USC: Academic Bulletins

Mary Ann C. Parsons, Dean
Opal F. Brown, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Carolyn L. Murdaugh, Associate Dean for Research
Alice S. Adkins, Assistant Dean for Student Services

Professors
Gwen M. Felton, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1984
Carolyn L. Murdaugh, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1982
Mary Ann C. Parsons, Ph.D., University of Florida, 1976

Associate Professors
Judith W. Alexander, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1982
Mary R. Boyd, Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1990
Opal F. Brown, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1984
Sara G. Fuller, Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch, 1986
JoAnne Herman, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1984
Marlene C. Mackey, Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1984
De Anne Messias, Ph.D., University of California at San Francisco, 1997
Kenneth D. Phillips, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, 1994

Assistant Professors
Wanda F. Anderson-Loftin, Ph.D., Medical College of Georgia, 1996
Mary F. Cox, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2003
Judy Kaye, Ph.D., Medical College of Georgia, 2000
Kristin S. Montgomery, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, 2000
Kathleen M. Scharer, Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1996

Overview

The College of Nursing offers the degrees of Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.), the Doctor of Nursing (N.D.), and the Ph.D. in Nursing Science. Through a cooperative arrangement between the College of Nursing and the Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, a Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health (M.S.N./M.P.H.) dual degree is offered. Post-Master's Certificates of Graduate Study in Advanced Practice Nursing and in Nursing Administration are available. The M.S.N. degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

In addition to the on-campus offerings, many graduate courses are available through distance education via a combination of closed-circuit satellite/talk-back TV, Web-enhanced instruction, and/or videotapes, with limited visits to the Columbia campus.

The frequency with which courses are offered will depend upon projected enrollments and faculty availability. Students and prospective students should meet with an advisor for the respective program to project a curriculum plan.

Graduate students in other divisions of the University may enroll in nonclinical courses in the College of Nursing with the approval of the graduate director of the college and the consent of the professor involved.

General Admission Requirements

Regulations governing admission to graduate study in nursing include those established by both The Graduate School and the College of Nursing. Applicants must complete an application to The Graduate School and a College of Nursing supplement. Specific requirements for admission to each of the academic programs in nursing are listed below in that program's section.

The application deadline for admission to graduate study is May 1 for summer and July 1 for fall.

Financial Aid

Applicants requiring financial assistance should apply to the University's Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships before March 1 prior to the summer or fall term in which the applicant intends to begin study. Applications for College of Nursing scholarships should be submitted to the College of Nursing Office of Student Services by April 1 for the following academic year. Applications for federal nurse traineeships should be submitted to the Office of Student Services in the College of Nursing prior to May 15. Applications for graduate assistantships are also submitted through the Office of Student Services.

General Requirements

Residence, credit transfer, length of time allowed to complete the program, and other general requirements for graduate degrees in nursing are the same as those established by The Graduate School, except where otherwise noted.

Academic Suspension Policy

The College of Nursing abides by the following academic suspension policy: graduate students who accumulate four or more grades of C+ or lower in graduate course work, regardless of GPA, will be suspended from the College of Nursing. However, if a graduate student's GPA falls below 3.00 without accumulating four or more grades of C+ or lower, the student will be placed on academic probation and allowed one calendar year in which to raise the GPA to at least 3.00. Students who do not reach a cumulative 3.00 GPA during the grace period will be suspended.

Appeals for reinstatement from students who have been suspended should be reviewed first by the College of Nursing and then forwarded to the dean of The Graduate School for review by the Graduate Council.

Progression in Thesis or Dissertation Work

Satisfactory progress in thesis or dissertation work results in a grade of T; unsatisfactory progress results in a U grade. The accumulation of two U grades in NURS 799 or NURS 899, regardless of credit hours enrolled, is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is expected of all students. Violation will constitute grounds for dismissal.

Current authorization to practice as a registered nurse in South Carolina is required for all graduate clinical courses. The R.N. license must be issued on the basis of the National Council Licensure Examination. Students are encouraged to carry health insurance throughout the course of their studies and must carry professional liability insurance through the College of Nursing, purchased each semester in conjunction with clinical courses at a cost of approximately $11 per course. Maintenance of current CPR certification for the health care professional is required for enrollment in clinical courses.

In addition to meeting the health requirements of the University, students enrolled in clinical nursing courses are required to provide evidence of annual tuberculosis screening; documentation of positive rubella, rubeola, and varicella titers; and evidence of immunization against tetanus and diphtheria within the last 10 years. Students shall have on file prior to entry into clinical courses one or more of the following: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization record or antibody titers showing a previous antigen response to HBV. Information on all clinical requirements is available in the College of Nursing, Office of Student Services. A current Clinical Requirements Information form must be on file in the College of Nursing Office of Student Services by the required date prior to semesters when students are engaged in clinical practice. Students are not eligible to participate in practice activities at clinical sites until this information is on file.

To take full advantage of clinical learning opportunities in the state and region, students may be required to travel within a radius of 50 miles once or twice weekly and take longer trips as necessary. A valid driver's license and access to a car are required. In addition, a computer with Internet capability is recommended.

