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Generalist Entry Master’s in Nursing (MSN) for Non-Nurses: Clinical Nurse Leader Curriculum

Program Student Learning Outcomes

The MSN Clinical Nurse Leader program, designed for Generalist Entry Master’s (GEM) students, can be completed in either a part-time or full-time track. You will be prepared to become a registered nurse (RN) clinician with a focus in clinical leadership. 

Graduates are prepared to function at a high level in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. You will receive a broad overview of all the major nursing specialties, and a variety of settings across the health care continuum.

The curriculum consists of 74 term hours of graduate coursework in nursing and related sciences. You are expected to complete the MSN requirements in six terms or eight terms depending on your track. 

Graduates meet the following outcomes: 

  • Use communication techniques that reflect an understanding of the dignity and respect afforded to all persons 
  • Deliver competent, holistic and contextually appropriate patient-family-population-centered nursing care 
  • Synthesize the knowledge of nursing science, social science and humanities in the promotion of health, prevention of disease and delivery of care across diverse populations and health care environments 
  • Demonstrate the ability to work with interdisciplinary teams to optimize nursing care delivery 
  • Demonstrate leadership behaviors within and across systems at all levels of prevention 
  • Recognize the impact of the micro and macro system environments on health care delivery 
  • Demonstrate professional values in nursing practice

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Graduates Meet the Following Standards

The GEM program requires a minimum of 74 term hours of didactic instruction and 1,120 clock hours of clinical instruction.  

You are given a comprehensive exam in the final term in preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, or NCLEX.  

Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX and the CNL certification exam. 

Program Curricula: Full-Time

Term 1

  • NSG - 500 Socialization Into Nursing Seminar (Credits: 1) 
  • NSG - 501 Role of the Professional Nurse (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 501P Role of the Professional Nurse Practicum (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 510 Pathophysiology (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 525 Health Assessment Across the Life Span (Credits: 2) 
  • NSG - 525L Health Assessment Across the Life Span Lab (Credits: 1) 

Subtotal: 13 

Term 2

  • NSG - 502 Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Across the Life Span (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 502P Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Across the Life Span Practicum (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 511 Pharmacology (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 522 Applied Epidemiology Biostats Nursing (Credits: 3)*

Subtotal: 12 

Term 3

  • NSG - 503 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 503P Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Practicum (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 518 Palliative Care for Nursing (Credits: 2)*
  • NSG - 523 Research for Evidence Based Practice (Credits: 3)*
  • NSG - 524 Health Promotion in Individuals and Clinical Populations (Credits: 3)

Subtotal: 14 

Term 4

  • NSG - 504 Women’s Health Across the Life Span (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 504P Women’s Health Across the Life Span Practicum (Credits: 1)
  • NSG - 505 Public Health Nursing (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 505P Public Health Nursing Practicum (Credits: 2)
  • NSG - 521 Antiracism in Organizational Leadership (Credits: 3)*

Subtotal: 12

Term 5

  • NSG - 506 Nursing Management of Complex Health Alterations Across the Life Span (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 506P Nursing Management of Complex Health Alterations Across the Life Span Practicum (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 512 Clinical Leadership and Project Development (Credits: 3)*
  • NSG - 536 Principles of Case Management for Advanced Nursing Practice (Credits: 3)

Subtotal: 12

Term 6

  • NSG - 507 Preparation for Professional Practice (Credits: 1)
  • NSG - 513 Clinical Project Implementation (Credits: 5)*
  • NSG - 514 Immersion: Clinical Practicum (Credits: 5)

Subtotal: 11

Total: 74

* Currently offered online with in-person meetings.


Program Curricula: Part-Time

Term 1

  • NSG - 500 Socialization Into Nursing Seminar (Credits: 1) 
  • NSG - 510 Pathophysiology (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 525 Health Assessment Across the Life Span (Credits: 2) 
  • NSG - 525L Health Assessment Across the Life Span Lab (Credits: 1) 

Subtotal: 7 

Term 2

  • NSG - 501 Role of the Professional Nurse (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 501P Role of the Professional Nurse Practicum (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 511 Pharmacology (Credits: 3) 

Subtotal: 9 

Term 3

  • NSG - 502 Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Across the Life Span (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 502P Nursing Management of Common Health Alterations Across the Life Span Practicum (Credits: 3) 
  • NSG - 522 Applied Epidemiology Biostats Nursing (Credits: 3)*
  • NSG - 521 Antiracism in Organizational Leadership (Credits: 3)*

Subtotal: 12 

Term 4

  • NSG - 503 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 503P Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Practicum (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 523 Research for Evidence Based Practice (Credits: 3)*
  • NSG - 524 Health Promotion in Individuals and Clinical Populations (Credits: 3)

Subtotal: 12

Term 5

  • NSG - 504 Women’s Health Across the Life Span (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 504P Women’s Health Across the Life Span Practicum (Credits: 1)
  • NSG - 505 Public Health Nursing (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 505P Public Health Nursing Practicum (Credits: 2)

Subtotal: 9

Term 6

  • NSG - 506 Nursing Management of Complex Health Alterations Across the Life Span (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 506P Nursing Management of Complex Health Alterations Across the Life Span Practicum (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 512 Clinical Leadership and Project Development (Credits: 3)*

Subtotal: 9

Term 7

  • NSG - 513 Clinical Project Implementation (Credits: 5)*
  • NSG - 514 Immersion: Clinical Practicum (Credits: 5)

Subtotal: 10

Term 8

  • NSG - 536 Principles of Case Management for Advanced Nursing Practice (Credits: 3)
  • NSG - 507 Preparation for Professional Practice (Credits: 1)
  • NSG - 518 Palliative Care for Nursing (Credits: 2)*

Subtotal: 6

Total: 74

* Currently offered online with in-person meetings.

Note: Students must complete a minimum of 100 professional development hours to meet the CNL competencies.

  • IPE - 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
    • The Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams course is a pass/no pass course. Students will use experiential team-based learning to apply knowledge, skills and values of the IPEC competencies.
    • The fall cohort will be automatically enrolled in the first and second terms. The spring cohort will be automatically enrolled in terms three and four. Workshops will be held Wednesday afternoons. Participation requires approximately 20 hours of student time.

View the current course catalog

Refer to the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.

Note: Students must complete a minimum of 100 professional development hours to meet the CNL competencies.

  • IPE - 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
    • The Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams course is a pass/no pass course. Students will use experiential team-based learning to apply knowledge, skills and values of the IPEC competencies.
    • The fall cohort will be automatically enrolled in the first and second terms. The spring cohort will be automatically enrolled in terms three and four. Workshops will be held Wednesday afternoons. Participation requires approximately 20 hours of student time.

View the current course catalog

Refer to the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.