Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.)

Program Requirements

M.S. in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing offers five APRN programs. Clinical core course credits vary based on program of study.

Requirements

The number of credits for each course is designated in parentheses after the course title. For courses with a precepted clinical component, the number of hours required is also designated in parentheses.

Scholarship Core - 22 credits

  • GNUR 503 - Foundations in Nursing Research (3)
  • GNUR 558 - Capstone Development (2)
  • Choose ONE:
    • GNUR 559 - Capstone Implementation (2) CNS students only
    • GNUR 695 - NP Comprehensive Exam (2) NP students only
  • GNUR 702 - Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice & Applications in Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology and Information Systems for Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 706 - Healthcare Systems, Policy & Law (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3)
  • GNUR 708 - Complex Systems & Leadership (3)

Direct Core - 9 credits

  • GNUR 543 - Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
  • GNUR 570 - Pharmacology (3)
  • GNUR 571 - Diagnostic Reasoning (3)

Specialty Clinical Core - 13-23 credits

Choose ONE clinical core grouping from the options below.

Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 641 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar I (1) (150)
  • GNUR 643 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar II (1) (150)
  • GNUR 645 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar III (1) (150)
  • GNUR 647 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar IV (1) (150)
  • GNUR 669 - Complex Care of Chronically Ill Adult (3)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)

Graduates are eligible for New York state certification as an adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner and national, professional certification.

Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 632 - Adult Applications of the Spheres of Influence CNS Seminar (1) (125)
  • GNUR 639 - Older Adult Applications of the Spheres of Influence CNS Seminar (1) (125)
  • GNUR 688 - Synthesis CNS Practicum (1) (125)
  • GNUR 689 - Synthesis of the Spheres of Influence CNS Seminar (1) (125)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)

Graduates are eligible for New York state certification as a clinical nurse specialist and national, professional certification.

Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 642 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar I (1) (150)
  • GNUR 644 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar II (1) (150)
  • GNUR 646 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar III (1) (150)
  • GNUR 648 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar IV (1) (150)
  • GNUR 669 - Complex Care of Chronically Ill Adult (3)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)

Graduates are eligible for New York state certification as an adult/gerontology primary care nurse practitioner and national, professional certification.

Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (PCFNP)*
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 576 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Women (3)
  • GNUR 577 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Children (3)
  • GNUR 584 - Diagnosis and Management for Adults - FNP Seminar (1) (150)
  • GNUR 585 - Diagnosis and Management for Older Adults - FNP Seminar (1) (150)
  • GNUR 586 - Diagnosis and Management for Women - FNP Seminar (1) (150)
  • GNUR 587 - Diagnosis and Management for Pediatric Patients - FNP Seminar (1) (150)

*Students in the PCFNP program may elect to add GNUR 699 -  Issues in Acute Care (3 credits) to their degree program.

Graduates are eligible for New York state certification as a primary care family nurse practitioner and national, professional certification.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
  • GNUR 513 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum I: Trauma-informed Assessment & Intervention (1) (150)
  • GNUR 514 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum II: Evidence-based Treatment Modalities (1) (150)
  • GNUR 515 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum III: Interactive Management of Complex Co-morbidities (1) (150)
  • GNUR 516 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum IV: Advanced Strategies for At-risk Populations (1) (150)
  • GNUR 520 - Foundations of Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice (3)
  • GNUR 521 - Advanced Neuropsychiatric Assessment & Intervention (2)
  • GNUR 522 - Advanced Psychopharmacology (2)
  • GNUR 523 - Advanced Concepts in Psychotherapy with Individuals, Groups & Families (3)
  • GNUR 524 - Advanced Concepts in Health Integration (3)
  • GNUR 544 - Psychopathology & Differential Diagnosis (3)
  • GNUR 545 - Advanced Concepts in Child & Adolescent Mental Health (3)

Graduates are eligible for New York state certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and national, professional certification.

Total: 44-54 credits

Post-Master's Certificates

Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nurses who hold a master's degree in nursing or a non-clinical master's degree and wish to become adult/gerontology clinical nurse specialists may be eligible to obtain a CNS certificate. The post-master's program requires the student to complete coursework in the clinical nurse specialist program. All students entering the post-master's APRN certificate program will have a gap analysis performed to determine their individual plans of study.

