Master of Science in Nursing

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is a graduate-level program designed to prepare nurses for advanced roles in clinical practice, education, leadership, and research. It replaces the former Master of Arts in Nursing to reflect a stronger emphasis on clinical skill development, evidence-based practice, and outcomes-based education.

August 20, 2024

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is a graduate-level program designed to prepare nurses for advanced roles in clinical practice, education, leadership, and research. It replaces the former Master of Arts in Nursing to reflect a stronger emphasis on clinical skill development, evidence-based practice, and outcome-based education.

Graduates of the MSN program are expected to:

1. demonstrate proficiency in addressing complex problems and in providing specialized care to achieve best possible outcomes guided by best available evidence;
2. implement improvements in the health care delivery system through knowledge generated by research and translation of high-quality evidence into practice;
3. lead in the promotion and implementation of change in nursing practice;
4. enhance professional competence through lifelong learning and engagement in continuous personal and professional development; and
5. promote a professional environment that fosters high-level communication, inter-professional collaboration, and accountability in the context of advanced practice nursing.

1. Good scholastic record from any recognized institution of higher learning
2. Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a recognized institution of higher learning
3. At least 1 year of experience as a professional nurse in a hospital, community setting or nursing research unit. A certificate of employment or any document proving the minimum one year experience is required.
4. Duly accomplished Application Form which can be downloaded in this link: https://ngohs.upm.edu.ph/forms-and-manuals/

1. Original copy of the official Transcript of Records
2. Two (2) recommendations from former professors, supervisors, or employers. The recommendation forms are included in the application packet.
3. Receipt of processing fee paid at the UPM Cashier’s Office. The Cashier’s Office is along Padre Faura Street.
4. Resume or curriculum vitae
5. Certified true copy of college diploma with the seal of the university and the signature of the registrar in ink
6. Birth certificate (original to be presented for verification)
7. Marriage certificate (present original for verification), if applicable
8. Four (4) passport size photos
9. Photocopy of birth certificate and marriage certificate (for female applicant) (NSO paper)
10. Essay on an 8 1/2’ x 11” sheet of paper describing your motivation for pursuing graduate study and your view of self-directed learning as a method of instruction, and a description of your research interest

1. GWA of 2.00 or better in all courses taken and in major courses provided there is no grade of 5.00 in any of them
2. Completion of prescribed units for the track:
   1. Academic Track – Completion of 30 units, broken down as: 24 units of academic coursework and 6 units of thesis (Nursing 300.1 and 300.2)
   2. Advanced Practice Track – Completion of 30 units of academic coursework, and completion of a capstone project involving a research-based quality improvement initiative
3. Residency of at least 1 academic year prior to granting of degree
4. Passing of the comprehensive examination
5. Successful thesis defense or capstone presentation

Course Code: Nursing 204 (N204)
Course Title: Advanced Pathophysiology
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Theories, concepts, and principles of disease causation with analysis of the rationale behind signs and symptoms of different disorders

Course Code: Nursing 207 (N207)
Course Title: Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing 
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Critical analyses of nursing theories and shared theories discipline in providing a firm foundation for advanced nursing practices.

Course Code: Nursing 293 (N293)
Course Title: Statistical Methods Applied in Nursing Concepts
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Concepts, processes, and application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods and analysis often used to health and nursing research
  Course Code: Nursing 299 (N299)
Course Title: Research Methods in Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Research Process as applied to Nursing with emphasis on the qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
  Course Code: Nursing 300.1 (N300.1)
Course Title: Thesis I
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: All core, major, and elective courses
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Development of defense of written research proposal for thesis

Course Code: Nursing 300.2 (N300.2)
Course Title: Thesis II
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: All core, major, and elective courses
Co-requisite: None
Course Description:  Implementation of an approved (technical and ethical) thesis proposal and oral defense of the written thesis. It includes the writing of a research article derived from the thesis in a publishable format.

Course Code: Nursing 219.6 (N219.6)
Course Title: Intensive Experience in Adult Health Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Demonstration of advanced practice roles in selected Adult Health Nursing specialization and integration of the clinical nurse specialty roles for patient care, clinical researcher, towards the development of advanced practice in nursing 

Course Code: Nursing 260 (N260)
Course Title: Advanced Practice in Adult Health Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description:  Application of contemporary nursing concepts and processes, clinical decision-making skills, and use of selected nursing theories as an explanatory framework of adult health nursing practice, using a model for health promotion

Course Code: Nursing 261(N261)
Course Title: Cardiovascular Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Application of the nursing process and clinical decision-making skills in the management and care of clients with cardiovascular conditions using a model for critical care nursing.

Course Code: Nursing 262 (N262)
Course Title: Oncology Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Concepts, principles, and processes of care of adult clients with cancer and their families with emphasis on clinical aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and care, as well as trends, issues, and standards of care

Course Code: Nursing 263 (N263)
Course Title: Gerontology Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Application of concepts, principles, and process of care for older persons with geriatric syndromes and chronic illness

Course Code: Nursing 219.3 (N219.3)
Course Title: Advanced Practice in Women’s and Child Health Nursing 
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Intensive experience in teaching, research, and advanced clinical practice in women’s health and child health nursing. 

