Online Master of Science Nursing (MSN) in Population Health

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Caldwell University offers an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Population Health, the first of its kind in New Jersey!

This online MSN program has been designed by the School of Nursing and Public Health to prepare you for population health positions including care coordination, case management, project management, quality improvement, and nursing leadership. Earning a master’s in nursing online is an excellent way to work towards career advancement, especially if you are interested in healthcare policy and population health research.

As a registered nurse, pursuing your MSN in Population Health prepares you to work within hospital systems in leadership positions, community health nurses at public health departments, or as nursing instructors. This master’s in nursing also provides you the credentials to teach undergraduate nursing students. 

Online MSN Program Structure

The MSN in Population Health is offered fully online and comprises 36 graduate credits. The program is designed to take 2 years to complete over 6 semesters of part-time study (6 credits per semester). Courses are offered throughout the academic year in an asynchronous format over 7-week sessions. This convenient schedule and delivery format accommodates your busy schedule while providing the opportunity to further your education with an online master’s degree in nursing.

Within your MSN program, you explore how to integrate technology, utilize data to identify trends, and build a comprehensive understanding of population health. Your study focuses on developing strategies that aim to improve the health of populations and prevent disease, while considering social determinants that may impact care delivery and outcomes. Nurses who have training in population health will become increasingly important as the healthcare community strives to mitigate public health threats and manage populations with chronic diseases and conditions. 

Available Concentrations

New – Healthcare Administration

The Healthcare Administration concentration will prepare graduates for leadership roles in healthcare industries that require advanced knowledge of complex health issues.

Graduates will be prepared on the business side of the healthcare industry, managing non-clinical aspects of healthcare operations, including staffing, budgeting, finance, and long-term strategic planning all to ensure the success of the healthcare provider or system.

The Healthcare Administration track provides a pathway to an MBA completion as a dual degree option.

Required track courses are as follows:

BU540 Healthcare Finance
BU580 Strategic Planning and Leadership in Healthcare
BU649 Business Law, Ethical Behavior & Social Responsibility
BU692 Healthcare Operations Management

* Students who enter the program with an undergraduate degree outside of business need to take BU 095 MBA Prerequisite Module

** Students wishing to participate in a dual degree program will have the opportunity to complete a 63 credit combined MSN/MBA in Healthcare Administration.

New – Instructional Design & Curriculum

Graduates will be poised to take on educational roles in healthcare industries that require advanced knowledge of instructional design and curriculum. Working in hospitals as a nurse educator or clinical instructor, in academic institutions as faculty or industry developing instructional materials and designing curricula, graduates will have the advanced knowledge and skills to serve as a clinical or didactic faculty for nursing programs.

With a focus on population health, graduates are poised to become nurse educators addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations and improving outcomes for underserved groups, as well as equipped to serve in healthcare, academic settings, and industry.

Required track courses are as follows:

ED674 Educational Law and Regulations (3 credits) is required for all.
ED 580 Models of Teaching & Instruction (3)
ED 590 Curricula in a Multicultural Society (3)
ED 598 Curriculum Change & Development (3)
OR
ED 599 Integrating Teaching into Curriculum Design (3)

Palliative Care

As a graduate student in the Palliative Care track you will gain the advanced knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to meet the needs of individuals facing serious illness. The four-course concentration provides the foundation of symptom management and quality of life for those facing serious illness and barriers to quality palliative care.  Financial concerns, advocacy, and the need for changes in healthcare policies are addressed.  This 12-credit Palliative Care track may be taken as a concentration with the MSN degree or as a separate post-baccalaureate certification.

Required track courses are as follows:

NU 502 Palliative Care Across the Lifespan
NU 513 Foundations of Symptom Management and Quality of Life in Palliative Care
NU 514 Barriers to Quality Palliative Care NU 603 Healthcare Policy, Advocacy, and Financial Considerations in Palliative Care

Population Health

Graduates of this program are qualified to work in positions within a variety of health care systems that include care coordination, case management, project management, and nurse management within various types of facilities.

Furthermore, graduates will be prepared to work in leadership, educational, and administrative positions within schools, public health departments, industry, and hospitals.

Required track courses are as follows:

NU 501 Concepts of Population Health: Epidemiology, Genomics and Quality Improvement and Safety
NU 511 Applied Techniques: Cultural Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health
NU 512  Planning and Intervention: Health Education, Principles and Strategies for Population Health
NU 602 Healthcare Policy, Leadership and Finance for Population Health

Online MSN Admissions 

The online MSN in Population Health program offers rolling admission with no formal deadline. If you are a registered nurse interested in pursuing an MSN degree at Caldwell, you can begin  your master’s in nursing in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Application Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Completion of an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of C+ or better
• Unencumbered R.N. License
• Formal application to Caldwell University Office of Graduate Admissions
• Two letters of recommendations
• Resume
• Writing sample, submission of an essay on the following topic: How would you envision this MSN in Population Health helping you to achieve your career goals?

MSN Admissions Process 

• Apply for graduate admission online. 
• Supporting documents can be sent via standard mail to:

Caldwell University, Graduate Admissions, 
120 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006 

OR via email to graduate@caldwell.edu. Official electronic transcripts are welcomed at graduate@caldwell.edu if the transcript is sent to Caldwell University by the institution or an approved third party such as Parchment or eSCRIP-Safe.

CCNE Site Visit and 3rd Party Notification

Earn an online MSN with Caldwell University!

At Caldwell, the 100% online MSN in Population Health offers practicing registered nurses the opportunity to expand their knowledge of community nursing and public health issues. Having a master’s degree in nursing develops new skills, the potential for leadership opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings, and the ability to teach nursing undergraduates. The online format of the two-year MSN program enables you to balance your current career with your education. 

Request information to learn more about our MSN admissions process and the benefits of a master’s in nursing focused on population health. Ready to apply? Begin your Caldwell graduate application.

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