Regulations effective September 1, 2017.
If you were admitted to the MN:GEN program prior to September 2017, use the Cohort 1 regulations.
For MN:GEN student applications admitted after September 1, 2017, the most recent regulations below will apply.
Program students are enrolled in any of the degrees, diplomas, or certificates offered by Athabasca University. Students who change from non-program to a program category may use credits earned while in the unclassified category provided the course(s) meet the program requirements, including any restrictions on the age of a course, if applicable.
In keeping with Athabasca University’s mandate of open access, residency requirements for the MN:GEN program are satisfied when the student has successfully completed 18 credits in MHST/NURS graduate courses through Athabasca University. The remaining credits may be transferred from other institutions, provided they are applicable to the student’s program.
The MN:GEN program is composed of a total of 33 credits: 11 courses in the course-based route, or 8 courses in the thesis-based route.
Post-Baccalaureate Nurse Practitioners seeking admission to the Master of Nursing: Generalist Program Registered Nurses with a Baccalaureate in Nursing or equivalent, a Canadian Nurse Practitioner (NP) license and an approved Post-Baccalaureate Nurse Practitioner Certificate will be admitted to the Master of Nursing: Generalist Stream and will complete the following courses:
| MHST/NURS 603 | Facilitating Inquiry | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 609 | Trends and Issues | (3) |
| NURS 608 | Philosophical Foundations of Nursing | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 611 | Dissemination Strategies (taken in final semester) | (3) |
| NURS 614 | Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing | (3) |
| One elective | (3) | |
| Students will receive 15 credits for the Post-Baccalaureate Nurse Practitioner Certificate. | ||
Core Courses
The following courses apply to the course-based route of the MN:GEN stream:
| NURS 608* | Philosophical Foundations of Nursing | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 609 | Trends and Issues | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 603** | Facilitating Inquiry | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 611 | Dissemination Strategies (taken in final semester) | (3) |
The following core courses apply to the thesis-based route:
| NURS 608* | Philosophical Foundations of Nursing | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 603** | Facilitating Inquiry | (3) |
* NURS 608 is a prerequisite to all courses in the MN:GEN program, except MHST/NURS 603, to which it is a co-requisite. NURS 608 must be taken as the student's first course.
** MHST/NURS 603 is a co-requisite for all courses in the MN:GEN program. It must be taken as the student's second course. It may be taken at the same time as NURS 608, or at the same time as any other course in the program.
Students enrolled in the course-based route of the MN:GEN stream must complete five of the following CNHS graduate courses. Students enrolled in the thesis-based route must complete two of these courses:
Elective and Thesis Courses
Elective Courses: In addition to the core and curriculum courses, two electives are required in the course-based route and one elective is required in the thesis-based route. These electives may be completed prior to or concurrently with MHST/NURS 611. These elective courses may include: CNHS graduate courses, as listed in the above table of curriculum courses; other Athabasca University graduate level courses; or pre-approved graduate courses from other universities (refer to Letter of Permission to Complete a Course at Another University).
Thesis Courses: In addition to the core, curriculum courses, and elective courses, three thesis courses are required in the thesis-based route. Students enrolled in the thesis-based route must complete one advanced research methods course (either MHST/NURS 712 or 713) and two courses during which the thesis will be completed (MHST/NURS 719 and MHST/NURS 720).
| MHST/NURS 712 | Advanced Qualitative Methods for Health Research or |
|
| MHST/NURS 713 | Advanced Quantitative Methods for Health Research | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 719 | Thesis I: Proposal Development | (3) |
| MHST/NURS 720 | Thesis II: Conducting, Writing, and Dissemination of Research | (12) |
A focus area is a subject concentration within your degree program. Students in the course- or thesis-based route may elect to complete a focus area in Teaching, Leadership, or Health Research (please note, the Health Research focus area is closed to thesis students). Students must declare their selection with the Faculty of Health Disciplines Programs Office, or on their program application.
