Graduate Program

Degrees and Certificate Offered

Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
Concentrations: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Family Nurse Practitioner; Nurse-Midwifery; Nursing Administration; Nursing Education; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing (NURCP)
Concentrations: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner; Community Health Intervention; Clinical Nurse Specialist; Family Nurse Practitioner; Nurse Midwifery; Nursing Administration; Nursing Education; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
Concentrations: Clinical; Nurse Executive Organizational Leadership.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.)
Concentration: Health Policy.

General information for each of these degrees is available on this page. General information and requirements are also described on this page; see sidebar links for detailed information specific to each degree.

All students seeking admission to graduate studies must meet the University and College of Nursing requirements set forth in this Catalog. Please check the College of Nursing Web site for application information.

Graduate Coursework Without a License to Practice Nursing

Students may take graduate courses without a clinical component even if they are not licensed to practice nursing in the state of New Mexico. This may apply to non-degree students prior to application for admission to the program, individuals awaiting licensure by examination or reciprocity, individuals taking Web courses, or individuals from other disciplines taking graduate nursing courses as electives. Priority for enrollment is given to students who have been accepted into the College of Nursing's degree programs. For any course having a required clinical component, students must be licensed in the state in which they are completing the clinical experience.

Academic Regulations

Graduate students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 to remain in good academic standing. No more than 6 credit hours of coursework graded "C", "C+", or "CR" may be credited toward the graduate degree. Individual graduate nursing concentrations may impose more rigorous academic standards for their clinical courses. Graduate students who do not earn a passing grade or better (as defined by the concentration) in any graduate nursing course on a second attempt are not allowed to progress. Graduate nursing students receiving less than a passing grade in any two nursing courses are also not allowed to progress in the College of Nursing. Students must wait 1 year before reapplying to the College of Nursing. Courses taken during the year cannot be counted in the program of studies. Prior to repeating a nursing course, the graduate student's record is reviewed by an academic advisor. Progress is monitored by an academic advisor.

NOTE: A grade of "B" or better is required for courses taken in non-degree status or at another university in order to be applied to the program of studies.

Dual Degree Program

Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Public Health: The College of Nursing and the College of Population Health offer a Dual Degree Program leading to the M.S.N. and the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.). See the Graduate and Professional Dual Degree Programs section of this Catalog.

Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) is offered under Plan I (thesis) or Plan II (non-thesis) according to the general requirements specified in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog.

Plan I requires a minimum of 30 credit hours (including 6 credit hours for thesis) in nursing and related subjects. Under Plan II, a minimum of 32 credit hours in nursing and related subjects is required. Under both plans, the student must complete the courses required for the chosen concentration. Although some concentrations may require many credit hours beyond the minimum, individual review of records may allow waiver of some of the concentration courses. The minimum credit hour requirement for Plan I or Plan II must be met by all degree-seeking candidates regardless of any course waivers. Requirements for individual concentrations are available from the concentration coordinators or the College of Nursing Advisement Office. Some concentrations require full-time study. Students should expect a minimum of 3 hours per week per credit hour for clinical involvement when taking clinical nursing courses.

NOTE: A minimum enrollment is required for a concentration or course to be offered.

Objectives for the M.S.N. Program

Once completed, the graduate is prepared to:

Analyze theoretical formulations as a basis for nursing practice, education, and administration.
Apply and/or participate in research about health/illness and the practice of nursing.
Utilize advanced clinical knowledge and skill to promote, maintain, and/or restore optimum wellness to client systems.
Assume leadership roles in nursing practice, education, or administration.
Assume responsibility for developing healthcare policy relative to social, ethical, legal, economic, and political issues that impact nursing.
Organize and develop collaborative relationships for the improvement of healthcare on an agency, organizational, or legislative level.
Synthesize knowledge from the biophysical, social, and nursing sciences that affects health/illness behavior or client systems as a basis for nursing practice, education, and administration.

Application Deadlines

Consult the College of Nursing Web site for application dates and starting terms.

Admission Requirements

All students seeking acceptance to the College of Nursing graduate program must meet requirements for admission to the University. See the Graduate Program section of this Catalog for information on University admission requirements.

