Nurse Anesthesia II 5 NURS 577L Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I 3-8 NURS 578L Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia II 4-8 PHBI 583 Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Physiology 4 ____ 34-43 Total units: 45-54 Post-Master's Degree Nurse Anesthesia Certificate
Students with a master's degree in nursing are eligible to apply for enrollment in the post-master's Nurse Anesthesia program. This program prepares students to sit for the certification given by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. The total program consists of 37 units.
Applicants must have a minimum of one year of recent experience in critical care nursing as a registered nurse. A license to practice nursing in California, current BLCS and ACLS certification, and an interview with the faculty are required. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an acceptable understanding of the roles and responsibilities of certified registered nurse anesthetists. Applicants will be asked to submit three letters of reference from professional colleagues and/or former graduate school faculty. All applicants must have completed appropriate undergraduate course work in physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. All students enrolled in this option must be proficient with work processing and must own or have access to an IBM or compatible computer with modem for communication purposes and academic assignments. Conversational Spanish is strongly recommended.
Required courses Units NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practice 3 NURS 565 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing 2 NURS 572 Nurse Anesthesia I 4 NURS 573 Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice 4 NURS 574 Pathophysiology Related to Anesthesia Practice 4 NURS 575L Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I 4 NURS 576 Nurse Anesthesia II 5 NURS 577L Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I 3-8 NURS 578L Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia II 4-8 PHBI 583 Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Physiology 4 ____ 37 M.S., Nursing (Leadership and Administration
The profound changes that have occurred in the financing and delivery of health care demand qualified nursing leaders to manage change and envision a future responsive to our society's health needs. The Leadership and Administration emphasis offers nursing leaders administrative theory and research directly applicable to the management of health care environments. Financial aspects of managing care are provided through accounting techniques and economic analyses. Health care delivery, health policy, and legal issues are integrated into course work and administrative residency experiences.
This program leads to the Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Leadership and Administration and prepares advanced nurse managers for executive leadership positions; provides the novice manager with leadership skills and advancement potential; and prepares managers for emerging non-hospital settings. Synthesis and application of nursing leadership and management is enhanced through administrative practice in selected health care settings. The program consists of 38 units and can be completed in three semesters of full-time study.
Degree Requirements
Units Core Courses NURS 511 Health Care Delivery System 4 NURS 550 Research: Investigative Inquiry 4 NURS 551 Reserch Integration: Capstone Experience 1 NURS 562 Leadership for Advanced Practive 3 Clinical Courses GSBA 510 Accounting Concepts and Financial Reporting 3 GSBA 543 Managerial Perspectives 3 NURS 514 Nursing and Health Care Economics 4 NURS 563L Nursing Leadership Practicum 3 NURS 566 Advanced Seminar in Nursing Leadership 3 NURS 567L Advanced Practicum in Nursing Leadership 2 NURS 571L Advanced Practicum Residency 4 PUAD 536 Legal Issues in Health Care Delivery 4 ____ 27 Total units: 38 Care Coordination Certificate
Case management (care coordination) is increasingly being recognized as an essential component of managed care which is the key to major health care reform in the United States. Use of case management approaches has shown reduction in health care costs, improvements in quality of life, improvements in rehabilitation, and increased client satisfaction and compliance with a medical care regimen. This program explores the multi-dimensions of case management and stresses both fundamental theory and structure as well as necessary skills for case management and the coordination of care on a professional level. This certificate program is designed for those who are working in the case management field as well as those who wish to enter it. It stresses standards of care and performance, the process of care coordination and serves as the foundation for case management in multiple settings. The program consists of 12 units and can be completed in a six-month period. This includes both classroom work and a role practicum. Admission requirements for the care coordination certificate include: Registered Nurse in the state of California and a bachelor's degree in any field.
The didactic courses are open to any health care professional with a bachelor's degree who is involved or interested in the care coordination field. The role practicum course, however, is open only to registered nurses licensed in the state of California.s
Required Courses Units NURS 503 Introduction to Case Management 4 NURS 504 Skills for Case Management 4 NURS 505L Role-Practicum and Seminar in Care Coordination 4 ____ 12 M.S./M.B.A. Dual Degree Program
Responding to the growing demand for nursing administrators with high-level management, leadership and business skills as well as a knowledge of nursing, the USC Department of Nursing has joined an elite group of universities throughout the country who offer dual degree programs. This M.S./M.B.A. dual degree program is offered cooperatively by the Department of Nursing and the Marshall School of Business. Students must complete concurrently all requirements established by both programs for their respective degrees.
This three-year program involves completion of the first year in the Department of Nursing, the second in the Marshall School of Business and then completion of the balance of the nursing program and related cognates in business.
A total of 48 units of business course work is required: all courses required in an M.B.A. core program and graduate business electives sufficient to bring the total units completed in the Marshall School of Business to at least 48.
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