Master of Science with a Major in Nursing Education

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers is a 35 credit hour graduate Master of Science with a major in Nursing Education (Nursing Ed) degree that prepares students to obtain employment in the field of Nursing Education. Employment settings include colleges and universities, vocational technical schools and hospital education departments. The curriculum supports foundational knowledge for further doctoral education.

The Nursing Ed program requires six consecutive semesters of study. Individualized pace is also available. All coursework is offered online. Two practicums/preceptorships provide the student with “hands on” teaching experience in the academic and clinical settings. The final semester includes a leadership project to provide an opportunity for students to experience professional growth through a nursing education practice improvement project.

While online instruction is utilized, online synchronous or face-to-face meetings may be required for program orientation and occasionally throughout the program. Students must be able to engage in electronic collaboration using email, email attachments, and listservs. Students must be competent using word processing and presentation software. Ease of internet access and navigation is essential for research and collaboration.

A new cohort of Nursing Ed students begins each summer semester. Admitted Nursing Ed students may request permission to enroll in core courses during an earlier term on a space-available basis and with the approval of the program coordinator.

For additional program information, call the Department of Nursing, 706-867-2997, or write to the Department of Nursing, Master of Science with a Major in Nursing Education, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001.

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or from the Nursing Education website. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, the applicant will be notified and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. Upon review, a letter from Graduate Admissions will be sent to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial. In some instances, the applicant may be requested to come to Dahlonega for an interview or testing.

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within three semesters of acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. Materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and for three years for complete files.

Nursing Education General Admission Eligibility

1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution with a nationally accredited school of nursing.
2. One year post-licensure clinical work experience in the United States.
3. Current unencumbered Georgia or compact registered nurse license.

Nursing Education Professional Transitions Sequence: RN with a Non-Nursing Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree

An individual who holds an associate’s degree or a diploma in nursing, a current unencumbered Georgia registered nurse license, and either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a non-nursing field of study may apply for the nursing professional transitions sequence for entry into the Master of Science with a major in Nursing Education program.

Nursing Professional Transitions Sequence is composed of two online courses:

  and   

Each course is five semester hours (four semester hours of didactic instruction; one semester hour of clinical instruction). Courses must be taken sequentially beginning fall semester each year, and students must successfully complete courses (receive a grade of B or higher) prior to beginning any additional courses in the Nursing Ed program. In accordance with departmental policy, students may repeat a course in which they have been unsuccessful one time.

Nursing Education Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. All official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative grade point average.
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or evidence of a graduate degree. Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.
5. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

The following documents must be received prior to the first day of the initial semester for which the student is enrolled:

1. Copy of Georgia or compact registered nurse (RN) license.
2. Completed accident/illness waiver form.
3. Evidence of current CPR certification.
4. Criminal background check.
5. Completed Department of Nursing medical form. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all requirements are up to date.
   
   Students enrolled in clinical courses who have not submitted all of the above documentation prior to the first day of the semester will not be allowed to attend until all documentation has been received.

Students are responsible for all course material and for all announcements and assignments. The decision to permit students to make up work that is required in any missed class resides with the instructor.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, an individual must:

1. Hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Earn an acceptable score on one of the appropriate entrance tests of at least 391 on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or 800 on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) (verbal and quantitative combined), or 285 (verbal and quantitative combined), or evidence of a graduate degree.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

To qualify for provisional admission, an individual must:

1. Hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Earn an acceptable score on one of the appropriate entrance tests of at least 378 on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or 700 on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) (verbal and quantitative combined), or 280 (verbal and quantitative combined) on the GRE, or evidence of a graduate degree.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit while enrolled with this status. Number of hours a provisional student may enroll will be determined in consultation with the program coordinator. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of one semester. A provisionally admitted student who earns a grade of “C” or lower in any graduate level Nursing course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the Nursing Ed program. A student who has been dismissed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the Dean College of Health Sciences & Professions and a new application for readmission.