Applications are only accepted through an online application process. Check the College of Nursing Web site for current application information. This application is in addition to the application for admission to the University as a graduate student.

Screening for admission to the College is conducted at periodic intervals. All applications, fees, official transcripts, and required documents must be received by the deadline. Students should submit applications early to allow for adequate advisement and processing of applications.

To be considered for acceptance into the graduate program in Nursing, applicants must:

Hold a bachelor's degree (e.g., B.S.N.) from a nationally-accredited nursing program, with an upper-division major in nursing. Graduates from non-accredited programs and RNs with a baccalaureate degree in non-nursing fields are considered on an individual basis. RNs with a non-nursing baccalaureate are considered on an individual basis and if admitted are required to take additional coursework to meet CCNE Bachelor of Nursing Essentials prior to beginning graduate coursework. Results of the exam must be received by the application deadline.
Have a minimum grade point average for baccalaureate work of 3.0 ("B") or better.
Submit the application, required academic records, and documents by deadline dates. See the College of Nursing Web site for further details.
Submit evidence of RN licensure (which must be kept current throughout enrollment in the program). If NCLEX results are pending at the time of application, the applicant should indicate this in the personal statement, with a copy of the RN license submitted within the first term enrolled and prior to any clinical experience.
NOTE: An active RN license is required for the state in which any lab or clinical work (inpatient or community) is performed. An active New Mexico RN license is required for students holding teaching or research assistantships.
An interview may be required for admission.

NOTE: Preference is given to New Mexico residents. See College of Nursing Web site for any updates.
Physical assessment skills are required for clinical nursing courses. An upper-division statistics course is recommended prior to taking the nursing research course (NURS 503).

College of Nursing graduate students can only apply 9 credit hours of non-degree coursework to their program of studies.

Online Master's Degree Options

Students may choose to obtain an online master's degree in the Nursing Administration and Nursing Education concentrations by taking all courses on the Web.

Students discuss with their concentration advisor clinical requirements during coursework. For any clinical experience, including the Fieldwork experience, out-of-state students submit the resumes of two to three individuals, master's-prepared in Nursing at a minimum, who have expressed a willingness to serve as a preceptor. The student and faculty advisor then decide on the appropriate preceptor and, when necessary, a contract between the College of Nursing and the agency or institution is prepared in advance.

NOTE: As these contracts sometimes take 12-16 weeks to prepare, advance planning is needed.

If site visits are required for any reason for out-of-state students, costs of such visits are borne by the student and not the College of Nursing.

Drop Policy for Master's-Level Courses

At the discretion of the faculty teaching the course, students who do not appear in class or log into a Web course, or who have not made prior arrangements with faculty during the first week of the term may be dropped.

Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing

The Post-Master's Certificate, also known as the Nursing Certificate Program (NURCP), offers students who hold a master's degree in nursing an opportunity to specialize in an area of nursing not covered in their initial master's program. Post-Master's Certificate students may complete a program of study in one of the advanced practice nursing concentrations offered through the M.S.N. program.

The program of studies consists of specialty courses in the chosen area (at least 15 graduate credit hours) to be designated by the concentration Advisor or faculty in the specialty area. Coursework must be completed within three years, and a 3.0 ("B") average is required. Contact concentration Coordinator for admission and curriculum details.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The College of Nursing offers a post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree. The D.N.P. degree prepares clinical leaders with an emphasis on advanced clinical practice, leadership, healthcare policy, information systems, and healthcare delivery systems. Expertise brought by the DNP-prepared advanced practice nurse is grounded in the scholarship of application. The D.N.P., an alternative to the traditional research-focused Ph.D. in Nursing, has an emphasis on practice and is considered the terminal degree for advanced nursing practice. There are two concentrations:

Clinical concentration graduates are expert clinicians and leaders with advanced knowledge and skills to apply evidence to identify, develop, and evaluate solutions to challenges in clinical practice.
Nurse Executive Organizational Leadership (NEOL) concentration graduates are experts in designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating clinical care and healthcare delivery systems and are prepared to lead at the highest clinical executive ranks.

