Program Requirements
During the admission process for the Master of Science in Nursing Program, or the School Nurse Services Credential Program plus Master of Science in Nursing, a review of academic transcripts is performed to assess whether or not the applicant has completed the prerequisite courses listed below. Students must complete the following prerequisite courses as part of their MSN before continuing to advanced practice courses (e.g., take undergraduate health assessment before advanced health assessment; take applied statistics and a nursing research course before the advanced practice research course).
| Prerequisite Courses for MSN | 23 units |
|
| UNRS 220 | Health Assessment* | 3 |
| UNRS 325 | Nursing Research* | 2 |
| UNRS 367 | Pathophysiology* | 3 |
| GNRS 546 | Theory and Practice in Health Care Systems in the Community** | 6 |
| GNRS 547 | Nursing Leadership in Acute-Care Settings** | 6 |
| PSYC 350 | Applied Statistics* | 3 |
| (community college credit not accepted) | ||
| Note: Please click on the course numbers above for descriptions of these undergraduate courses listed. All bachelor's requirements must be completed before enrolling in graduate courses. | ||
| *At least one of these four courses must be taken or challenged at Azusa Pacific University. | ||
| **These courses must be taken at Azusa Pacific University. | ||
For the Master of Science in Nursing, the following are required of graduate students:
| Academic Core Courses | 10 units | |
| GNRS 504 | Bioethics and Health Policy | 3 |
| GNRS 506 | Spiritual Care | 3 |
| GNRS 508A | Research and Theory in Advanced Nursing Practice | 4 |
| Advanced Practice Core Courses | 11 units | |
| GNRS 512 | Advanced Health Assessment and Health Promotion | 4 (3/1) |
| — or — | ||
| GNRS 511 | Advanced Pediatric Health Assessment and Health Promotion | 4 (3/1) |
| GNRS 513 | Advanced Nursing Practice Role | 2 |
| GNRS 515 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 2 |
| GNRS 594 | Pharmacology in Advanced Practice Nursing | 3 |
| Advanced Practice Specialty Tracks | ||
In addition to the academic core and advanced practice core courses, students select their clinical focus in one of the advanced practice clinical specialties:
- Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
- Combined Adult CNS and Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
- Combined Parent-Child CNS and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Parent-Child Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Parish Nursing (PN)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- School Nurse Services (SNS)
- School Nurse Services (SNS) with Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Students work closely with faculty and clinical preceptors to learn theory and practical skills essential for their advanced practice roles.
Please see below for the descriptions of the advanced practice specialties, the number of course units required for that specialty, and the specialization option courses for each.
| Concluding Courses | 1-3 units | |
| GNRS 514 | Research Proposal Writing (required for thesis) | 2 |
| GNRS 597 | Comprehensive Exam | 1 |
| GNRS 598 | Directed Study/Thesis* | 1 |
| Total Units by Combined or Clinical Specialty Program | ||
| Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | 38-40 | |
| Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) | 42-44 | |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | 44-46 | |
| Parent-Child Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | 38-40 | |
| Parish Nursing (PN) | 38-40 | |
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) | 42-44 | |
| MSN with Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) | 54-56 | |
| MSN with Parent-Child Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) | 58-60 | |
| MSN with School Nurse Services Credential (SNSC) | 41-43 | |
| MSN with School Nurse Services Credential (SNSC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | 60-62 | |
| MSN with School Nurse Services Credential (SNSC) and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) | 54-56 | |
| *Students must choose either the thesis or comprehensive exam option for one unit of credit to complete the program. For students choosing the thesis, the two-unit course GNRS 514 is a prerequisite to proposing a thesis. | ||
Elective Courses
Students may select additional elective courses to support their programs of
study as directed by faculty. In addition, if desired, students may elect an
emphasis in administration or education.
To read more about the electives available, see the online course descriptions listing.
Note: All stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Graduate Catalog for the most current and controlling information.
