School of Nursing

The School of Nursing was established as an independent school of the University by action of the Board of Trustees in April 1939 and was opened in September of the same year. The University conferred the degree Bachelor of Science in nursing education for the first time in August 1939. The University conferred the first Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees in February 1942.

The first graduate degree was awarded in 1944, and the first Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1957.

Mission

The School of Nursing, an integral part of the University of Pittsburgh, subscribes to the University's commitment to teaching, research, and service. Through these major functions, the school strives to have a positive impact on the quality of health care for all segments of the population.

The school offers educational programs that anticipate and reflect the healthcare needs of the region, state, and nation. The school seeks to enroll highly qualified students who represent racial, cultural, and geographic diversity and to prepare students for employment in a multicultural society. The advanced degree program at the master's level is designed to produce the next generation of advanced practice nurses who will provide leadership in the delivery of quality clinical services and advance the independent role of nurses in the provision of care to patients and families. The doctor of philosophy program is designed to prepare scientists and academicians who will seek to participate in interdisciplinary research and contribute to the ongoing development of nursing knowledge and the science of nursing.

The School of Nursing offers Master of Science in Nursing degree programs, a Doctor of Philosophy degree program, and an RN to MSN program. Minor programs are available within the master's and doctoral programs. Postbaccalaureate and post-master's certificate programs are also available.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh

School of Nursing

Director of Student Services for RN Options and Graduate Programs

239 Victoria Building

Pittsburgh, PA 15261

412-624-4586 or 1-888-747-0794

E-mail: sao@pitt.edu

www.nursing.pitt.edu

Master's Program Admission Process and Admission Criteria

Applicants for admission should obtain the current application packet from the Student Services Office at the address listed above. Admission criteria are described in the packet and on the school's Web site listed above. When the application is complete, each applicant will be personally interviewed prior to an admission decision. This interview may be done via telephone if distance is an issue. Admission to a particular program is granted to qualified applicants on a rolling basis until all available spaces are filled. Part-time students may begin graduate study in any term. Full-time students begin in the fall term.

Doctoral Program Admission Process and Admission Criteria

Admission to the doctoral program is assessed through interviews, references, standardized testing, and a written statement of goals. Prerequisites include parametric statistics courses that prepare the student in descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Applicants should obtain the current application packet from the Student Services Office.

Admission of Students from Other Countries

Students from other countries applying to the School of Nursing should apply using the same admissions process and admissions criteria described above. The application should be completed in English and accompanied by official academic credentials with notarized English translations. Applicants must also have a professional nursing license in a state or country, successfully complete the TOEFL or IELTS if English is a second language, and be eligible to take the licensure examination in Pennsylvania if admitted to the master's program.

Insurance and Healthcare Requirements

All students admitted with full or provisional status are required to participate in a University liability insurance policy annually and to have a physical examination upon admission. Individual students must meet additional health requirements of clinical agencies, such as annual testing for tuberculosis or criminal record checks. CPR certification will be validated in each clinical course. Students are required to carry health insurance for the duration of their study, which will cover payment for treatment and follow-up procedures related to injury or medical problems incurred during graduate study.

Financial Assistance

The School of Nursing has a commitment to helping students to achieve their educational goals. The following sources of awards and aid are available: professional nurse traineeships, part-time tuition aid, graduate student assistant positions, graduate student researcher positions, teaching assistant positions, teaching fellow positions, school scholarships, pre- and postdoctoral training grant fellowships, federal Stafford Loans, private loans, and emergency aid.

Academic Policies

All students in the School of Nursing are governed by School of Nursing and University policies. Therefore, it is essential that students regularly review and familiarize themselves with those policies, both general and graduate. Question about policies should be directed to the academic advisor or to the director of student services for RN options and graduate programs. Policies of particular importance deal with admission criteria, registration processes, transfer of credits, acceptable academic status, warning and probation, readmission, requirements for degree completion, academic integrity, and impaired clinical performance.

Advising

Each new student who is admitted to the graduate program is assigned a faculty advisor from the specific program area to which the student is admitted. The faculty advisor provides some initial orientation to the school, the University, and the program requirements. Each student meets at least once a term with the advisor for course selection and other academic advising, although students and advisors can meet additionally as needed. The advisor is actively involved if there are academic concerns.

