Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Dean
Carrie Keib, College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Graduate Nursing Program Director
J. Kimberly Higginbotham, PhD, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHS

Family Nurse Practitioner Coordinator

Health Systems Leadership Coordinator
Jill Matthes Baxter, DNP, RN, CHSE

Nurse Educator Coordinator
Theda (Jody) Hostetler, DNP, MEd, RN

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Coordinator
Michelle Gibson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program

The MSN program prepares graduates for advanced nursing practice in four specialty tracks:

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

The Family Nurse Practitioner Track prepares advanced practice nursing students with a broad-based education, including three graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and direct care clinical experiences. The FNP Track integrates the scientific process, current evidence, and national standards of care with a holistic approach to equip students to provide primary case across the lifespan.

Health Systems Leadership (HSL)

The Health Systems Leadership Track prepares advanced nursing practice students with a broad-based education, including three graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and health systems leadership practicum experience. The HSL Track integrates core competency domains in communication, healthcare environment, professionalism, and business skills to equip students for leadership in the healthcare setting.

Nurse Educator (NE)

The Nurse Educator Track prepares advanced nursing practice students with a broad-based education, including three graduate-level courses in advanced physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, direct care clinical experience, and nursing education practicum experience. The NE Track integrates core competency domains in facilitating learning, assessment, evaluation, curriculum design, and continuous quality improvement.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track prepares advanced practice nursing students with a broad-based education, including three graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and direct care clinical experiences. The PMHNP Track integrates the scientific process, current evidence, and national standards of care with a holistic approach to equip students to provide psychiatric mental health care across the lifespan.

Certification Disclosure:

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) graduates are qualified to seek national certification through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Health Systems Leadership (HSL) graduates meet the educational requirements to seek certification through the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Credentialing Center (AONL-CC).

Nurse Educator (NE) graduates meet the educational requirement to seek certification for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam through the National League for Nursing (NLN).

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) graduates are qualified to seek national certification through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Licensure Disclosure:

The Ashland University Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Post-Graduate APRN Certificate, Health Systems Leadership Graduate Nursing Certificate and Nurse Educator Graduate Nursing Certificate meet the requirements to apply for licensure and are authorized in the following states and U.S. territories: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

 The Ashland University Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Post-Graduate APRN Certificate, Health Systems Leadership Graduate Nursing Certificate and Nurse Educator Graduate Nursing Certificate do NOT meet the requirements to apply for licensure and are NOT authorized in the following states and U.S. territories: Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Delaware, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, the Virgin Islands, Washington and Wyoming.

 If a student’s permanent residence is in a state or territory that is not authorized and does NOT meet the requirements to apply for licensure, they can only enroll in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, Master of Science in Nursing Program, Post-Graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certificates, and Graduate Nursing Certificates if they agree that, upon graduation, they intend to seek employment in a state that meets the requirements to apply for licensure. Students must sign a formal attestation form.

If a student’s state of residence changes during the enrollment in the graduate nursing program the student may be at risk for residing in a state that does NOT meet the requirements to apply for licensure. Students must sign a formal attestation form

Admission Requirements

1. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minimum 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale). Applicants with a GPA <3.0 (>2.50) may apply and be considered for admission) with evidence for academic success.

2. Submission of official transcript from an accredited baccalaureate degree in nursing program and Master of Science in Nursing program. Transcripts must show completion of undergraduate statistics course.

3. Submission of active, unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the United States.

4. Submission of two academic or professional letters of recommendation (faculty or employer supervisor).

5. Completion of essay questions to be evaluated on overall content and writing competence.

6. RN work experience (one year of experience preferred).

7. Interview with Department of Nursing Graduate Admission & Progression Committee (Upon request).

How to Apply

The following materials must be submitted to finalize the application process:

1. Completed Ashland University Application

2. Submit a $30 application fee

3. Submit a copy of your resume or vitae

4. Submit official academic transcript(s) from accredited institutions of higher education documenting all undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded.

5. Two letters of recommendation; faculty or employee supervisor

6. Submit a copy of your RN Licensure

7. Submit essay questions regarding graduate study.

8. Interview with Department of Nursing Graduate Admission & Progression Committee. (Upon Request)

Transcripts, application fees paid by check or money order, or other correspondence should be mailed to:

Ashland University
Attn: Enrollment Services
401 College Avenue
Ashland, OH 44805

Official Electronic transcripts should be submitted to: enroll-grad@ashland.edu

MSN Program Curriculum

The online format of the program allows for flexibility, Students enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track have required on campus experiences during the specialty track courses.

MSN Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MSN graduate program, the student will be able to:

1. Synthesize and translate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as a framework for clinical judgement, evidence-based practice, and ethical decision making for advanced nursing practice.

2. Integrate health care priorities and societal needs to evaluate health policy and advocate for person centered care of diverse individuals, families, and populations.

3. Coordinate with interprofessional partnerships using informatics and healthcare technologies to facilitate safe, quality, and equitable care across complex systems of healthcare.

4. Cultivate dimensions of professionalism, personal well-being, and leadership growth in advanced nursing practice with life-long sustainability.

5. Appraise evidence-based quality and safety initiatives to improve health outcomes and transform health care.

6. Demonstrate competence in advanced nursing practice with specific tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Health Systems Leadership, Nurse Educator, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Program Progression/Completion

An MSN student is required to satisfy the MSN degree requirements within 5 years after matriculation in the program. All students are expected to follow the approved program plan. Failure to follow the plan may result in substantial delay in program progression.

Transfer of Credits

A maximum of nine (9) graduate level credits from an accredited college or university may be transferred toward completion of the requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Official transcripts certifying graduate level courses completed at another institution prior to admission to Ashland University should be submitted at the time of application and will be evaluated by the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs for acceptability as transfer credit.

Transfer credit will only be accepted for courses in which a grade of B (3.0 on 4.0 scale) or higher has been received. Courses taken over 5 years (over 2 years for APN) prior to admission are subject to the Gap Analysis evaluation. 

The student is responsible for initiating the request for transfer credit.  The student must:

1. Submit the transfer Credit Form, the transcript, and course syllabi for each course they wish to receive credit to the Office of Graduate Admission with the application. 

2. The Office of Graduate Admissions will forward the application and materials to the Director of Graduate Nursing Programs for review and approval.

3. Students will be notified in writing regarding approved transfer credit.

4. Approved transfer credit and the student letter will be forwarded to the Nursing Department Administrative Assistant for inclusion in the student file and processing with the Office of Records and Registration.

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Track

MSN Health Systems Leadership Track

MSN Nurse Educator Track

MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner