Degree Offered
- Master of Science in Nursing
Nature of the Program
Description
The West Virginia University School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree that provides the skills necessary to sit for advanced practice certification. The major area of study is Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Throughout the curriculum, students are guided in the process of self-development aimed at pursuing excellence in scholarly and professional endeavors. Courses are offered via web-based modalities using synchronous and asynchronous formats. The MSN program offers a curriculum that allows students to enroll on a part-time or full-time basis. The 46-credit program can be completed in five semesters (including a summer session) of full-time study (average of nine to twelve credit hours per semester)*. Flexibility within the basic curricular structure is achieved through the individualization of learning experiences and students may complete the program over a longer duration. The pattern and duration of the student’s plan of study is determined in consultation with a faculty advisor and is based upon the student’s background and goals.
Graduates meet all requirements to sit for the national certification examination in his or her major area of study, family nurse practitioner. They are prepared to offer care at the advanced practice level to select populations and are able to perform all activities encompassed in the traditional scope of practice.
*It is a strong recommendation by the University and the School of Nursing that graduate students limit their credit load if they are also involved in full-time work. Full-time work and studies may negatively affect the student’s ability to succeed academically.
Admissions for 2025-2026
MSN Criteria
- Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program and regionally accredited institution.
- A minimum overall nursing GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all college work attempted. (Provisional admission may be considered if the overall GPA is 2.75-2.99 depending upon space available and other qualifications).
- An active, unrestricted RN license in at least one state at the time of application.
- Letters of good standing (required for transfer students or those that have taken courses in another graduate program but did not complete the degree).
Students must satisfactorily complete background checks and drug screens upon admission.
Notes: To be considered, applicants must meet all WVU admission requirements, in addition to program specific admission criteria. Admission criteria are subject to change. Please see the School of Nursing website for the most up-to-date criteria at https://nursing.hsc.wvu.edu.
Readmission
Any student who has been dismissed from the West Virginia University School of Nursing or any other nursing program may be considered for readmission if the dismissal was academic and was followed by successful completion of an additional degree. Any student who has withdrawn from the WVU School of Nursing program may be considered for readmission. See Graduate Readmission Policy.
Admission as a non-degree
Non-degree seeking students may only enroll in NSG 706 Advanced Pathophysiology, NSG 705 Advanced Health Assessment, and NSG 701 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics.
Provisional Admission-Graduate Students
Provisional graduate admission may be offered to students when they have earned a baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited college or university but do not meet the criteria for regular admission. Provisionally admitted graduate students may have program-defined deficiencies or an undergraduate or graduate scholastic record that shows promise but is below the required 3.0 overall and/or nursing GPA for admission to the nursing program. Students will be considered for provisional admission on a case-by case basis depending upon space available and other qualifications.
If admitted, all graduate students are required to maintain a 3.0 in all work attempted in the nursing program. International students may not be admitted provisionally because such students are not eligible to receive a student visa. WVU will only submit visa paperwork for regularly admitted graduate students.
Provisional graduate students who fail to meet the provisions of admission or who fail to achieve the required grade point average will be dismissed from the program and reclassified as non-degree.
Reclassification of Graduate Students
Provisional graduate students may be reclassified as regular graduate student’s if/when they meet the program requirements specified in the offer of admission and the WVU minimum grade point average of 2.75.
Academic records of full-time degree seeking students who are admitted provisionally will be reviewed no later than the end of the term in which the students complete 18 credit hours.
Application Process
Applications may apply at any time for fall admission. Complete applications will be considered up to July 1st for MSN and post-master's certificate programs. Applicants can apply via the West Virginia University Graduate Admissions website and completing the main graduate student application. Applicants should select the fall term, “Masters” as the admission type, “Nursing MSN” as the intended program, and FNP track. Applicants will then be asked to select a full-time or part-time progression plan. Please note that full-time and part-time placements are based on space availability. The most qualified applicants will receive priority for full-time placements. Class size and progression plans may be limited based on available faculty resources and space. Applicants to the MSN program need to complete the following steps in order to be considered for admission:
- Application for Admission to Graduate Studies (available at: https://westvirginia.force.com/wvugrad/TX_SiteLogin?startURL=%2Fwvugrad%2FTargetX_Portal__PB)
- Request an official transcript of records from each college or university attended.
- It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service such as eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment to graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
- Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be sent directly to WVU Graduate Admissions, P.O. Box 6510, Morgantown, WV 26506-6510.