Objectives for the D.N.P. Program

There are 11 Student Learning Objectives expected of the University of New Mexico College of Nursing D.N.P. graduate:

Assume the role of the doctorate-prepared nurse in teaching, scholarship, leadership, and service.
Apply analytic methods to create, evaluate, and adopt effective innovations to improve health.
Analyze, translate, and apply evidence to improve health outcomes.
Engage individuals and communities to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions to address their health disparities.
Facilitate optimal health outcomes through delivery of culturally sensitive care, including clinical prevention strategies, identification of risk, individualized interventions, and formation of therapeutic relationships with clients.
Apply clinical, community, and policy interventions to reduce health inequities.
Evaluate and critique social policy relevant to the organization and delivery of healthcare.
Integrate and evaluate information systems in patient care technology for clinical, research, and administrative best practices.
Apply leadership and advocacy skills in the development, implementation, and evaluation of healthcare organizations, delivery of care, and policy.
Utilize effective management and organizational skills to assume a leadership role in healthcare delivery, policy, and systems.
Practice nursing reflectively, guided by theory, based on best evidence, and integrating creative and critical thinking.

Application Deadlines

Clinical concentration applications are accepted August 25 through February 1. The program begins in the Summer term.

NEOL concentration applications are accepted August 25 through February 1. The program begins in the Summer term.

Consult the College of Nursing Web site to verify current application deadlines.

Admission Requirements for D.N.P. Concentrations

Exceptions to any concentration admission criterion (see below) are considered on an individual basis and are at the discretion of the D.N.P. program committee recommendations with approval by the Academic Dean.

Once admitted, students must fulfill the UNM Health Sciences Center's (HSC) and College of Nursing deadlines during the first semester, including, but not limited to, immunization records, urine drug screen, background screenings, life support certifications, bloodborne pathogens and HSC Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) trainings.

Clinical Concentration Admission Criteria

Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited school or university. Registered nurses (RNs) with a baccalaureate degree in non-nursing fields are considered on an individual basis.
Master's degree as an Advanced Practice Nurse, Nurse-Midwife, or Clinical Nurse Specialist from a nationally-accredited program.
Minimum GPA of 3.0 in nursing courses at the master's level.
Current and unencumbered RN and advanced practice or midwifery license from the state in which the applicant will be completing his or her practicum, submitted with the application.
Current national certification in the applicant's specialty. A copy must be submitted with the application.
Agree to sign a commitment to enroll in the program of study with course sequencing, and must participate in the required annual D.N.P. Residency Week held on campus the Summer term of each year.
Participate in a personal interview (to be arranged by the D.N.P. Program Admissions Committee) and can be conducted in person, by phone, or through Web-based conferencing.
Letter of intent which specifies short- and long-term professional goals, and a clear statement of how the D.N.P. will advance the applicant's clinical nursing practice.
Current curriculum vitae or resume.
Two- to three-page essay that identifies a system or population focus and related health problem area the applicant intends to address as part of his or her D.N.P. program of scholarship.
Three professional references from those who know the applicant's work well and can comment on abilities to succeed in doctoral education and an advanced leadership role. At least one must be from an individual who has evaluated the applicant's work in the past, such as a professor or supervisor.
Official transcripts from each college or university ever attended.

Nurse Executive Organizational Leadership Concentration Admission Criteria

This concentration is a part-time, post-master’s program designed for students who are licensed registered nurses and are currently in management positions or aspiring to move into management.

