MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
General Program Description
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program is designed to prepare nurses to deliver primary health care to families in a variety of settings. NPs take health histories and provide complete physical examinations; diagnose and treat many common acute and chronic problems; interpret laboratory results and X-rays; prescribe and manage medications and other therapies; provide health teaching and supportive counseling with an emphasis on prevention of illness and health maintenance; and refer patients to other health professionals as needed. Nurse practitioners focus on wellness, prevention, and education.
MS SPECIALIZATION AREAS
Each student applying to the Master of Science (MS) program must select an area of specialization. Students can choose from the Family Nurse Practitioner Track (FNP) or the Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Track (A/GNP). Graduates of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) tracks will also be eligible for certification by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).
CURRICULUM
Students enrolled in the Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner track will complete 68 units. Students enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner track will complete 71 units. Students will complete 720 hours of clinical practice with populations in their area of emphasis to be eligible for certification.
A sample program for the full-time MS students in the FNP and A/GNP tracks is shown. Students are expected to complete the full-time program within two years for full-time status or three years for part-time students.
| Required for the FNP and A/GNP Emphases |
| Research Methods & Evaluation for Evidence-Based Practice |
3 units |
| Advanced Pathophysiology |
3 units |
| Health Promotion and Disease Prevention |
3 units |
| Advanced Pharmacology |
2 units |
| Advanced Pharmacology |
2 units |
| Advanced Health and Physical Assessment |
3 units |
| Advanced Health and Physical Assessment Lab |
1 units |
| Primary Care |
3 units |
| Primary Care |
3 units |
| Primary Care Women’s Health |
3 units |
| Primary Care Adult/Gerontology |
3 units |
| Frameworks for Advanced Professional Practice in Nursing |
3 units |
| Human Behavior and Mental health Care for Advanced Practice |
3 units |
| Primary Care Procedures |
3 units |
| Scholarly Concentration |
3 units |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum I |
3 units |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum II |
4 units |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum III |
5 units |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum IV |
6 units |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum V |
6 units |
| Required for the FNP Emphasis Only |
| Primary Care Pediatrics |
3 units |
| Primary Care Obstetrics |
3 units |
| Required for the A/GNP Emphasis Only |
| Aging and Chronic Illness |
3 units |
| Directed Study in Latino Health Care |
2-4 units |
GRADUATES
Graduates completing the FNP track will be eligible to sit for the FNP certifications examinations. Graduates completing the A/GNP track will be eligible to sit for both the adult and geriatric NP certification examinations. Graduates will be eligible for the national board certification exams.
