MS in Nursing Education

MS Nursing Education

The Program

The Master of Science in Nursing Education program is designed to prepare graduates for a professional career as a nurse educator in academic and health care environments. Common courses across all graduate programs include nursing theory, research, and health policy. Specialization courses in nursing education focus on curriculum development, instructional design, and program evaluation, with related courses in teaching and learning, advances in nursing science, grant writing, measurement and assessment, and regulatory guidelines. Practice expertise in the educator role is acquired through a variety of learning opportunities and the culminating internship.

The program is available in a full online format and accommodates both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program in 2 years; part-time study typically takes 3 years, but can vary depending on individual course load.

Career Opportunities

Current trends in nursing education reflect a growing need for nursing faculty. Graduates of the SUNY Poly nursing education program advance their careers as faculty and academic leaders in higher education. Additionally, the MS program provides a strong foundation for continued study onto the doctoral level.

Faculty Spotlight Dr. Darlene Del Prato

Nursing education is at a crossroads. The need for highly qualified nurse educators prepared to teach the next generation of nurses, and help lead the reform needed to transform nursing education, has never been greater. A national study of nursing education conducted by the Carnegie Foundation concluded that “nursing education needs teachers with a deep nursing knowledge who also know how to teach…”*

“I am passionate about teaching future nurse educators the science of nursing education. As expert nurses, our students are already engaged in evidence-based clinical practice. Teaching them to apply evidence to their future educational practice is very rewarding!”

—Dr. Darlene Del Prato

* (Benner Sutphen, Leonard, & Day, 2010, p. 6). Full Reference: Benner, P., Sutphen, M., Leonard, V., & Day, L. (2010). Educating nurses: A call for radical transformation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.)

Accreditation

The MS in Nursing Education program is registered by the New York State Education Department and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The Faculty

SUNY Poly nursing faculty work closely with students and challenge them to excel. Many have experience in their professional area of expertise in addition to strong academic credentials. Students benefit from the diverse expertise and innovative approaches that our nursing faculty bring to the educational setting.

Degree Requirements

The MS in Nursing with a major in nursing education consists of 36 credit hours distributed as follows:

Admission Guidelines

All applicants to the MS Nursing Education program must possess:

• Baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program.

• Minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

• Current unrestricted, unencumbered license as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN).

• Successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better.

The application for graduate admission and all required forms are available at: sunypoly.edu/admissions/graduate/ graduate-admissions-apply-now

At a time when the need for professional registered nurses continues to grow, the U.S. is also experiencing a shortage of nurse educators. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), U.S. nursing schools turned away nearly 92,000 qualified applicants in 2021. The majority of nursing school respondents reported the nurse educator shortage as their primary reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into their nursing programs (AACN, 2022).

Graduate Studies at SUNY Poly

Whether earning your degree online or on campus, part- or full-time, SUNY Poly is an affordable option for those interested in advancing their careers and increasing their earning potential. Doctoral, master’s, and Advanced Certificate-level programs have prepared over 5,000 alumni to be leaders in an ever-changing global workforce.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

SUNY Polytechnic Institute, New York’s premier public polytechnic, provides an innovative and affordable higher education for students interested in science, engineering, technology, business, healthcare, and other liberal arts offerings for a well-rounded approach to experiential learning. Our commitment to a hands-on education situates students with both the academic structure customary of an advanced degree and unique opportunities for training and cutting-edge research, ultimately providing learners an unmatched education targeted for success in our fast-changing world. SUNY Poly students enjoy public school tuition with benefits that many small, private institutions boast, including small class sizes, individualized learning experiences, and a tight-knit community.