MSN: Nursing Education Concentration
Major: Nursing Education
Degree Awarded: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0; 160 practicum hours
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-1072
About the Program
The MSN: Nursing Education program prepares students to work as nursing educators in various types of programs and settings, at all levels of nursing education and professional experience. This unique program also instructs students on how to teach online, foster reflective practice, integrate simulation and use technology to teach nursing in innovative ways. The program enhances students’ critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills that enable them to be change agents for the future of nursing, nursing education and health care.
Currently, there is a severe and critical nursing shortage in the United States. This program will prepare graduates to fill faculty and educator positions in academic and clinical practice settings through cutting-edge content and learning experiences that build the skills and competencies essential for today's nurse educators. Nurse educators are the pipeline to sustaining and expanding our current nursing workforce.
The program integrates theories specific to adult learning, curriculum design, evaluation of courses and programs, critical thinking, both clinical and classroom techniques and the preparation for an advanced role as a nurse educator. The program also includes opportunities to explore contemporary and leading-edge educational modalities. Knowledge and skills gained through this program are applicable in a variety of settings and with learners of varying levels of nursing expertise.
The practicum courses, which span over two quarters, allow students the opportunity to apply knowledge and demonstrate competence in the areas of nursing education and their clinical specialty under the supervision of a preceptor. The nursing education component of the practicum experience allows students to apply what they have learned throughout the curriculum in either an academic or professional development setting depending on their professional career goals.
Participants complete a role practicum experience in teaching, providing ample opportunity to apply theory to practice. In addition, students are required to attend a three-day virtual simulation intensive experience via Zoom when enrolled in IPS 617 Simulation in Healthcare Education. The virtual intensive experience is offered bi-annually.
The MSN in Nursing Education prepares students to sit for the following exams upon completion of the practice requirement for each:
-
Certified Nurse Educator®: Academic novice or clinical instructor
-
Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator®
-
Nursing Professional Development Certification (NPD-BC)
The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Additional Information
For more information about this program, contact:
Graduate Nursing Division
Additional information is available on the Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions MSN in Nursing Education webpage and on the Drexel University Online MSN in Nursing Education webpage.
Admission Requirements
- A Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a program fully accredited by the National League of Nursing (NLN/ACEN) or the American Association Colleges of Nursing (AACN/CCNE).
- RNs with a BS in a field other than nursing may wish to pursue the RN-MSN "bridge" program or the Dual RN-BSN-MSN Pathway.
- 3.0 or above on all previous coursework or the last 60.0 credits completed. Applications from RNs with a GPA less than a 3.0 may be considered on an individual basis.
- Official transcripts from all previous educational institutions are required.
- Two professional references are required from colleagues or supervisors who can attest to the applicant’s knowledge, skill and potential aptitude for graduate study.
- Letters of recommendation are waived for students with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Personal statement (no more than two pages and no less than one page double-spaced) that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of the following:
- Why you are choosing this particular program of study.
- Your plans upon completion of the certificate.
- How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this program.
- Curriculum vitae or resume.
- Copy of current United States RN license is required.
- Copies of any Advanced Practice Nursing licensure and certification documents.
- While specific experience is not required for applicants to the track, previous related work experience may make an applicant more competitive.
International applicants must possess a BSN (or its equivalent) and a current United States RN license.
TOEFL Requirement
International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and United States permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor’s degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing, and reading. U.S. citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status; otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
If you take the TOEFLiBT exam, you are required to have a minimum combined score for the listening, writing and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.
If you take the TOEFL, you are required to have a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.
Degree Requirements
About the Curriculum
The program integrates theories specific to adult learning, curriculum design, evaluation of courses and programs, both clinical and classroom techniques, and the preparation for the role of the nursing professor. It combines theory, research and practice from the disciplines of education, management, and leadership. Knowledge and skills gained through this program are applicable in both the academic and clinical arenas.
| Required Courses | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| NURS 500 [WI] | Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments | 3.0 |
| NURS 502 | Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care | 3.0 |
| NURS 544 | Quality and Safety in Healthcare | 3.0 |
| RSCH 503 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3.0 |
| RSCH 504 | Evaluation and Translation of Health Research | 3.0 |
| Required Track Courses | ||
| IPS 617 | Simulation in Healthcare Education | 4.5 |
| NURS 591 | Foundations of Healthcare Education | 3.0 |
| NURS 606 | Curriculum Design for Higher Level Cognition | 3.0 |
| NURS 613 | The Role and Responsibility of the Nurse Educator | 3.0 |
| NURS 615 | Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation | 3.0 |
| NURS 616 | Teaching Methods in Nursing Education | 3.0 |
| Practicum | ||
| NUPR 618 | Nursing Education Practicum I | 3.0 |
| NUPR 619 | Nursing Education Practicum II | 3.0 |
| Support Course | ||
| NURS 574 | Advanced Integrative Clinical Concepts | 4.5 |
| Total Credits | 45.0 | |
Writing-Intensive Course Requirement
A [WI], Writing Intensive, next to a graduate course in this catalog indicates that the graduate course is a writing intensive course. The graduate course is a required course in your curriculum.
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURS 500 | 3.0 | NURS 502 | 3.0 | NURS 613 | 3.0 | NURS 615 | 3.0 |
| NURS 591 | 3.0 | NURS 606 | 3.0 | RSCH 503 | 3.0 | RSCH 504 | 3.0 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| IPS 617 | 4.5 | NUPR 618 | 3.0 | NUPR 619 | 3.0 | ||
| NURS 616 | 3.0 | NURS 574 | 4.5 | NURS 544 | 3.0 | ||
| 7.5 | 7.5 | 6 | |||||
| Total Credits 45 | |||||||
Program Level Outcomes
- Practices within a legal and ethical framework of health care delivery.
- Advances the role of advanced nursing practice in the health care system through scholarship, clinical experience and political involvement.
- Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
- Integrates multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data required to develop plans of care for patients, families and communities.
- Integrates culturally sensitive health promotion activities that contribute to the health and wellness of the community into clinical practice.
- Demonstrates leadership in nursing and health care through involvement in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues.
- Evaluates and modify the quality and effectiveness of clinical practice based on current research findings, standards of care and patient outcomes.
- Contributes to the advancement of nursing, health care and humanity through communication, collaboration and education.