Applicable only to students admitted during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Nursing

School of Nursing

Graduate Degrees

The School of Nursing offers the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree, the Master of Science (M.S.) degree, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Nursing.

Admissions Requirements 

Master’s Degree

Advising

Upon admission to the school, students are assigned a faculty adviser who has the responsibility to aid students in planning a total program. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisers quarterly to identify academic and personal needs and match them with school and University resources available in order to maximize the student’s ability to reach educational and professional goals.

Transcripts and course grades are reviewed by Student Affairs quarterly. Evaluations of performance in clinical coursework are written at the end of the quarter. Students are requested to read and sign these evaluations.

Any student who is having difficulty must immediately meet with the faculty adviser and the director of student services to determine the areas of need and any recommendations to be made.

Areas of Study

M.S.N. Master’s Entry Clinical Nursing: The School of Nursing offers graduate studies for master’s entry clinical nursing to prepare individuals with a baccalaureate in another field who wish to become registered nurses. Students are prepared as nurse generalists with strong leadership skills to function in health care delivery across a variety of settings in the health care system, including the acute care setting. Graduates of this program are eligible for certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), work at the bedside and are prepared to implement the outcomes-based practice and quality improvement in clinical settings.

M.S.N. Advanced Practice Nursing: The School of Nursing offers graduate studies and preparation in the Nurse Administrator role, the Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner role, or the Clinical Nurse Specialist role. The following specialties are available for the nurse administrator role: Nursing Administration or Nursing Administration/Occupational and Environmental Health. Advanced Practice is divided into four distinct population foci: Adult/Gerontology Primary Care, Adult/Gerontology Acute Care, Family and Pediatrics. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care students may also select a specialty in Oncology. Adult/Gerontology Acute Care and Pediatrics students may select either the nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or the dual nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist role. Students in the Family, Adult/ Gerontology Primary and Occupational and Environmental Health specialization are prepared in the Nurse Practitioner role only. Students in the family nurse practitioner specialty may take the underserved populations subspecialty.

Some specialties have course requirements over and above the minimum requirements for the degree (i.e. dual NP/CNS, Oncology subspecialty). Applicants are advised to seek counseling prior to admission in order to select the population, specialty and role most appropriate to career goals, as well as to meet requirements for acceptance into the particular area of study. Certain programs of study (i.e. dual NP/CNS, Oncology subspecialty) will require extra coursework and on-campus attendance.

All graduates are strongly encouraged to sit for advanced practice certification in the appropriate specialty area by agencies providing national certification.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

M.S.N. Master’s Entry Clinical Nursing: A minimum of 110 units is required to complete the Master’s Entry Clinical Nursing Program. A minimum of 98 units in the 200- and 400-series are required. A total of four units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the degree.

A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 is required. Grades of B are required in graduate clinical theory and practice nursing courses in order to advance to the next clinical theory and practice course in a series. If a student does not receive a grade of “B”, >84%, she or he will repeat the theory-clinical course during the next academic year. A student may not continue on to the next quarter until the class is repeated and satisfactory grade is earned. Since nursing classes are offered once a year and follow a strict sequence, students may need to wait until the following year to repeat a course. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment will need to reapply and be interviewed by the Student Affairs Committee. Admission is not guaranteed if the student’s status lapses. Please refer to the academic policies for Absence and Readmission stated in the UCLA General Catalog. A minimum of three quarters of full-time enrollment is required for academic residence.

The following courses are required for the M.S.N. Master’s Entry Clinical Nursing:

Research Courses. Nursing 204

Nursing Core. Nursing 225A, 225B, 230A, 230B, 250

Clinical Theory and Practice Courses. Nursing 171, 252, 254A, 254B, 260, 461, 462, 464, 465A, 465B, 465C, 465D, 467

Administrative Courses. Nursing 266, 267, 268, 269.

M.S.N. Advanced Practice Nursing: A minimum of 67 units is required to complete the Advanced Practice Program. A minimum of 65 units in the 200-, and 400-series are required. Specific requirements for each area of clinical specialization are described below. A total of four units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the total course requirement for the degree.

