College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Graduate Programs in Nursing at Florida International University

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) at Florida International University offers MSN, DNP, and PhD programs that meet the highest educational standards in the field. In fact, its nursing programs have accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, and the Florida State Board of Nursing.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs, which include online and on campus classes, are completed in approximately 2 years. Upon graduation, students qualify for national certification examinations in their specializations and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

Doctoral level nursing programs include the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a clinical doctorate for advanced practice nurses (ARNP, CRNA, CNS, etc.), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing for those interested in teaching and research in higher education. Both programs prepare students to become leaders in their nursing field or specialty area.

Advanced Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program

Students in the 43-credit MSN program in Adult Gerontology learn to diagnose and treat illnesses in adolescents as well as young, middle, and older adults. Specifically, students acquire the expertise needed to prevent disease, promote health, and manage patients with acute and chronic multi-system illnesses within family systems in ambulatory and community settings.

Advanced Child Nurse Practitioner Program

The MSN-child nurse practitioner program prepares students to effectively diagnose and treat acute illness and chronic conditions in newborns, children, and young adults. Students gain skills and experience in caring for patients within their families, communities, and environmental settings.

Advanced Family Practitioner Program

The 47-credit MSN-family practitioner program trains students to provide primary healthcare to families, individuals of all ages, and pregnant and postpartum women in urban and rural settings. The curriculum focuses on nursing practice in ambulatory and community settings, disease prevention, episodic care, and management of chronic illnesses.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Program

The Nurse Anesthetist Program is a clinical specialty track within the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs at the College of Nursing & Health Sciences. It is a challenging and rewarding academic and clinical undertaking consisting of a seven (7) semester continuous program of full time graduate study. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take the National Certification Examination to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) as well as apply for the Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) credential with a specialization as a nurse anesthetist from the Florida Board of Nursing.

Akin to a medical residency program, the full-time Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program is academically, clinically, mentally, and physically challenging. The anesthetist curriculum consists of 71 credits that focus on anesthesia theories, professional practices, and research.

Excellence in Clinical Practice

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences has strong partnerships with a number of highly regarded medical facilities. This diversity of settings coupled with collaboration with and supervision from experienced physicians and advanced practice nurse preceptors ensure that MSN students acquire advanced clinical education.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Florida International University has a Doctor of Nursing Practice program that consists of 42 credits of online coursework (which require only three (3) on campus classes per semester), a clinical residency, and a capstone project.

Nurses gain the advanced leadership and clinical expertise needed to deliver, evaluate, and improve healthcare for diverse patient populations and provide nursing education to a variety of students.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program

Students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) program gain the knowledge and skills to conduct advanced healthcare research and facilitate application of evidence-based healthcare findings. The program's purpose is to develop individuals who will be leaders and educators in generating and applying the science needed to guide nursing practice. The curricula consist of 88 credits for students in the BSN to PhD program and 61 credits for those in the MSN to PhD program.

The MSN to PhD program is designed for masters in nursing prepared students who wish to become researchers, faculty, and/or leaders in the application of research in their field of expertise.

The BSN to PhD program was established specifically for students who demonstrate outstanding academic accomplishment in their undergraduate courses. This comprehensive advanced education track builds on student's nursing knowledge and skills at the baccalaureate level, includes master's level courses to prepare students for advanced practice roles, and provides the foundation for students to engage in a program of intellectual inquiry at the doctoral level.

In both tracks, students will be guided and supported by PhD faculty who will assist the student in completion of a rigorous program of research based on advanced knowledge in their specialty areas.

The Simulation Teaching and Research (Star) Center

The Simulation Teaching and Research (STAR) Center in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences provides "simulation teaching" and research resources for students in healthcare programs.

Its Simulation Center includes 8 patient rooms, a 15-bed critical care unit, and Laerdal SimMan patient simulators that provide students with hands-on experience such as performing laparoscopies and taking patient vitals.

Its Rehabilitation Center complements the acute-care emphasis by providing realistic clinical settings that facilitate teaching and research regarding other components of patient care, therapies, and treatments.

The STAR Center is currently participating in a landmark study on the use of Simulation in Nurisng Education. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) chose CNHS as one of only ten sites which will help to determine the optimal use of, and time spent in, simulation education scenarios by pre-licensure nursing education programs.

Financial Assistance for Graduate Nursing Students

For eligible graduate students, FIU offers assistantships, fellowships, loans, scholarships or some combination of these resources. FIU Financial Aid Office offers assistance to graduate students who are interested in obtaining this help. More information is available at http://finaid.fiu.edu/

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of our advanced practice and PhD nursing programs are prepared to excel in advanced clinical practice, leadership, research, or education positions in the field of nursing. As a result, they have a competitive advantage in a growing healthcare industry that offers many opportunities for professional advancement.

Experienced Nursing Faculty Members

Nursing faculty members are dedicated teachers, practitioners, and scholars who are experts in their specialty practice and academic areas.

For example, Professor Vicente Gonzalez is also the clinical coordinator for the Nurse Anesthetist program. He has been a practicing CRNA since 1998. He also developed and implemented a teaching module for ultrasound guided regional anesthesia.

Research at FIU Advances Nursing Education and Practice

Research is a vital component of the teaching, learning, and clinical practices at FIU. Students complete research projects that help them strengthen their knowledge about nursing theory and practice.

Faculty members conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research that increases scientific knowledge and improves evidence-based practice in the field.

They often focus on topics concerning the needs of minority and underserved populations, such as HIV prevention and care, depression among older adults, and health problems affecting at-risk women and children.

A current list of the CNHS faculty funded research projects is found at http://cnhs.fiu.edu/research/funded-projects

Additional Programs in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences

In addition to master's and doctoral programs in nursing, CNHS offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Health Services Administration programs.

The college also offers a Master of Science (MS) programs in athletic training, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology, as well as a Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Florida International University

Established in 1965, Florida International University is a public research institution of higher learning located in Miami, Florida, in the southeastern region of the United States. It provides a vibrant community that facilitates academic, personal, and professional excellence amongst it diverse student population that includes more than 45,000 students.

FIU's location in beautiful Miami -- a mecca of financial, commercial, entertainment, and cultural activity -- enhances students' learning experiences.

Every neighborhood provides an opportunity to learn new things, explore new cultures, and participate in the community.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 97
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Yes
• Evening/weekend programs available? Yes
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Alternate accepted
• Doctoral Degrees Required and Required
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied456
• Accepted94
• Acceptance Rate20%
• Enrolled93
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $30
• Application Fee - International $30
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline June 1st April 1st Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline October 1st September 1st Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's Degreesbachelor's degree in nursing, minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in upper-level coursework, letters of recommendation
• Doctoral's DegreesGRE, letters of recommendation, and minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in upper-level coursework, interview
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 550 paper based, TOEFL iBT

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsMarch 1
• Types of financial support availableInstitutionally-sponsored Loans, Scholarship and/or loans

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students403
• Female Percentage80%
• Male Percentage20%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students403
• Part-time Percentage62%
• Full-time Percentage38%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino42%
• Black / African American23%
• White / Caucasian24%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian8%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races0%
• Unknown3%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty78
• Full-time Percentage36%
• Part-time Percentage64%
• Female Percentage40%
• Male Percentage60%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchAdult health nursing
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last yearNot Reported