College of Health Professions

Master of Science in Nursing

Program Description and Outcomes

The MSN program is an online program designed for registered nurses who have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Candidates for this program must be graduates of a nationally accredited nursing program. The program prepares nurses for advanced nursing roles with a sequence of core courses plus additional course work that allows students to specialize in one of two concentrations:

Nursing Education Track

Nurses are prepared to function in academic, staff development, or patient education roles. The program provides an excellent foundation in nursing knowledge, leadership and research skills, and adult educational theory and strategies. For individuals who plan to teach nursing at a baccalaureate or graduate level, this program will prepare them for doctoral study.

Nursing Administration Track * This program track is temporarily suspended for a duration of 12 months.

Nurses develop knowledge and skills to influence effective change in health care systems. The application of nursing and leadership theories, economic and finance principles, business management practices, and interdisciplinary collaborative strategies are explored

MSN Program Outcomes:

Integrate skills in critical thinking, information management, and systematic inquiry into the advanced nursing practice role (Clinical Judgment).
Utilize advanced communication processes to influence health care, health care policy, and advanced professional nursing practice (Communication).
Synthesize knowledge from concepts, theories, principles and research in nursing in the planning and delivery of holistic evidence based health care that is responsive to changing needs and societal trends for a multicultural population (Evidence Based Practice).
Assume leadership, responsibility and accountability for value based decision-making in the advanced practice role (Professionalism).
Develop a conscious application and assimilation of the principles of Christian discipleship in the implementation of the advanced practice role (Christian Discipleship).

Assessment

In the Master of Science in Nursing degree program, periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual growth are obtained for the University to assess and improve its academic programs and student learning. The information obtained is used to measure and develop student competencies and to determine and improve the quality of the educational experience for students.

All students seeking the Master of Science in Nursing are required to take the Master’s Project and Practicum course, including completion of the comprehensive examination, for the purpose of demonstrating the program and specialty outcomes have been met.

Comprehensive Examination

Each student is required to pass a comprehensive examination in the last semester of their program during NUR 5523 Master’s Project and Practicum course. The Comprehensive Exam is a synthesis and evaluation of the MSN Program level student learning outcomes. Each track has measurable student learning outcomes (Nursing Education or Nursing Administration). The exam day includes a professional presentation of the student’s Master’s Project evaluated by selected faculty.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Unclassified Status

Students who do not wish to pursue a degree but who are eligible for graduate study may take up to six graduate credit hours of graduate level nursing course work. The ability to transfer credit for the courses completed toward the graduate program at SBU, or another college or university, depends upon the course of study provided at the time of transfer by the receiving program. Applicants who have not completed the application process are also placed in this status until requirements are met.

MSN Admission Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited college or university.
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in previous nursing degree. If the student’s GPA is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores may be required.
Submission of the following documents:
1. MSN Application
2. Official Transcript(s) from all prior nursing programs
*Records and/or requirements:
1. Current unencumbered RN license in state of residence/employment. Education regulations of the National Council of State Authorization for Distance Education may prohibit acceptance of applicants from certain states. See www.nc-sara.org for further details regarding states that are impacted.
2. Current BLS certification
3. Photo ID/driver’s license
4. Background screening including Family Care Registry
5. Urine drug screening
6. Immunization record (Covid, Tdap, TB, Varicella, MMR, annual influenza, Hepatitis B series)

*Students accepted into the MSN program are required to submit the following records within designated time limits. Admission is conditional until records and requirements are met. Admission criteria subject to change.

International Students

As part of the admissions process, an international credential evaluation is required reporting prior to university study. SBU accepts evaluations from World Education Services (WES), found at www.wes.org or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) found at www.ece.org. An official international credential evaluation should come directly to Southwest Baptist University electronically or through the mail in a sealed envelope. Transfer credit will be applied according to information reported on the official evaluation. International students who transfer work to SBU from foreign institutions are responsible for any evaluation fees associated with the transfer of credits. A letter of acceptance will be issued only when an applicant is found eligible for admission.

Transfer Credit

Nine graduate semester hours completed at another regionally accredited institution may be transferred and applied to the degree. These credits must be comparable to courses offered at Southwest Baptist University and must be approved by the MSN faculty and dean.

Degree Requirements

Students are eligible to graduate after fulfilling the requirements described below. Students who enroll in another college or university without prior permission of the Division Head are considered to have withdrawn from Southwest Baptist University. Students wishing to transfer work from another institution and not withdraw from SBU must obtain prior approval from the Division Head as well as the Dean of College of Health Professions.

To receive the MSN degree a student must:

Complete all course and clinical requirements outlined in the program of study for the chosen track,
Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with no grade below a C (2.0).
Earn a passing grade on the MSN comprehensive examination.
Complete all requirements within 5 years of the date admitted to the graduate program.
Participate in commencement exercises unless absence is approved by the Provost.

Progression in the MSN Program

Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better in all MSN courses. If a student fails a course with a “D” or below, they will be permitted to repeat the course one (1) time. The student is placed on academic probation by the Division Head or Dean of the College of Health Professions. The Division Head will monitor the student’s progress in the program and may prescribe additional support activities to promote student success in the program. Any MSN student who fails two (2) nursing courses or fails the same course twice will be automatically dismissed from the graduate program. Students have the option to file an appeal through the College of Health Professions. Students may reapply for admission after a mandatory one-year suspension.

Program of Study and Academic Regulations

The MSN degree program will consist of 39-42 credit hours depending on program track The MSN program is based on the belief that graduate education builds on previous knowledge, experience and degrees. The following plan of study provides the MSN student with core knowledge and concepts from which to build a specialty practice in nursing.

Nurse Education Specialty Outcomes

Utilize critical thinking skills to integrate education theories, technology, and professional standards into the design, implementation and evaluation of curriculum (Clinical Judgment).
Determine interventions to evaluate learning and curricular outcomes in nursing education (Evidence Based Practice).
Analyze ethical, political, organizational, cultural, technological, and professional influences on nursing education (Professionalism).
Develop research based educational strategies for multicultural diverse students (Communication).
Integrate the principles of Christian discipleship and a Christian worldview into the development of nursing education systems (Christian Discipleship).