M.A. in Nursing Courses

The Master of Arts in Nursing is a 42 semester credit program requiring completion all core courses , all courses in one concentration, plus capstone courses. Credits are listed in parentheses.

Core Courses

NURS600 • Theory as a Foundation for Nursing (3)
Analysis of the systematic development of knowledge and the philosophy of science as it applies to nursing and human sciences. Nursing theories are examined for their usefulness in advanced nursing roles. Technology lab fee: $50.

NURS601 • Project Management (3)
Introduction to the principles of project management, including roles and responsibilities, project variables, and project processes. Learners will participate in a group project management experience to apply project management principles to nursing. Technology lab fee: $50.

NURS604 • Nursing Informatics 1 (1)
Introduction to nursing informatics focusing on issues related to the management and processing of data to create information and knowledge for effective nursing leadership. Prerequisite: Specified technology competencies. Technology lab fee: $50.

NURS605 • Role Development for Nursing Leadership (3)
Examination of advanced nursing roles within health care delivery systems. Theories of leadership and role development are applied to personal development as a nursing leader. Technology lab fee: $50.

NURS608 • Nursing Informatics 2 (1)
Analysis and evaluation of information technologies as they contribute to system decisions by nursing leaders in care, delivery organizations, education, or research. Learners are challenged to integrate the ethical use of computer technology into an advanced nursing role. Technology lab fee: $50. Prerequisite: NURS604.

NURS615 • Human Diversity and Global Awareness (3)
Promotion of a global perspective on nursing, health, and illness. The nurse leader studies the impact of economics and politics on culture to improve the health of communities and the worldwide development of the nursing profession.

NURS626 • Nursing Research (3)
Study of the nursing research process and methodologies, with an emphasis on research utilization for nursing leadership practice. Learners have the option of designing a research utilization project or writing a research proposal. Technology lab fee: $50.

NURS645 • Ethics for Nursing Leaders (3)
Responses to selected system-wide ethical issues experienced in advanced nursing roles are synthesized from ethical, legal, professional, and religious perspectives using a process of systematic philosophic moral inquiry.

NURS650 • Nursing and Health Care Policy (3)
Examination of the health care policy process at the organizational and governmental levels. Learners will synthesize sociocultural, economic, political, and historical factors in policy analysis to design strategies for improving the health status of populations.

Capstone Courses

NURS678 • Advanced Nursing Role Synthesis (1)

Nursing and Christian Health Ministry: Individual and collective reflection on the development of the learner as a nurse leader. Learners will develop a portfolio that demonstrates integration of knowledge of theories, research, ethical and Christian perspectives, global realities, policymaking issues, and nursing informatics related to the Christian health ministry context. Prerequisites: concurrent enrollment or completion of all core and concentration courses with the exception of NURS790 and NURS791/NURS792, or permission of the program director.

Nursing and Health Care Leadership: Individual and collective reflection on the development of the learner as a nurse leader. Learners will develop a portfolio that demonstrates integration of knowledge of theories, research, ethical and Christian perspectives, global realities, policymaking issues, and nursing informatics related to the organizational context. Prerequisites: concurrent enrollment or completion of all core and concentration courses with the exception of NURS790 and NURS791/NURS792, or permission of program director.

Nursing Education: Individual and collective reflection on the development of the learner as a nurse leader. Learners will develop a portfolio that demonstrates integration of knowledge of theories, research, ethical and Christian perspectives, global realities, policymaking issues, and nursing informatics related to the educational context. Prerequisites: concurrent enrollment or completion of all core and concentration courses with the exception of NURS790 and NURS791/NURS792, or permission of program director.

NURS790 • Comprehensive Examination (0)
Graded on an S/U basis.

Choose one option:
Option One: Thesis

NUR751 • Master’s Thesis Seminar (1)
Development of a research proposal. Requires initial draft of Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the master’s thesis and submission of the Institutional Review Board request. Graded on an S/U basis. Prerequisite: NURS626.

NURS791 • Master’s Thesis (1)
A cumulative experience resulting in a master’s thesis. Graded on an S/U basis. Prerequisite: NURS751.

Option Two: Project

NURS752 • Master’s Project Seminar (1)
Development of a plan for a system change in an organization. Requires initial draft of Chapters 1 and 2 of the master’s project and a project plan. Graded on an S/U basis. Prerequisite: NURS601.

NURS792 • Master’s Project (1)
A cumulative experience resulting in a master’s project. Graded on an S/U basis. Prerequisite: NURS752.

Concentrations (Select one)

Nursing and Christian Health Ministry Concentration

NURS623 • Advanced Concepts of Population Health (2)
Study of principles and an assessment, program planning, and evaluation model for population-based nursing practice. Emphasizes community- and systems-level public health nursing interventions to improve the health status of populations. Learners will analyze community assets and health risks, design a population-based intervention plan, and develop an evaluation plan.

NURS627 • Models of Christian Health Ministry (2)
Focus is on historical and contemporary models of health care ministry. Models are analyzed from a biblical worldview, nursing science, relationships with community and faith-based organizations, and leadership theory.

NURS770 • Internship 1 (2)
Application of skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values of the nurse leader in a Christian ministry context. Learners will develop internship goals to implement advanced nursing roles. Prerequisite: NURS605.