Master of Science in Nursing Degree

The M.S.N. offers the following majors: administration in nursing, clinical nursing, community mental health and psychiatric nursing, and health nursing. The clinical nursing major offers three emphasis areas: acute care nursing, gerontological nursing, and women's health nursing. The community mental health and psychiatric nursing major offers three emphasis areas: adult psychiatric nurse practitioner, child/adolescent psychiatric nurse practitioner, and psychiatric clinical nurse specialist. The health nursing major offers emphasis areas in community/public health, primary care, and parent-child health nursing. Also offered is an interdisciplinary dual degree with an M.S.N. and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.).

Admission

Minimum requirements for gaining admittance to the M.S.N. degree program include:

1. a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a program that is nationally accredited;
2. an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.50 and a grade point average in professional nursing courses of at least 3.00;
3. transcripts of all previous college studies;
4. a minimum score of 1000 on the combined verbal and quantitative components of the general test of the GRE or a minimum score of 50 on the Miller Analogies Test;
5. registered nurse licensure in South Carolina or eligibility for S.C. licensure;
6. a completed application to The Graduate School with the College of Nursing supplement;
7. two references written by master's or doctorally prepared nurses who are qualified to evaluate nursing practice performance and academic potential.

Course planning with the student's advisor is required before registration. All students are required to submit a Master's Degree Program of Courses form to the Office of Student Services at the earliest convenient date (no later than the end of the first year). These forms may be obtained in the Office of Student Services and must be completed with the assistance of the academic advisor. The original will be forwarded to the dean of The Graduate School for approval. Copies of the approved program will be kept in the student’s permanent file in the Office of Student Services, College of Nursing.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for earning the M.S.N. degree include:

1. completion of an approved program of courses;
2. completion of a research project (NURS 792) or thesis (NURS 799);
3. satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination;
4. a GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all courses attempted for graduate credit and all courses numbered 700 and above.

Curriculum

Curricula leading to the degree of M.S.N. are divided among 12 hours of core courses required of all nursing majors, 15-22 hours in the emphasis area of the major, 0-9 hours of electives, and 3-6 hours in research, which consist of either a research project or a thesis.

Administration in Nursing (36 hours)

This curriculum is designed to prepare professional nurses to administer nursing services in a variety of health care settings. Electives allow the student an opportunity to develop an area of specialized interest.

Core: NURS 700, 770, 790, and an approved statistics course (12 hours)
Major Core: MGMT 770, NURS 738, 740, 741, and 742 (15 hours)
Electives: Approved electives by advisement (3-6 hours)
Research Project: NURS 792 (3 hours); or Thesis: NURS 799 (6 hours)

Clinical Nursing (40-43 hours)

This curriculum is designed to prepare the specialist/practitioner in the advanced nursing management of human responses to actual or potential health problems in primary-, secondary-, and/or tertiary-care settings. Clinical nursing majors elect an emphasis in gerontological, acute care, or women's health nursing.

Core: NURS 700, 770, 790, and an approved statistics course (12 hours)
Major Core: NURS 702, 704, 707 (9 hours)
Research Requirement: NURS 791 (3 hours) or NURS 792 (3 hours) or NURS 799 (6 hours)
Emphasis Areas (Choose one):

Acute Care Nursing¹: NURS 718, 786 (5), 787 (5), 793 (16 hours)
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner¹: NURS 718 (3), 786 (5), 787 (5), 793 (3) (16 hours)
Acute Care Clinical Specialist^2,3: NURS 750 (3), 718 (3), 786 (4), 793 (3), 725 (2), 727 (3) (18 hours)

Gerontological Nursing⁴: NURS 733 (1), 752, 753, 754, 755, 756 (16 hours)

Women’s Health Nursing⁴^,⁵: NURS 705, 722, 739, 776 (4), 793 (16 hours)

¹Students may elect to add a pediatric option to the acute care curriculum; required courses: NURS 706 and 728.
²Students not selecting the thesis option must complete NURS 791 rather than 792.
³Students may substitute another role development sequence for NURS 725 and 727 upon advisement.
⁴Elective required if taking NURS 792 instead of NURS 799.
⁵BIOS 700 is the statistics course required for women's health nursing.

Community Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing (43-52 hours)

This curriculum prepares nurses to provide advanced psychiatric/mental health nursing as either practitioners and/or clinical specialists. Psychiatric/mental health majors may focus on adult, elderly, or children/adolescents either in the client's clinical sites or across settings.

Core: NURS 700, 770, 790, and an approved statistics course (12 hours)
Major Core: NURS 702, 704, 707 (9 hours)
Research Project or Thesis: NURS 792 (3 hours) or NURS 799 (6 hours)
Emphasis Areas (Choose one)

Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner/Specialist: NURS 705, 722, 731, 732, 733 (1), 735, 793 (19 hours)

Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner/Specialist: NURS 706, 708, 710, 722, 731, 732, 733 (1), 735, 793 (25 hours)

Clinical Psychiatric Nurse Specialist¹: NURS 731, 732, 733, 735, 789 (15 hours)

¹Two elective mental health focused courses by faculty advisement.

Health Nursing (39-48 hours)

The curriculum is designed to prepare advanced-practice nurses for leadership positions in the primary health care of families and selected populations in the community with an emphasis on parent-child health nursing, primary care, or community/public health.

