This program is meant for people who hold a degree in an area outside of Nursing and are interested in becoming a registered nurse, then moving through one of our master’s programs. In obtaining the MSN, students progress through three phases of the program.
Phase I is the undergraduate pre-requisite phase consisting of foundation courses for the program. The courses can be completed by transferring credits from your existing degree, by testing out of course(s) or by completing additional course work. You can be admitted prior to completing Phase I courses; successful applicants are jointly admitted into all three phases of the program, and begin the program as Phase I students. Once you are admitted, you must complete all but two Phase I courses and show proof of registration in your final two to be placed in a Phase II start date.
Students who are admitted to the program, and qualify for placement based on the criteria above, can then be placed in the next available Phase II cohort. Cohorts start Phase II in groups of 40 twice a year. Start dates for the semester schedule will be Spring and Summer Semesters. Phase II is the full-time RN pre-licensure phase taking place over 4 consecutive semesters. This phase is a combination of Ycoursework and clinical rotations in area hospitals. Students are awarded their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the end of this phase and can continue into the master’s portion, which is Phase III.
Phase III is the master’s phase of the program, where students are given the option to continue into an advanced practice specialty area. Students can declare for a masters specialty and begin coursework upon completion of Phase II, and conferral of their BSN. (The exception is the Nurse Anesthesia program, for which interested students must apply separately.) Because most specialty areas require work experience, students typically must enroll part-time in the MSN while gaining the professional foundation needed to advance in their masters level courses and clinical experiences. The length of time for Phase III varies depending on the specialty area chosen, and whether students elect part or full time study. At the end of this phase, students who fulfill requirements are awarded a Master of Science in Nursing degree, and will be eligible to take any applicable advanced practice certification exam in their specialty area. Students will receive detailed information about their masters level options during Phase II of the program.
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Contact the Office of Student Affairs at nursing1@uc.edu or (513) 558-3600.
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