University of Southern Maine

Master of Science in Nursing for Non-Nurses with a Baccalaureate Degree - The Options Program

Recognizing the ability of the holder of a baccalaureate degree to enter nursing as an advanced learner, this program allows students to earn a Master's degree in nursing in three years. Students build their education in nursing on previous academic and life experiences.

During their first year students complete upper-division undergraduate courses with regularly enrolled baccalaureate nursing students. In the summer or fall of the second year, students begin graduate non-clinical nursing courses with regularly enrolled master's students.

Areas of Specialization:

• Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (AHCNS)*
• Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (APMH/CNS)
• Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist & Nurse Practitioner (APMH/CNS/NP)
• Family Psychiatric/Mentor Health Nurse Practitioner (FPMH/NP)
  
  * This concentration is not available to students applying to the MS-Options program.

Admission to the M.S. Option Program:

Admission is competitive and limited. This accelerated graduate program requires full-time enrollment in the planned sequence of study. Some scholarship monies are available. Each student's application will be evaluated based on a composite of the following recommended standards. Deadline for submitting completed applications is December 1st.

Application:

Application for Grad Admission

Admission Requirements for Graduate School and CONHP Admission Requirements

Prerequisite Course Requirements

• Completion of a course in introductory statistics (applied statistics is recommended; including descriptive and inferential statistics) with a grade of B- or above (must be taken prior to NUR 604 Nursing Research ).

• Completion of a course in pathophysiology with a grade of B- or above.
• Completion of a research methods course with a grade of B- or above.

Course Recommendations:

• Completion of a course in Anatomy and Physiology is highly recommended.
  

The Graduate Admissions Committee will review each individual's undergraduate coursework and make individual prerequisite requirement recommendations if any one or more areas are significantly under represented. (For instance, an individual whose major includes no social sciences may be required to take sociology/psychology courses.)

Graduates who complete this program are eligible to sit for national certification in the advanced practice nursing specialty completed.

For more information on this program of study and courses, go to the CONHP area of the USM graduate catalog

Information sessions about the Options programs are held on a regular basis.  Please e-mail Sarah at shaglund@usm.maine.edu or call 780-4131 to reserve a space in an upcoming session.

For questions or comments, please contact us.

^ top