The School of Nursing offers five tracks:
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Community and Public Health Nursing
- Nursing Administration and Management (this program is offered in a blended format, partly face to face and partly online)
- Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
Both thesis and non-thesis options are available for all tracks. The program admits full-time and part-time students. They need to complete all program requirements within a maximum period of four years. Extension beyond the maximum allowed period of study requires approval of the Graduate Studies Committee of the school.
Admissions
Applicants are eligible for consideration for admission to the master of science in nursing (MSN) program if they fulfill the following AUB admission requirements for graduate studies:
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing from AUB or its equivalent from another recognized institution, with a cumulative undergraduate average of at least (GPA: 3.0) and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 in the major field of study (nursing).
Refer to the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalogue for further details regarding the Readiness for University Studies in English (RUSE). In addition, HSON requires the following criteria:
- A license to practice nursing from country of residence.
- Evidence of knowledge and competence in physical assessment skills (except for the nursing administration and management track).
- At least one year of work experience in nursing for the clinical tracks, community and public health, and the online diplomas.
- At least two years of work experience for the MSN in nursing administration and management.
- Interviews will be required based on the applicants’ background and based on a recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee.
- Applicants may apply to three tracks of their choice (first choice, second choice, third choice). The school takes these options into consideration most of the time. Occasionally, however, students may not be assigned to their first choice if the number of applicants of the track is fewer than 6 as per the policy (refer to the Faculty Workload Policy: Factors relevant to the definition of and deviation from teaching and teaching load).
The MSN program admits applicants once per year in the fall term, except for the blended MSN in nursing administration and management track, which accepts applicants in fall and spring.
Special non-degree seeking applicants willing to register for graduate nursing courses may do so in fall or spring terms. However, they need to be approved by the HSON Graduate Studies Committee.
Applicants who fail to meet any of the admission requirements but who, in the opinion of the faculty, demonstrate potential capacity to fulfill the graduate program requirements, are admitted on probation. For example: applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 but less than GPA of 3.3 in the major field (nursing) may be conditionally admitted as graduate students on probation.
General Rules and Regulations
Master’s Degree Graduation Requirements
All recommendations for graduation are made by a vote of the faculty upon the recommendation of the HSON Graduate Studies Committee. To be eligible for graduation from the MSN program, the student must have:
- Passed all required courses with a minimum grade of (C+) per course.
- Achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3.
- Completed the total number of credits required in the track of study.
- Passed the comprehensive examination.
- Completed the requirements for the thesis or project.
- Met the residency requirements as stated in the General University Academic Information section.
- Applied for graduation.
Transfer of Credits
Refer to Credit Transfer section under the General University Academic Information.
Supervision, Courses, and Grades
Graduate students are assigned academic advisers to guide and help in planning their course of study, as stipulated by the graduate curriculum. Non-nursing courses relevant to the students’ areas of specialty can be taken as electives with the approval of the academic advisers.
For students working towards a thesis, a full-time faculty member is assigned as an adviser and chairperson of the thesis committee. The thesis adviser and two committee members must be of professorial rank.
Graduate-level courses in nursing are numbered 500 and above. The minimum passing grade for a graduate course is (C+). However, students are required to maintain a cumulative average of at least B+ (GPA: 3.3). Students who are absent without excuse from more than one third of the number of sessions in any course, who fail to sit for scheduled examinations, or who fail to fulfill course requirements, will be given a failing grade equal or below (C) of (F) for graduate courses. Results of tutorial courses, NURS 610, comprehensive exam, residencies, projects, or theses will be reported as pass (P) or fail (F).
Students admitted with curriculum deficiencies may need to register for prerequisite undergraduate courses; such courses do not carry any graduate credit. The minimum passing grade for a prerequisite course is (C+).
Probation and Dismissal
Students admitted on probation must complete 9 credits of graduate level courses within the first two terms of graduate studies, pass all courses, and attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 to achieve regular status.
Refer to Academic Standing of Student Working for a Master’s Degree section under General University Academic Information.
Comprehensive Examination
Students must pass the comprehensive examination after completion of most of the course requirements for the MSN degree.
The Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Nursing sets the time of the examination offered twice per year, once in the fall and once in the spring term. Students planning to take the comprehensive exam must register for the comprehensive exam course NURS 526 (0 credit) in the term during which they are planning to sit for the exam.
The purpose of the examination is to ascertain the students’ knowledge of their field of specialization. Students who do not pass the comprehensive examination may take it a second time in the following term. Students who are unable to pass a program’s comprehensive exam twice are dropped from the graduate program.
For more information, refer to Comprehensive Examination section, under General University Academic Information.
Thesis/Project
Students may opt for a three-credit project (NURS 598) or a thesis-based project (NURS 599). Students who opt for a three-credit project need to register for a three-credit elective coursework in a related area.
