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.
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.
Clinical concentrations are offered in:
Nurse Practitioner Concentrations
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Clinical Nurse Specialist Concentrations
- Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Educator
(CNS/EDU)
- Immigrant, Refugee and Global Health (Community/Public
Health CNS)
- Community/Public Health Nurse Specialist Educator
(Community/Public Health CNS Educator)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
(Psyc-Mental Health CNS)
Blended Role Option
- Promoting Healthy Families in Vulnerable Communities -
blended role of family nurse practitioner and community/public
health clinical nurse specialist (FNP/Community/Public Health
CNS)
Some options are available in post master's certificate programs.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
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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.
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