Students in the course- or thesis-based route may elect to complete a teaching focus.
Course-based route: The teaching focus includes: four core courses (NURS 608, MHST/NURS 603, MHST/NURS 609, MHST/NURS 611), three teaching focus courses (MHST/NURS 623, MHST/NURS 624, and MHST/NURS 625), two curriculum courses, and two elective courses.
Thesis-based route: The teaching focus includes two core courses (NURS 608 and MHST/NURS 603), three thesis courses, and three teaching focus courses (MHST/NURS 623, MHST/NURS 624, MHST/NURS 625).
| Course-Based Teaching Focus | Thesis-Based Teaching Focus |
|---|---|
| 4 core courses | 2 core course |
| 3 teaching focus courses | 3 teaching focus courses |
| 2 curriculum courses | 3 thesis courses |
| 2 elective courses | |
| Total: 11 courses (33 credits) | Total: 8 courses (33 credits) |
Students in the course- or thesis-based route may elect to complete a leadership focus.
Course-based route: The leadership focus includes: four core courses (NURS 608, MHST/NURS 603, MHST/NURS 609, MHST/NURS 611), three leadership focus courses (MHST/NURS 604, MHST/NURS 621, MHST/NURS 622), two curriculum courses, and two elective courses.
Thesis-based route: The leadership focus includes two core courses (NURS 608 and MHST/NURS 603), three thesis courses, and three leadership focus courses (MHST/NURS 604, MHST/NURS 621, MHST/NURS 622).
| Course-Based Leadership Focus | Thesis-Based Leadership Focus |
|---|---|
| 4 core courses | 2 core course |
| 3 leadership focus courses | 3 leadership focus courses |
| 2 curriculum courses | 3 thesis courses |
| 2 elective courses | |
| Total: 11 courses (33 credits) | Total: 8 courses (33 credits) |
Students in the course-based route may elect to complete a health research focus.
Course-based route: The health research focus includes: four core courses (NURS 608, MHST/NURS 603, MHST/NURS 609, MHST/NURS 611), three health research focus courses (MHST/NURS 610, MHST/NURS 712, MHST/NURS 713), two curriculum courses, and two elective courses.
This focus area is closed to students in the thesis route.
| Course-Based Health Research Focus |
|---|
| 4 core courses |
| 3 health research focus courses |
| 2 curriculum courses |
| 2 elective courses |
| Total: 11 courses (33 credits) |
Students must complete the MN:GEN program requirements within seven years of their initial admission to the program.
Students who do not may be required to repeat courses completed at the beginning of their program.
To maintain program status, course-based students must successfully complete six credits of course work during each academic year (September 1 to August 31). Students who do not meet the requirements for maintaining program status will be withdrawn from the program. If a student is unable and not expected to make progress in the program, the student may request a deferral in order to suspend the program requirements for a period of time. The maximum length of one deferral is one (1) year. In special circumstances, students may reapply for a second year of deferral during their time in their program.
Thesis-based students must also successfully complete six credits of course work during each academic year (September 1 to August 31) to maintain program status. Students who do not meet the requirements for maintaining program status will be withdrawn from the program.
Students may withdraw from their program by submitting their request in writing to the CNHS office. Students who withdraw may re-apply to the program by following the regular application procedures. Students re-applying to a graduate program will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration.
Students enrolled in the MN programs may not normally withdraw from a course within 30 days of the final day of the course.
Two failures in one or more courses will result in the automatic removal of the student from the program with no option for re-admission to CNHS graduate programs.
The MN program does not have candidacy exams, therefore the use of MN (C) during your program is not permitted. When you have completed your program of study, applied to graduate, and your degree has been conferred, you may use the relevant credentials: MN. You may use this credential only after the degree is conferred.
To be awarded the MN degree, a student must:
Information effective Sept. 1, 2017 to Aug. 31, 2018.
Updated April 30 2018 by laurab
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