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Master of Science in Nursing

Choose from three concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Education
or Nurse Leadership and Management

AUHS University Mission

American University of Health Sciences (AUHS), is a private Christian-based minority-serving University of higher education welcomes students of diverse backgrounds and prepares them to make a positive impact on society through the provision of exceptional quality patient-centered care within the context of a global perspective of the human condition. This mission is accomplished through the creation of a strong and caring academic environment where excellence, diversity, and the development of the entire person – mind, body, and spirit – is addressed and where teaching/learning, research, service, and scholarship is valued and supported. Inspired by a strong belief in God and the Christian values of love and caring for humankind, and of justice and respect the University’s core values include a holistic approach to education, promotion of the intellectual, analytical and critical thinking abilities of its students, evidence-based knowledge, and service to our fellow man, and a commitment to life-long learning.

The MSN includes the following three concentrations:
The Family Nurse Practitioner track requires the completion of 85 quarter credits. Students are prepared in both theoretical and evidence-based clinical knowledge essential to comprehensive primary care in a variety of settings to clients across the lifespan. Graduates of this program are eligible to to take the national certification examinations for the national certification examinations for FNP through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to earn the FNP-BC credential, or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) to earn the NP-C or FNP-C credential.
The Nurse Education track requires 65 quarter credits. In the Nurse Education track, students are prepared to teach in schools of nursing and with health systems-based patient, and family education as well as continuing education. Course work focuses on the professional role of the nurse educator as well as provides instruction in an area of specialization teaching and evaluation strategies, curriculum design, and evaluation and the use of information technologies enabling graduates to acquire skills necessary for the education of current and future nurses. Graduates will be prepared to take the Certification for Nurse Educator (CNE) upon graduation.
The Nurse Administration, Leadership, and Management track requires 65 quarter credits. In the Nursing Leadership and Management track, students are prepared for a variety of executive positions in both hospital healthcare systems and community-based systems. Students are prepared to analyze and implement change in policies and procedures that are designed to improve health care outcomes and improvement in safety and quality. Students analyze financial and system functions, develop and interpret policies, and prepare programs designed to produce system change. Health policy, human resources, information technologies, legal and ethical issues in system management is examined at the local, state, and national level. Graduates will be prepared to take the Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CNP) and Certified Nurse Manager and Leader. The ANCC provides certification in Nurse Executive and Nurse Executive Advanced Certification.

  1. Performance. (Research/Scholarship). In the area of performance., graduates will provide excellent and evidence-based health care services to diverse populations.
  2. Cultural Competence (Diversity). In the area of cultural competence, graduates will serve to reduce health disparities by providing effective health services to people from diverse cultures and populations.
  3. Critical Thinking (Academic Preparation/Education). In the area of critical thinking, graduates will apply higher order thinking skills, best evidence, and knowledge integration to improve the health of individuals, communities, and populations.
  4. Social Responsibility (Service). In the area of social responsibility, graduates will apply professional knowledge and skills to the service of humanity and specially to disadvantaged populations in an effort to reduce health disparities among people of different races, ethnicities, social status, and economic well-being.
  5. Christian Values. God-centered focus on spiritual, personal, and professional development, community service, and patient care, AUHS recognizes its critical role in community development and social health service. It is aware that institutional success is defined in large part by what students give back to society, and how students make a difference beyond the four walls of the classroom. The University impresses upon all graduates the higher mission and noble privilege of community service and improving the quality of healthcare through both provisions of care and scholarly study of the impact of that care.

Admissions Procedures

Prospective students must have applied for admission to their program of study to be officially accepted for a specific starting date. The process includes the following steps:

  • Contact the university and make an appointment with an admissions representative for an initial consultation (except doctorate level programs).
  • Send a complete application packet with required documents to AUHS Admissions Department by the deadline. Only complete applications will be processed.
  • Complete scheduled formal interviews, by invitation only.
  • Complete Financial Aid meetings.
  • Respond to the Acceptance Letter.
  • Attend the New Student Orientation.

Admissions Requirements

In order to be eligible for review, application must have:

  • Earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an appropriately accredited CCNE; CNEA, or AACN program.
  • Evidence of an active and valid licensure as a registered nurse in the State of California is mandatory prior to attending program clinical experiences for the FNP track.
  • 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA on a four-point (4.0) scale.
  • A copy of professional certificates and/or license(s) indicated in your resume (if applicable).
  • A resume that itemizes the applicant’s volunteer experience in the related field, and/or any community services that demonstrate leadership and organizational skills.
  • A 500-word personal statement which explains the applicant’s professional goals in the target field and why the applicant will be an asset to AUHS and the community.
  • Three professional letters of reference pertaining to academic ability, professional competency, and personal character
  • Submission of official transcripts (sealed) from all schools that the applicant has attended.
  • If applicable, applicants from countries where English is not the primary language and medium of instruction must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 560 on the written test, 220 on the computer-based test or 87 on the Internet-based test, or complete the International English Language Examination (IELTS) with a minimum overall band score of 7. For TOEFL information, please visit www.ets.org/toefl. The AUHS code is 4262.
  • Telephone, SKYPE, or in-person interview may be a part of the admission process.
  • Students must attend a MANDATORY orientation session.
  • All required health records, evidence of CPR certification, criminal background check, licensure, personal health insurance, and professional liability insurance must be kept on file.  It is each student’s responsibility to keep all records up-to-date.  Drug screens and immunizations may be required for clinical placements.

Prerequisite Courses 

All applicants to the M.S.N. program must complete the following undergraduate courses prior to entering the program: statistics and nursing research. In addition, students admitted to the program in the FNP track must have completed an advanced pathophysiology course and an advanced physical assessment course and an advanced pharmacology course within seven years prior to entering the program.

Transfer Policy

No Transfer Credit.

Admission Denials / Withdrawals

After declining admission to a specific term, when seeking admission again, the applicant must resubmit a new application packet with required documents and meet the current admission requirements and complete the entire admission process.

A student will be recommended for the degree of MSN provided the student:

  1. Has completed all courses in the MSN track; and
  2. Is not on provisional academic status, has completed all prescribed courses with a grade of 3.0 or higher, has completed all prescribed academic requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 higher, has no outstanding grade which is incomplete, and has a passing grade for all clinical rotations (if applicable); and
  3. Has performed and behaved in a manner which is ethical, professional, and consistent with the advanced practice nursing; and
  4. Has satisfactorily passed prescribed exams; and
  5. Has completed 100 hours (or equivalent) of community service; and
  6. Has completed all degree requirements within three years following initiation of the matriculation process for the MSN Leadership and Education tracks; and three and a half years of the matriculation process for the MSN FNP track.
  7. Has met all AUHS financial requirements and obligations.
The Postgraduate APRN Certificate – FNP
The Postgraduate APRN Certificate-FNP is designed for Registered Nurses who have already earned a graduate level degree such as an MSN who wish to complete courses that lead to the Family Nurse Practitioner certification. This program prepares professional nurses to fulfill an advanced practice role as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The Postgraduate-FNP APRN certificate requires the completion of 33 quarter credits from courses in the AUHS MSN FNP concentration plus 15 quarter credits of Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Physical Assessment for a total of 48 quarter credits.

Graduates of this program are eligible to site for the national certification examinations for FNP through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to earn the FNP-BC credential, or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) to earn the NP-C or FNP-C credential. Students are prepared in both theoretical and evidence-based clinical knowledge consisting of the graduate core, advanced practice registered nursing core, and nurse practitioner role and population-focused courses, essentials to comprehensive primary care in a variety of settings to family/individual across the lifespan.