A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 is required. Grades of B are required in graduate clinical nursing courses in order to advance to the next clinical course in a series. If a student does not receive a grade of “B”, >84%, she or he will repeat the theory-clinical course during the next academic year. A student may not continue on to the next quarter until the class is repeated and satisfactory grade is earned. Since nursing classes are offered once a year and follow a strict sequence, students may need to wait until the following year to repeat a course. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment will need to reapply and be interviewed by the Student Affairs Committee. Admission is not guaranteed if the student’s status lapses. Please refer to the academic policies for Absence and Readmission stated in the UCLA General Catalog. A minimum of three quarters of full-time enrollment is required for academic residence.

Core Courses. Nursing 200, 204, 224, 231, and 264. In addition, Nursing 220 and 245 are required for students selecting the clinical nurse specialist role or dual.  Nursing 204 is the only core course required for nursing administration and nursing administration/occupational and environmental health students. Nursing 264 is not required for the adult/gerontology acute care or occupational and environmental health populations.

Advanced Practice Theory Courses. Nursing 218A, 218B, 218C, 218D, 236, 238A, 238B, 238C, 239A, 239B, 239C, 245.Clinical Specialty Theory Courses. Nursing 211, 212, 213, 214, 216A, 216B, 216C, 219A, 219B, 223, 232, 229A, 229B, 229C, 233, 236. Course requirements vary for each specialty area; students should see courses under each population focus and/or specialty.

Clinical Practicum Courses. Nursing 414A and 414B, 416A through 416E, 418A through 418D, 429A through 429E, 438A through 438D, 439A through 439E, 440, 444, 445.

Course requirements for Advanced Practice Nursing vary according to role, focus and specialty area selected:

Requirements for Nursing Administration

Nursing Administration Specialty. The goal of the nursing administration specialty is to prepare nurse administrators in organizational theory, health services, and financial management for the practice of administrative roles within acute, ambulatory care, and/or community-based settings. Content includes finance, strategic planning, project management, leadership, quality improvement, risk management, human resource management, quality clinical and organizational outcomes management, education and research. Electives may be taken in the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management, the School of Public Health or the School of Public Affairs. Practicums with outstanding administrative leaders are individualized to meet the goals of each student, and give practice experience in health services administration. Required courses include Nursing 204, 218A, 218B, 218C, 218D, 219A, 219B, 418A through 418D, and a minimum of 16 units of theory electives including a course in organizational theory and human resource management. Admission to the Nursing Administration and Nursing Administration/Occupational and Environmental Health specialties are temporarily suspended.

Nursing Administration/Occupational and Environmental Health Specialty. The goal of the nursing administration/occupational and environmental health specialty is to prepare nurses for administrative roles within occupational settings. Content includes occupational and environmental health, finance, strategic planning, project management, leadership, quality improvement, risk management, human resource management, quality clinical and organizational outcomes management, education, and research. Electives are primarily taken in the School of Public Health but students may request approval for courses in the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management or the School of Public Affairs. Practicums with outstanding occupational health administrative leaders are individualized to meet the goals of each student, and give practical experience in the administration of occupational health programs. Required course include Nursing 204, 213, 218A, 218B, 218C, 218D, 219A, 219B, 418A, through 418D, and at least 10 units of coursework approved by the student’s adviser, which includes content in the areas of epidemiology, industrial hygiene, physical agents, ergonomics, and occupational safety.

Requirements for Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Population

The Adult/Gerontology Primary Care population covers individuals from adolescence through adult and older adults. Students selecting the Adult/Gerontology population focus will select a specialty from the following: Occupational and Environmental Health, or Oncology.

The primary care specialty prepares nurses to assume an advanced practice role as a nurse practitioner to meet the increased demands for leadership in healthcare for older persons, particularly those challenged by chronic illness. Emphasis is on the comprehensive assessment, treatment, and evaluation of the client and family. Advanced knowledge and skills in pathophysiology and psychosocial concepts guide theory-based practice, with the goal of optimizing functional status. Interdisciplinary collaboration and care management are emphasized. Required courses include Nursing 200, 204, 224, 231, 232, 233, 239A, 239B, 239C, 264, 439A through 439E, 440, and 4 units of theory elective. Applicants selecting the adult/gerontology primary care population focus may also select an occupational and environmental health specialty. Students should see specialty requirements listed above.