Core: NURS 700, 770, 790, and BIOS 700 (12 hours)
Research Project: NURS 792 (3 hours) or Thesis: NURS 799 (6 hours)
Major Core: NURS 708, 720¹, and EPID 700 (9-12 hours)
Emphasis Areas (Choose Community/Public Health, Parent-Child Health Nursing, or Primary Care):

Community/Public Health: NURS 716, 738, and one of the following four sequences (15 hours):

Community/Public Health-Community Public Health Nursing Administration: HSPM 700 and two of the following: ENHS 660, HSPM 712, 716, 725, HPEB 700, MGMT 770, NURS 735, 740
Community/Public Health-Community Health Promotion and Education: HPEB 700 and two of the following: EXSC 700, HPEB 701, 702, 708, 710, 712
Community/Public Health-Occupational/Environmental Health Nursing: ENHS 660 and two of the following: ENHS 662, 681, 762, 763, 764, 767, 771, 776, 781, EPID 747
Community/Public Health-School Health Nursing: HPEB 720 and two of the following: EDEX 632, 691, EXSC 700, HPEB 521, 631, 710, 760

Parent-Child Health Nursing: NURS 704, 745, 763, 764, 782, 783 (18 hours)

Primary Care (21 hours):

Primary Care-Family Nurse Practitioner: NURS 702, 704, 705, 706, 707, 722, 793

Primary Care-Adult Nurse Practitioner: NURS 702, 704, 705, 707, 722, 793 and another adult-focused clinical course with advisement

Primary Care-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner: NURS 702, 704, 705, 707, 722, 753, 793

Primary Care-Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: NURS 702, 704, 706, 707, 710, 722, 793

¹Six credits required for the community/public health emphasis

M.S.N./M.P.H. Dual Degree (51 or 54 hours)

The College of Nursing and the Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health dual degree leads to the M.S.N./M.P.H. degree for nursing and health administration majors. The program requires from the nursing and public health curricula a combined total of 51 credit hours for the nonthesis option or 54 credit hours for the thesis option.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements for both the College of Nursing and the School of Public Health. The general test of the GRE is required for admission to the dual degree program.

Courses and sequence of courses required to meet the dual degree requirements are as follows:

Nursing: NURS 700, 708, 716, 720¹ (6), 770, 790, and 738² (24 hours)

NURS 792 (Research Project); NURS 799 (Thesis) (3 or 6 hours)

Public Health: HSPM 700, 712, 716, 725, HPEB 700, ENHS 660, BIOS 700, and EPID 700 (24 hours)

¹NURS 720 is cross-listed with HSPM 798, Public Health Residency.
²NURS 738 is cross-listed with HSPM 730, Financing of Health Care.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science Degree

The Ph.D. degree is designed to prepare graduates for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry that manifests itself in creative scholarship and research. Students in the doctoral program acquire the knowledge and skills to conduct research that is theory generating and/or theory testing, and the ability to generate and refine nursing science as the basis for nursing practice, education, and administration.

Admission

The admission process attempts to identify individuals who have a high probability of successfully completing the program. All factors are considered in combination. Specific requirements include:

1. one of the following options:

a. B.S.N. entry option--a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a program that is nationally accredited;

b. M.S.N. entry option--a bachelor of science in nursing degree and a master's in nursing degree from nationally accredited programs;

c. non-M.S.N. master's entry option--a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a nationally accredited program and a master's degree in another discipline.

2. general GRE verbal and quantitative scores (The average combined verbal and quantitative scores of the class admitted for 2002 was 1060.).
3. transcripts of all previous college studies (The average GPA of the class admitted for 2002 was 3.83.);
4. registered nurse licensure in South Carolina or eligibility for S.C. licensure;
5. completed application to The Graduate School with the College of Nursing supplement;
6. potential for scholarship in nursing science as evidenced by the following:

a. two or three examples of scholarly work, e.g., research reports, published articles, thesis, course papers, and written innovations;

b. written statement of career goals;

c. three letters of reference from doctorally prepared nurses that address research and scholarship potential;

d. interview with two nursing graduate faculty members.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for earning the Ph.D. include:

1. residence of at least one year on the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina;
2. completion of an approved program of courses totaling not less than 61 credit hours for master's entry options and not less than 88 credit hours for B.S.N. entry option;
3. completion of the admission-to-candidacy examination at least one full academic year prior to the date on which the degree is to be granted;
4. completion of a language requirement, met through either a reading knowledge of a foreign language or competency in statistics/research methods specific to the student's proposed course of study;
5. completion of a mentored research experience under the supervision of College of Nursing faculty (NURS 898);
6. completion of a comprehensive examination taken after admission to candidacy and completion of all course requirements except those courses in which the student is currently enrolled;
7. completion and oral defense of a doctoral dissertation.

Length of Program

The Ph.D. in Nursing Science is designed to be completed in three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study for master's entry options or in four years of full-time study or five years of part-time study for the B.S.N. entry option.

Curriculum

The curriculum in the Ph.D. program is designed to provide students with a core foundation in nursing-theory development, nursing research, and statistics. A minimum of 28 semester hours of core courses is required. Program options (minimum of 21 semester hours required) build on the core foundation and permit students to develop individual programs of study in conjunction with faculty advisors. The goal of the curriculum is to prepare beginning researchers in a defined area of nursing science inquiry. This will be accomplished through the development of individual programs of courses and research experiences.

Students who do not have beginning level graduate courses in nursing theory, nursing research, or statistics equivalent to those required in the USC College of Nursing master of science in nursing degree program will need to complete these courses prior to beginning the Ph.D. core courses. Students in the B.S.N. entry option will need to complete 18 additional credit hours of master's level courses which may be from one of the existing nursing majors or emphasis areas or in an individualized program of study. These courses must relate to the student's research area of interest. Enrollment in these courses may occur concurrently with enrollment in Ph.D. core courses.

