California University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. California University of Pennsylvania has been accredited for more 40 years and was founded in 1852.

The MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership program will seek accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an autonomous arm of the AACN and devoted exclusively to the accreditation of baccalaureate and graduate degree nursing education programs. California University of Pennsylvania's RN-BSN program is already fully accredited by the CCNE.

If you already hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing, California University of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Nursing Administration and Leadership.  This program is designed to prepare nurses for administrative and leadership positions in a variety of health care settings. The courses blend theory and practice in administration, leadership, organization, quality of care, delivery systems of patient care, human resource management, legal and ethical practice, and health care finance, and incorporates health care informatics. The program culminates with a practicum in nursing administration where students work with a nurse administrator in their area of interest. graduate program builds upon coursework taken in an undergraduate bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. Upon completion of the MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership program, graduates will be eligible academically to take the national certification exam for nurse administration offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The MSN program is a part-time, web-based degree program offering courses completely online. Students take two 3-credit courses consecutively each term and the first summer session. During the second summer session, students take the 6-credit practicum capstone course.

· Graduate School Application plus $25 nonrefundable application fee

· Official transcripts from every institution attended.  For programs attended outside of the United States, with the exception of Canada, applicants must submit a credential evaluation from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) for nursing course work and World Education Services (WES) for non-nursing course work.

· BSN from National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or CCNE accredited program. For international students, completion of a nursing bachelor's degree, if available in the country of origin.

· Minimum undergraduate 3.00 GPA on all previous coursework or the last 60 credits completed.  For international students, scholastic record comparable to  a 3.00 GPA.

· Prerequisites:
1. Undergraduate course in nursing leadership (3 credits)
2. Undergraduate course in nursing research (3 credits)
3. Undergraduate course in statistics (3 credits)

· Two professional references – one from a supervisor who can speak to the applicant's clinical, administrative and/or leadership ability and one from someone who can speak to academic ability (exception: if the applicant is out of school for five or more years, the second reference should be a professional reference, preferably from a registered nurse).

· Current license as a registered nurse in the state in which the applicant is employed in nursing. International students need to be licensed in the country in which they are employed in nursing.

· Current complete resume or curriculum vitae.

· A personal statement describing interest in advanced nursing education and career goals related to the nursing administration and leadership program.

· A telephone or e-mail interview with the MSN in nursing administration and leadership program coordinator and completion of the “Is Online Learning for Me?” online test to determine the applicant’s potential for success in the web-based learning environment.

NOTE: Prospective international master's students staying in their countries of origin and taking an online program should also review International Applicants information for admission consideration in the Graduate Catalog.

Dr. Cheryl Hettman
724-938-4130
Fax: 724-938-5673
hettman@calu.edu
http://www.calu.edu/go

http://www.calu.edu/academics/online-programs/nursing-administration/index.htm

Joan Clites, Ed.D., West Virginia University
Cheryl Hettman, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Mary A. O’Connor, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Linda Pina, Ph.D., Kennedy-Western University
Debra Shelapinsky, M.S.N, CRNP, University of Pittsburgh