The graduate program includes core concepts of advanced practice nursing as well as concepts specific to the area of specialization. The curriculum is built on the theories and professional practice students have obtained at the baccalaureate level of nursing education and provides a foundation for future doctoral study. 

Independent and interdependent functions of nursing are emphasized as important in achieving the health goals of individuals, families, and communities. Thus, graduates of the program are prepared to improve the quality of nursing practice and to influence the delivery of health care. Clinical resources of the department include a wide variety of facilities in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. 

The majority of students attend classes on a part-time basis. All classes are held after 3:00 p.m., in order to accommodate working nurses. Alternative delivery methods are available for selected courses. These may include videotaping of some courses as well as live-interactive transmission for long-distance learners to southern Delaware. 

NLNAC ACCREDITATION: The Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs subscribes to the philosophy and purposes of NLNAC accreditation set forth in the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The address of the National League for Nursing is 360 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014. (212) 989-9393. 

To be considered for admission, applicants are expected to have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN accredited school of nursing. Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria: (1) satisfactory performance in undergraduate academic work as well as in upper-division nursing courses; (2) satisfactory performance on the GREs; (3) completion of an undergraduate statistics course; 4) a total of three academic and/or professional references; 5) licensure as a registered nurse in Delaware or in the state where clinical practice is to be arranged; and 6) an interview with a faculty member from the graduate program. For foreign students, a minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language is recommended. 

One year of recent clinical experience is required prior to starting the clinical courses. For CNS and NP students, completion of an undergraduate health assessment course is recommended. All applicants are considered on an individual basis. 

Admission is selective and competitive based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths. See also the chapter "Admission Information" in this catalog. 

Students in the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nursing Administration concentrations must complete 34 credit hours of graduate study for the M.S.N. Those pursuing the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration and combined CNS/NP programs must complete 43 credit hours. All students take at least 15 credits of core courses and research. 

Students have the option of writing either a thesis or a non-thesis scholarly project to meet the program requirements or they may complete a Research Dissemination course. Those who choose to write a thesis conduct the necessary research and receive six credits (NURS 869) for the completed study. 
 

Course Requirements for the M.S.N. Specialties
Core Courses - All Specialties Clinical Nurse Specialist Family Nurse Practitioner	Combined Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practitioner Nursing Administration

Core Courses for all Programs (15 Credits) 
 

• NURS 803 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3) 
• NURS 804 Advanced Nursing Practice: Roles and Issues (3) 
• NURS 810 Research Methods in Nursing (3) 
• EDST 665 Elementary Statistics (3) 
• Three credits from among the following:
• NURS 868 Scholarly Projects (3) 
• NURS 869 Master's Thesis (6) 
• NURS 887 Research Dissemination (3) 

 

---

• Core Courses (15) 
• NURS 820 Advanced Health Assessment (3) 
• NURS 821 Advanced Pathophysiology (3) 
• NURS 886 Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Integration (4) 

REQUIRED COURSES FOR EACH SPECIALTY

Nursing of Children 
 

• NURS 854 Nursing of Children I (3) 
• NURS 855 Nursing of Children II (3) 

Gerontologic Nursing 
 

• NURS 831 Comprehensive Assessment of Older Persons (3) 
• NURS 832 Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Disease Management for Older Persons (3)  

Cardiopulmonary Nursing 
 

• NURS 840 Cardiopulmonary Nursing I (3) 
• NURS 841 Cardiopulmonary Nursing II (3)  

Perinatal/Women's Health Nursing 
 

• NURS 850 Nursing of Women and Newborns I (3)  
• NURS 851 Nursing of Women and Newborns II (3)  

Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing 
 

• NURS 845 Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing I (3)  
• NURS 846 Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing II (3) 

• Core Courses (15) 
• NURS 820 Advanced Health Assessment (3) 
• NURS 821 Advanced Pathophysiology  (3)  
• NURS 822 Advanced Pharmacology  (3)  
• NURS 823 Management of Women's Health Care  (3) 
• NURS 824 Management of Children's Health  (3) 
• NURS 825 Management of Adult Episodic Health Needs and Problems  (3) 
• NURS 826 Management of Adult Chronic Health Needs and Problems  (3) 
• NURS 827 Preceptorship (6) 
• NURS 828 Nurse Practitioner Seminar (1) 

• Core Courses (15) 
• NURS 820 Advanced Health Assessment  (3) 
• NURS 821 Advanced Pathophysiology  (3)  
• NURS 822 Advanced Pharmacology  (3)  
• NURS 827 Preceptorship (6) 
• NURS 828 Nurse Practitioner Seminar (1) 

REQUIRED COURSES FOR EACH SPECIALTY

Nursing of Children/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 854 Nursing of Children I  (3) 
• NURS 855 Nursing of Children II  (3)  
• NURS 824 Management of Children's Health  (3) 
• NURS 830 Advanced Management of Children and Adolescent Health Care Needs  (3) 