Distribution of Ph.D. Requirements (minimum of 61-64 hours required)

Core Courses (minimum of 28 hours required)

Nursing Theory: NURS 800, 801, 802 (9 hours)

Nursing Research: NURS 810, 811, 813 (9 hours)

Theory-Research Synthesis: NURS 803 (3 hours)

Professional Seminar: NURS 804 (1 hour)

Statistics: 6 hours must be taken outside of nursing (6-9 hours)*

Mentored Research (minimum of 3 hours required)

Research Internship: NURS 898 (3-6 hours)

Contributing Courses (minimum of 18 hours required)

Advanced Nursing Courses: (6-12 hours)

Elective Courses: 6 hours must be taken outside of nursing (9-15 hours)

Independent Study: (0-6 hours)

Dissertation: NURS 899 (12 hours)

Doctor of Nursing Degree

The N.D. is a professional degree designed to prepare nurses as clinical practitioners/scholars to assume advanced practice clinical and leadership roles. The N.D. program has three entry points, depending upon prior educational experience. The curricular plan is designed for the student who has a bachelor's degree from a discipline other than nursing or who has a B.S.N. or a master's degree in nursing. The curriculum consists of course work equivalent to that of a master's degree in nursing plus additional course work (beyond the master's degree requirements) that extends the clinical skills and provides preparation for a variety of leadership roles in the health care arena. Doctor of Nursing graduates are eligible to sit for national certification nurse practitioner examinations in family and acute care. Depending upon elective sequences selected, students may be able to prepare for additional specialty certification examinations.

Admission

Admission requirements for students who do not hold a B.S.N.:

1. a bachelor's degree from a discipline other than nursing;
2. a GPA of 3.00; a GPA of 3.00 in all science courses;
3. a GRE general test total score of at least 1000 for combined verbal and quantitative components;
4. transcripts of all previous college studies;
5. completed application to The Graduate School with the College of Nursing supplement;
6. satisfactory written references from three persons with educational preparation at the doctoral level who are able to evaluate the academic potential of the candidate;
7. an admission interview;
8. evidence of writing competence, evaluated through the candidate's prepared written statement submitted with the application as well as by written response to an essay question given during the admission interview.

Admission requirements for students with a B.S.N. or a master's degree in nursing:

1. a B.S.N. from a program that is nationally accredited and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (Applicants who hold a master's or post-master's degree in nursing must have a minimum GPA of 3.50 for all graduate course work.);
2. a GRE general test total score of at least 1000 for combined verbal and quantitative components;
3. registered nurse licensure in South Carolina or eligibility for South Carolina licensure;
4. transcripts of all previous college studies;
5. completed application to The Graduate School with the College of Nursing supplement;
6. satisfactory written references from three persons with educational preparation at the doctoral level who are able to evaluate the academic potential of the candidate;
7. an admission interview;
8. evidence of writing competence, which will be evaluated through the candidate's prepared written statement submitted with the application, as well as by written response to an essay question given during the admissions interview.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for earning the N.D. include:

1. residence of at least one year on the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina;
2. completion of an approved program of courses;
3. completion of Phases I and II of the comprehensive examination during the semester prior to enrolling in the clinical residency and research project;
4. completion of a research utilization project (Phase III of the comprehensive examination) during the final semester.

Curriculum

The N.D. curricular plan totals 94 credits. Non-B.S.N. degree prepared students take additional course work as prerequisites and corequisites with the N.D. curriculum. These students are awarded the B.S.N. degree upon the completion of the additional course work and the prescribed credits of N.D. course work needed for licensure. Once the B.S.N. course work is completed, students may take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Students must be successful on the NCLEX before they are eligible to enroll in the remaining N.D. courses. Length of study for non-B.S.N. degree prepared students is typically eight semesters (including summers) of full-time study. Part-time study is available; however, full-time study is required while taking the pre-licensure courses.

B.S.N. prepared students take only the 94 credits of the N.D. curricular plan. The B.S.N. prepared student is typically enrolled for six semesters (plus two summers) of full-time study but may enroll on a part-time basis.

Students with a master's degree in nursing may have required courses in the N.D. curricular plan waived upon proper submission of like course material that was successfully completed with a minimum grade of B. Regardless, a minimum of 45 credits in the N.D. curriculum is required for the Doctor of Nursing degree by those holding the master’s degree in nursing. Completion time for master's in nursing prepared students will depend on courses waived and N.D. requirements left to complete.

Courses required for the Doctor of Nursing degree are as follows:

Nursing: NURS 700, 702, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 718, 720, 722, 731, 734, 735, 738, 779, 781, 790, 791, 793, 794, 798 (3 each), 737 (2), 758 (1), 786 (5), 787 (5), 795 (1), 797 (2), 79 credit hours

Statistics: BIOS 700, STAT 700, or EDRM 710 (3) and STAT 701, EDRM 711, or BIOS 757 (3) 6 credit hours

EPID 700 (3)

HGEN 700 (3)

Electives: Approved electives by advisement (3)

Total N.D. credit hours 94

*The pre-licensure curricular plan is in the N.D. program brochure available in the College of Nursing.

