The Catholic University of America, a thriving center of
scholarship and academic life, is unique as the national
university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education
institution founded by the US bishops. Established in 1887 as a
graduate and research center, the university began offering
undergraduate education in 1904. The Catholic University now has
10 schools and the Metropolitan College with undergraduate and
graduate programs in areas including philosophy, arts and
sciences, engineering, nursing, music, and architecture and
planning. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education, the university is a founding member and the only
Catholic member of the Association of American Universities. The
university's tree-lined campus is located in the historic,
residential community of Brookland in Washington D.C. and is
accessible by the metro.
The School of Nursing is proud of its long tradition of
excellence in nursing education and in preparing nearly 8,000
women and men for practice, education and research roles here in
the US and around the world. Our graduates demonstrate the
Christian values and principles of the University, understand and
appreciate community service and recognize the need for lifelong
learning as part of their professional role. Our undergraduate
and graduate programs both appear in national rankings.
Our unique location in the nation's capital gives us a wonderful
opportunity to involve faculty and students in governmental
issues, public and health policy advocacy and development and
international activities. Over 130 clinical agencies in the
metropolitan area are used for learning, providing students with
broad and diverse exposure to nursing, multicultural health care
practices and state-of-the-art research.
The School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on
Collegiate Nursing Education.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
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The baccalaureate program provides the general and professional
education essential for understanding human beings, their culture
and their environment; for acquiring and utilizing nursing theory
upon which nursing practice is based; and for promising
self-understanding, personal fulfillment and motivation for
continued learning. Students in the program are prepared to
maintain and promote client adaptation in a variety of health
care settings through theory and utilization of the nursing
process.
The School of Nursing offers two options:
Basic Program
Designed for the beginning nursing student--high school
graduates or students with some college transfer credits
Accelerated BSN
An accelerated program designed for students who either have a
baccalaureate or higher degree in the liberal arts or sciences
or who have met all of the prerequisite requirements and have a
minimum of 55 semester transfer units from an accredited
college or university.
Combined BSN/MSN Program for Registered Nurses
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The combined BSN/MSN program option is designed for registered
nurses whose original preparation in nursing was received in
accredited diploma or associate degree programs and who have
identified the Master of Science in Nursing degree as their
educational goal. An option is available to complete course
requirements for both the BSN and MSN programs. The program of
study incorporates courses that meet BSN degree requirements and
those that fulfill MSN core and specialty concentration
requirements. Contact the School of Nursing for more information.
Admission requirements to the BSN/MSN program option include the
following:
- Submission of high school transcript
- Submission of nursing school, college and university
transcripts (3.0 grade point average) showing completion of 60
semester hours in non-nursing required coursework and 34 credits
in nursing coursework (see Transfer Credit for RN students)
- Current RN licensure without restrictions and eligibility for
RN licensure in D.C.
- Two years experience since licensure
- Letters of recommendation from persons familiar with
applicant's academic ability and professional performance
- Declaration of clinical specialty and professional role area
in master's program
- Acceptable score on Graduate Record Examination
Master of Science in Nursing
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The MSN program aims to prepare professionally educated nurses
who are capable of the moral, intellectual and professional
leadership needed to provide and manage quality clinical nursing
care and education, and to advance and extend nursing knowledge
and skill through the discovery and formulation of more
comprehensive concepts and principles.
Post-Master's Certificate and Nurse Educator option
available for all programs
Nurse Practitioner Concentrations
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care and Primary Care
- Primary Care
Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs
With Focuses in one of:
- Adult Health
- Public Health
Advanced Public Health Nurse Programs
With Focuses in one of:
- Vulnerable Communities
- International/Global Health
- Population/Community Health
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Offered in executive-style format
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The purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program is to
prepare expert clinicians and nurse leaders. Graduates are
prepared to assume leadership positions in nursing/health care,
with the ultimate goals of improving health care and the health
status of people.
The program is a practice-focused doctoral program designed to
prepare experts in specialized advanced nursing practice. The
focus is heavily on clinical practice, one that is "innovative
and evidenced-based, reflecting the application of credible
research findings".
A total of 34-37 credits (which may include up to 6 transfer
credits for prior coursework in the area) are required for the
Post-master's DNP degree. A Post-baccalaureate DNP entails 71-89
credits, depending on the clinical specialty chosen.
Pre-requisites for the post-master's DNP include graduate level
courses in:
- Health Policy
- Bioethics
- Health Promotion
- Statistics
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing
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The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy degree is to prepare
expert clinicians as nurse scientists. Through the investigation
of clinical problems, graduates contribute to the development,
validation and refinement of theory and the advancement of the
body of nursing knowledge.
Graduates from this program are leaders in education, practice
and research around the world. The program consists of 70 hours,
24 of which may be transferred from master's level work. The
remaining credits are distributed among core, research and
support courses. After successful completion of course work and
the comprehensive examinations, a dissertation involving
significant and original research in nursing is completed.