: - - Columbia Campus - Acalog ACMS™

Columbia, SC 29208 | 803.777.7000

Overview

The College of Nursing offers the degrees of Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and the PhD in Nursing Science. Post-Master Certificates of Graduate Study (CGS) in Advanced Practice Nursing and in Nursing Administration are available. The MSN and DNP degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Courses are offered through various distance education formats as well as on the Columbia campus. A computer with broadband Internet capability is required.

The frequency with which courses are offered will depend upon projected enrollments and faculty availability. Students and prospective students should meet with an advisor for the respective program to project a curriculum plan of study.

Graduate students in other divisions of the University may enroll in nonclinical courses in the College of Nursing (CON) with the approval of the graduate director of the college and the consent of the course professor.

General Admission Requirements

Regulations governing admission to graduate study in nursing include those established by both The Graduate School and the College of Nursing. Applicants must complete an application to The Graduate School and a College of Nursing supplement. Specific requirements for admission to each of the academic programs in nursing are listed below in that program’s section. The priority application deadline for admission to the PhD program is March 1. The application deadlines for the DNP and MSN programs are November 1 for Summer and March 1 for Fall. The application deadline for CGS in Advanced Practice is August 1 for Spring.

Financial Aid

Applicants requiring financial assistance should review additional information about financial aid provided on The Graduate School’s Web site.

Information about financial aid opportunities is shared with all students via the CON website and announcements from the CON Office of Student Affairs. Federal loan and scholarship opportunities as well as private scholarships are a few of the financial aid offerings available for graduate students in the CON after admission.

General Requirements

Residence, credit transfer, length of time allowed to complete the program, and other general requirements for graduate degrees in nursing are the same as those established by The Graduate School, except where otherwise noted. CGS students are expected to complete their programs of study in 3 years or fewer; MSN and Post-MSN DNP students are expected to complete their programs of study in 4 years or fewer; Post-BSN DNP students are expected to complete their program of study in 6 years or fewer; and PhD students are expected to complete their program of study in 10 years or fewer.

Current authorization to practice as SC Registered Nurse or possession of an unencumbered license in the state in which clinical practice will occur is required for all graduate clinical courses. The RN license must be issued on the basis of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Full-time students (9 credit hours or more), graduate assistants, and international students are required to carry health insurance coverage and will be automatically enrolled in the University Plan unless comparable alternative health insurance coverage is on file in the Health Insurance Assistance Office at the Thomson Student Health Center. Part-time students are encouraged to carry health insurance throughout the course of their studies and all students must carry professional liability insurance through the College of Nursing, purchased each semester in conjunction with direct or indirect clinical courses at a cost of approximately $50 per course. Maintenance of current CPR certification by the American Heart Association (BLS) is required for enrollment in clinical courses.

In addition to meeting the health requirements of the University, students enrolled in direct or indirect clinical nursing courses are required to provide evidence of meeting contractual health requirements and must pass a drug screen and background check. Information on all clinical requirements is available in the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs. Students are not eligible to participate in any practice activities at direct or indirect clinical sites until this information is on file.

Progression in Thesis or Dissertation Work

Satisfactory progress in thesis, DNP project, or PhD dissertation work results in a grade of T; unsatisfactory progress results in a grade of U. The accumulation of two U grades in NURS 799, NURS 897, or NURS 899, regardless of credit hours enrolled, is grounds for dismissal from the program.

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