Occupational and Environmental Health Specialty. The occupational and environmental health specialty prepares nurses to assume an advanced practice role as a nurse practitioner. The curriculum integrates principles of occupational and environmental health assessment and care with primary ambulatory care of adult groups. Practitioners evaluate the individual as seen within the work setting as well as within the family and community group. Primary focus and emphasis are on health status assessment, health promotion, illness/accident prevention, hazard control, screening, surveillance, and rehabilitation of adult workers. Requirements are met through a combination of courses and experiences specific to the delivery of occupational and environmental health care services. Required courses include Nursing 200, 204, 213, 232, 233, 239A, 239B, 239C or Environmental Health Sciences 454, Nursing 439A through 439E, 440, and at least 10 units of coursework approved by the student’s adviser, which includes content in the areas of epidemiology, industrial hygiene, physical agents, ergonomics, and occupational safety.

Requirements for Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Population

The adult/gerontology acute care population covers individuals from adolescence through adult and older adult who are identified as ill and who have high intensity nursing and medical needs. These patients may receive care in a wide variety of settings, from intensive care units to specialty clinics, doctor’s offices, or the home. A minimum of two years of prior experience in acute care is highly recommended but not required. Graduates are expected to engage in research-based practice as acute care practitioners, educators, consultants, and to become leaders in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Required courses include Nursing 200, 204, 216A, 216B, 216C, 224, 229A, 229B, 229C, 231, 239A, 239B, 239C, 416A through 416E, 440, 444. and four units of theory elective. In addition to the required courses listed above, students who select the clinical nurse specialist role also take Nursing 245, 267, 269 and 445. Except for the four units of theory elective, student who prepare for dual certification (NP/CNS) take the required courses listed above plus Nursing 245 and 445. Applicants selecting the adult/gerontology acute population focus may also select an oncology specialty. Students should see specialty requirements listed above.

Oncology Specialty. The oncology specialty prepares nurse practitioners and clinical specialists to care for individuals with/or at risk for cancer. Students will obtain expert clinical skills for the assessment and management of patients with/at risk for cancer; to provide education for patients, families, and nursing staff, and to provide consultation in oncology-related problems. Clinical practicums are available with expert clinicians across the health/illness continuum (for example, cancer screening, ambulatory oncology clinics and private practices, inpatient oncology units, radiation therapy). Graduates are expected to become leaders in oncology advance practice and to engage in research-based practice as an oncology nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. Previous clinical oncology experience is highly recommended. Required courses include Nursing 200, 204, 214, 224, 231, 239A, 239B, 239C, 414A. 414B. 416A through 416E, 439A, 440, and four units of theory elective. In addition to the required courses listed above, except for the four units of theory elective, students who select the clinical nurse specialist role or dual certification (NP/CNS) also take Nursing 245, 267, 269 and 445. Admission to the Oncology specialty is temporarily suspended.

Requirements for Family Population

The family population covers primary health care for individuals throughout the life span. The focus is on collaborative, interdisciplinary practice to assure comprehensive quality health care and health maintenance in outpatient, work site, home health, nursing home, and hospital settings. Emphasis is on the assessment, treatment, and evaluation of the client’s responses to actual or potential health problems, which may be chronic or acute and include primary prevention and health promotion. Required courses include Nursing 200, 204, 211, 212, 224, 231, 236, 239A, 239B, 239C, 264, 429A through 429E, 440, and four units of theory elective.

Subspecialty for Nurse Practitioners

Underserved Populations Subspecialty. The underserved populations subspecialty provides enriched theory and clinical experiences to more fully prepare new family nurse practitioners to take on the challenges of improving primary care practices in complex, culturally diverse, and low resource practice settings. Required courses including Nursing 209, 249, and 450. Admission to the Underserved Populations subspecialty is temporarily suspended.

Requirements for Pediatrics Population

The pediatric population covers the health care of children from birth to adolescence. Emphasis is on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of children’s actual or potential health problems. Content stresses care for acute and chronic illnesses as well as primary prevention. Required courses include Nursing 200, 204, 212, 223, 224, 231, 238A, 238B, 238C, 264, 438A through 438D, 440, and four units of theory elective. In addition to the required courses listed above, students who select the clinical nurse specialist role also take Nursing 245 and 445. Except for the four units of theory elective, students who prepare for the clinical nurse specialist role or dual certification (NP/CNS) take the required courses listed above plus Nursing 245 and 445.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Successful completion of the comprehensive examination is required. The comprehensive examination is given in written form during Spring Quarter. Students are eligible to take the examination once they are advanced to candidacy and may repeat the examination twice. Retakes only are offered during Summer Sessions and Fall Quarter. Students must complete all requirements for the degree within one calendar year after advancement to candidacy.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time to Degree

M.S.N. Master’s Entry Clinical Nursing: Normal progress from graduate admission to conferral of degree is a minimum of six quarters and one summer.

