This Masters Degree concentration prepares nurses to work as educators through learning the essentials of curriculum development, how to teach in academic and clinical settings, and methods for program evaluation.  The program is 36 credit hours.  Students take 5 courses dedicated to the educator specialty and 6 core nursing courses.

Specialty Course Descriptions

Curriculum Building and Evaluation This course examines the process of curriculum development in academic and practice settings including methods of program evalaution. 3 credit hours

Teaching Methods and Outcome Assessment This course examines the theoretical and research underpinnings of assorted teaching strategies and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching on student learning. 3 credit hours Prerequisite: NURS 632 Research Methods

Issues and Trends for Nurse Educators This course examines components of the nurse educator role in academic and practice settings and personal qualities of effective teachers. 3 credit hours 

Nurse Educator Practicum In this capstone course, students are precepted by experienced faculty members. Students demonstrate synthesis of knowledge learned throughout the program by participating in all phases of the teaching role including classroom and clinical instruction in either an academic or practice setting. 6 credit hours Prerequisite: All other required MSN courses 

EDUC 501 Human Learning and Cognition The purpose of this course is to critically investigate learning principles and theories and apply them to contemporary educational situations. Students will actively engage in contemporary research on topics pertaining to the learning process, motivation, individual and group differences, memory, and higher cognitive functioning. 3 credit hours

OCOM 622 Intercultural Communication The study of intercultural communication is first and foremost a study of change - the change we must make to interact successfully with people who are different from us, not only in language and nonverbal codes, but also in the deep structure of perceptions, beliefs, values, and the cultural patterns of individualism, materialism, equality, and work. The purpose of this course is to assist you in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to be more effective in establishing rapport and achieving other responses you desire in your interactions with people from different cultures now and for the remainder of yur personal and professional lives. 3 credit hours

Core Nursing Course Descriptions:

NURS 612  Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice  This course focuses on the development and analysis of knowledge from  nursing and related disciplines.  Theory as a foundation for nursing practice and nursing research will be examined.  3 Credit Hours

NURS 624  Health Policy  This course focuses on developing comprehensive knowledge of how health policy is formulated and how it impacts clinical practice and health care delivery.  The use of negotiation to influence the policy process will be discussed.  3 Credit Hours

NURS 628  Health Care Informatics  The focus of this course is learning about and understanding the concepts relevant to health care informatics and the use of computerized information systems in health care organizations.  A main focus is the use of computer applications by nurses to support decision making in clinical, administrative, educational, and research areas.  The Internet, specifically the World Wide Web, is used as a rich source of information.  The development of information management skills and the use of the Web to access and evaluate health are emphasized.  3 Credit Hours

NURS 630  Research Data Interpretation  This course emphasizes interpretation of data collected through research.  It examines types of data, selection of appropriate statistical procedures, use of statistical software, interpretation of statistical tests, and reporting of research findings. 3 Credit Hours

NURS 634  Research Methods  This course focuses on research methodology, critical analysis of studies, and the relationship among theory, research, and practice.  Students will develop a proposal to study a clinically relevant topic.  3 credit hours

Admission to the Masters of Science in Nursing Program – Nurse Educator Practices