BOSTON COLLEGE WILLIAM F. CONNELL SCHOOL OF NURSING
BS/MS Program
Highly qualified undergraduate nursing students may be admitted to the master’s program during their senior
year. In anticipation of this, junior and senior students can take graduate nursing courses as electives.
Following graduation in May, admitted students take two or three graduate courses during the summer, and then
complete the master's program during the following academic year (or 2 years). Students must be continuously
enrolled.
The graduate courses taken during junior and senior year will apply to the requirements for the bachelor's degree
(as electives) and also are accepted for the master's degree at William F. Connell Graduate School of Nursing IF
YOU ARE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO GRADUATION IN MAY.
Eligibility and Procedures
1. Maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 and earn a grade of B or above in all nursing courses.
2. Discuss plans to apply to the BS-MS program with your academic advisor.
3. Submit a completed “BS-MS Plan of study” and submit to the Graduate Office (Cushing 202) by the end of
junior year. Submit either the full-time (one year) or part –time (two year) plan. Indicate any alterations from
this plan on the form.
4. Take the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). The CSON Continuing Education Office offers a GRE review
course.
5. Complete the application for the Master’s program by December 31 of your senior year. See the CSON
graduate school website for application details. The application requires recommendations, transcripts, essays,
declaration of expected specialty, GRE scores, an application fee, etc.
6. Pass the NCLEX-RN examination and hold an unrestricted RN license in Massachusetts the summer
following graduation from the undergraduate program
Graduate Courses that Undergraduate Nursing Students may take:
NU415 Conceptual Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice
NU416 Ethical Reasoning and Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice
NU420 Pharmacology and Advanced Nursing Practice (offered only in the spring; required prior to clinical for
all but psych –mental health students)
NU426 Psychopharmacology (spring only; required prior to clinical for students in psych-mental health)
NU520 Research Methods for Evidence-based Nursing Practice
NU672 Pathophysiologic Processes
Any graduate level elective (does not need to be in the School of Nursing)
Others at the discretion of faculty
Please note:
• some courses are not offered each semester.
• undergraduate students must obtain permission to register for graduate nursing courses using the
“Permission for Undergraduate Student to Enroll in a Graduate Nursing Course” form
• graduate schools other than Boston College may not allow you to transfer credits for these courses
because they have been applied toward your bachelor’s degree.
• admission to some graduate programs at CSON is highly competitive and acceptance is not guaranteed.
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BS-MS PLAN OF STUDY
SAMPLE FULL TIME PLAN
Name:
SESSION
Specialty:
Entrance Term: SUMMER
Student’s Signature:
Date:
Note: The following sample plan of study is for Full Time 1 year BS/MS students. It is based on taking a minimum of 2
graduate courses in your senior year. Additional graduate level coursework may be completed in your junior/senior year
which would be applied to your MS degree and therefore alter this plan. Options include: NU415, NU416, NU520,
elective.
Senior Year (6 credits)
Course #
NU672
Course Title
Advanced Pathophysiologic Processes
NU420
Pharmacology and Advanced Nursing Practice
Or
Psychopharmacology (if you are a PMH student you must take this
course)
Or
NU426
Credits
3
3
3
Sem/Year
Senior Year
Fall or Spring
semester
Senior year
Spring semester
Begin Master’s Program: Summer Semester (9 credits) Year 1
Course #
NU430
NU520
NUXXX
Course Title
Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Nursing Research Theory
Any graduate level 3 credit elective course
Credits
3
3
3
Sem/Year
Summer Session I
Summer Session II
Summer
Credits
3
3
3
6
Sem/Year
Fall
Fall
Fall
Credits
3
6
3
3
3
3
Sem/Year
Spring
Fall Semester (15 credits) – Year 1
Course #
NU415
NU416
NU_____
NU_____
Course Title
Conceptual Basis: Advanced Practice Nursing
Ethical Reasoning and Issues
Advanced Specialty Theory I:
Advanced Specialty Clinical Practice I:
Spring Semester (15 credits) – Graduation Term
Course #
NU_____
NU_____
NU417
Elective
NU524
NU525
Course Title
Advanced Specialty Theory I:
Advanced Specialty Clinical Practice I:
Advanced Practice Nursing
1. Any graduate level elective; OR
2. Master’s Research Practicum; OR
3. Integrative Review of Nursing Research
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR MS DEGREE = 45
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Choose One
Spring
Spring
BS-MS PLAN OF STUDY
SAMPLE PART-TIME PLAN
Name:
Specialty:
Entrance Term: Summer Or Fall
Student’s Signature:
Date:
Note: The following sample plan of study is for Part Time BS/MS students. This sample is based on a student taking 2
graduate courses in your senior year. Options include: NU415, NU416, NU417, NU520, NU672, or elective.
Senior Year (6 credits)
Course #
NU415
Course Title
Conceptual Basis: Advanced Practice Nursing
NU672
Advanced Pathophysiologic Processes
Credits
3
3
Sem/Year
Senior Year
Fall or Spring
Senior Year
Fall or Spring
Fall Semester Year 1 (9 credits)
Course #
NU416
NU520
NUXXX
Course Title
Ethical Reasoning and Issues
Nursing Research Theory
Any graduate level 3 credit elective course
Credits
3
3
3
Sem/Year
Fall
Fall
Fall
Credits
3
3
3
Sem/Year
Spring
Spring
Spring
Spring Semester Year 1 (9 credits)
Course #
NU417
NU430
NU420
Course Title
Advanced Practice Nursing
Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Pharmacology and Advanced Nursing Practice
Or
Psychopharmacology (if you are a PMH student you must take
this course)
3
Summer Semester Year 2 (3 credits)
Course #
Elective
NU524
NU525
Course Title
1. Any graduate level elective; OR
2. Master’s Research Practicum; OR
3. Integrative Review of Nursing Research
Choose One
Credits
3
3
3
Sem/Year
Summer or
Spring or
Fall
Fall Semester Year 2 (9 credits) – in class all day Tuesday and approx. 3 days a week in clinical
Course #
NU_____
NU_____
Course Title
Advanced Specialty Theory I:
Advanced Specialty Clinical Practice I:
Credits
3
6
Sem/Year
Fall
Spring Semester Year 2 (9 credits) – in class all day Tuesday and approx. 3 days a week in clinical
Course #
NU_____
NU_____
Course Title
Advanced Specialty Theory I:
Advanced Specialty Clinical Practice I:
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR MS DEGREE = 45
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Credits
3
6
Sem/Year
Spring
William F. Connell School of Nursing
Boston College
Permission for Undergraduate Student to Enroll
in a Graduate Nursing Course
Student name:__________________________________________________
Eagle ID :______________ Year of Graduation:______________
Phone number where you may be reached:___________________________
Course name & number: _________________________Semester:________
Notes to student:
• Graduate level courses do not have study days. All students in graduate courses
are expected to attend classes scheduled on undergraduate study days.
• Graduate schools may not accept these courses for transfer credit if it is their
policy not to allow credit for courses applied to other degrees.
Signature of student:________________________
Date:____________
Other required signatures:
The above named student has permission to enroll in this course:
Student’s academic advisor or Associate Dean, Undergraduate Nursing
Program:_____________________________________________________
Faculty teaching the course:______________________________________
Student: Return this signed form to the Graduate office, Cushing 202
Grad office: Return to Undergraduate office for filing in student record
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