M.S.N. Advanced Practice Nursing: Normal progress from graduate admission to conferral of degree is a minimum of six quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Upon admission, students are assigned doctoral advisers recommended by the curriculum committee to provide individual supervision and to guide selection of a suitable program of study. Doctoral advisers are chosen for their experience in the student’s research area.

Students meet with their doctoral advisers once each quarter to determine coursework for the following quarter; however, a student may seek the director of student service’s advice at any time.

Students’ doctoral advisers may become their dissertation mentor.  Students are encouraged to identify their dissertation mentor by the time they complete required coursework; for students entering with a master’s degree this is a maximum of nine quarters and for students entering with a bachelor’s degree this is a maximum of 12 quarters. 

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The goal of the UCLA School of Nursing (SON) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program is to develop the foundation of knowledge upon which the practice of the profession is based. The UCLA SON PhD program aims to develop nurse scientists who can conduct research and generate theory that incorporate the influence of the biologic, psychosocial and physical environments on health and healthcare.  Areas of focus and interest include, but are not limited to:  health of diverse and vulnerable populations, older adults, and persons with chronic and communicable diseases.  Doctoral graduates serve as leaders who educate, influence practice, advance science, optimize healthcare delivery and influence healthcare policy worldwide.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students admitted to the PhD program without an advanced practice MSN—Bachelors (BS) or Entry-Level Masters (ELM or MECN) —are required to complete the following courses or equivalent: N200, N204, N209 and at least three graduate-level advanced practice nursing courses. The graduate-level advanced practice nursing courses must be chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser. Note that course requirements vary by student’s research focus, thus certain programs of study will entail longer time to completion and/or less flexibility in class scheduling than others.

Students admitted to the PhD program with a Bachelors (BS), may petition for a Master of Science (M.S.) degree upon completion of the first two years of required course work and passing the written qualification exam. 

The following courses are required of all students in the Ph.D. program.

(1) Nursing theory: Nursing 202, 206. 210.

(2) Nursing research: Nursing 205A-205B-205C, 207, 208, 295A-295B-295C, 299A-299B-299C. Nursing 205A, 207, 208 and 299A are required for all doctoral students. Students must take either of the following: Nursing 299B and 299C for quantitative research, or 205B, 205C and 299B or 299C for qualitative research (299B and 299C must be taken twice for biologic sciences).

(3) Statistics. Nursing 203A, 203B.

(4) Professional development: Nursing 299D, 495.

(5) Cognates: Minimum of 12 units, three courses in related field relevant to area of research. Biologic sciences students also must complete a faculty adviser-approved Chemistry course..

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass University written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations the University oral qualifying examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to University requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

Written Qualifying Examination. The written qualifying examination must be taken after completion of the following courses: Nursing 202, 203A, 203B, 206, 210, 295A, and 299A. The examination is submitted in July. Only one reexamination is permitted and it must be completed during the Summer of the same year as the original examination.

Oral Qualifying Examination. The University Oral Qualifying Examination, taken after completing the course requirements and successfully passing the written qualifying examination, evaluates students’ dissertation proposals. The initial step is selection of a doctoral committee. Students are responsible for obtaining the consent of four or more faculty members to serve on the committee as certifying members. Qualifications of members must be consistent with students’ area of research and special interests and also with the requirements for doctoral committees as stated in the Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA. Additional members, including those from an institution or clinical agency representing the student’s clinical and research interests, may be appointed as non-certifying members by petition if the doctoral committee and the student agree that additional experts are needed. The graduate adviser of the doctoral committee must give approval of members consenting to serve on the doctoral committee before the committee is submitted for the approval of the Graduate Division.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-degree

Students entering with a master’s degree in nursing should be able to complete the doctoral program as follows:

From admission to written qualifying examination: three quarters minimum, six quarters maximum.

From written qualifying examination to approval of proposal and oral qualifying examination: three quarters minimum, six quarters maximum.

From advancement to candidacy to final oral examination: six quarters.

From graduate admission to awarding of degree: 15 quarters maximum recommended.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.0) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination because of grades of B- or lower in clinical theory and practice courses, regardless of overall grade point average, or for unprofessional or unethical conduct.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be specifically recommended for termination for failure of the written or oral qualifying examination a second time.