Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who holds a master’s or doctoral degree in a specific population focus.  These include family, adult-gerontology (primary or acute care), neonatal, pediatrics (primary or acute care), women’s health, or psychiatric-mental health populations.  Texas Woman’s University offers programs for family, adult-gerontology (primary and acute care), pediatric (primary care), women’s health, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner tracks.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) provides care for patients of all ages and within many settings.  The FNP role focuses on health promotion and health maintenance of patients while also managing both common acute and chronic health conditions across the lifespan.  

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (PNP-PC) provides care to newborns through young adults for both common acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on growth and development.  Practice extends across a variety of settings.  While there are both primary and acute care programs, TWU prepares students for the primary care role. 

The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) provides care for women extending from adolescence through adulthood. The TWU WHNP program prepares graduates to provide well-woman care, high-risk prenatal management, family planning, care during menopause, and fertility care. 

The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner is prepared to function in a primary care role (AGPCNP) or an acute care role (AGACNP).  Texas Woman’s University offers both specialty tracks.  The AGPCNP provides acute, chronic, and preventative care for adults from adolescence through old age, typically in a primary care setting.  An AGACNP provides care for acute and severe episodes of illness, injury or trauma, and may continue care following the acute phase.

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is prepared in the mental health assessment, treatment, and management of mental health disorders for clients and families of all ages.  The PMHNP provides advanced therapeutic modalities such as individual, group, and family psychotherapy as well as prescribing psychotherapeutic medications.  

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

Admissions

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours Required

45 semester credit hours (SCH).

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Required Courses
BIOL 5333	Advanced Pathophysiology	3
NURS 5663	Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 5643	Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
NURS 5073	Evidence-Based Practice for the Promotion of Quality Outcomes	3
NURS 5093	Theoretical Foundations and the Advanced Nursing Role	3
NURS 5133	Health Policy and Health Care Delivery for Advanced Nursing Practice	3
Total SCHs		18

Complete One of the Following Tracks

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
NURS 5602	Foundational Concepts for the Family Nurse Practitioner	2
NURS 5603	Principles of Care Management, Diagnostics, and Common Procedural Interventions in Primary Care	3
NURS 5303	Primary Care Management of Common Acute Illnesses across the Lifespan	3
NURS 5493	Primary Care Disease and Restorative Health Practicum I	3
NURS 5893	Chronic Disease and Restorative Health Management across the Lifespan	3
NURS 5665	Chronic Disease and Restorative Health Practicum II	5
NURS 5703	Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Family Nurse Practitioner	3
NURS 5705	Primary Care Disease Management across the Lifespan Practicum III	5
Total SCHs		27

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
NURS 5302	Foundational Concepts for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner	2
NURS 5223	Principles of Pediatric Care Management, Diagnostics, and Common Procedural Interventions	3
NURS 5343	Well Child Concepts in Pediatric Primary Care	3
NURS 5353	PNP Practicum I: Management of the Well Child	3
NURS 5363	Acute and Chronic Illness in Pediatric Primary Care	3
NURS 5365	PNP Practicum II: Non-emergent Acute and Chronic Child Care and Management	5
NURS 5403	Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner	3
NURS 5585	Advanced Pediatric Primary Care Synthesis Practicum III	5
Total SCHs		27

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
NURS 5402	WHNP Role in Managing Healthcare Disparities in Women's Health	2
NURS 5412	Principles of Women and Gender-Related Care Management: Diagnostics and Common Procedural Interventions	2
NURS 5423	Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing I	3
NURS 5401	Primary Care in Women's Health and Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing	1
NURS 5463	WHNP Clinical Practice I	3
NURS 5443	Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing II	3
NURS 5465	WHNP Clinical Practice II	5
NURS 5473	Women's Health - Gender-related Advanced Practice Nursing Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice	3
NURS 5475	WHNP Clinical Practice III	5
Total SCHs		27

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
NURS 5502	Foundational Concepts for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner	2
NURS 5503	Principles of Adult and Geriatric Care Management, Diagnostics and Common Procedural Interventions	3
NURS 5323	Primary Care Management of the Adolescent, Adult, and Older Adult	3
NURS 5523	AGPCNP Clinical Practicum I: Introduction to Adult Primary Care	3
NURS 5563	Acute and Chronic Disease Management of the Adult and Older Adult	3
NURS 5565	AGPCNP Clinical Practicum II: Acute and Chronic Disease Management	5
NURS 5573	Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner	3
NURS 5575	AGPCNP Clinical Practicum III: Advanced Care Management	5
Total SCHs		27

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
NURS 5012	Foundational Concepts for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner	2
NURS 5193	Principles of Management, Diagnostics, and Procedural Interventions for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners	3
NURS 5103	Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Evaluation and Management of the Acutely Ill: I	3
NURS 5173	Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum I	3
NURS 5153	Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Evaluation and Management of the Acutely Ill: II	3
NURS 5055	Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum II	5
NURS 5163	Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner	3
NURS 5065	Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III	5
Total SCHs		27

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
NURS 5912	Advanced Psychiatric Diagnostics	2
NURS 5922	Advanced Psychiatric Interviewing and Assessment	2
NURS 5932	Psychopharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse	2
NURS 5952	Psychotherapeutic Interventions	2
NURS 5933	Establishing Therapeutic Relationships	3
NURS 5953	Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions	3
NURS 5205	Advanced Therapeutic Relationships	5
NURS 5183	Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Synthesis	3
NURS 5225	Holistic Psychiatric Care	5
Total SCHs		27

Special Requirements for all Master’s Degrees

All tracks are approved for Distance Education. The FNP track offers an online and on-campus option.

1. A grade of B or higher must be achieved in all required courses. A student who has earned a grade of less than B (C, D, or F) in two required courses at the graduate level or who has earned a grade of less than B (C, D, or F) twice in the same graduate-level required course will be removed from the nursing program. A student who does not maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher will be dismissed from the nursing program. For the purpose of removal from the nursing program, a grade of less than B is counted as a grade of less than B even if the course has been successfully repeated.
2. Students admitted to the master’s program provisionally, based on low GPA, must complete the first 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses with grades of B or better in each course; at least 9 semester credit hours must be in nursing courses. A provisionally admitted student will be dismissed from the program if a grade of C or lower is made in any course during the probationary period.
3. Graduate students have six years to complete the MSN program.

Time Limit

Semester credit hours older than six years, including transfer courses, cannot apply toward the master’s degree or post-master's certificate completion.

Final Examination

Oral examination of the completed professional or clinical project (subject to change).