Master of Science Degree in Nursing
(NP Options and More)

The purpose of the Master of Science degree program is to prepare nurses for leadership roles in advanced clinical practice and education, or to provide a basis for further research preparation. The curriculum builds on a core of essential content, which includes the study of diverse populations, research and policy. Students develop expertise in a selected area of clinical specialization and prepare for an advanced practice role consistent with their professional roles.

The faculty believe graduate education should promote and encourage critical thinking. Leadership in nursing can be provided best by members of the profession who demonstrate the spirit and method of productive scholarship through:

  1. advanced study in nursing and in basic and applied sciences relevant to the practice of nursing;
  2. the synthesis and use of this knowledge in a specialized area of nursing practice;
  3. application of a systematic method of study to nursing practice that contributes to the advancement of knowledge and theory in nursing.

The program is designed to meet the needs of nurses in practice who live in the Madison area or at a distance. Opportunities for either full-time or part-time study are available. It is possible to complete the degree in 2 years of full time study or 3-4 years of part time study. Formal courses meet once a week during the morning or afternoon, with some late afternoon offerings available to facilitate scheduling. Some courses are offered online or in a full day, once a week formate for 6-8 weeks. These options coupled with clinical experiences that may be completed near the student's home assist distance students to achieve the program goals.

Program Options

Students select both a clinical population area and a functional role focus:

Clinical Population options:

Within the clinical specialties, the following roles are available:

In attition, there are specialized dual role options and dual degree options available:

The Nurse Educators for Tomorrow (NET) project offers dual role options preparation in an online format:

The MS/MPH is a dual degree program available for nurses interested in professional roles as educators, administrators, and advanced practice nurses seeking to link clinical and/or nusing education goals with public health practice. The curriculum combines core classes in nursing and public health practice together with student-selected electives for specialization. Two degrees are awarded: The Master of Science-Nursing from the Graduate School and the Master of Public Health from the Medical School.

The Master's of Science Degree in Nursing curriculum is reflective of faculty expertise and meets national curriculum guideliness and standards for nurse practitioner education. The program is designed to maintain a high standard of scholarship and prepare individuals with in-depth knowledge and experience in their selected area of practice.

The nurse practitioner options (Acute Care, Adult, Gerontology, Pediatric, Psychiatric-Mental Health, and Women's Health) represent the largest enrollment of students within the master's program.Each specialty track within the Master's Program educates the advanced practice nurse student to assume clinical, leadership, and research roles in advanced practice nursing. Students are prepared to provide direct health care in a variety of settings.

The program offers a broad preparation in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic illness and health promotion and disease prevention utilizing the resources of a world-renowned university.

Resources and Environments

Thank you for your interest in the UW-Madison School of Nursing master's program. If you choose the University of Wisconsin-Madison for graduate study in nursing, you will be joining a community of scholars internationally recognized for quality. The School of Nursing has offered graduate education since 1964 and is consistently ranked as one of the top nursing schools for graduate education and research. In addition to the master's programs, the School has a number of unique options to bridge or accelerate progression, including the early entry PhD program, and the R.N. to M.S.program. Post-master's and postdoctoral training opportunities are also available.

The UW-Madison School of Nursing offers a research-intensive learning environment. The School of Nursing is part of an academic clinical center which includes: University Hospital and Clinics, UW Children's Hospital, University Health Service, School of Pharmacy, Medical School, State Laboratory of Hygiene, and Wisconsn Comprehensive Cancer Center. Faculty, staff and students maintain affiliations with numerous health, education, and social service agencies throughout urban and rural Wisconsin. The new Health Sciences Learninc Center (HSLC) brings together students in nursing, medicine and pharmacy. State-of-the-art classrooms, computer resources and distance education facilities, as well as the Ebling Library are housed in the HSLC.

The UW-Madison is one of the largest and best public universities in the nation. Nursing faculty are well prepared for their roles as scholars, researchers, clinicians, and teachers. Many have postdoctoral experience in nursing and related biophysiological disciplines. The city of Madison is frequently named one of the nation's finest communities in which to live and work.

NP PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Diane R. Lauver, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN
608-263-5286
Email: drlauver@wisc.edu

FINANCIAL AID
Students may apply for a number of scholarships through the UW-MadisonSchool of Nursing Master's of Science Financial Aid Information & the University: http://www.finaid.wisc.edu.

Further Information
For an admission information packet for the Nurse Practitioner Programs in Acute Care, Adult, Gerontology, Pediatric, Psychiatric-Mental Health, or Women's Health, contact Marcia Voss by phone (608) 263-5258 or by e-mail: mlvoss@wisc.edu.