Joint Degree Program in Master of Health Services Administration and Master of Science (Nursing-Organizational Leadership)

Introduction

The objective of this program is to combine into 8 semesters of study the two-year Master of Health Services Administration degree offered by the Department of Health Policy and Management and the two year Master 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, 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. 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.

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 student support manager 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-one (61) graduate credit hours: thirty-two (32) hours in Health Policy and Management and twenty-nine (29) 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 Policy and Management. 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

Course Sequencing for Joint Degree Program Beginning Fall 2012

* Students may choose to reduce their Spring (3) load by moving all or some of their 3 hrs. of NRSG 886 and their Comprehensive exams to the Summer Semester, or by enrolling in all or some of their 3 hours of NRSG 886 in the Fall (3) Semester.

Nursing Courses

Health Policy & Management Courses: