Nursing, Master of Science in (M.S.N.)

The School of Nursing offers applicants with a baccalaureate degree the opportunity to prepare for entry into practice as a registered nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The program consists of five consecutive semesters of nursing courses with the opportunity to concurrently enroll in a graduate certificate program in either health care quality or health care innovation. Credits from these graduate certificates can be transferred to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Program goal

The goal of the VCU School of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing program is to prepare students with foundational competencies as nurse generalists for entry into professional nursing practice.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate competence in practicing person-centered care across the lifespan and throughout the continuum of health care systems
2. Integrate theories and concepts from liberal education and related disciplines into nursing practice
3. Exhibit professionalism that reflects the inherent values fundamental to nursing
4. Display effective interprofessional teamwork skills
5. Demonstrate professional nursing practice grounded in the application of current evidence
6. Utilize information technologies and processes related to patient care delivery
7. Demonstrate competence in leadership, quality improvement and patient safety to provide high-quality health care
8. Apply health promotion and disease prevention competencies at both the individual level and the population level

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Degree candidacy requirements

A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the School of Nursing, applicants must:

1. Be eligible for readmission or be in good standing at the last college or university attended
2. Meet the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School
3. Submit a complete application with all required materials to the School of Nursing
4. Have an earned bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing from a regionally accredited college or university (this can be outstanding at the time of application but must be completed prior to the start of the program)
5. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 based on a scale of 4.0 on all college course work
6. Present no grades lower than C- in all parts of anatomy, physiology and microbiology courses (anatomy, physiology and microbiology courses must be taken within 5 years of starting the nursing program)
7. Present no grades lower than C- in any other required prerequisites
8. Provide additional information with the application according to the English language proficiency guidelines for applicants who are international or non-native English speakers without a degree from a U.S. high school, college or university (additional information can be found on the VCU International Admissions website)
9. Complete the following prerequisites prior to enrollment:

Refer to the VCU Transfer Center website for equivalencies at other colleges and universities.

Note: No admissions test is required for this program.

Applicants who have completed a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing may also apply for the B.S. in Nursing program.

Degree requirements for Nursing, Master of Science in (M.S.N.)

In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, a candidate for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing must be recommended by the faculty and must:

1. Meet academic requirements of the Graduate School.
2. Complete all requirements for the prescribed curriculum within six calendar years of the first registration for work to be credited toward the degree
3. Earn a minimum grade of B or pass grade in all nursing courses
4. Earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all work presented for graduation
5. Conform to School of Nursing policies in respect to pass/fail grading for course work or thesis study

The degree will be granted only after all requirements have been fulfilled and all fees to the university have been paid. Degrees are not granted in absentia unless a written request is made to the dean and permission is granted.

Curriculum requirements

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 59.

Students who complete the requirements for this degree will receive a Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing.