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MS Program
Note: MS applicants entering through the Master's Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) should visit www.nursing.hawaii.edu/mepn-admission-requirements.html for information on admissions requirements.

• bachelor's degree in nursing from a NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited program (Exceptions will be considered for international applicants.)
• completion of course work in statistics and basic research or equivalent
• graduate program application form
• graduate program supplemental information form (download form)
• statement of objectives (download form)
• current resume or CV
• sample of academic writing
• two letters of recommendation (Use form provided by the graduate program. One from a former faculty member and one from an agency supervisor.)
• interview with a specialty adviser
• Hawaii Board of Nursing license or application for license
• health and liability insurance (Contact the graduate program for details.)
• official TOEFL scores — 580/237/92 or above (Required of most non-native speakers of English. Click here for information on exemptions.)

PhD Program

• master's degree with a major in nursing from a NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited program (Exceptions will be considered for international applicants.)
• graduate program application form
• graduate program supplemental information form (download form)
• statement of objectives (download form)
• current resume or CV
• sample of academic writing
• statement of research objectives
• contact information for three references
• Hawaii (or current state of residence) Board of Nursing license or application for license
• health and liability insurance (Contact the graduate program for details.)
• interview with three PhD faculty
• positive recommendation by the PhD admissions committee
• official TOEFL scores — 580/237/92 or above (Required of most non-native speakers of English. Click here for information on exemptions.)

The School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM) offers graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees. A post-master's certificate program in nursing is also available.

Applicants with no prior education or experience in nursing, who otherwise hold a bachelor's degree, may pursue an MS in nursing through the Master's Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN).

MS Program in Nursing
Using a community-based approach, the MS program prepares students for advanced roles in primary care, psychiatric and mental health, adult clinical nurse specialist, community/public health, nursing education, and nursing administration.

Primary Care
The primary care option prepares students to practice as nurse practitioners in adult, family, pediatrics and gerontology nursing. Special emphasis is placed on how to deliver care in a changing health care system.

Psychiatric and Mental Health
The psychiatric and mental health option prepares students to practice psychiatric and mental health care as clinical nurse specialists. The focus is on psychosocial and biological knowledge for the core specialization, with practice in primary, acute, chronic and population-based care, for either children/adolescents or adults.

Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist
The adult clinical nurse specialist option prepares students to practice as clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in a generalist role. Special emphasis is placed on the three spheres of CNS practice: patient/client sphere, nurses and nursing practice sphere, and organization/system sphere.

Community and Public Health
The community and public health option is a distance-learning program targeting registered nurses in Hawaii, American Samoa, and Guam. Students attend classes at remote sites and work with an assigned site mentor for field work assignments. All classes are broadcast over the Internet and digitally archived. Special emphasis is placed on health promotion and disease prevention at the community level.

Nursing Education
The nursing education option prepares nurse educators to assume positions in nursing education, staff development, and patient/family education.  Nurse educators are prepared to work in multi-cultural environments with students, clients, families, and health professionals.

Nursing Administration and Nursing Administration/MBA
The nursing administration option provides students with the knowledge and practical experience needed to succeed in an administrative position in today's competitive marketplace. The curriculum prepares professional nurses for entry and mid-level positions in the management of clinical systems. Also available is a Nursing Administration/MBA dual degree program.

PhD Program in Nursing
The PhD program prepares visionary scholars who are capable of:

• conducting culturally appropriate clinical scholarship to improve the health of a diverse society, and
• teaching in nursing educational programs (especially those with minority student populations).

MS Degree Requirements
Students may select either Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis). Course work requirements vary depending on the chosen option. 

• Primary Care – Depending on the area of specialization, this option requires 49 to 52 credits.
• Psychiatric and Mental Health – This option requires 42 to 45 credits.
• Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist – This option requires 51 credits.
• Community Health / Public Health Nursing – This option require 37 credits, including a capstone project.
• Nursing Education – This option requires 38 credits.
• Nursing Administration – This option requires 36 credits with nine contact hours of clinical practice per week and a capstone project.
• Nursing Administration / MBA – This option requires 54 to 57 credits with nine contact hours of clinical practice per week, and a capstone project.

In addition to the requirements listed above, Plan A requires six credits of thesis research, a written thesis and defense of the thesis.

PhD Degree Requirements

• 46 credits of course work beyond the MS level
• dissertation
• final oral exam / defense of dissertation

Courses
To view a listing of courses offered, visit www.catalog.hawaii.edu/courses/departments/nurs.htm.