Course Code: Nursing 230.2 (N230)
Course Title: Advanced Child and Health Care Nursing                     
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: This course builds on the concepts essential to the foundations of the practice of the holistic approach to health assessment and health promotion, to include issues and trends relevant to children and adolescents

Course Code: Nursing 231.2 (N231.2)
Course Title: Nursing Care of Children with Complex Problems             
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Nursing management of children with actual or potential life-threatening conditions, focusing on chronically and critically-ill patients in pediatric healthcare settings 

Course Code: Nursing 232.2 (N232.2)
Course Title: Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Nursing         
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Nursing management of pediatric hematology and oncology with a standardized, evidence-based framework of essential information and resources to help increase knowledge, confidence, and ethically care for children, adolescents, and young adults with hematologic and oncologic disease 

Course Code: Nursing 233.2 (N233.2)
Course Title: Neonatal Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Nursing management of neonates, experiencing problems immediately after birth to include of infants who experience long-term problems related to their prematurity or illness after birth in a healthcare facility 

Course Code: Nursing 219.7 (N219.7)
Course Title: Advanced Practice in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing 
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Intensive experience in teaching, research, and advanced clinical practice in mental health and psychiatric nursing 

Course Code: Nursing 270 (N270)
Course Title: Mental Health Promotion 
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Introduction to factors influencing mental health and the principles, concepts, and process on mental health promotion and the prevention of mental illness across different age groups and setting 

Course Code: Nursing 271 (N270)
Course Title: Individual Therapy in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing 
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Concepts process and trends in mental health and psychiatric nursing interventions, focusing on  psychotherapy for individuals – children, adolescent and adults in  primary, secondary, and tertiary mental health care setting 

Course Code: Nursing 272 (N272)
Course Title: Group and Family Theory                          
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Concepts, processes, and trends in mental health and psychiatric nursing intervention focusing on the  group and/or family

Course Code: Nursing 219.4 (N219.4)
Course Title:  Advanced Practice in Nursing Administration                          
Credit Units: 3 units (practicum)
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Intensive experience in nursing administration of the role, and components of a nurse manager/leader as an advanced practice nurse in a healthcare setting organization/setting

Course Code: Nursing 240 (N240)
Course Title:  Strategic Management and Leadership for Nurse Administrators
Credit Units: 3.0 units 
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Concepts, theories, models, and tools for strategic management applied in the analysis, design, and implementation of competitive strategies integrated in each functional area in managing nursing or health organizations, services, and programs. The course incorporates best practices in leadership, decision-making, and operations management needed by the nurse administrator to achieve optimal client outcomes.

Course Code: Nursing 241 (N241)
Course Title:  Organization Development in Nursing Leadership
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Concepts, principles, theory and practice of organizational change and development as applied in nursing and health care contexts. The course looks into the process and tools and interventions in change management programs. It also addresses strategies in the management of personnel in health care organizations with emphasis on improving quality of work life, increasing employee participation, and performance evaluation.

Course Code: Nursing 242 (N242)
Course Title:  Quality Management and Finance for Nurse Administrators                         
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Concepts, principles, and practice of ensuring healthcare quality and improvement. The course addresses quality models, processes, measures, tools and evaluation that assist in monitoring outcomes on quality improvement and patient safety. Concepts of health information and knowledge management emphasizing application to the practice setting in nursing. The course also addresses the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology to support decisions that further enhance the promotion of safety and quality in patient-centered care.

Course Code: Nursing 219.5 (N219.5)
Course Title:  Advanced Practice in Public Health Nursing
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Intensive field experience in public   health nursing demonstrating advanced roles as manager, supervisor, and researcher

Course Code: Nursing 251 (N251)
Course Title: Care of the Population
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Application of the nursing process in the care of population groups and achieving optimal client outcomes

Course Code: Nursing 252 (N252)
Course Title: Leadership Management in Public Health Nursing                         
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Analysis, integration, and application of principles of public health nursing leadership and management to healthcare organizations and population-level programs with emphasis on health systems strengthening

Course Code: Nursing 253 (N253)
Course Title:  Leadership Management in Public Health Nursing                         
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Analysis, integration, and application of principles of public health nursing leadership and management to healthcare organizations and population-level programs with emphasis on health systems strengthening

Course Code: Nursing 219.3 (N219.3)
Course Title:  Advanced Practice In Women’s and Child Health Nursing                  
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Intensive experience in teaching, research, and advanced clinical practice in women's health and child health nursing.

Course Code: Nursing 231.1 (N31.1)
Course Title:  Obstetrics Nursing                 
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Advanced health assessment and care management of the high-risk pregnant, laboring, and postpartum clients, both in the hospital setting

Course Code: Nursing 232.1 (N32.1)
Course Title:  Gynecologic Nursing       
Credit Units: 3.0 units
Pre-requisite: None 
Co-requisite: None 
Course Description: Advanced health assessment and care management of clients with gynecologic conditions in the hospital and community settings