Academic Programs

Master's of Science Degrees

Graduate Entry Pathway

The Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) is designed as an alternate pathway into the existing master's program for applicants who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, who are not registered nurses and who seek a master's in nursing as a nurse practitioner or nurse educator. The GEP was designed in response to the growing need for well-educated professional and advanced practice nurses and faculty, particularly in specialty areas. The GEP is a full-time program lasting a minimum of three calendar years that:

• prepares professional nurses for generalist entry-level practice through initial licensure by examination in Massachusetts as a registered nurse;
• establishes the foundation for competent professional practice as a registered nurse through a mentored nurse residency in entry-level clinical practice; and
• equips graduates for studies in a specialty area of advanced practice nursing, i.e., in a specialty area in the Master of Science nursing program.

GEP Year One

Year One begins in mid August and ends in July of the following year. During this period, students complete required courses and clinical experiences in preparation for licensure as a registered nurse. Upon successful completion of Year One requirements, the GSN will issue qualifying students a Certificate of Completion so that they may sit for the National Certification Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

GEP Year Two

After Year One coursework is successfully completed, students in the GEP program will receive the certificate of completion and will transition into the existing master's program. In addition to traditional master's courses, GEP students will also take NG520A Community Health Nursing and Promoting the Health of Populations, NG520B Community Health Clinical Practice and NG521 Transition to Professional Practice I in the fall semester. In the spring semester, GEP students will take NG522 Transition to Professional Practice II concurrently with the master's courses and their mentored nurse residency.

Students take the NCLEX-RN in the fall semester of the second year, as they matriculate in the non-clinical core courses in the first year of the existing master's program. Post-licensure, students begin a mentered nurse residency, during which they will be employed as a licensed professional Registered Nurse.  The Residency includes 400 hours working with a preceptor and supportive small group discussions to facilitate the transition to entry-level practice.

GEP Year Three

Year Three is the final year of the master's program. Students may continue to work as registered nurses as they complete the APN coursework, including required clinical practica in one of the three nurse practitioner/educator specialties.

Graduate Entry Pathway Curriculum

COURSE SEQUENCE 
GEP Year One

Graduate Entry Pathway| Pre-Master's Pathways| Traditional Master's Pathway