Degrees & Majors

For those called to seek the highest level of clinical nursing practice, the Georgia State doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) hybrid program is your solution. You will finish the program ready to lead others to implement cost-effective practices that also improve outcomes. One hundred percent of our D.N.P. students work full-time, and still, they are preparing for work in:

• healthcare administration;
• professional nursing organizations;
• higher education; and
• many practice settings throughout Georgia.

You will move through the program as a cohort of colleagues, allowing you to network with industry leaders and build relationships that last well beyond graduation. *The hybrid program combines online (web-facilitated) classes with a limited number of on-campus sessions. Students attend on-campus sessions (also known as intensives) one day at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. The web-facilitated classes are a combination of real-time and on-demand courses. Is a Ph.D. or D.N.P. degree right for me?

What Is Nursing?

Nursing is an art and a science. It is the art of knowing how to balance knowledge and compassion to give holistic care to individuals, families, groups and communities. As a science, nursing requires a wealth of knowledge and critical-thinking skills necessary to provide safe, effective, culturally competent medical care.   The Perimeter College Department of Nursing became an administrative unit of the Georgia State University School of Nursing in 2016.

The associate degree path to nursing is now the Georgia State University School of Nursing Associate Degree Program, Perimeter College.

The associate degree courses continue to be housed at the same campus locations, and admissions standards and program costs remain the same.

For more information on the change, visit the School of Nursing website .

 

Undergraduate students learn the essentials of nursing care in the classroom and an advanced simulation lab. They practice skills learned in a wide range of facilities, including hospitals, community settings and clinics, caring for patients after surgery, providing health screenings for pre-school children, administering flu vaccines to adults and caring for new mothers and their babies.

The bachelor’s degree program is available for first-time nurses through the traditional and Achieving Curriculum Expeditiously (ACE, fast-track) options. The ACE option allows students with degrees in another field or heavy science background in a bachelor’s degree to complete degree requirements more quickly.

Accreditation and Approvals

The College of Nursing is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national accreditation agency for schools of nursing. See the CCNE website or the Georgia Board of Nursing website for more information.

As you work toward your Ph.D. in nursing, you will be setting yourself apart as a nurse scholar and a leader in research, practice and education. You also are becoming part of the solution for the national shortage of nurse researchers and educators. A doctorate designed for today’s busy healthcare professionals at all career stages:

• The program is designed for master’s and bachelor’s prepared nurses. We also invite D.N.P.-prepared nurses to apply to the Ph.D. program. (For D.N.P.-prepared nurses, course credit may be given for previous coursework.)
• The Ph.D. program is available for full-time and part-time study and with coursework primarily online.
• Students attend a few required on-campus sessions: just two days in the fall and spring semesters.
• The web-based classes are a combination of real-time (synchronous or live) and on-demand (asynchronous) classes.

Our graduates enjoy successful careers and can be found in roles such as:

• Research, clinical and administrative faculty positions in nursing schools nationwide
• Leadership and executive positions in corporate hospital systems and healthcare organizations

Is a Ph.D. or D.N.P. degree right for me? 

The online R.N. to M.S. bridge program allows registered nurses with considerable practice experience and an associate degree or diploma from an accredited nursing program to take advantage of this streamlined approach to obtain their graduate degree. Candidates must have a minimum of one year of work experience as a registered nurse. Two years of experience is preferred. You will need to complete additional prerequisite* undergraduate coursework before taking any master’s level nursing courses. *See additional course information in the “Additional Information” tab for prerequisite information. You also will need to have a clinical site arrangement one semester before registering for one of the prerequisite courses (Caring for Families and Communities). We will work with you to plan for this and discuss the courses you need to progress toward your M.S. in nursing. Georgia State is well known for our work in student success, and that includes support at each stage of your journey through your graduate work. Once you begin your master’s level coursework, you will be heading toward a nurse practitioner specialty in one of four areas:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners tend to earn more and are given more leadership responsibilities in their organizations. As a Georgia State student, you will be part of the only nursing college in Georgia that offers the full spectrum of nursing education from associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees (including D.N.P. and Ph.D.) and access to a range of healthcare organizations. Georgia State nursing faculty are committed to your success, and we want to be a convenient, affordable education partner throughout your nursing career.