Nursing Education, Certificate of Advanced Study
The Certificate of Advanced Study in Nursing Education is for nurses holding master’s degrees in nursing who are interested in taking on the role of nurse educator. A series of four online courses totaling 12 credits will focus on graduate level nursing knowledge to prepare nurse educators specifically for teaching positions in academia or practice settings.
This certificate will serve nurses who have completed a master of science in nursing within another specialty who wish to pursue their goal of becoming a nurse educator. These nurses’ specialties include but are not limited to nurse practitioners, administrators, informaticists, and midwives. Their previous educational preparation along with the advanced certificate will prepare registered nurses to assume nurse educator roles as instructors in academic and clinical practice settings. Nurse educators are prepared to assume roles as clinical preceptors, staff development educators, and faculty in technical, associate, baccalaureate, and allied health programs.
Admissions Requirements
1. Complete an admission application.
2. Hold a New York State or state of residence unencumbered license as a registered nurse and any other advanced practice license.
3. Submit official transcript(s) from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
4. Have earned a graduate degree (masters) in nursing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
5. Submit evidence of completing graduate level content for advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology.
Program Requirements
The Advanced Certificate of Nursing Education is comprised of the track concentration courses that are currently in the master of science in Nursing Education degree program. The 12-credit certificate contains four, three-credit courses and can be completed in two terms.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 6050 | Curriculum & Program Development | 3 |
| NURS 6055 | Instructional Design & Teaching with Technology | 3 |
| NURS 6060 | Measurement Assessment & Evaluation of Learners & Programs | 3 |
| NURS 7005 | Nursing Education Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
M.S. IN NURSING EDUCATION AND M.S. IN NURSING ADMINISTRATION CAPSTONE PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES
The capstone practicum experience requirements are embedded into the Nursing Education Capstone (NURS 7005) and Nursing Administration Capstone (NURS 7010) courses. These practicum experiences are designed to meet both predetermined and personal course learning objectives. Students arrange the practicum experience with a chosen preceptor within their own community, in consultation with the clinical coordinator and the capstone lead faculty.
The capstone practicum experiences require advance planning in order to integrate the experience and coursework into current employment and family schedules. It is recommended that students begin the planning process at least six months before course registration. Students initiate the planning process by contacting the clinical coordinator to receive instructions on how to upload their clinical paperwork into an online secure database for lead faculty review and approval.
These courses are completed at the end of the program and are offered during the 15-week fall and spring terms. Capstone practicum requests are due by June 1 for a fall practicum experience and October 1 for a spring practicum experience.
Guidelines for Capstone Practicum Experiences
The capstone practicum component is fulfilled by completing 45 hours working with a preceptor. The preceptor must be an experienced RN who holds at least an MS degree in nursing or a related field. Preceptors facilitate learning experiences within the primary area of concentration (Education or Administration), and they also provide feedback that faculty use for evaluation of student achievement of learning outcomes.
For the Nursing Education Capstone course, participation in a direct care component is a requirement within the capstone practicum. Direct care refers to a professional encounter between a nurse and a patient (individual, family, groups, community, or aggregate), either face to face or virtual, that is intended to achieve specific health goals or achieve selected health outcomes. Direct care may be provided in a wide range of settings, including acute and critical care, long term care, home health, community-based settings, and telehealth (AACN, 2021; Suby, 2009; Upenieks, et al., 2007). Education Track students must explain how they will meet the direct care requirement within their practicum.
Upon successful completion of the certificate, the student will be able to:
- Integrate knowledge of curriculum development by creating: the identification of program goals and outcomes, writing learning objectives, and selecting appropriate learning activities and evaluation strategies.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the instructional design process, including analysis, design, assessment and evaluation.
- Apply concepts and principles relevant to assessment, measurement and evaluation.
- Engage in learning activities that further the professional development role as a nurse educator.
The Advanced Certificate of Nursing Education is comprised of the track concentration courses that are currently in the master of science in Nursing Education degree program. The 12-credit certificate contains four, three-credit courses and can be completed in two terms.