Nursing: Master of Science

Addressing the full scope of advanced practice nursing, including the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, the Post-Professional Master of Science in Nursing broadly prepares registered nurses to become competent, highly-skilled, reflective nurse-leaders, equipped to practice in a variety of settings.

Emphasizing the critical mix of academic, clinical, and research experiences advanced practice nurses need in today’s complex and demanding health care environment, our Master’s curriculums utilizes a teaching methodology that enables students to immediately meld theory with clinical practice in stages throughout the program and, as a result, more easily apply what they are learning to their knowledge and skill set.

To integrate classroom and clinical learning, our program offers intensive but supportive clinical experiences. Students complete a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practicum throughout this program, more if they have chosen specialties catering to various age groups or requiring performance in multiple health care settings. These experiences allow students to meet highly individualized learning objectives in a variety of settings and to continually practice what they learn in class with real patients. Our students enjoy priority placements at prestigious health care facilities, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, McLean Hospital, Faulkner Hospital and North Shore Medical Center. These placements have often resulted in job offers after graduation.

As a student of this rigorous graduate degree program, you will be immersed in the science-based theory and evidence-based practice of the premier minds, practitioners, and facilities in the nursing field. You will be mentored by those defining the leading edge of today’s dynamic and growing nursing field and be charged with the pursuit of humanistic values, professionalism, and quality care.

In acquiring your credits, you will receive a clinical education across the continuum of socio-economic, ethnic, and clinical sites, and have the opportunity to study with a faculty that is actively engaged in scholarship. You will also be prepared in the utilization of research as it impacts clinical care and outcomes and have the opportunity to be supported in studies and research related to your own interests.

Benefiting from intensive clinical practicum experiences with real patients while working one-on-one with a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician in your specialty, you will practice your craft in various hospital and community settings.

As a result, you will hone your critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, assessment, and decision making skills as a means for mastering ever-changing ways to promote, maintain, and restore health as the foundation for a caring, holistic practice.

The program can be taken on either a full or part-time basis and is open to licensed registered nurses with any of the following qualifications:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) in a field other than Nursing
Nursing Diploma or Associate Degree (AD) *

The prerequisites you will need for entry into the program, your course load, and the length of your program may vary depending upon your previous educational preparation and choice of specialty. Upon enrollment, a faculty member who is a clinical expert in your chosen field of specialization will be assigned to you to individualize a curriculum plan that meets your interests and assures eligibility for certification in your advanced practice specialty.

Experienced RNs may be eligible to earn up to 6 credits for life/work experience which may be applied to Advanced Practice Level courses. Credits are awarded based on a review of a portfolio prepared by the applicant after matriculation.