Gerontologic Nursing/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 831 Comprehensive Assessment of Older Persons  (3) 
• NURS 832 Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Disease Management for Older Persons  (3) 
• NURS 825 Management of Adult Episodic Health Needs  (3) 
• NURS 826 Management of Adult Chronic Health Needs  (3) 

Cardiopulmonary Nursing/Adult Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 840 Cardiopulmonary Nursing I  (3) 
• NURS 841 Cardiopulmonary Nursing II  (3) 
• NURS 825 Management of Adult Episodic Health Needs  (3) 
• NURS 826 Management of Adult Chronic Health Needs  (3) 

Perinatal/Women's Health Nursing/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 850 Nursing of Women and Newborns I  (3) 
• NURS 851 Nursing of Women and Newborns II  (3) 
• NURS 823 Management of Women's Health Care  (3) 
• NURS 829 Advanced Management of Women's Health Care  (3) 

Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing/Adult Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 845 Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing I  (3) 
• NURS 846 Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing II  (3) 
• NURS 825 Management of Adult Episodic Health Needs  (3) 
• NURS 826 Management of Adult Chronic Health Needs  (3) 

• Core Courses (15) 
• Elective  (6) 
• NURS 819 Nursing Administration: Accounting, Finance and Organizational Budgets  (3)  
• NURS 836 Organizational Theories and Nursing Administration  (3) 
• NURS 837 Organizational Goals and Planning Strategies  (3) 
• NURS 838 Nursing Management and Evaluation (4) 

Post Master's Certificate programs are available in all specialties. The Post Master's Certificate option is designed to provide individuals who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree with the core courses and clinical experiences necessary for eligibility for advanced certification. The number of credits varies with the area of concentration and the student's past academic record. Students must complete all course requirements within five years of matriculation into the Post Master's program. 

To apply to the post-master's certificate programs, applicants must submit an application and an official transcript of undergraduate and master's degrees to the University of Delaware. Three letters of recommendation should be sent to the Graduate Program at the Department of Nursing. An interview with a faculty member is also required. 

• NURS 819 Nursing Administration: Accounting, Finance, and Organizational Budgets (3) 
• NURS 836 Organizational Theories and Nursing Administration (3) 
• NURS 837 Organizational Goals and Planning Strategies (3) 
• NURS 838 Nursing Management and Evaluation (4)

All tracks require: 
 

• NURS 820 Advanced Health Assessment (3) 
• NURS 821 Advanced Pathophysiology (3) 
• NURS 886 Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Integration (4) 

Nursing of Children 
 

• NURS 854 Nursing of Children I (3)  
• NURS 855 Nursing of Children II (3)  

Gerontologic Nursing 
 

• NURS 831 Comprehensive Assessment of Older Persons (3) 
• NURS 832 Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Disease Management for Older Persons (3) 

Cardiopulmonary Nursing 
 

• NURS 840 Cardiopulmonary Nursing I (3)  
• NURS 841 Cardiopulmonary Nursing II (3) 

Perinatal/Women's Health Nursing 
 

• NURS 850 Nursing of Women and Newborns I (3)  
• NURS 851 Nursing of Women and Newborns II (3)  

Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing 
 

• NURS 845 Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing I (3)  
• NURS 846 Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing II (3) 

• NURS 820 Advanced Health Assessment (3)  
• NURS 821 Advanced Pathophysiology (3) 
• NURS 822 Advanced Pharmacology (3) 
• NURS 823 Management of Women's Health Care (3) 
• NURS 824 Management of Children's Health (3) 
• NURS 825 Management of Adult Episodic Health Needs and Problems (3) 
• NURS 826 Management of Adult Chronic Health Needs and Problems (3) 
• NURS 827 Preceptorship (6) 
• NURS 828 Nurse Practitioner Seminar (1) 

All tracks require: 
 

• NURS 820 Advanced Health Assessment (3)  
• NURS 821 Advanced Pathophysiology (3) 
• NURS 822 Advanced Pharmacology (3) 
• NURS 827 Preceptorship (6) 
• NURS 828 Nurse Practitioner Seminar (1) 

Adult Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 825 Management of Adult Episodic Health Needs and Problems (3)  
• NURS 826 Management of Adult Chronic Health Needs and Problems (3)  

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 824 Management of Children's Health (3) 
• NURS 830 Advanced Management of Children and Adolescent Health Care Needs (3)  

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 823 Management of Women's Health Care (3)  
• NURS 829 Advanced Management of Women's Health Care (3) 

Geriatric Nurse Practitioner 
 

• NURS 825 Management of Adult Episodic Health Needs and Problems (3) 
• NURS 826 Management of Adult Chronic Health Needs and Problems (3)