Certificate Studies

Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Practice Nursing

The post-master's Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Practice Nursing (nurse practitioner) is restricted to students who hold a master's degree in nursing. The program of study is designed to augment the student's prior graduate study through advanced practice preparation in one of three emphasis areas: primary care, acute care, or psychiatric/mental health nursing. Students who complete the program of study are eligible to apply for national certification examinations in the applicable nurse practitioner specialty area.

Admission

Requirements include:

1. master's degree from a program that is nationally accredited;
2. GPA of 3.25 or better on a 4.00 scale for previous graduate work;
3. transcripts of all previous college studies;
4. completed application to The Graduate School with the College of Nursing supplement;
5. two letters of recommendation written by master's or doctorally prepared nurses that address advanced nursing practice potential;
6. documented health records;
7. registered nurse licensure in South Carolina or eligibility for South Carolina licensure.

Certificate Requirements

Students pursuing the Certificate of Graduate Study in Advanced Practice Nursing must:

1. complete NURS 702, 704, 707 (9 hours);

2. select one of the following emphases:

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (select one of the following four options):

Family Nurse Practitioner: NURS 705, 706, 708¹, 722, 793

Adult Nurse Practitioner: NURS 705, 708¹, 722, 793, and an additional adult-focused clinical course with advisement; (Students selecting the adult nurse practitioner may take a focus in women's health nurse practitioner by substituting NURS 776 [4 hours] for the adult-focused clinical course and NURS 739 for NURS 708.)

Gerontological Nurse Practitioner: NURS 705, 708¹, 722, 753, 793

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: NURS 706, 708¹, 710, 722, 793

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: NURS 718, 786, 787, 793

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: NURS 705, 722, 731, 732, 735, 793.

Total (24-27 hours)

¹NURS 708 is required for students who do not have a background in community health nursing; a nursing elective may be substituted for a student with a background in community health nursing.

Certificate of Graduate Study in Nursing Administration

The 18-hour Certificate of Graduate Study in Nursing Administration is for students who hold a master's degree in nursing and choose to pursue additional knowledge in the area of nursing administration.

Admissions requirements include:

1. a master's degree from a program that is nationally accredited;
2. a GPA of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale for previous graduate work;
3. transcripts of previous college study;
4. completed application to The Graduate School with the College of Nursing supplement;
5. two letters of recommendation written by master’s or doctorally prepared nurses that address advanced nursing practice potential;
6. documented health records;
7. registered nurse licensure in South Carolina or eligibility for South Carolina licensure.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate may be earned by completing the following requirements:

MGMT 770, NURS 738, 740, 741, 742, 781 (18 hours).

Course Descriptions (NURS)

