MA in Bioethics/MSN
Why pursue an MA-Bioethics/MSN dual degree?
The purpose of the program is to prepare advance practice nurses from the very onset of their careers to be equipped to identify, address, and assess ethical issues as they appear in clinical practice and healthcare administration. Students who graduate with a dual MA-Bioethics/MSN degree will not only be prepared to enhance the care they provide to patients, but also will be prepared to work on issues of public and institutional policy as it relates to the provision of clinical care, to serve on ethics committees, or to conduct education on the ethical foundations of clinical practice.
As one of only three universities in the US offering a dual MA-Bioethics/MSN degree, you would be poised to differentiate yourself from other professionals by demonstrating that you have the interest in and capacity to address the most timely and challenging ethical issues facing your profession.
Degree Information
Students will apply to each program for admission separately, and if accepted to both programs will fulfill the requirements of the programs in parallel. Candidates for the dual-degree program must apply to each school separately. Evaluation criteria for admission to the School of Nursing for students in the dual-degree program are the same as those for the MSN program alone; similarly, evaluation criteria for admission to Laney Graduate School for students in the dual-degree program are the same as those for the MA-Bioethics Program alone. Students accepted into the dual-degree program will be notified of acceptance by both schools. If students are accepted into one school but not the other, they may enroll in the school that has accepted them, but not as a dual-degree student. Upon admission to the dual-degree program, students should consult with the appropriate program director of each school to plan their courses of study.
Students will complete the standard 30 credit hours for the MA-Bioethics curriculum, as well as the standard number of credit hours for the appropriate MSN program (variable depending on program). Students will complete one thesis that meets the requirements for both programs, so thesis hours are likely to be shared.
In all cases, students will complete their first year of coursework in the MA-Bioethics Program and their second year at the School of Nursing. This arrangement is to facilitate the completion of students’ clinical rotations in a coherent and consistent manner.
Students normally complete the MA-Bioethics in 1-2 years, and the MSN in 2-3 years. This dual degree program should not increase time to degree.
Below are the curricula for the MA-Bioethics Program and the MSN Program.
| Semester | Class (credits) |
|---|---|
| Fall |
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| Spring |
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| Summer |
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| Credit Breakdown | Credit Breakdown | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | T | L | S | C | Summer | T | L | S | C |
| Total | 16 | Total | 15 | ||||||
| Becoming an APRN I | 1 | 1 | Management of Acute and Chronic Illness of Adults/Adolescents I I | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Staying Healthy | 2 | 1 | 1 | Advanced Pediatric Practice II | 2 | 2 | |||
| Clinical Conference in Specialty(clinical hours maybeincreasedbased onspecialty needs) | 2 | 1 | 1 | Clinical Conference in Specialty (clinical hours may be increased based on specialty needs) | 4 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Advanced Health Assessment | 3 | 2 | 1* | Quality and Patient Safety/Project or Research Practicum | 3 | 2 | 1* | ||
| Pediatric Advanced Health Assessment | 1 | 1 | Behavioral Health Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Research and Evidence BasedPractice | 3 | 3 | Optional Electives | 2 | |||||
| Innovative Leadership for HealthProfessions | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| Basic Procedural Skills for the APRN | 1 | 1* | |||||||
| Credit Breakdown | Credit Breakdown | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | T | L | S | C | Summer | T | L | S | C |
| Total | 15 | Total | 11 | ||||||
| Management of Acute and ChronicIllness of Adults/Adolescents I | 2 | 1 | 1 | Palliative Care Across the Spectrum | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Advanced Pediatric Practice I | 2 | 2 | Clinical Conference in Specialty (clinical hours may be increased based on specialty needs) | 5 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Clinical Conference in Specialty(clinical hours maybeincreasedbased onspecialty needs) | 5 | 1 | 4 | Becoming an APRN II | 1 | 1 | |||
| Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 | 3 | Genetics | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Advanced Pharmacology/ Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 | 3 | Dissemination: Practical Improvement/Research Project | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Optional Electives | Optional Electives | ||||||||
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| *Clinical contains lab hours |
Financial Implications
During their residency in School of Nursing, students will be charged the current rate of tuition in the School of Nursing. When enrolled in the Laney Graduate School, the student will be charged the current rate of tuition for the MA-Bioethics Program. School-sponsored scholarships and grants are applicable only to those semesters in which the student is in residency at the respective schools.
MSN Programs
Given that each program in nursing is unique and independent, the following sections briefly describe the need for each dual degree program according to the specific program at the SON with which we would partner. Students will choose one program in which to enroll for the MSN; depending on this program, the student’s schedule may differ. Regardless, students will complete the first year of coursework at Laney Graduate School, and the remaining time at the School of Nursing.
Specific information on the program in particular departments
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Adult)
- Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Candidates for the dual degree program must apply to each school separately. Evaluation criteria for admission to the School of Nursing for students in the dual-degree program are the same as those for the MSN program alone; similarly, evaluation criteria for admission to Laney Graduate School for students in the dual degree program are the same as those for the MA-Bioethics Program alone.
Students accepted into the dual degree program will be notified of acceptance by both schools. If students are accepted into one school but not the other, they may enroll in the school that has accepted them, but not as a dual degree student.
Upon admission to the dual degree program, students should consult with the appropriate program director of each school to plan their courses of study.