The objective of this program is to combine into 8 semesters of study the two-year MHSA degree offered by the Department of Health Policy and Management and the two year Master's of Science Degree offered by the School of Nursing. This joint program is intended to provide the student who plans to engage in nursing administration (Organizational Leadership) with the opportunity to acquire training in the convergent fields of nursing and health services administration.

The relationship between health services administration and nursing is close, and it is not surprising to find many individuals with nursing backgrounds in top health care management positions. Moreover, it is becoming important for nurses, especially at senior levels, to have a fundamental understanding of financial management and accounting, human resources management, operations management, and health policy and administration. Both the School of Nursing and Department of Health Policy and Management are seeing increasing numbers of nurses who wish to acquire education and skills in health administration/leadership. For several years, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing has been the most represented undergraduate degree for students entering the MHSA program. Combining the MHSA and MS degrees will provide additional career options for master's level nursing students who wish to pursue a career in health care or organizational leadership.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To be admitted to the combined MS/MHSA program a student must meet the admission requirements of both the School of Nursing and the Department of Health Policy and Management. Application materials must be completed in both the School of Nursing and the Department of Health Policy and Management, and filed by the appropriate admission deadlines.

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) (general test, only) is the only entrance examination for applicants.

A student who decides to enter the program after beginning his/her first year in the School of Nursing or in the regular MHSA program should review their plans with the organizational leadership advisor in the School of Nursing and the advisor in the Department of Health Policy and Management as soon as possible. No student may enter the joint program after completing the equivalent of two full-time semesters (18 credit hours) in either the Nursing or MHSA curriculum.

Diplomas are awarded concurrently by each School/Department after the student has completed the joint degree program requirements.

The joint MS/MHSA program is open only to those individuals who have earned a nursing baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and whose undergraduate academic record indicates that the applicant has the capacity to complete the joint degree program.

All students in the combined program must complete a total of sixty four (64) graduate credit hours; forty (40) hours in Health Policy and Management and twenty-four (24) hours in the School of Nursing.

Students enrolled in the joint program must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for all course work. A cumulative grade average below 3.0 will result in dismissal from the joint program.

Students enrolling in the joint program will be assigned an advisor in both the School of Nursing and Department of Health Services Administration. Advisors will be assigned when the student is admitted to the joint program.

Any course substitutions or curriculum modifications must be approved by both the School of Nursing and Department of Health Services Administration.

TYPICAL JOINT PROGRAM FORMAT

	Nursing School	Dept. of HP&M	Total
First Year	16 cr	10 cr	26 cr
Second Year	6 cr	15 cr	21 cr
Third Year	2 cr	15 cr	17 cr
Totals	24 cr	40 cr	64 cr

NURSING COURSES REQUIRED OF ALL JOINT DEGREE CANDIDATES

Course Number	Course Name	Credit Hours
NRSG 750	Theories for Practice I: Individual, Family and Group	2
NRSG 751	Theories for Practice I: Practicum	1
NRSG 752	Theories for Practice II: Organizations, Community, Culture and Society	2
NRSG 753	Theories for Practice II: Practicum	1
NRSG 755	Health Care Professionalism: Issues & Roles	3
NRSG 880	Organizational Foundations for Leading Change	2
NRSG 881	Applied Budgeting and Finance	3
NRSG 882	Quality Management	3
NRSG 885	Evaluation and Analysis of Healthcare Effectiveness	2
NRSG 886	Practicum in Organizational Leadership	3
NRSG 898	Research Application in Nursing	2
Total Nursing Hours - Joint Program		24
Total Hours for MS Degree		40

HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT COURSES REQUIRED OF ALL JOINT DEGREE CANDIDATES

Course Number	Course Name	Credit Hours
HP&M 810	The Health Care System	4
HP&M 842	Strategic Marketing	3
HP&M 814	Health Care Economics	3
HP&M 821	Health Services Research Methods	3
HP&M 833	Health Law	3
HP&M 835	Health and Social Behavior	3
HP&M 828	Human Resource Managemente	3
HP&M 826	Management Information Systems	3
HP&M 837	Health Policy and Administration	3
HP&M 840	Strategic Management of Health Services	3
HP&M 845	Health Services Ethics	3
HP&M xxx	Health Policy and Management Electives	6
Total Health Policy and Management Hours for Joint Program		40
Total Hours Required for MHSA Degree		57

Fall (1)

NRSG 750/751 (3 cr)
HP&M 810 (4 cr)
NRSG 880 (2 cr)
Total 9 cr

Spring (1)

NRSG 752/53 (3 cr)
HP&M 821 (3 cr)
NRSG 881 (3 cr)
NRSG 885 (2 cr)
Total 11 cr

Summer (1)

NRSG 755 (3 cr)
HP&M 814 (3 cr)
Total 6 cr

Fall (2)

HP&M Elective (3 cr)
HP&M 835 (3 cr)
NRSG 882 (3 cr)
Total 9 cr

Spring (2)

HP&M 826 (3 cr)
HP&M 828 (3 cr)
HP&M 842 (3 cr)
Total 9 cr

Summer (2)

NRSG 886 (3 cr)
Total 3 cr

Fall (3)

HP&M 837 (3 cr)
HP&M Elective (3 cr)
NRSG 898 (2 cr)
Total 8 cr

Spring (3)

HP&M 840 (3 cr)
HP&M 845 (3 cr)
HP&M 833 (3 cr)
Total 9 cr

COURSE SEQUENCING FOR JOINT DEGREE PROGRAM

Total Hours, Joint MS/MHSA Degree

64 credits

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