503 -- Congregational Nurse Role. (2) Nursing practice within faith communities.
503A -- Congregational Nurse Role Practicum. (1) (Coreq: NURS 503)
524 -- Geriatric Nutrition. (3) (Prereq: an undergraduate nutrition course or permission of the instructor) Nutritional requirements of older people; emphasis on the preventive and therapeutic nutrition principles.
534 -- The Rural Interdisciplinary Practicum. (1-6) Students live and practice in a rural, interdisciplinary environment and participate in an organized community-based health care activity. Contract approved by instructor and department chair is required for undergraduate students.
541 -- Issues in Women's Health. {=WOST 541} (3) An exploration of women's health and health care concerns from multiple perspectives.
553 -- In-Service Education. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Organizing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the in-service education program.
571 -- Special Topics. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor)
700 -- Theoretical and Conceptual Foundation for Nursing. (3) Concept development, model building, and theoretical formulation in nursing. Critical analysis of current theories of nursing, related nursing research, and selected theories from natural, behavioral, and applied health sciences.
701A -- Precepted Clinical Practice (Clinical Leadership). (2) (Prereq: NURS 414, 415; coreq: NURS 734) Precepted clinical leadership and management of patient care in health care systems.
701B -- Precepted Clinical Practice (Nursing in the Community). (2) (Prereq: NURS 414, 415; coreq: NURS 708) Precepted clinical practice related to the community as client; facilitation of the health of families and groups in the community through health promotion restoration; and support process.
702 -- Pharmacologic Management in Advance Practice Nursing. (3) Pharmacologic management of select acute and chronic health problems of adults and children.
704 -- Advanced Health Assessment. (3) Advanced theory and practice in critical thinking, physical assessment, diagnostic reasoning for clients across the life span to identify pathologic variations and initiate appropriate interventions. Didactic, lab, and field study.
705 -- Primary Care Nursing of Adults. (3) (Prereq: NURS 702 and NURS 704) Primary care nursing of adults to assist them to maintain and improve their health relative to lifestyle, reproductive practices, and minor self-limiting illness. Didactic and field study.
706 -- Primary Care Nursing of Children. (3) (Prereq: NURS 702 and NURS 704) Clinical application of histories, physical examinations, and diagnostic algorithms in primary care of children with health problems. Developmental counseling of family members. Didactic and field study.
707 -- Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses. (3) Advanced concepts of pathophysiological functioning with application to advanced nursing practice in selected specialty areas.
708 -- Conceptual Basis for Family and Community Health Nursing. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 700) Key concepts, theories, and issues relevant to practice as a specialist in public health/community health nursing.
709 -- Health Behavior and Evolving Nursing Practice. (3) Selected social and nursing processes which influence health-related behaviors of individuals, families, and groups.
710 -- Advanced Primary Care Nursing of Children. (3) Primary nursing care of children with behavioral and developmental health problems. Didactic and clinical experience.
711 -- Therapeutic Nursing Intervention: Individuals. (3) Nursing diagnosis and treatment of human responses to selected psychiatric and mental health problems with the individual as the focal system. Seminar and supervised clinical practice.
712 -- Therapeutic Nursing Intervention: Groups. (3) Nursing diagnosis and treatment of human responses to selected psychiatric and mental health problems with the group as the focal system. Seminar and supervised clinical practice.
713 -- Therapeutic Nursing Intervention: Families. (3) Nursing diagnosis and treatment of human responses to selected psychiatric and mental health problems with the family as the focal system. Seminar and supervised clinical practice.
714 -- Nutrition Issues and Controversies. (3) A study of current issues and controversies in the field of nutrition as they relate to the health professional. Topics will vary depending on the interests of the students and issues of the times.
715 -- Nutrition and the Elderly. {=MEDI 701} (3) A multidisciplinary approach to the nutritional requirements of the elderly. The role of nutrition in the prevention of medical problems commonly seen in the elderly.
716 -- Community Health Care Services. (3) Identification and analysis of issues in community health care in relation to management, fiscal resources, and programs designed to provide health services to community populations.
718 -- Diagnostic Interpretation and Therapeutic Modalities. (3) Analysis of diagnostic and laboratory findings for clinical decision-making in advanced practice nursing. Course incorporates selected medical and nursing diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.
720 -- Public Health Residency. {=HSPM 798} (3 or 6) (Prereq: EPID 700, BIOS 700 and three additional hours in the major) Practicum in approved health care setting emphasizing evaluation and service delivery planning or a project such as resolution of a management problem or evaluation of a program component.
721 -- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Consultation. (3) Nursing diagnosis and treatment of human responses to selected actual or potential psychiatric and mental health problems with the community as the focal system. Seminar and supervised clinical practice.
722 -- Therapeutic Primary Care Nursing. (3) (Prereq: NURS 705 or 706 and a second approved clinical course) Primary care nursing of individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities in primary care settings. Seminars allow students to focus on child or adult clients.
723 -- Primary Care Nursing Field Study. (3-4) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 722) Supervised practice in the primary care of families, adults, or children in clinics, offices, and homes. Seminars on related topics. (18-24 hours of clinical practice per week.)
724 -- Education in Nursing. (3) Historical foundation of nursing education. Application of learning theory to program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
725 -- Nursing Education and Curriculum Development. (2) Introduction to the processes of curriculum development in clinical or academic nursing education settings.
726 -- Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Child Abuse and Neglect. {=CRJU 743, EDCE 769, HPRE 769, SOWK 769} (3) Current knowledge about child abuse and neglect, including typologies, etiology, effects, and current practice interventions.
727 -- Teaching Practicum in Nursing. (3) (Prereq: NURS 725) Supervised teaching experiences with nursing students, patients, and staff in selected health care and academic settings.
728 -- Acute Care Nursing of Children. (3) (Prereqs: NURS 704, 706, and 718) Practices, research, and issues related to the care of infants and children with acute health deviations and their families. Practicum required.
729 -- Independent Nursing Interventions for Medical-Surgical Patients. (3) Advanced treatment planning with application and evaluation of selected independent nursing intervention for medical-surgical patients. Seminar and practicum.
