Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.) Program Requirements for 2024-2025

M.S. in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing offers five APRN programs of study. Total program credits vary based on selected program of study.

Requirements

The number of credits for each course is designated in parentheses after the course title. For courses with a precepted clinical component, the number of hours required is also designated in parentheses.

Scholarship Core - 21-22 credits

  • GNUR 503 - Foundations in Nursing Research (3)
  • GNUR 558 - Capstone Development (2)
  • Choose ONE:
    • GNUR 559 - Capstone Implementation (2) CNS students only
    • GNUR 695 - NP Comprehensive Exam (1) NP students only
  • GNUR 702 - Evidenced-Based Practice & Research for Advanced Practicing Nurses (3)
  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology in support of Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 706 - Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy & Law (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3)
  • GNUR 708 - Complex Systems & Leadership (3)

Direct Core - 9 credits

  • GNUR 543 - Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
  • GNUR 570 - Pharmacology (3)
  • GNUR 571 - Diagnostic Reasoning/Assessment (3)

Specialty Clinical Core - 13-20 credits

Choose ONE clinical core grouping from the options below.

Adult- Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 641 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar I (1) (150)
  • GNUR 643 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar II (1) (150)
  • GNUR 645 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar III (1) (150)
  • GNUR 647 - AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar IV (1) (150)
  • GNUR 669 - Complex Care of Chronically Ill Adult (3)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)

Graduates are eligible for state certification as an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner and national, professional certification.

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 632 - Adult Applications of CNS Spheres of Influence I (1) (125)
  • GNUR 639 - Older Adult Applications of CNS Spheres of Influence II  (1) (125)
  • GNUR 688 - Synthesis of the Sphere of Influence II   (1) (125)
  • GNUR 689 - Synthesis of the Spheres of Influence I CNS Seminar (1) (125)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)

Graduates are eligible for New York state certification as an adult health clinical nurse specialist and national, professional certification.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 642 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar I (1) (150)
  • GNUR 644 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar II (1) (150)
  • GNUR 646 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar III (1) (150)
  • GNUR 648 - AGPCNP Primary Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar IV (1) (150)
  • GNUR 669 - Complex Care of Chronically Ill Adult (3)
  • GNUR 699 - Issues in Acute Care (3)

Graduates are eligible for state certification as an adult/adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner and national, professional certification.

Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (PCFNP)*
  • GNUR 566 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3)
  • GNUR 567 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3)
  • GNUR 576 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Women (3)
  • GNUR 577 - Advanced Concepts in the Care of Children (3)
  • GNUR 584 - FNP Diagnosis and Management of Adults Seminar (1) (150)
  • GNUR 585 - FNP Diagnosis and Management of Older Adults Seminar (1) (150)
  • GNUR 586 - FNP Diagnosis and Management Care of Women Seminar (1) (150)
  • GNUR 587 - FNP Diagnosis and Management of Children - Seminar (1) (150)

*Students in the PCFNP program may elect to add GNUR 699 -  Issues in Acute Care (3 credits) to their degree program. Graduates are eligible for state certification as a primary care family nurse practitioner and national, professional certification.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
  • GNUR 513 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum I: (1) (150)
  • GNUR 514 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum II: (1) (150)
  • GNUR 515 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum III:  (1) (150)
  • GNUR 516 - PMHNP Clinical Practicum IV:  (1) (150)
  • GNUR 520 - Foundations of Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice (3)
  • GNUR 521 - Advanced Neuropsychiatric Assessment & Intervention (2)
  • GNUR 522 - Advanced Psychopharmacology (2)
  • GNUR 523 - Advanced Concepts in Psychotherapy with Individuals, Groups & Families (3)
  • GNUR 544 - Psychopathology & Differential Diagnosis (3)
  • GNUR 545 - Advanced Concepts in Child & Adolescent Mental Health (3)

Graduates are eligible for state certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and national, professional certification. Total: 43-50 credits

Post-Master's Certificates

Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nurses who hold a master's degree in nursing or a non-clinical master's degree and are interested in becoming an adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist may be eligible for a post-master's advanced certificate. The post-master's advanced certificate program requires the student to complete coursework in the clinical nurse specialist program. All students entering the post-master's APRN advanced certificate program will have a gap analysis completed to determine their individual plan of study. Upon completion of this variable-credit program, the nurse will be eligible for certification as an Adult CNS in New York State and national professional CNS certification.

