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Program Objectives
The objectives of the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program are to prepare nurses who are innovative, creative, evidence-informed problem solvers who can collaboratively lead interprofessional teams.
These objectives will be achieved through a course of studies that prepares nurses to:
- Create, translate and use nursing knowledge in all its forms.
- Synthesize and apply diverse perspectives within scholarly nursing research, practice and knowledge development.
- Cultivate advanced ethical reasoning and critical thinking.
- Develop advanced skills and strategies for evidence-informed decision-making and practice. Gain practical experience in the application of healthcare knowledge in diverse environments.
Program Overview
Degree offered: M.S.N.
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program offers opportunities for baccalaureate nurses to develop and advance their professional knowledge, practice, and scholarship. Graduate students will engage in scholarly inquiry within a chosen area of nursing practice. Consistent with the BCCNM (British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives), nursing practice is broadly defined as practice within the domains of clinical work, education, administration and research. In addition to a required core of foundation courses, students will select either a course-based or a research-based stream. The course-based stream may be completed in 16 months of full time study. The research-based stream requires a minimum of 24 months of full-time study. Both streams have part-time options and are offered via a combination of flexible delivery and intensive summer courses offered on campus. Graduates will be prepared to participate in knowledge development, application, integration, and translation through leadership roles within their practice setting.
Admission Requirements
The program is governed by policies of the College of Graduate Studies.
To be eligible for admission, an applicant must:
- Be a Registered Nurse with a baccalaureate degree, normally in nursing.
- Have a minimum overall average of B+ (76%) standing in third-and fourth-year levels of their baccalaureate with an A- (80%) in 12 credits of nursing courses.
- Demonstrate competence to pursue studies in the English language.1
- Have successfully completed an undergraduate university or graduate university statistics course in the past 5 years as prerequisite, or approval of the School of Nursing Graduate Program Coordinator.
1Acceptable English language proficiency tests for applicants to the College of Graduate Studies are listed on the College of Graduate Studies website
In addition to meeting minimum admission criteria, applicants will be evaluated in relation to:
- Record of academic and professional achievement.
- Two (2) letters of reference.
- Quality and demonstrated written competency in letter of intent.
Please see College of Graduate Studies page for more information on the English Language Proficiency Requirement.
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program allows students to choose from one of the following program streams:
MSN Program Streams
| Research-Based Stream | Course-Based Stream |
|---|---|
| 3 Required Core Courses (9 credits) | 3 Required Core Courses (9 credits) |
| 2 Core Research Courses (6 credits) | 1 Course-Based Core Research Course (3 credits) |
| 1 Focus Course (3 credits) | 4 Focus Courses (12 credits) |
| Thesis (12 credits) | Capstone Course (6 credits) |
| Total: 30 credits | Total: 30 credits |
Master level coursework is normally taken at the 500-level. Six credits of upper-level Undergraduate level coursework (300-499) may be taken with the approval of the School of Nursing Graduate Program Coordinator.
Required Core Courses for both streams 9 credits:
| NRSG_O 500 | Nursing Knowledge (3) |
| NRSG_O 504 | Finding and Integrating Knowledge for Evidence-Informed Practice (3) |
| NRSG_O 505 | Healthcare Policy (3) |
Required Additional Courses for Course-Based Stream 9 credits:
| NRSG_O 597 | Capstone Practicum (6) |
| NRSG_O 502 | Course-Based Core Research Course (3) |
Required Additional Courses for Research-Based Stream 18 credits:
| NRSG_O 506 | Qualitative Research (3) |
| NRSG_O 507 | Quantitative Research (3) |
| NRSG_O 599 | Research Thesis (12) |
Focus Courses (12 credits required for Course-Based stream; 3 credits required for Research-Based stream):
| Nursing Education Stream | |
| The composition of Focus Courses is aimed at advancing appropriate knowledge and expertise in the learner’s chosen domain of practice. Course-based students choose their Focus Courses from either the Nursing Education (NRSG_O 522, NRSG_O 523) or Leadership and Management (NRSG_O 542, 543) themes, however other Focus Course options may be available with approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator. Focus courses are to be taken at the graduate-level (500+ at UBC), but upper-level undergraduate courses may be taken in exceptional circumstances with approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator. | |
| NRSG_O 522 | Introduction to Nursing Education (3) |
| NRSG_O 523 | Teaching and Learning in Nursing Practice (3) |
| Nursing Leadership and Management Stream | |
| NRSG_O 542 | Introduction to Nursing Leadership and Management (3) |
| NRSG_O 543 | Nursing Leadership and Management in Practice (3) |
Master of Science in Nursing Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Concentration
The concentration focuses on advanced training in applying and prioritizing Indigenist approaches to health and wellbeing. Those that complete this concentration will receive a statement on their official transcript that reads "Concentration in Indigenous Health and Wellbeing”.
The concentration includes a minimum of 9 credits of Indigenous-specific coursework, and a final project (Capstone or thesis) focused on Indigenous Health and/or Wellbeing.
Students will follow UBC Okanagan College of Graduate Studies policies regarding course selection and are encouraged to connect with the School of Nursing Graduate Program Assistant (ubco.nursinggrad@ubc.ca) early, even when simply considering applying to the program, to discuss the pathway and course options to build a concentration within the MSN program that fits their needs, interests, and goals. The School of Nursing is committed to supporting individual student journeys through the Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Concentration on a case-by-case basis.
Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Course-based stream:
| 3 Required Core Courses: NRSG_O 504, 500, 505 (9 credits) - Students have the option of replacing one core course with an Indigenous focused course |
| 1 Course-Based Core Research Course: NRSG_O 502 (3 credits) |
| 4 Focus Courses (12 credits) - Students will select a minimum of 3 Indigenous courses |
| Capstone Course (6 credits): NRSG_O 597 – With a focus that has been endorsed as relevant, timely and appropriate by Indigenous community partners |
| Total: 30 credits |
Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Thesis-based stream:
| 3 Required Core Courses: NRSG_O 504, 500, 505 (9 credits) - Students have the option of replacing one required core course with an Indigenous focused course |
| 2 Core Research Courses: NRSG_O 506, 507 (6 credits) - Students have the option of replacing one core research course with an Indigenous focused course |
| 1 Focus Course (3 credits) - Students will select an Indigenous course |
| Thesis (12 credits): NRSG_O 599 - With a focus that has been endorsed as relevant, timely and appropriate by Indigenous community partners |
| Total: 30 credits |
When the School and student are building the course plan, they will consider:
- Whether the course meets College of Graduate Studies requirements (i.e., equivalent to UBC 500-level, with a maximum of 12 credits at an institution outside of UBC Okanagan, with up to 6 credits at a 300- or 400-level)
- Whether the proposed course overlaps considerably with another course the student will take/has taken
- The student’s long- and short-term goals (i.e., if a student is hoping to complete a qualitative research project for their thesis, the student will be supported to find appropriate courses that will set them up for success in this area)
The Program Assistant maintains a database of pre-approved courses to share publicly in the School of Nursing Graduate Program Handbook. Students are encouraged to build a course plan that meets their goals, with the support of the Graduate Program, and are able to take courses within the School of Nursing, in other units at UBC Okanagan (such as Indigenous Studies or the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Indigenous Knowledges Theme), or at another institution through the cross-campus agreement between UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver or the Western Deans’ Agreement.