Nurse educators play a crucial role in helping nurses gain the expertise needed to meet the challenges of the evolving healthcare system.  Their presence also ensures that our nation's nursing schools are always at maximum student capacity. According to AACN’s Special Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions for Academic Year 2013-2014, nearly two-thirds of schools reported a shortage of full-time faculty members. Additionally, hospital and medical centers have identified a need for more nurse educators to enhance the level of instruction to nursing students, new nurses, and ongoing needs for professional staff development.

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education online degree helps address these challenges by increasing the number of nurse educators and ultimately paving the way for an adequate supply of nurses to ensure that patients have access to affordable, high quality healthcare.

The program prepares nurses to develop curricula focused on our changing healthcare systems, adapt and teach education strategies for diverse learners, develop clinical and classroom evaluation strategies, and adopt effective evidence-based practices in academic as well as clinical healthcare settings.

Dual Degree

The RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education is a dual degree program that provides a seamless progression (and “fast track”) from the BS to MS programs. The program’s overlapping coursework allows students to complete both degrees within an integrated framework and in less time than each degree completed on its own.

Career Scope and Academic Prospects

Graduates of the RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education degree are qualified to serve as educators in numerous institutions ranging from community colleges to major universities, as well as in academic health centers and community-based health facilities. Graduates of the program can also pursue doctoral education in Nursing Education, Nursing Science, and Nursing Research.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the NYS Education Department.

Prior Learning Assessment

CUNY SPS accepts selected nursing certifications for evaluation for college credit. Evaluations represent recommendations of potential credit available for degree program planning purposes.

The certification must be current in order for the student to be eligible for credit. Students are not required to have any additional review or to have the credit transcribed on a transcript for CUNY SPS to evaluate.

List of credentials that have been evaluated for college credit.

Please be advised that Supporting Documentation must be submitted and includes:

1. An official letter on the organization’s letterhead attesting to the certification provided in a sealed envelope OR
2. Certificate of the selected nursing certification with the organization’s letterhead.
3. The letter/certificate needs to include the following information
   • Name of individual
   • Identifier such as individual’s date of birth or last four digits of social security number
   • Indication of successful completion of examination
   • Title and date of certification
   • Length of certification/date the certification expires.

Prospective students and applicants should schedule a meeting with their academic advisor to obtain an unofficial credit evaluation. Visit credit for non-collegiate prior learning for more information or contact us at pla@sps.cuny.edu.

Admissions Criteria

To qualify for admission to the RN to BS-MS in Nursing Education program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or above out of a 4.0
• Unencumbered nursing license and a current registration
• Admission essay highlighting education and career achievement, including specific examples of problem-solving while working in the practice setting, leadership experience at the bedside or in other settings, and professional and community awards
• Submit two letters of recommendation from each, a nurse educator/nurse faculty and Supervisor/Manager
• A description of an evidence-based practice project completed in nursing school or in the practice setting
• Resume

Students may view the Undergraduate Nursing Student Policies Handbook (PDF).

Complete list of the online nursing degrees offered at CUNY SPS.

Application Deadlines

Applications for Spring 2020 are due by December 12, 2019