The MSN program is an online program, dual focused in nursing leadership & education. Based on the AACN Essentials for Master’s Nursing Education it prepares nurses as leaders and educators in order to expand career opportunities and forge partnerships between education and practice settings. Nurse leaders will have the skills to collaborate with and within healthcare systems, to enhance patient outcomes. The core three advance practice content courses are required. The broad based curriculum also includes integrating concepts from epidemiology, social, scientific and environmental evidenced based data and business management principles in an effort to synthesize core leadership in nursing content from the perspective of a nurse educator and leader. Curriculum design, learning theory and evaluating outcomes are core areas for a nurse educator and essential to understanding and creating educators and leaders who uphold professional educational standards in an academic or clinical setting. This unique skill set is innovative in responding to the recommendations of the IOM report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” (2010). Leadership & Education MSN graduates will assimilate in a variety of healthcare settings with the educational foundation for a terminal doctoral degree.
MSN program student learning outcomes (SLOs)
Student learning outcomes or SLOs are statements specifying what students will know, be able to do or be able to demonstrate when they have completed the masters of science nursing program. The UBSN program has (10) SLOs, all of which are equally important to achieve:
- Execute advanced-level leadership and decision-making when providing quality and safe care delivery to individuals and populations across healthcare delivery systems
- Integrate epidemiological, social, core scientific and environmental data to design interventions that improve the health outcomes of diverse patient populations.
- Engage in scholarship that informs evidence-based clinical practice, decision-making and education of others
- Employ business management principles, informatics processes and technologies to deliver safe nursing care to diverse populations in a variety of settings
- Facilitate improvements in communication and collaboration that advance inter-professional partnerships
- Incorporate knowledge of curriculum development and design, implementation, and evaluation of health in nursing education programs
- Model leadership and educator behaviors that or advance professional nursing standards, laws, and policies in practice
- Incorporate ethical principles that advocate for social justice and the eradication of structural racism and systematic inequality in nursing and society.
- Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry and self-reflection that fosters flexibility and professional maturity.
- Contribute to an environment that promotes self-care, personal health and well-being.
MSN program tracks
Students may begin their journey towards an MSN in the RN to BSN online program. Current associate and diploma nurses may obtain a BSN in the UB RN to BSN program then continue to the MSN program in an accelerated track. This provides a seamless progression saving students time and money.
Similarly, for those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, an accelerated RN to MSN degree track is available (no BSN conferred) as a path to completing the MSN. Current RN to BSN students interested in pursuing the MSN should apply in their next to final semester in the RN to BSN program. Students admitted to the MSN program will begin with the direct care core graduate level courses.
Online MSN in Leadership & Education prerequisites/admission requirements
Admission to the Masters of Science in Nursing program through the University of Bridgeport School of Nursing (UBSN) is competitive. Each track below has specific requirements. Relevant admission information is provided for each applicant student type. The GRE is not required.
All potential MSN candidates must complete a graduate program online application and submit the following requirements based on the entering track:
1. University of Bridgeport BSN to MSN program
- Cumulative GPA > 3.0
- One professional letter of recommendation
- A 300-word essay on the reasons you are interested in the UB Leadership & Educator MSN degree
- Current unencumbered RN license
2. BSN to MSN program
- Cumulative GPA > 3.0 from an accredited BSN nursing program
- Two professional letters of recommendation
- A 300-word essay on the reasons you are interested in the UB Leadership & Educator MSN degree
- Completion of MATH 203 - Elementary Statistics with a C+ or better
- Current unencumbered RN license
3. RN to MSN students
- A non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited program
- An associate degree or diploma from an accredited school of nursing
- Cumulative GPA > 3.0
- Two professional letters of recommendation
- A 300-word essay on the reasons you are interested in the UB Leadership & Educator MSN degree
- Current unencumbered RN license
Upon admission of UB RN to BSN students, students who are interested in the MSN program should work with their advisor to take the following three (3) graduate-level courses instead of the 300-level courses in the RNBSN program. They may then accelerate into the MSN program upon completion of these courses and a 3.00 GPA.
- MATH 203 is a required prerequisite unless taken as part of the undergraduate Nursing program.
- MSN course/waived RN-BSN course:
Graduation requirements
In order to graduate from the MSN program, students must complete all required credits in their program track.
- UB RN to BSN - 30-39 credits
- BSN to MSN - 39 credits
- RN to MSN - 48 + required prerequisites not completed or transferred