- Applicants who completed prior education outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Please request a “course-by-course” International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).
- Submit a current curriculum vitae, evidence of licensure, and applicable letters of good standing.
Major Code: 8646
Master of Science in Nursing Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required | ||
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all courses | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| NSG 622 | Theory and Disciplined Reasoning | 3 |
| NSG 623 | Advanced Practice Role & Interprofessional Collaboration | 3 |
| NSG 625 | Statistics | 3 |
| NSG 626 | Lifespan Health Promotion | 3 |
| NSG 627 | Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| NSG 628 | Leadership/Policy/Ethics | 3 |
| NSG 706 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NSG 709 | Health Care Informatics | 3 |
| Required Area of Emphasis | 22 | |
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | ||
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Suggested Plan of Study for Family Nurse Practitioner Area of Emphasis
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSG 622 | 3 | NSG 625 | 3 | NSG 626 | 3 |
| NSG 623 | 3 | NSG 627 | 3 | NSG 712 | 3 |
| NSG 706 | 3 | NSG 701 | 3 | ||
| NSG 705 | 3 | ||||
| 9 | 12 | 6 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| NSG 709 | 3 | NSG 628 | 3 | ||
| NSG 714 | 3 | NSG 721 | 5 | ||
| NSG 720 | 5 | ||||
| 11 | 8 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 46 | |||||
A minimum of 10 credits of Family Practicum (including Practicum 1 and 2) is required for graduation. This equates to a total of 600 hours of supervised clinical experience.
Area of Emphasis
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NSG 701 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NSG 705 | Advanced Lifespan Assessment | 3 |
| NSG 712 | Primary Care of Families 1 | 3 |
| NSG 714 | Primary Care of Families 2 | 3 |
| NSG 720 | Family Practicum 1 | 5 |
| NSG 721 | Family Practicum 2 | 5 |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
Progression Standards
To progress in the MSN and post-master's curricula, a student must meet the following performance standards. Failure to meet the criteria below will result in dismissal from the program.
- Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement
- Degree seeking students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA. A student who falls below a 3.0 in program courses after nine or more credit hours are completed in the program will be placed on academic notice.
- Full-time degree-seeking graduate students will have only one semester to bring up their GPA to the 3.0 requirement. Failure to raise the program GPA to 3.0 by the next enrolled semester will result in program dismissal.
- Part-time graduate students will have two semesters to bring up the GPA to the 3.0 requirement. Failure to raise the program GPA to 3.0 by the next enrolled semester will result in program dismissal.
- Degree seeking students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA. A student who falls below a 3.0 in program courses after nine or more credit hours are completed in the program will be placed on academic notice.
- Post-graduate certificate seeking students are required to take fewer credits than those in the degree programs. Therefore, a GPA lower than 3.0 will not be grounds for probation or dismissal. However, a minimum GPA of 2.75 based on courses applied to a certificate is required for the award of a certificate.
- Course grade requirements:
- Students must earn A, B, C, Pass, or Satisfactory in all required courses.
- A grade of F, Fail, or Unsatisfactory in any course results in program dismissal.
- Students can only carry forward one C grade in a nursing course. A second C in any nursing course will result in program dismissal.
- Students can only carry forward two course withdrawals (resulting in a "W" on the academic transcript). The withdrawals cannot occur in the same course more than one time.
- Course age requirements:
- Students are permitted to continue in a graduate nursing program for a maximum of seven years following their term of admission to the programs. A course completed more than seven years prior to the term of degree or certificate completion will be reviewed by program administrators and the Associate Dean of Curriculum. The student may be required to validate current knowledge in the subject area, repeat the course(s), or complete competency evaluation. The University's time limit requirement must also be met.
Graduate Readmission Policy
Any student who has been dismissed from the West Virginia University School of Nursing or any other nursing program may be considered for readmission if the dismissal was academic and was followed by successful completion of an additional degree. Any student who has withdrawn from the WVU School of Nursing program may be considered for readmission. Students may apply for readmission in accordance with the following guidelines and criteria but must follow the standard admission procedures. Students must meet all original admission requirements.
- Students previously enrolled in a WVU nursing program must complete all exit procedures and forms during the semester of withdrawal to be eligible for readmission.
- Readmission to a WVU graduate nursing program will be considered one time only.
- Students unable to complete the program within 7 years of the original admission date (all graduate programs) and within 5 years of entry into candidacy (PhD program) will be required to restart the program if readmitted.