730 -- Selected Problems in Clinical Practice. (3) In-depth study of the nursing of a selected population of individuals and families with a health problem of the individual student's choice. Study of the epidemiology, course, prevention and control, research, health services, nursing of persons with this problem, and roles of the nurse practitioner. One hour seminar, scheduled individual conference with consulting staff, and self-directed library and clinical study weekly.
731 -- Management of Psychiatric Mental Health Problems in Primary Care. (3) Assessment, treatment, and management of psychiatric mental health problems in primary care settings. Seminar and field study.
732 -- Management of Complex Mental Health Problems. (3) (Prereq: NURS 731) Clinical management of complex mental health problems in hospital and community settings. Theory and field study.
733 -- Psychopharmacological Decisions in Advanced Nursing Practice. (1) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 702) (Restricted to master's students in nursing in an advanced clinical practice major or master's graduates with graduate preparation in psychiatric mental health nursing or in a nurse practitioner program) Psychopharmacological management of common mental health programs.
734 -- Conceptual Basis of Health Systems. (3) Organizational and management theories emphasizing nursing administration roles, budgeting and resource allocation, strategic planning, organizational development, human resource management, and legal and regulatory issues.
735 -- Case Management. (1-3) Case management of variable populations across health care settings. (up to 12 clock hours of clinical practice per week with a 1:6 ratio, depending on credit hours for which student enrolls.)
736 -- Women, Work, and Health: Global Perspectives. {=WOST 736} (3) Intersections of women's work and women's health in diverse social, cultural, economic, geographic, and political contexts.
737 -- Seminar on Advanced Practice Roles. (1) (Restricted to N.D. students) Discussion of issues in advanced practice. May be repeated for credit.
738 -- Financing of Health Care. {=HSPM 730} (3) Application of the principles of financial management to the systems involved in the delivery of health care.
739 -- Conceptual Base for Women's Health Nursing. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 700) Examination of philosophical and conceptual frameworks for women's health nursing.
740 -- Facilitative Processes in Nursing Administration. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 700) Issues, structures, and processes employed in providing a supportive environment for professional nursing practice. Emphasis on development of professional nursing systems models.
741 -- Coordinating Processes in Nursing Administration. (3) (Prereq: NURS 740; prereq or coreq: MGMT 770) Methods for supporting nursing systems with resources of health care delivery systems. Focus is on professional and systems relationships.
742 -- Integrative Processes in Nursing Administration. (3) (Prereq: NURS 738 and NURS 741) Strategies for maximizing the potential of nursing services within organizations. Methods for meeting the challenges presented by complex changes occurring in the health care system. Practicum.
743 -- Healthful Reproduction. (3) (Prereq NURS 705) Study of factors influencing the health of the mother, infant, family, and society during late adolescence; family planning; labor; delivery and post-partum periods. Theory and clinical problems. Practicum required.
745 -- Parent-Child Assessment. (3) Examination, analysis, and evaluation of person/environment interaction and human responses of children and their parents. Class and clinical practice.
746 -- Pediatric Nursing: Theory and Practice. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 745) Specialized knowledge and skills applied in the nursing of well and sick infants and young children.
747 -- Nursing of Children and Youth: Theory and Practice. (3) (Prereq: NURS 746) Specialized knowledge and skills applied in the nursing of school-age children and youths.
748 -- Occupational Health Problems and Programs. (3) The epidemiology of major occupational health problems: health and safety, and programs to control them. Open to graduate students of the helping professions.
749 -- Occupational Nursing: Theory and Practice. (3) Theory and skills applied to the practice of nursing in the occupational setting.
750 -- Advanced Practice Clinical Nursing. (3) (Prereq: NURS 700, 702, 704, 707) Conceptual basis and beginning practice as acute care clinical specialist. Emphasis on advanced nursing decision-making processes, evidence-based practice, and cultural competency. Includes a one-credit-hour practicum.
751 -- Advanced Practice of Medical-Surgical Nursing II. (3) (Prereq: NURS 750; prereq or coreq: NURS 729) Management of selected client populations with complex medical-surgical nursing problems focusing on clinical testing of nursing interventions and development of hypotheses for clinical nursing research.
752 -- Current Issues in Gerontological Nursing. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 700) Survey of current theories, trends, and research affecting the practice of gerontological nursing.
753 -- Primary Care of Older Adults. (3) Primary care of the older adult functioning in the community. Theory and clinical practice.
754 -- Acute Care of Older Adults. (3) Gerontological nursing theories, processes, and skills applied in the promotion of health and treatment of major health problems of the aged. Clinical practice in acute care settings.
755 -- Restorative Care of Older Adults. (3) Restorative care of older adults. The impact of institutionalization on the frail elderly. Theory and clinical practice.
756 -- Geropsychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. (3) Nursing role development to meet needs of the mentally well, at risk, and mentally ill elderly and their families. Selected application of content with an elderly client or a hypothetical case situation.
758 -- Alternative Forms of Health Care. (1 or 3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Survey of such alternatives as acupuncture, biofeedback, and imagery. Particular emphasis on therapeutic touch as a helping/healing modality.
759 -- Self-Regulation Techniques for Acutely and Chronically Ill Clients. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) An in-depth examination of the procedures for selected self-regulation techniques with an emphasis on developing practitioner skill with the procedures.
760 -- Care of the Chronically Mentally Ill in Family and Community Systems. (3) (Prereq: NURS 710 or consent of instructor) Study of the knowledge and skills necessary to intervene in family and community support systems to foster the successful adjustment of the chronically mentally ill in the community.
763 -- Advanced Perinatal Physiology. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 700) Advanced study of the perinatal physiology of human responses which reflect the interactions of parent(s), fetus, and neonate with the genetic, immediate, and potential environment.
764 -- Conceptual Base for Parent-Child Health Nursing. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 700) Examination of selected conceptual frameworks of parenting and family development which reflect ongoing person/environment interaction during childbearing and childrearing.
768 -- Women's Health Care. (3) (Prereq: NURS 702, NURS 704) Advanced study of health issues influencing women across the life span.
769 -- Independent Study in Nursing. (1-6) Required consent of major advisor and faculty member supervising the independent study. Opportunity for self-directed study in a theoretical area related to nursing, in an area of clinical nursing practice, or in an area of functional nursing practice.