Students need to submit a concept note not exceeding 350 words to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval of the topic and thesis/project committee members four months before the defense date. Once approved, students can proceed with the thesis/project work.
Part-time students must pass the comprehensive examination and complete all course requirements for the MSN degree before registering for the thesis/project. Full-time students are allowed to submit their concept note to Graduate Studies Committee in the same term as the comprehensive exam, however the approval is provisional pending passing the exam. Thesis/project is overseen by the thesis/project committee. Students must ensure that the final thesis/project manuscript conforms to the guidelines outlined in the University Thesis Manual found in the library. Theses not conforming to the manual requirements will not be accepted.
Master’s Thesis Committee
The thesis committee should be composed of at least three members approved by the faculty Graduate Studies Committee. It is advisable that the thesis committee includes one member from outside the School of Nursing (who can also be from an institution outside AUB). All committee members should hold professorial rank. The thesis committee approves the thesis topic, oversees the research protocol, and participates in the thesis defense. Students must defend the thesis proposal to the Master’s Thesis Committee for approval prior to proceeding with the thesis work.
Master’s Project Committee
The master's project
committee should be composed of at least two members recommended by the
department/program, in addition to the adviser.
For more information, refer to Supervision of Master’s Thesis or Project section under General University Academic Information. Refer also to the Graduate Student Handbook of the School of Nursing regarding guidelines for projects and thesis.
Thesis/Project Defense
Refer to Thesis Defense and Project Defense sections under General University Academic Information.
Deposit of Thesis/Project in the Library
Refer to Thesis Defense and Project Defense sections under General University Academic Information.
Curriculum for Master of Science in Nursing
|
Core Courses |
Lecture Hrs./ Week |
Clinical Hrs./ Week |
Credit Hrs. |
| NURS 500 | Theories, Concepts and Ethical Frameworks for Advanced Nursing Practice | 2 | 0
| 2 |
| NURS 501 | Advanced Nursing Practice: Scope and Roles | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NURS 530 | Statistical Reasoning and Application in Nursing Research | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| NURS 502 | Advanced Nursing Research | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 527 | Systems Approach to the Development and Evaluation of Health Care Services | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 610 | Advanced Searching of the Scientific Literature | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Concentration Courses | Lecture Hrs./ Week | Clinical Hrs./ Week | Credit Hrs. |
| Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track |
| NURS 503 | Advanced Health Assessment | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 505A | Advanced Practice in Adult-Gerontology I | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| NURS 505B | Advanced Practice in Adult-Gerontology II | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| NURS 506 | Advanced Practice in Adult-Gerontology III (Clinical residency) | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| PHRM 314 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Elective | - | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Nursing Administration and Management Track (offered as a blended program) |
| NURS 507 | Essentials of Nursing Administration Management | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NURS 508 | Advanced Practice in Nursing Administration | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| NURS 531 | Practical Applications of Budgeting Nursing | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| NURS 525 | Leadership Theories and Application Nurse Managers | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 520 | Managing Quality with Teams | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 533 | Advanced Learning & Health Informatics | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 545 | Human Resources Management in Health Care Organizations | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Elective | - | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Track |
| NURS 503A | Advanced Health Assessment for Mental Health | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 512 | Advanced Psychiatric and Mental Health Assessment | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| PHRM 314 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 516 | Psychopathology and Human Behavior | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 517 | Models of Treatment-Psychotherapy (Bio- Behavioral Nursing Interventions) | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| NURS 518 | Group and Family Psychotherapy | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| NURS 519 | Clinical Residency in Acute Psychiatric Care | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| Community and Public Health Nursing Track |
| NURS 503 | Advanced Health Assessment | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| NURS 504 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PHRM 314 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EPHD 300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| NURS 522 | Principles and Practice of Community Health Nursing | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| NURS 523 | Advanced Community Assessment | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| NURS 524 | Clinical Residency in Community Health care | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| Elective | - | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Track |
| NURS 503 | Advanced Health Assessment | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| NURS 504A | Complex Topics in Pathophysiology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PHRM 314 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NURS 532A | Nursing care of acute and chronic conditions in Pediatrics | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NURS 532B | Pediatrics Practicum | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| NURS 534A | Updates and innovations in Neonatology and Pediatrics | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NURS 534B | Pediatrics and Neonatology practicum | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| NURS 535 | Residency in Pediatric Nursing | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| Elective | - | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Thesis/Project |
| NURS 599 | Thesis | 6 | - | 6 |
| NURS 598 | Project | 3 | - | 3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 | - | 3 |
| Comprehensive Course |
| NURS 526 | Comprehensive exam | 0 | - | 0 |
NURS 610 is a zero-credit course on advanced searching of the scientific literature offered to PhD students. All new MSN students ought to take this course in fall of their first year.
The School of Nursing also offers online diploma courses that cover nursing issues of interest to students in various regular tracks. These courses can be counted towards the elective credits.
Course Descriptions