Note: Students with a non-nursing master's degree may need to take additional courses from the core.

All Nurse Practitioner Programs

Nurses who hold a master's degree in nursing or a non-clinical master's degree and are interested in becoming a nurse practitioner(NP) may eligible for a post-master's advanced certificate as a nurse practitioner. The post-master's advanced certificate program requires the student to complete coursework in the selected NP program of study. Students who have already completed a master's program (either NP or non-NP) in nursing may be eligible for course transfer or waivers at the discretion of the graduate nursing program chair. All students entering a post-master's APRN advanced certificate program will have a gap analysis performed to determine their individual plan of study. Upon completion of this variable-credit program, the nurse will be eligible for state and national certification in the selected NP role.    

Accelerated Opportunity: B.S. to M.S. Option

Current undergraduate nursing students at St. John Fisher University may petition to complete graduate-level coursework during their senior year of undergraduate study. This offers an accelerated approach for qualified traditional baccalaureate students who wish to pursue graduate study at the Wegmans School of Nursing. The accelerated option allows specific graduate-level courses to be taken during the senior year.  Students may take advantage of one or both accelerated options. 

Note: Approval to take graduate courses does not guarantee admission to the M.S. programs. Students who wish to continue their graduate studies at Fisher must complete the application process for graduate admissions. Please contact the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions for more information.

Students beginning their study of nursing at St. John Fisher University follow the curriculum of the traditional nursing B.S. program. They may petition to take courses in the graduate program after all 300-level undergraduate courses have been completed with a GPA in nursing of 3.30 or higher. Students interested in an accelerated option should consult with their academic advisor and the graduate program Chair during their junior year at St. John Fisher University.  Additional information will be provided during the J2 semester.  Course enrollment is based on course availability. Approved traditional baccalaureate students may pursue one or both of the following options:

First Semester Senior Year (S1) Choose ONE of:

  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology in support of Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3)

Second Semester Senior Year (S2) Choose ONE of:

  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology in support of Clinical Management (3)
  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3)

Enrollment Status

GNUR 704 or GNUR 707 is taken along with the other required undergraduate nursing courses. These courses are posted as graduate credit, and there is no additional charge for this course as long as the student is full-time in the undergraduate B.S. Nursing program. The application of these GNUR fast track courses for graduate credit may be affected by curriculum changes in the graduate program in the future.

Accelerated Opportunity: RN to BS to M.S. Option

St. John Fisher University RN to BS online students may petition to complete graduate-level coursework during their undergraduate study. This offers an accelerated approach to R.N. baccalaureate students who wish to pursue graduate study at the Wegmans School of Nursing. The fast track options allow specific graduate-level courses to fulfill designated undergraduate requirements. Students may take advantage of one or both courses.

Note: Approval to take graduate courses does not guarantee admission to the M.S. nursing program. Students who wish to pursue their graduate studies at Fisher must complete the application process for graduate admissions. Please contact the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions for more information.

RN/BS program students with a nursing GPA of 3.30 or higher in nursing can substitute two graduate courses for two undergraduate nursing courses  Students must have completed courses in nursing research, undergraduate health assessment, and introductory statistics with grades of "B" or higher and four undergraduate RN to BS courses. Students should consult with their academic advisor and complete the Petition for Graduate Courses form.

  • GNUR 704 - Advanced Technology in support of Clinical Management (3)
  • in place of NURS 456 - Informatics in Health Care(3)

–AND/OR–

  • GNUR 707 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3) in place of NURS 459 - Capstone Professional Portfolio (3)

Enrollment Status

The completed graduate courses are posted as undergraduate credit on the student's academic record, and there is no additional charge for these courses for students in the undergraduate RN/BS online nursing program. The graduate courses are added to the student's graduate transcript at the end of the first semester of graduate study at the Wegmans School of Nursing. The application of these GNUR fast track courses for graduate credit may be affected by curriculum changes in the graduate program in the future.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ. Visit the catalog website to access current and past catalogs.