Must have a B.S.N. and a Master's degree in a related field (M.B.A., M.P.A., M.P.H., M.S.A.), or a Master's degree in Nursing with a Nurse Administration or related concentration (informatics, health policy, clinical, etc.).
Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA at the master's level (with a 3.5+ GPA preferred).
Must have a graduate level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years or complete one within the program of studies.
Current and unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license from one of the 50 U.S. states or territories; if an advanced practice nurse or certified in a nursing specialty, a copy of the applicant's advanced practice license or certification must be submitted.
Must agree to sign a commitment to enroll in the program of studies course sequencing based on terms and must participate in the required annual D.N.P. Residency Week held on campus the Summer term of each year.
A personal interview is arranged and can be conducted in person, by phone, or through Web-based conferencing.
A letter of intent that specifies career goals and a clear statement of how the D.N.P. will advance the applicant's executive administrative practice.
Current curriculum vitae or resume.
Submission of a two- to three-page scholarly document with a description or an example of a specific healthcare administrative problem that the applicant would like to see changed (preferably the D.N.P. Project idea) or a first-authored scholarly publication.
Three references from those who know the applicant's work best and can comment on the applicant's abilities to succeed in a higher level and advanced nursing executive role. These may be from a professor, supervisor, or colleague (no more than one may be from a colleague).
Official transcripts from each college or university attended.
Preferably, students must have pre-arranged practice site(s) for the residency and Scholarly Project courses, and meet all clinical clearances and liability of those site(s). All practice sites, liabilities, and clearances must be obtained in accordance with the College of Nursing affiliation requirements and approval by the D.N.P. Program Director or designee. The Scholarly Project site is typically identified and approved during the second semester. The residency site is typically identified and approved by the end of the third semester.

Scholarly Project Committee

Students identify their D.N.P. Scholarly Project during the D.N.P. Scholarly Project Seminar and continue to develop and implement it through subsequent terms under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The Scholarly Project involves the identification and resolution of a practice problem through the scholarship of application; it requires practice inquiry and is grounded in a specific practice setting, with a specific population. The project is reviewed and evaluated by an academic committee and carried out over multiple terms.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing program prepares individuals to design, conduct, and communicate independent research, to collaborate with others in the conduct of research, and to assume leadership roles in research, education, healthcare, and health policy. The program focuses on nursing knowledge development to advance the science of nursing, conducting research healthcare and health policy related to multicultural, rural, and underserved populations, and the improvement of health outcomes of individuals, families, and communities.

The Ph.D. in Nursing is delivered online, with attendance in Albuquerque required for one week of face to face class time each semester for the first three years of coursework. Please check university status related to COVID-19 prior to attendance.

Students may follow an individualized plan of study or a concentration in Health Policy. The Ph.D. program follows the term calendar of the university and has both B.S.N. and master's-entry options.

Objectives for the Ph.D. Program

Graduates of the Ph.D. program will demonstrate the following competencies:

Design, conduct, and communicate independent research to generate new knowledge and provide theoretically sound solutions to health problems.
Develop research expertise relative to a particular population, setting, or human response to health or illness.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary and interprofessional teams to advance the science of heath and the discipline of nursing.

Students’ dissertation research should fall within the College of Nursing’s identified areas of research emphasis, including symptom science and self-management, women’s and children’s health, health policy, public health/preparedness and biobehavioral, with an overall focus on rural health and health equity. The Ph.D. program is planned as a part-time program, and is expected to take 4 to 5 years to complete for master’s-prepared applicants, with an additional year for students admitted under the B.S.N.-entry option. Students are required to take at least 6 credit hours of prescribed courses each term (Summer, Fall, Spring) until completion of the coursework. Options exist for students who wish to complete an accelerated program. On acceptance into the program, each student is required to work with a faculty advisor to develop and commit to a plan of study that will serve as a guide to individual progress.

Admission Requirements

General admission requirements for the Ph.D. degree are set forth in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog.

Specific requirements for the College of Nursing’s Ph.D. program are:

Applicants must have one of the following prior degrees:

