Academic Programs

The Nursing Business and Health Systems Master's Program follows the organizing framework of the overall Master's Program.

The focus of the Nursing Business and Health Systems Master's Degree Program is designed to prepare nurse leaders in one of the following tracks:

• Manager/executive
• Informatics specialist
• Nurse entrepreneur
• Nursing and healthcare policy analyst
• Educator

Building on a foundation of School of Nursing Master's Degree core courses (nursing theories, research and healthcare systems), the Nursing Business and Health Systems curriculum contains five required system courses. These courses focus on strategic planning, systems assessment, quality, finance, operations management, financial and human resources, and change and innovation. Within these systems core courses, students are encouraged to pursue their area of interest whenever possible (e.g. projects). Students in each track then enroll in a specialized course for their track along with a cognate in their area of interest, a customized internship, and a scholarly project. Options are available for full and part-time study. Full-time students typically finish in 3 or 4 terms.

Students who complete the Nursing Business and Health Systems Master's Program should be able to:

• Synthesize and apply theories, models and research related to nursing business and health systems.
• Analyze health systems and organizations to determine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
• Develop and implement strategic and operational plans to guide the organization or system toward successful outcomes.
• Provide leadership and management in nursing and healthcare systems.
• Create and innovate new ideas and develop strategy, means and methods to implement.
• Effectively lead and manage successful change in healthcare and nursing.

Graduation requirements for the Master of Science degree include the following:

• A minimum of 39 credit hours
• A "B" average in all course work, including nursing courses
• A scholarly project in a selected area of nursing administration culminating in a satisfactory report

All degree requirements must be completed within six consecutive years from the first enrollment in graduate school. The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies Student Handbook contains additional information about degree requirements.