School of Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Master of Science in Nursing degree and the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). All graduate degree programs, including the Doctor of Philosophy program, are reviewed periodically by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
For More Information
Campus address: School of Nursing, phone (512) 232-4780 fax (512) 232-4777; campus mail code: D0100
Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate Student Services, School of Nursing, 1710 Red River Street Stop D0100, Austin TX 78712-1499
E-mail: nugrad@uts.cc.utexas.edu
URL: http://nursing.utexas.edu
Facilities for Graduate Work
In addition to the extensive library and computer resources of the University, certain special resources within the School of Nursing provide support for graduate work.
The Cain Center for Nursing Research. The focus of this office is the promotion of funded research by nursing faculty members. The staff provides support and consultation services and compiles information about opportunities for research funding and presentations, including some for which graduate students are eligible. The computer laboratory is used for graduate courses and is available for graduate student research projects. The Cain Center also provides employment opportunities for graduate students interested in experience as research assistants.
The Learning Enhancement and Academic Progress (LEAP) Center. The LEAP Center is a link to a variety of services to optimize student support and development. The center contains a simulation and skills lab, where students practice basic to advanced psychomotor skills; student academic support – including individual academic counseling, academic peer tutoring; study skills workshops, and a Computer Testing Center. LEAP Center staff offer referrals to campus services.
Clinical research and practice sites. The School of Nursing has access to a variety of private practice, community, and state facilities for field research and clinical placement. These include all major health care facilities in Austin and surrounding communities.
Areas of Study
Graduate work in the School of Nursing may lead to the Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Philosophy, a post-master’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certificate, and a Teaching Nursing certificate.
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program is designed to give students theoretical, analytical, and clinical knowledge and skills needed for specialized nursing practice. Those preparing for advanced practice should choose either the clinical nurse specialist track, with a concentration in adult-gerontology nursing; or the nurse practitioner track, with a concentration in family, primary care pediatric, acute care pediatric, or psychiatric mental health. Students preparing for a career emphasizing leadership in the emerging health care system should choose the leadership in diverse settings track.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program emphasizes leadership in the clinical area through the application of evidence-based practice and knowledge to solve problems and create a culture of change through leadership. Graduates of the DNP program typically enter clinical leadership positions in health care institutions and faculty positions in schools of nursing.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program emphasizes the acquisition of a sound foundation in nursing science and research methods as a basis for developing nursing knowledge and scholarship. Graduates of the PhD program typically enter positions in nursing education, research, or executive management of health care agencies. Some prepare to make contributions to the development of nursing theory or health policy.
The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certificate program is a post-master’s nursing program for students wishing to complete coursework necessary to sit for national certification as an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
The Teaching Nursing stackable certificate program is designed for nurses who are seeking to enhance their teaching pedagogy and skills in preparation for teaching nursing in academic and clinical programs.
Graduate Studies Committee
The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) in the spring 2023 semester.
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Heather A Becker Richard Allen Brown Jane Dimmitt Champion Tanya M Coakley Heather E Cuevas Alexandra A Garcia Elizabeth M Heitkemper Ashley M Henneghan Sharon D Horner Karen Johnson Melessa Kelley Shelli Kesler Miyong Kim Jung Kwak Yang Li John Ronald Lowe |
Laura E Murphy Carolyn Phillips Kavita Radhakrishnan Donna L Rew Hyekyun Rhee Alexa M Stuifbergen Megan Christine Thomas Hebdon Whitney A Thurman Gayle M Timmerman Lorraine O Walker Michelle L Wright Bo Xie Linda H Yoder Cara Young Julie A Zuniga |
Admission Requirements
Master of Science in Nursing
The Master of Science in nursing degree is designed for registered nurses who want to become nursing leaders or certified advanced practice nurses. The entering student normally holds a bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and holds a registered nurse license that allows the student to practice as a registered nurse in Texas. Registered nurses with non-nursing baccalaureate degrees may also apply to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Applicants who wish to pursue the Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track must have one year of clinical practice experience as a registered nurse within the last five years by the application deadline to be considered for admission. Applicants who wish to pursue the Acute Care Pediatric or the Family Nurse Practitioner tracks must have two years of clinical practice experience as a registered nurse within the last five years by the application deadline to be considered for admission. Please visit the Advanced Practice Nursing website for more information.
Factors considered in the admission decision include satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background and goals; and proficiency in the English language. An interview may also be required. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Master of Science in Nursing: Alternate Entry
All students are required to complete seven (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, life span development, nutrition, and statistics) approved prerequisite courses prior to the first semester of enrollment.
The alternate entry program is designed for the student who has no previous degrees in nursing, who desires a career in nursing practice, and who holds at least a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing. The program is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and is nationally accredited. Program options for alternate entry students include Leadership in Diverse Settings, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Admission requirements include at minimum a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing; satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; satisfactory academic and/or professional references; personal and professional goals compatible with the purpose of the program; and proficiency in the English language. An interview may also be required. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree prepares nurses to practice and provide leadership at the highest levels in healthcare and clinical nursing education. The entering student must be a registered nurse who holds either a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's in a related field or a recognized degree from a foreign academic institution. Factors considered in the admission decision include; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; eighteen months of professional nursing work experience; current Texas RN licensure or Texas Board of Nursing eligible; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background; a satisfactory interview; and proficiency in the English language. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree is designed for the student who desires a career as a nurse scientist. The entering student must be a registered nurse who holds either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or a recognized degree from a foreign academic institution. The student who holds no master’s degree or a master’s degree in another discipline will be required to complete prescribed graduate bridge courses in nursing as a condition of admission. Bridge courses are not counted toward degree requirements. These students may also choose to complete a Master of Science in Nursing degree en route to the Ph.D.
Factors considered in the admission decision include satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background; congruence of the student’s research goals with the expertise of the nursing faculty; a satisfactory interview; and proficiency in the English language. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Doctor of Philosophy: Alternate Entry
The alternate entry program is designed for the student who has no previous degrees in nursing, who desires a career as a nurse scientist, and who holds a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing. The program is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. Alternate-entry Ph.D. students may choose to complete a Master of Science in Nursing degree en route to the Ph.D.
Factors considered in the admission decision include; satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background; congruence of the student’s research goals with the expertise of the nursing faculty; a satisfactory interview; and proficiency in the English language. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certification
The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certification program is designed for nurses who already hold a master’s degree in nursing and desire to be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for advanced practice nursing. The entering student holds a master’s degree from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and holds a registered nurse license that allows the student to practice as a registered nurse in Texas.
Factors considered in the admission decision include a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background and goals; and proficiency in the English language. An interview may also be required. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Nursing: Teaching Certification
The Teaching Nursing stackable certificate program is designed for nurses who are seeking to enhance their teaching pedagogy and skills in preparation for teaching nursing in academic and clinical programs.
Factors considered in the admission decision include a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background and goals; and proficiency in the English language. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.