Entry-level degree of either a Bachelor or Master of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited program (Commission on the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing [ACEN] or equivalent. If outside of the United States, equivalency will be determined on a case-by-case basis). The degree must be earned prior to entering the PhD program.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master's degree in another field (the degree will be considered on an individual basis).
A graduate level statistics course within the previous three years completed with a grade of B and by the date of admission.
Most recent degree conferred with a grade-point average 3.5 or higher (most recent degree). Students with a grade-point average of 3.0 – 3.49 may be considered for admission to the PhD program with stipulations* (see below).
A valid RN license in any U.S. state, territory, or foreign country.
Letter of intent discussing the applicant’s (1) goals for undertaking the PhD program (2) area of research interest, and (3) identified faculty member matching the applicant’s area of research interest with an explanation of the potential faculty match (letter limit of 2 pages, double-spaced);
Three letters of recommendation, including one from a reference with a PhD;
Current resume or CV;
Submission of a writing sample that demonstrates evidence of scholarly ability and the potential for scholarly growth. Examples include, but are not limited to, a thesis, a published or unpublished scholarly paper, or written creative work.
Optional: GRE completed within the previous three years.
University of New Mexico, Graduate Studies (OGS). All applicants must also be eligible for graduate admission to UNM. Visit Apply to UNM Graduate and Professional Programs to submit an application and all official transcripts to UNM Graduate Admissions.
Personal interview (completed after review of NursingCAS submission and by invitation).
Exceptions to any program admission criterion are considered individually, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, with a recommendation to the UNM College of Nursing, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination

The University requires doctoral (Ph.D.) students to pass a Comprehensive Examination, specific to the discipline, before advancement to Ph.D. candidacy. At the College of Nursing, the Comprehensive Examination consists of two components: (1) a progression exam; and (2) preparation and defense of a dissertation proposal. Students must pass both components to be admitted to doctoral candidacy.

A student who fails one or more sections must receive his or her advisor’s approval prior to enrolling in, or continuing to be enrolled in, any course.

A student who fails only one section of the exam must retake that section the next time the progression exam is administered.
A student who fails more than one section of the exam must retake all sections of the exam the next time it is administered.
A student who fails all or part of the progression exam on a second attempt will be suspended from the Ph.D. program. The student may reapply to the program; however, readmission is at the discretion of the Ph.D. program faculty and is not guaranteed. See the Graduate Program section of this Catalog for more information.

As the second component of the comprehensive examination, the student must prepare a written dissertation proposal and pass an oral examination (proposal defense) conducted by the dissertation committee. After passing both Ph.D. comprehensive examination components, the student must apply for and be admitted to doctoral candidacy.

Dissertation

The Ph.D. dissertation must demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct independent research and the student’s competence in scholarly exposition. The dissertation is a comprehensive written report of an original investigation of a significant problem in the major field of study. It should provide the basis for a publishable contribution to the research literature. In addition to the approval of the dissertation committee, the research will require review and approval by the Human Research Protections Office of the UNM Health Sciences Center to ensure compliance with requirements for protection of human research subjects. Dissertation steps are as follows:

Following completion of coursework requirements, the student must enroll for dissertation credit hours (NURS 699) every term until the final dissertation manuscript is accepted by Graduate Studies. The student must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation (NURS 699) credit.
Students who have enrolled in NURS 699 and subsequently stopped enrollment for one or more semesters (not including summers) must apply for reinstatement. Procedures for reinstatement are available on the Graduate Studies Web site.
Ph.D. candidates have 5 calendar years from the semester in which they pass their Comprehensive Examination to complete the degree requirements.
The student is responsible for preparing a high-quality dissertation in the proper format. Students are required to follow Graduate Studies' current dissertation formatting and submission guidelines.
The dissertation defense is conducted by the dissertation committee and constitutes the final, oral examination requirement.
After passing the dissertation defense and completing any revisions recommended by the committee, the student submits the final, approved dissertation electronically to the UNM Digital Repository. The final graduation requirement is acceptance of the submitted dissertation by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Dissertation Committee: The Dissertation Committee consists of at least four members, all of whom must be approved for committee service by the Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship. The Chair must hold a tenured or tenure-track appointment in the College of Nursing. At least one other committee member must hold a tenured or tenure-track appointment at UNM (i.e., at least two members must have tenured or tenure-track UNM appointments). At least one member must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member external to the College of Nursing (either in another academic unit at UNM or at another university). Refer to the Graduate Program section of this Catalog for steps in appointment of this committee.

Transfer of Courses

A limited number of courses may be considered for transfer to The University of New Mexico. To be transferable, coursework must be no more than 5 years old at the time of application for candidacy, and the transfer of credit hours must be approved by the student's advisor.

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