Welcome to the Graduate Nursing Programs at Minnesota State University, Mankato! Our web-enhanced programs are dynamic, flexible, innovative and readily accessible to students preparing for the advanced nursing practice roles of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Nurse Educator (NE). The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is offered for FNP students, while the Master of Science (MS) is offered for NE students.
Students admitted into the BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program may choose to progress through the curriculum and obtain the DNP degree in five years, or step out after three years with an MSN degree which currently qualifies one to sit for the certification exam. Applications are also being accepted for the post master’s DNP program which starts in fall of 2014. Applicants must be certified nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, or clinical nurse specialists.
On behalf of the faculty and administration for Minnesota State University, Mankato School of Nursing, I invite you to consider joining us as a student in the near future. Our graduates hold advanced practice nursing and faculty positions throughout central and southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and beyond. Please contact us if you have questions that are not answered through this website and we will begin to assist you in planning your journey into Advanced Practice Nursing. Best wishes in your educational endeavors!
Warm regards,
Patricia Young, PhD, RN
Graduate Programs Coordinator
The School of Nursing at Minnesota State University, Mankato is a learning community dedicated to educating entry level and advanced practice nurses, developing nursing knowledge and serving diverse communities. The vision of the School of Nursing is that we will be recognized for innovation and excellence in nursing education, scholarship and practice.
The Graduate Programs build upon and extend the body of knowledge and competencies of baccalaureate education in nursing. Graduate study in the School of Nursing is dedicated to educating nurses for advanced practice by creating an academic environment that fosters scholarship, critical thinking, and creativity. Faculty members teaching in this program are prepared in a number of specialties and focus on a variety of practice and research interests.
The graduate courses include theoretical and clinical experiences that provide students with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills necessary to assume the role of an advanced practice nurse and address the health of persons, families and groups. Graduates are also prepared for doctoral study.
Graduates of the BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree will be able to:
Guidelines provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), the National League for Nursing (NLN), and the American Nurses' Association Credentialing Center (ANCC) have been utilized in program development.
The BSN to DNP curricular model is comprised of three components: 1) Family Nursing Science; 2) Evidence-Based Nursing Practice; and 3) Advanced Nursing Practice.
^ Courses which are available to non–degree seeking students.
^^Prerequisite: Graduate level statistics course (HLTH 575 or equivalent).
^^^Only for students who stop out with the MSN/FNP.
All students who elect to be awarded a master’s degree after the third year of the FNP curriculum are required to complete an Alternate Plan Paper (NURS 695). Students who elect to continue on for their DNP will instead complete a Clinical Inquiry / Capstone Project (NURS 741, 742, and 743) and a final clinical practicum (NURS 712) as measures of Curriculum Outcome achievement.
Please refer to the University's Graduate Bulletin for the most current information each academic year.
Students seeking graduate nursing education but who are not interested in completing a specific program of study may seek admission to the College of Graduate Studies & Research as a non–degree seeking student. Courses are open to non-degree seeking students on a space available basis by permission of the professor and the School of Nursing Graduate Programs Coordinator.
All students must complete the program within six years of taking the first course that applies to the nursing science major. Students are admitted in a cohort with classes starting in fall semester and take two to three courses (5-8 credits) each semester in a prescribed curricular plan. The NE track at 37 credits is completed in seven semesters (includes two summers); the FNP master's step out at 53 credits is completed in nine semesters (includes three summers); the FNP DNP at 81 credits is completed in 14 semesters (includes four summers); and the post-masters DNP at 30 credits is completed in five semesters (includes one summer).
Since 1998, the School of Nursing has been focused on enhancing student access to learning through use of innovative distance education technologies combined with sound teaching–learning principles. By offering web–based hybrid courses we have been able to offer distant rural and urban based students the opportunity to complete the graduate programs without re–locating. This allows the student to continue family and part-time employment commitments that are so important to overall student success.
Beginning in Fall Semester 2004, the majority of courses have been offered in a web–based hybrid format with on–campus seminars at Minnesota State Mankato at Edina (at 7700 France Ave. S. in Edina, Minnesota) 3 to 4 times per semester for the purpose of building community and strong student–faculty partnerships in learning. Multiple classes are scheduled during on–campus seminar days to make efficient use of commuting time. The class schedule gives dates and times of when on–campus meetings are scheduled each semester. Some courses may use primarily face–to–face (in the classroom) condensed half–day or full–day seminar teaching methodologies to focus learning time and provide valuable student–faculty interaction time. Students will want to consult with the School of Nursing to determine computer platforms most helpful to support web–based courses. Students and faculty use multiple methods of distance technology (online meetings, asynchronous projects and discussions, e–mail, telephone, conference call, US mail, fax, and videoconferencing) during all phases of study.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
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Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