Upon completion of this variable-credit program, the nurse will be eligible for certification as a CNS in New York state and national professional CNS certification.

Note: Students with a non-nursing master's degree may need to take additional courses from the core.

All Nurse Practitioner Programs

Nurses who hold a master's degree in nursing or a non-clinical master's degree and wish to become a nurse practitioner in an area of specialty may be eligible to obtain a post master's certification as a nurse practitioner. The post-master's program requires the student to complete coursework in the chosen nurse practitioner program.

Students who have already completed a master's program (either NP or non-NP) in nursing may be eligible for course waivers at the discretion of the chair. All students entering the post-master's APRN certificate program will have a gap analysis performed to determine their individual plans of study.

Upon completion of this variable-credit program, the nurse will be eligible for certification in the selected NP role in New York state and national professional NP certification.

Gainful Employment Information

Accelerated Opportunity: B.S. to M.S. Option

Current undergraduate nursing students at St. John Fisher College may petition to complete graduate-level coursework during their senior year of undergraduate study. This offers an accelerated approach for qualified traditional baccalaureate students who wish to pursue graduate study at the Wegmans School of Nursing. The accelerated option allows specific graduate-level courses to be taken during the senior year.  Students may take advantage of one or both accelerated options.

Note: Approval to take graduate courses does not guarantee admission to the M.S. programs. Students who wish to continue their graduate studies at Fisher must complete the application process for graduate admissions. Please contact the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions for more information.

Students beginning their study of nursing at St. John Fisher College follow the curriculum of the traditional nursing B.S. program. They may petition to take courses in the graduate program after all 300-level undergraduate courses have been completed with a GPA in nursing of 3.30 or higher. Students interested in an accelerated option should consult with their academic advisor and the graduate program director during their junior year at St. John Fisher College, Additional information will be provided during the J2 semester. Approved traditional baccalaureate students may pursue one or both of the following options:

First Semester Senior Year (S1)

Choose ONE of:

  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology and Information Systems for Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3)

Second Semester Senior Year (S2)

Choose ONE of:

  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology and Information Systems for Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3)

Enrollment Status

GNUR 704 or 707 is taken along with the other required undergraduate nursing courses. These courses are posted as graduate credit, and there is no additional charge for this course as long as the student is full-time in the undergraduate B.S. Nursing program.

The application of these GNUR fast track courses for graduate credit may be affected by curriculum changes in the graduate program in the future.

Accelerated Opportunity: RN to BS to M.S. Option

St. John Fisher College RN to BS online students may petition to complete graduate-level coursework during their undergraduate study. This offers an accelerated approach to R.N. baccalaureate students who wish to pursue graduate study at the Wegmans School of Nursing. The fast track options allow specific graduate-level courses to fulfill designated undergraduate requirements. Students may take advantage of one or both courses.

Note: Approval to take graduate courses does not guarantee admission to the M.S. nursing program. Students who wish to pursue their graduate studies at Fisher must complete the application process for graduate admissions. Please contact the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions for more information.

RN/BS program students with a nursing GPA of 3.30 or higher in nursing can substitute two graduate courses for two undergraduate nursing courses  Students must have completed courses in nursing research, undergraduate health assessment, and introductory statistics with grades of "B" or higher and four undergraduate RN to BS courses. Students should consult with their academic advisor and complete the Petition for Graduate Courses form.

  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology and Information Systems for Clinical Management (3)
  • in place of NURS 456 - Informatics in Health Care(3)

–AND/OR–

  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3)
    in place of NURS 459 - Capstone Professional Portfolio (3)

Enrollment Status

The completed graduate courses are posted as undergraduate credit on the student’s academic record, and there is no additional charge for these courses for students in the undergraduate RN/BS online nursing program. The graduate courses are added to the student’s graduate transcript at the end of the first semester of graduate study at the Wegmans School of Nursing.

The application of these GNUR fast track courses for graduate credit may be affected by curriculum changes in the graduate program in the future.

Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.)

For More Information

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