Degree Requirements
The BSN to MSN Clinical Nurse Specialist program requires completion of 45 graduate-level units and 528 supervised clinical hours. Clinical hours are completed through sequenced CNS practicum courses in approved practice settings and are supervised and evaluated by CNS faculty. Clinical experiences are designed to support progressive competency development and must be successfully completed within each course to advance in the program.
Detailed course descriptions, unit values, and academic policies are published in the University of San Diego Graduate Course Catalog. The recommended course sequence and unit distribution for the program are outlined in the curriculum schedule below.
Courses
| Term | Course | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | APNC 620 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| ACNS 619 | CNS Specialty Role and Practice Foundations | 3 | |
| MSNC 611 | Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing | 3 | |
| Spring | ACNS 632 | Adult Gerontology I: CNS Practice in the Individual Patient Sphere | 3 |
| ACNS 632P | Adult Gerontology I: CNS Practice in the Individual Patient Sphere Practicum | 3 | |
| ACNS 621 | Advanced Physical Assessment | 4 | |
| Summer | ACNS 634 | Adult Gerontology II: CNS Practice in the Nurse Sphere | 3 |
| ACNS 634P | Adult Gerontology II: CNS Practice in the Nurse Sphere Practicum | 2 | |
| MSNC 640 | Healthcare Information and Communication Management | 3 | |
| Fall | ACNS 636 | Adult-Gerontology III: CNS Practice in the Organizational/Systems Sphere | 3 |
| ACNS 636P | Adult-Gerontology III: CNS Practice in the Organizational/Systems Sphere Practicum | 3 | |
| ACNS 624 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 | |
| Spring | ACNS 638 | Adult-Gerontology IV: Advanced CNS Practice | 3 |
| ACNS 638P | Adult-Gerontology IV: Advanced CNS Practicum | 3 | |
| MSNC 612 | Population Health | 3 | |
| Total Units | 45 | ||
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