Provisonally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

An individual who is  interested in taking graduate nursing education courses, but who does not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.50. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.50.
4. Three UNG recommendation forms validating ability to successfully complete graduate study.
5. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Students enrolled in clinical courses will be required to submit additional documentation prior to the first day of the semester.

A non-degree admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower in any graduate Nursing course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to further enroll in coursework in the Nursing Ed program. A student dismissed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was dismissed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences & Professions and a new application for readmission.

A non-degree student wishing to apply for admission to the Nursing Ed degree program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application to Graduate Admissions, and meet all program admission requirements. No more than nine semester hours of graduate credit earned while holding a non-degree status may subsequently be applied toward meeting the requirements of the Nursing Ed degree. All credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the program coordinator.

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at a regionally accredited college or university as a graduate student in good standing may apply to UNG as a transient student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the program coordinator before enrolling in courses. The program coordinator may require the applicant to submit a transcript of his/her previous college work in order to verify adequate prerequisite knowledge/skills. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Letter of good standing or transient permission form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or on disciplinary suspension at his/her home institution. The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at UNG. 
4. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Transient admission is for one semester only. An individual who wishes to return to UNG as a transient student for a subsequent semester must apply to Graduate Admissions for readmission.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in written form to the Department of Nursing, Nursing Progression and Retention committee, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. A students whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally and is not eligible for financial aid while enrolled under this status. Applicants may not appeal for regular admission status.

Nursing Education Transfer Residency Requirement

To be awarded a master’s degree at the University of North Georgia, students must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. For the MS NE program, a maximum of 9 semester hours may be transferred from another institution and must align with the MS NE curriculum at UNG. The program coordinator will determine appropriateness of transfer credit through evaluation of student transcript, course description and course syllabus. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned.  To apply for transfer credit, a student must complete the transfer of graduate credit form (myUNG password required) and submit the form, course descriptions and syllabi for all transfer courses requested to the program coordinator for approval.

Nursing Education Academic Policies

Academic Progression

Graduate nursing students progress through the program of study as long as a minimum of a “B” is earned in each graduate course. Some course grades are comprised of a theory or didactic component as well as a preceptorship component. A satisfactory (“S”) in preceptorship must be achieved for the student to earn a course grade of “B” or above. Also, exams must average a minimum of 75 prior to other grades being added or averaged into the course grade. If less than a 75 average on exams is earned the student will receive a “C” or lower for the course and must repeat the course, if eligible to do so.

Incomplete Grades

The Nursing Ed program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Academic Catalog. No student carrying two Incomplete grades may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the program coordinator. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved Incomplete grade remaining on his/her transcript.

Academic Standing Policy

Graduate nursing students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation – A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   a.  Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   b. Student earns a U or any other grade of C or lower.
   
   No student may be a candidate for the degree or sit for the comprehensive examination while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. In cases where the student is placed on probation due to grade(s), probation will be removed when the course(s) is/are repeated and the grade is S or B or above, and the overall grade point average is 3.0 or greater. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.
    
2. Suspension – A student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student earns two grades of C or lower (including U’s).
   b. Student has already served three consecutive semesters on academic probation.

The period of suspension will consist of three semesters. No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. If suspended, a student may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter addressed to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences & Professions presenting a rationale for readmission and a new application for readmission. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean of the College of Health Sciences & Professions and the program coordinator.

Students who believe that their academic progress was affected by extenuating circumstances may appeal such suspensions to the Nursing Progression and Retention committee.

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At the end of each semester, the program faculty or program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the program coordinator with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences & Professions.

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The Master of Science with a major in Nursing Education program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academics section of the Graduate Academic Catalog.

Nursing Education Degree Requirements

Graduation requirements for the Master of Science with a major in Nursing Education include:

1. Completion of 35 designated semester hours of study.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no grade of C or lower.
3. Satisfactory preceptorship in both clinical and academic settings.
4. Successful passing of the comprehensive examination.
5. Successful completion of the leadership project or thesis.
6. Completion of at least 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence.
7. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including transfer credit, within a six-year period.