- Readmission is not guaranteed and is dependent upon space available, applicant qualifications, and academic discretion.
- Students may be required to repeat courses, revise the original progression plan, and/or validate clinical skills/knowledge obtained from previous courses.
Grading Scale
The grading scale for nursing as posted in each course syllabus is:
A = 93-100, B = 85-92, C = 77-84, F = 76 and below.
Major Learning Outcomes
Master of Science in Nursing
At the completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:
1. Use disciplined reasoning from sciences and the humanities to:
a. Integrate nursing and related sciences into the delivery of advanced nursing care to diverse populations.
b. Design nursing care for a clinical or community focused population based on biopsychosocial, public health, nursing, and organizational sciences.
c. Apply ethical analysis and clinical reasoning to assess, intervene, and evaluate advanced nursing care delivery.
d. Analyze nursing history to expand thinking and provide a sense of professional heritage and identity.
2. Incorporate current and emerging genetic/genomic evidence in providing advanced nursing care to individuals, families, and communities while accounting for patient values and clinical judgment through:
a. Synthesizing broad ecological, global and social determinants of health; principles of genetics and genomics; and epidemiologic data to design and deliver evidence based, culturally relevant clinical prevention interventions and strategies.
b. Designing patient-centered and culturally responsive strategies in the delivery of clinical prevention and health promotion interventions and/or services to individuals, families, communities, and aggregates/clinical populations.
c. Integrating clinical prevention and population health concepts in the development of culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate health education, communication strategies, and interventions.
3. Support quality improvement and patient safety by:
a. Promoting a professional environment that includes accountability, peer review, advocacy for patients and families, reporting of errors, and professional writing.
b. Contributing to the integration of healthcare services to affect safety and quality of care to improve patient outcomes and reduce fragmentation of care.
c. Participating in, and leading when appropriate, in quality initiatives that integrate socio-cultural factors affecting the delivery of nursing and healthcare services.
4. Demonstrate organizational and systems leadership that:
a. Emphasizes clinical practice.
b. Continually improves health outcomes.
c. Ensures patient safety.
5. Analyze and evaluate evidence to integrate scholarship into practice through:
a. Integrating theory, evidence, clinical judgment, and interprofessional perspectives to improve practice and health outcomes for patient aggregates.
b. Articulating to a variety of audiences the evidence base for practice decisions, including the credibility of sources of information and the relevance to the practice problem.
c. Applying practice guidelines to improve practice.
d. Participating, and leading when appropriate, in collaborative teams to improve care outcomes and support policy changes through knowledge generation, dissemination, and implementation.
6. Demonstrate proficiency in the analysis and use of information systems and technology to sustain improvements and promote transparency using high reliability and just culture principles through:
a. Analyzing current emerging technologies to support safe practice environments, and to optimize patient safety, cost-effectiveness, and health outcomes.
b. Using information and communication technologies, resources, and principles of learning to teach patients and others.
c. The use of current and emerging technologies in the care environment to support lifelong learning for self and others.
7. Assume an advocacy role in healthcare policy by:
a. The analysis of the influence of policy on the structure and financing of health care practice and health outcomes.
b. Participation in the development and implementation of institutional, local, state, and federal policy.
c. The examination of the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice, health care delivery, and outcomes.
d. Interpreting research and bringing the nursing perspective for policy makers and stakeholders.
e. Advocating for policies that improve the health of the public and the nursing profession.
8. Collaborate with other professions to improve patient and population health outcomes by:
a. Advocating for the value of the professional nurse as members, and leaders when indicated, of interprofessional healthcare teams.
b. Using collaboration in the design, coordination, and evaluation of patient- centered care.
c. Mentoring and coaching new and experienced nurses and other members of the healthcare team.
d. Understanding other health professions scopes of practice to maximize contributions within the healthcare team.
9. Plan, manage, and evaluate evidence-based clinical prevention and population care by:
a. Evaluating the effectiveness of clinical prevention interventions that affect individual and population-based health outcomes.
b. Delivering patient-centered and culturally responsive strategies in prevention and health promotion to individuals, families, communities, and aggregates/clinical populations.
10. Ensure accountability for advanced practice based on refined assessment skills; advanced communication skills; and biophysical, genetic, genomic, psychosocial, sociopolitical, economic, ethical, and cultural principles through:
a. Delivering safe, quality care to diverse populations in a variety of settings and roles.
b. Conducting a comprehensive and systematic assessment as a foundation for decision making.
c. Applying the best available evidence from nursing and other sciences as the foundation for practice.
d. Using knowledge of illness and disease management to provide evidence- based care to populations, perform risk assessments, and design plans or programs of care.
e. Incorporating core scientific and ethical principles in identifying potential and actual ethical issues arising from practice, in assisting patients and other healthcare providers to address such issues.