NURS775 • Internship 2 (2)
Synthesis of leadership principles, nursing knowledge, and ministry perspectives to influence change at a systems level. Learners will contribute to system change initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness in advanced nursing roles. Prerequisite: NURS770.

CHMN601 • Personal Discipleship and Spiritual Formation (Bethel Seminary) (2.67)
Examination of the meaning of personal Christian discipleship as well as the process of faith development. Exploration of both classic and contemporary resources pertaining to faith development including information about Christian disciplines and human development and their interaction. Opportunity is given to pursue these topics from the perspectives of pastors, ministers of Christian education, and lay persons.

CHMN603 • Understanding Congregational Systems (Bethel Seminary) (2.67)
Study of the local church as an organism and organization. Each congregation is unique in identity, context, process, and program. Effective ministry requires a full and accurate interpretation of church life. Development of basic approaches, methods, and tools for analysis of a congregation. A model for church health provides a basis for the creation of ministry strategy and problem solutions. Offered alternate years.

Choose one from:

CHMN621 • Evangelism for Discipleship (Bethel Seminary) (2.67)
Introduction to the biblical basis for, and contemporary approaches to, discipleship and evangelism. Learners will begin formulating a working theology to inform their practice. Field and classroom exercises will be provided to aid the students in the practice of evangelism.

CHMN622 • Christianity in Culture (Bethel Seminary) (2.67)
Culture is studied to help those serving in various ministry contexts to identify the distinctives of culture and Christian heritage; to distinguish the secular aspects of heritage from the distinctly Christian elements; and to know when to hold firm or to be flexible when providing pastoral care for people of other generations or cultures.

CHMN623 • Religion in Anthropological Perspective (Bethel Seminary) (2.67)
Study of the basic roles of religion in a society, including its role as explanation system and means of social regulation. Includes the interaction of religious theory, practices, worldview, and patterns of cultural organization. The general impact of Christianity upon the development of Western society is studied. Provision of a foundation for planning evangelistic strategy and church planting in other cultures.

CHMN624 • Facilitating Community Development (Bethel Seminary) (2.67)
Designed to familiarize learners with the principles or developing a holistic approach to community development. Discussion of the idea of “Christian community development” or “transformational development” as a contemporary approach to Christian ministry in relationship to an urban context. Economic versus relational faith-based models in ministry related to family life, housing, job training, business/economic development, and public health interventions are explored. Examination of community development concepts and models that enable ministry leaders to facilitate community development in a diverse environment. Theory of economic development with appropriate technology, change agentry, and its relationship to church growth.

Nursing and Health Care Leadership Concentration

NURS610 • Nursing and Health Care Organization (3)
Examination of current trends that are redefining the health care system to be responsive to the needs of consumers. The learner will predict and analyze a health care trend.

NURS656 • Entrepreneurial Nursing (3)
Combination of the nursing perspective and principles of business to explore components of becoming effective and successful nurse entrepreneurs. Learners will develop an entrepreneurial venture to improve health care delivery.

NURS665 • Theoretical Basis of Promoting Organizational Health (3)
Integration of theories from nursing, leadership, business, human resources, and related fields that serve as the foundation for advanced nursing roles in promoting organizational health.

NURS770 • Internship 1 (2)
Application of skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values of the nurse leader in an organizational context. Learners will develop internship goals to implement advanced nursing roles. Prerequisite: NURS605.

NURS775 • Internship 2 (2)
Synthesis of leadership principles, nursing knowledge, and organizational perspectives to influence change at a systems level. Learners will contribute to system change initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness in advanced nursing roles. Prerequisite: NURS770.

BUSN640 • Economics and Finance for Nursing (3)
Study of principles of economics, finance, and accounting that are used to examine strategic, operational, and systems decisions facing nursing leaders.

Nursing Education Concentration

NURS603 • Teaching-Learning Processes for Adults (3)
Analysis of theories of adult development and learning as they apply to teaching/learning and evaluation strategies with adults in a variety of settings.

NURS607 • Curriculum Development in Nursing (3)
Examination of philosophical perspectives and professional standards as a foundation for curricular design. Includes curriculum frameworks, outcomes, competencies, learning experiences to achieve outcomes, and a model for curriculum evaluation. Prior completion of NURS603 and NURS658 recommended.

NURS613 • Issues and Trends in Nursing Education (3)
Exploration of the issues and trends that influence the nurse educator’s role within changing health care and educational environments. Includes analysis of the technological, legal, economic, political, cultural, ethical, and professional dynamics. Prior completion of NURS603 and NURS658 recommended.

NURS658 • Measurement and Assessment of Learning in Nursing Education (3)
Methods of assessment and measurement of learning are analyzed and applied in selected nursing education situations. Includes psychometric theory, various forms of assessment, test construction, and ethical/legal issues surrounding assessment.

NURS770 • Internship 1 (2)
Application of teaching-learning theories/strategies, assessment and measurement methods, curricular frameworks, and nursing knowledge in an educational context. Learners will develop internship goals to implement advanced nursing roles. Prerequisite: NURS605.

NURS775 • Internship 2 (2)
Synthesis of leadership principles, nursing knowledge, and educational perspectives to influence change at a systems level. Learners will contribute to system change initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness in advanced nursing roles. Prerequisite: NURS770.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to withdraw, modify, or add to the list of courses or the course descriptions.