770 -- Role Development and Professional Issues. (3) Contemporary issues and trends in the health care delivery system. Emphasis on role development and responsibility of the master's prepared nurse in practice, administration, education, and research.
771 -- Selected Topics. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor)
772 -- Roles and Functions of the Clinical Nurse Specialist I. (3) Concepts and theories underlying the clinical nursing specialization with emphasis on examination of the roles of communicator, collaborator, consultant, and expert practitioner.
773 -- Roles and Functions of the Clinical Nurse Specialist II. (3) (Prereq: NURS 772) Builds on the concepts and theories presented in NURS 772 with emphasis on the clinical nurse specialist roles of educator and researcher and on the organizational responsibilities of the clinical nurse specialist.
774 -- Practicum: Clinical Specialization in ... (3) (Prereq: completion of core course work, major requirements, and NURS 772 or 773) Intensive application of knowledge and skills acquired through course work in specialty and functional role. Sectioned and titled by clinical emphasis areas.
776 -- Advanced Health Care of Women. (3-4) (Prereq: NURS 705 or consent of instructor) Advanced primary nursing care of women with low- and high-risk pregnancies, gynecological/reproductive alterations, acute episodic illness, chronic disease, and at-risk behaviors. Didactic and practicum.
778 -- Health Care Marketing. {=HSPM 778} (3) The principles of marketing applied to the health care setting.
779 -- Health Politics. {=HSPM 711 and GINT 757} (3) Analysis of issues and forces affecting health delivery through the public sector; major models of political decision-making; and current health legislation.
780 -- Legal Perspectives in Professional Nursing Practice. (3) Examination of statutory laws, court decisions, and regulations as they affect professional nursing practice.
781 -- Applied Technology in Health Care. (3) (Prereq: BIOS 700 or EDRM 710 or equivalent) Computer applications and other technological advances in nursing and health care delivery. Nursing administration, patient care management, and research applications. Field study.
782 -- Advanced Family Nursing: Assessment and Diagnosis. (3) Nursing assessment of selected human responses/life processes as a basis for planning nursing interventions for women, children, and their families. Practicum required.
783 -- Advanced Family Nursing: Intervention and Evaluation. (3) (Prereq: NURS 782) Nursing intervention and evaluation for diagnosed human responses/life processes of women, children, and their families. Practicum required.
785 -- Clinical Decision-Making in Complex Patient Situations. (3) (Prereq or coreq: NURS 704) Case study approach to synthesize pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology, and therapeutics for clinical decision-making in select complex situations experienced by acutely ill adults.
786 -- Management of Acute Adult Health Problems I. (4-6) (Prereq: NURS 704, NURS 707, and NURS 718) Management of selected acutely ill, institutionalized adults. Practicum required.
787 -- Management of Acute Adult Health Problems II. (5 or 6) (Prereq: NURS 786) Case management of selected groups of acutely ill adults in institutionalized settings. Practicum required.
788 -- Field Study in Advanced Practice Nursing. (3) (Prereq: NURS 787) Field study in advanced nursing practice and management of adults with complex health problems.
789 -- Preceptored Clinical Practice. (1-3) Individually contracted clinical experiences as arranged with faculty and agency preceptors. (Six clock hours per week of clinical practice/credit hour.)
790 -- Research Methods for Nursing. (3) (Prereq: approved statistics course, NURS 700) Development of nursing research and methodological approaches to the study of nursing problems.
791 -- Seminar in Clinical Nursing Research. (3) (Prereq: NURS 790) Survey and critical analysis of current research in clinical nursing and related disciplines.
792 -- Special Projects in Nursing Research. (3) (Prereq: NURS 790) Individual project in a selected area of nursing research.
793 -- Advanced Practice Practicum. (1-4) (Prereq: Placement and credit determined with advisement) Supervised field study in advanced practice nursing. Seminars on related topics.
794 -- Ethics and the Health Sciences. {=PHIL 710, DMED 620, SOWK 753, PUBH 710} (1-4) An introduction to the formal and informal codes of professional conduct of health science disciplines and a discussion of their implications for interprofessional research, clinical practice, and administration.
795 -- Seminar on Consultation. (1) (Prereq: NURS 700) The philosophy, theoretical concepts, and skills for consultation in advanced nursing practice.
797 -- Clinical Research Utilization. (2) (Prereq: NURS 791) Field study in research utilization.
798 -- Nurse Doctorate Clinical Residency. (3) (Prereq: NURS 793) Field study in role synthesis for the doctorate nursing resident. (Restricted to ND students.)
799 -- Thesis Preparation. (1-6) (Prereq: NURS 790) May be repeated; only 6 hours may be applied to the degree.
800 -- Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science. (3) A critical examination of the evolution of scientific thought and its impact on current approaches to nursing research, theory development, and clinical practice.
801 -- Theory Analysis for Nursing Science. (3) (Prereq: NURS 800) Examination and critique of theories from the physical, biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences as they are applied to nursing science.
802 -- Theory Analysis and Development. (3) (Prereq: NURS 801) Analysis, construction, and development of theory in nursing science.
803 -- Scientific Knowledge in Nursing. (3) (Prereq: NURS 802; NURS 811) Examination of knowledge domains within nursing science.
804 -- Seminar on the Role of the Nurse Scientist. (1) Critical analysis of the nurse scientist role in contemporary health care.
810 -- Advanced Research Methods. (3) Analysis of research methods currently utilized in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences and their utility for nursing research.
811 -- Quantitative Methods in Nursing Research. (3) (Prereq: NURS 810; EDRM 711 or BIOS 757) Advanced quantitative methods, designs, and analysis techniques used in the development of nursing science.
812 -- Measurement in Nursing Research. (3) (Prereq: NURS 811) Design and conduct of a measurement project related to the student's area of research interest.
813 -- Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research. (3) Analysis of qualitative methods in the development of nursing science. Includes epistemology, research planning process, specific methods for data collection and analysis, theory building, and ethical issues.
840 -- Independent Study in Nursing Science. (1-6) Independent study to meet the needs of individual students. Conferences with professor.
850 -- Selected Topics in Nursing Science. (3) Depth analysis of a specific method or content area of nursing research.
870 -- Research Proposal Development. (1-3) Seminar designed to assist students in the preparation of research proposals for the academic, federal, and private sectors.
898 -- Research Internship. (1-6) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Application of the principles and techniques of nursing research and theory through collaboration with a graduate nursing faculty mentor in an ongoing research project. (Pass-Fail grading)
899 -- Dissertation Preparation. (1-12) (Prereq: admission to candidacy and approval of dissertation committee) Minimum of 12 hours required for completion of degree.