Courses
NSG 622. Theory and Disciplined Reasoning. 3 Hours.
Introduction to the theoretical foundations of the discipline of nursing as a basis for applying disciplined reasoning to advanced practice.
NSG 623. Advanced Practice Role & Interprofessional Collaboration. 3 Hours.
Exploration of the concepts, theories, and research that guide the advanced practice nursing role. This foundational course introduces students to the knowledge, skill, and behavioral expectations of the nurse in an advanced practice role, including interprofessional collaboration.
NSG 625. Statistics. 3 Hours.
This course provides an introduction to the collection and analysis of nursing and health sciences data. Topics include sampling, data presentation, summary measures, probability, confidence interval, hypothesis testing, t-test and ANOVA, correlation analysis, simple/multiple linear regression, chi-square test, power and sample size calculation.
NSG 626. Lifespan Health Promotion. 3 Hours.
PR or CONC: NSG 622 and NSG 623. An in-depth study of theoretical foundations, epidemiological principles, and advance practice strategies for the promotion of health and prevention of disease across the life-span.
NSG 627. Evidence Based Practice. 3 Hours.
PR or CONC: NSG 625. An analysis of the application of research to guide the advanced practice nurse in evidence-based nursing practice.
NSG 628. Leadership/Policy/Ethics. 3 Hours.
PR: NSG 627. An exploration of the concept of leadership in the advanced practice role and application of these leadership behaviors to health care policy and ethical decision making.
NSG 701. Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics. 3 Hours.
PR: NSG 706. Examination of the relationship between pharmacologic principles and the selection of pharmacologic agents in altered health states across the lifespan. This course lays the foundation of subsequent courses in diagnosis, management, and therapeutic interventions.
NSG 705. Advanced Lifespan Assessment. 3 Hours.
PR: NSG 706. The focus of this course is the advanced health assessment of individuals across the lifespan. Skilled interviewing and advanced assessment skills are emphasized.
NSG 706. Advanced Pathophysiology. 3 Hours.
Theoretical basis of pathophysiological changes in acute and chronic illnesses confronted in primary care across the lifespan is presented. The course serves as the foundation for clinical assessment, decision making, and management.
NSG 709. Health Care Informatics. 3 Hours.
Explore information technologies used in point-of-care inpatient and outpatient health settings and describe methods of utilization of technology for practice improvement, quality, and safety.
NSG 712. Primary Care of Families 1. 3 Hours.
PR: NSG 701 and NSG 705. An introduction to the knowledge and skills basic to the health maintenance, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and revision of care of individuals as members of family units in the primary care setting.
NSG 714. Primary Care of Families 2. 3 Hours.
PR: NSG 712. Further acquisition of knowledge and skills basic to the health maintenance, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and revision of care of individuals as members of family units in the primary care setting. The change in course hours reflects change in content.
NSG 720. Family Practicum 1. 5 Hours.
PR: NSG 712 and PR or CONC: NSG 714. Supervised practicum designed to facilitate the student's competency at the advanced practice level in the delivery of primary health care across the lifespan.
NSG 721. Family Practicum 2. 5 Hours.
PR: NSG 720. Supervised practicum that builds upon Family Practicum 1 and applies theory and evidence to the advanced practice of nursing. Further role and competency development at the advanced practice level of lifespan primary health care.
NSG 770. Pediatric Primary Care 1. 3 Hours.
PR or CONC: NSG 767. An introduction to the knowledge and skills basic to the health maintenance, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation and revision of care of children in the primary care setting.
NSG 771. Pediatric Primary Care 2. 3 Hours.
PR: NSG 770. Further acquisition of knowledge and skills central to the assessment of health status, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of children in the primary care setting.
NSG 772. Pediatric Practicum 1. 5 Hours.
PR or CONC: NSG 771. Supervised practicum designed to facilitate the student's competency in the delivery of primary health care to children.
NSG 773. Pediatric Practicum 2. 5 Hours.
PR: NSG 772. Supervised practicum that builds on NSG 772 [Pediatric Practicum 1] and applies theory and evidence to the advanced practice of nursing. Further role and competency development at the advanced practice level for the delivery of primary health care to pediatric populations.