Course work in the Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) area of emphasis incorporates the classroom, online, laboratory, and clinical modes of instruction. All nursing students have experiences with rural and/or under-served populations as part of the State initiatives for primary health care. The MSN-FNP program requires the completion of a minimum of 41 credit hours.
The MSN Nursing Administration (MSN-NA) and also the Nursing Education (MSN-NE) area of emphasis are 100% online and require 36 credit hours for the nursing administration area of emphasis and 36 credit hours for the nursing education area of emphasis.
Additionally, in cooperation with Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, the Marshall University School of Nursing offers a Nurse Midwifery area of emphasis and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner area of emphasis. Forty-four (44) credit hours are required for the Nurse Midwifery area of emphasis; and 48 hours of credit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner area of emphasis.
The curriculum of the Master of Science in Nursing program has three components:
1. The core curriculum component is comprised of twelve (12) credit hours that focuses on knowledge and skills related to nursing and related theories, leadership, advanced nursing research, and issues.
2. The area of emphasis component, which includes:
- The Family Nurse Practitioner area of emphasis (29 credit hours) provides an opportunity to develop competency as a family nurse practitioner.
- The Nursing Administration component (18 credit hours) provides an opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to administer/manage rural/underserved primary care agencies, home health care, and other health care agencies or units.
- The Nursing Education component (21 credit hours) provides an opportunity to apply advanced nursing knowledge to nursing education and to develop competency in the areas of educator, scholar and collaborator.
- The Nurse Midwifery area of emphasis (25 credit hours from Marshall and 19 from Shenandoah University) provides an opportunity to develop competency as a nurse midwife.
- The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner component (25 credit hours from Marshall and 24 credit hours from Shenandoah University) provides an opportunity to develop competency as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
3. The elective component (3 credit hours) for the NE and (6 credit hours) NA areas of emphasis allows students to choose one of four options: 1) thesis, 2) role development courses in teaching, or 3) elective courses related to the student’s area of interest, or 4) organizational dynamics or financial strategies in administration.
Upon successful completion of the MSN-FNP program, graduates are eligible to take the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Examination for Family Nurse Practitioners and/or the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) Certification Examinations for Family Nurse Practitioners.
Graduates of the MSN-Nursing Administration area of emphasis are eligible to take the ANCC Certification Examination for Nursing Administration or Nursing Administration, Advanced depending on their experience and stage of professional development.
The MSN-Nursing Education graduates are eligible to take the NLN Certification Nurse Educator Exam depending on their experience.
Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioners graduates are eligible to take the ANCC Certification Examination for Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioners.
Nurse Midwifery graduates are eligible to take the American Midwifery Certification Board Exam.
Plans of Study
Plan of Study: Family Nurse Practitioner PDF
Plan of Study: Nursing Administration PDF
Plan of Study: Nursing Education PDF
Plan of Study: Nurse Midwifery PDF
Plan of Study: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner PDF