Each student also can use the staff in the Student Services Office in the School of Nursing to obtain information about sources of financial aid, scholarships, school policies, registration, course availability, University resources, and community resources for help with personal problems. The staff of this office conducts a general orientation program for new students.

General Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Nursing or the PhD in nursing, the student must demonstrate satisfactory academic achievement in required coursework prescribed by the curriculum with an overall academic achievement of a minimum GPA of 3.00. Successful completion of a written comprehensive examination is also required for both the MSN and PhD in nursing.

Application for Graduation

Each candidate for graduation must file an official Application for Graduation in the Nursing Student Services Office at least three months before the degree is to be completed. Students are required to be registered for at least 1 credit at the University during the term in which they are graduated.

Major and Degree Options

The School of Nursing offers the following graduate degrees:

• The Master of Science in Nursing with majors and areas of concentration in the following areas:
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Nurse Practitioner
    • Areas of Concentration:
      Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
      Adult Nurse Practitioner
      Family Nurse Practitioner
      Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
      Psychiatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
    • Areas of Concentration:
      Medical-Surgical Nursing
      Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
  • Nurse Specialty Roles
    • Areas of Concentration:
      Nursing Administration
      Nursing Education
      Nursing Informatics
      Nursing Research
• The PhD in nursing (including the BSN to PhD option)

Special Academic Opportunities/Programs

The School of Nursing offers a variety of special programs within its master's and doctorate programs:

Minors

Students in the master's program have the option of completing a minor in nursing education, nursing informatics, nursing research, nursing administration, or health care genetics using elective credits. Each minor requires 12 credits of study in the area of the minor, including the successful completion of three theory courses and a practicum.

Master's-Level Certificates

Master's certificates are available in healthcare administration, nursing education, health care genetics, nursing informatics, acute care nurse practitioner, adult nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and women's health nurse practitioner. Credits required for certificate completion are a minimum of 15, and will depend on previous graduate course work. All students admitted to a nurse practitioner certificate program must meet all curriculum requirements of the full MSN degree program, either through previous course work or credits earned during the certificate program. Individual review of transcripts will determine the exact number of credits needed to meet curriculum requirements. Admission criteria include:

Evidence of successful completion of MSN or other relevant first professional degree

Relevant work experience

Three letters of recommendation

Satisfactory interview with program faculty

Current Pennsylvania RN license if applicant to nurse practitioner certificate program

BSN to PhD Program

The School of Nursing offers a BSN to PhD program, in which a student with a BSN can be admitted directly into the doctoral program. In addition to completing all of the requirements for the traditional doctoral program, the BSN to PhD student completes 30–33 credits at the master's level prior to beginning doctoral level course work. This program is particularly appealing to nurses who wish to pursue a career in nursing research. Interested applicants should contact the Student Services Office at 412-624-4586 for further information.

Detailed below is a sample curriculum design for the post BSN to PhD Program:

Certification Programs

Master's and post-master's students also have the option of enrolling in the School Nurse Certification Program, which requires the completion of 16 credits, including a School Nurse Practicum and Seminar. Other elective courses are available in the School of Nursing that may assist the student to achieve certification in legal nurse consulting, case management, or forensic nursing, or as a clinical trials coordinator or emergency medical technician.

RN-MSN Option

The purpose of the RN-MSN program is to allow the registered nurse student to complete the combined bachelor's and master's degree program in a timely and efficient manner.

RN-MSN Option Admission and Prerequisite Requirements

Registered nurse students interested in the RN-MSN option must successfully complete 50 prerequisite credits. These credits may be taken at the University of Pittsburgh or at any accredited college or university. The minimum required grade point average for the 50 prerequisite credits is 3.00. RN-MSN applicants must meet the admission requirements for the master's program (see above).

Prerequisite credits include the following:

RN-MSN applicants who meet one of the following criteria will be awarded 40 credits advanced standing for their basic nursing education:

• Graduation from an NLN-accredited program within three years prior to consideration for admission to the RN-MSN Program.
• Graduation from an NLN-accredited program and at least 1,000 hours of nursing practice within three years prior to consideration for admission to the RN-MSN Program.