Online Master of Science in Nursing Degree
This online graduate nursing degree prepares practicing nurses and others in the health care community for leadership nursing roles in education or administration.
MSN Program Summary
Required Credits: 42
This online MSN curriculum includes theory, public policy, research, informative,
leadership and ethics. The MSN degree prepares you for nursing roles in education
or administration. You will acquire in-depth knowledge and advanced skills in
your area of specialization, either nursing administration or nursing education.
Mastery of critical thinking skills will prepare you for leadership roles within a patient-centered health care delivery setting or educational setting. Upon completing this online graduate nursing program, you will have the knowledge and skills in leadership and management to influence nursing practice and health care policy.
Candidates for graduation must satisfactorily complete 42 credits, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher for Saint Joseph's College courses. The 42 credits includes six core curriculum courses, additional courses within the specialty, and two practica within the specialty.
Saint Joseph's College of Maine has provided distance education for registered nurses since 1986. The nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing, Augusta, Maine.
MSN Curriculum & Course Descriptions
Highlights
- Course content in the administration specialization includes advanced administration, contemporary issues in nursing administration, strategic planning, financial management and quality performance.
- Course content in the education specialization includes curriculum development, didactic and clinical teaching methods, evaluation in nursing education, and population-focused care.
- Flexible online format allows you to work at your own pace and schedule
- Courses blend content with your professional experience, allowing for immediate application in your work setting.
- No on-campus residency required; optional two-week summer sessions on lakeside campus to accelerate degree.
- Flexible program allows you to accelerate your studies through on-campus classes and challenge examinations.
- Faculty with current knowledge and experience in the field of nursing will work one-on-one with you to ensure your success.
- Students can arrange for precept application experiences in their own locale.
- Program fits nurses with a BSN degree or RNs with other baccalaureate degrees. But RN to MSN option is available to nurses who have completed 300-level nursing courses.
- Optional MSN/MHA and MSN/MBA joint degrees available for the registered nurse who holds a bachelor's degree who wishes to earn both the MHA and the MSN (administrative track)
Admission Requirements
You may apply for and be granted admission status at any time during the year, regardless of program choice.
Applicants must be graduates of a baccalaureate nursing program, accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is the norm. All students applying to and currently enrolled in the MSN program must hold a valid United States unencumbered RN License and possess the functional abilities to perform the skills and behaviors required of a professional nurse. (Consideration will also be given to applicants with a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree in another field who are graduates of diploma or associate degree programs in nursing.)
Upon application, you must submit: A copy (front and back) of current unencumbered registered nurse license; work history for the last 5 years (resume); and official transcripts from all undergraduate program(s) and applicable master’s degree transcripts.
All international students must be graduates of nursing programs equivalent to NLN- or CCNE accredited baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States or meet the same requirements as non-BSN baccalaureate prepared applicants. Foreign nurses who plan to complete practica in the U.S. must meet licensing requirements of the state in which the student will have the practicum and must meet all health requirements of the facility where the practicum will take place.
Graduate Certificates
Required Credits: 18
Graduate Certificate in Nursing & Health Care Education
- This distance learning certificate is intended for health care professionals who wish to formalize their knowledge and skills relative to health care education.
- It is suitable for professionals who are responsible for staff education, and for nursing and health care faculty in formal educational settings.
- This is NOT intended to prepare and certify health educators or certify people to teach in secondary schools. Contact your state office for those certification requirements.
- Students must earn 18 semester-hour credits, six of which may be transferred from an accredited institution.
Curriculum & Course Descriptions 
Graduate Certificate in Nursing Administration & Leadership
- This certificate is intended for registered nurses who want to enhance their knowledge and skills in nursing administration/leadership. It is appropriate for nurses who are seeking management positions and for new nurse managers.
- Students must earn 18 semester-hour credits, six of which may be transferred from an accredited institution.
Joint Degree Options
MSN/MHA Joint Degree
Required Credits: 60
This is for the RN who holds a Bachelor's degree with any level of experience who wishes to earn both the MSN (administrative track) and the MHA for a total of 60 credit as core content is shared. Less credits are completed overall, but a student cannot finish either degree early. This degree appeals to nurses who are, or plan to be, CEO’s, and facility or hospital administrators. Further, nurse managers in hospitals applying for ANCC’s Magnet status will be required to hold a MSN by 2013, but many nurse managers want the MHA to speak the language of their peers. A graduate of this program may elect to become certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Commission (ANCC) as a nurse executive. (Tuition amounts may vary depending on course and discipline.)
Curriculum & Course Descriptions
MSN/MBA Joint Degree Online Program
Required Credits: 60
This is for the RN who holds a Bachelor's degree with at least 2 years of work experience. It is designed for those who wish to earn BOTH the MSN (administrative track) and the Leadership MBA for a total of 60 credits as core content is shared. Less credits are completed overall, but a student cannot finish either degree early. This degree appeals to the nurses who are, or who plan to be, managers, Directors of Nursing or the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Further, nurse managers in hospitals applying for ANCC's Magnet status will be required to hold a MSN by 2013, but many nurse managers want the MBA to speak the language of their peers. A graduate of this program may elect to become certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Commission (ANCC) as either a Nurse Administrator or an Advanced Nurse Administrator depending on their administrator experience. *Tuition amounts & course scheduling are discipline specific.