Pictured | Mya Yee Nandar | Master of Science in Nursing, FNP | BSN RN, University of Hawaii, Hilo | Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) (hometown)
Volunteer activities and club affiliations | Critical Care Nurse, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center; Founder, Iron Women Network (Myanmar); Member, Transcultural Nursing Society; Healthcare volunteer; Traditional Burmese dancer

Master of Science in Nursing

Admission Process

Applicants to the MSN degree program should visit the Online Graduate Admissions Application. International students must apply through the IU South Bend Office of International Student Services. Applicants are also encouraged to contact Tara Celmer, MSN admissions team member, at tcelmer@iusb.edu for further assistance.

Academic Standing

Good Standing

A student is in good academic standing when his or her cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or higher.

Disciplinary Probation

Disciplinary probation is administered under the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. The faculty reserves the right to request the withdrawal of a student when problems related to personal integrity, health, maturity, or safety in the practice of nursing demonstrate the student’s unfitness to continue preparation for professional nursing.

Academic Probation

A student is placed on academic probation when the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 or if he or she earns a C+ or lower in a required course. Students who are placed on academic probation for two semesters will be dismissed from the program.

Clinical Placements

Clinical placement is a complex process and a shared responsibility between the student and faculty. The Graduate Program Director and faculty will assist with planning placements for clinical rotation. We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate a student's placement requests.

Specialty locations will be incorporated in the student's clinical experiences throughout the program and are not limited to one semester.

Student Contracts

If a student does not meet expectations on the clinical evaluation form by the preceptor, faculty or student, the Graduate Program Director will be informed and an emergency Graduate Faculty Council meeting will be held to determine the course of action for the student. If a student receives an average of a B- or below at any time during any course taken during the program, the issue will come before the Graduate Program Director and Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences Admission, Progression and Graduation Board for further course of action for the student.

Course Failure Policy

Students who demonstrate a pattern that is inconsistent with School of Nursing Standards or are out of progression due to a course failure must enroll in NURS-J 692 Independent Study for 1-3 credit hours each semester that they are out of progression. These students also must enroll in continuing education credits in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced physical assessment at their expense. Students enrolled in NURS-J 692 for a course failure also must sign in to the assessment lab for supervised physical assessment practice before coming in for the final validation. In order to successfully complete NURS-J 692, students who are out of progression due to a course failure must pass a pathophysiology-pharmacology written examination (passing is 80% or higher) and successfully perform a head-to-toe physical assessment on the first attempt. All course failures are subject to additional requirements as mandated by the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences Admission, Progression and Graduation Board. All mandated requirements (NURS-J 692, testing, and others) must be completed no later than July 15 for Fall re-entry; October 15 for Spring re-entry; February 15 for summer reinstatement.

Maintaining Status

• Students who do not register for a period of three consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the program.
• Students admitted on probation who fail to remove the conditions of admission within one semester will be dismissed from the program.
• Students attaining an unsatisfactory grade (below B-) in any course may repeat the course only once. If a course must be repeated, the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences Admission, Progression and Graduation Board may specify additional conditions relating to progression in the program until the course is successfully completed. Evidence of lack of progress toward the degree is described as failure to successfully attain a B- or higher in a course in which an unsatisfactory grade has been previously received. This means that a student will be dismissed from the MSN program if the student fails to achieve a minimum grade of B- or S (Satisfactory) in any one nursing course (didactic or practicum/clinical) by the second attempt, or any two nursing courses (didactic or practicum/clinical) on the first attempt. Students who do not complete all degree requirements within six years following initial registration will be dismissed. Students may appeal their dismissal to the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences Admission, Progression and Graduation Board. A dismissal can be appealed one time.

Grading Scale

All courses in the IU South Bend School of Nursing MSN degree program utilize the following grading scale in all nursing courses. An attainment of at least a B–, or 80 percent, is required to successfully pass a course. Failure to receive a final grade of B– will require the student to retake the course.

The official grade code of Indiana University includes quality points for the purpose of determining the cumulative grade point average. See page 31 for the grading code scale.

Health Requirements

Students must meet the same immunization and health requirements as stated for undergraduate nursing students.

Undergraduate and graduate students are responsible for all financial costs of health/medical care related to or resulting from injury or accidents while engaged in course related experiences. These experiences may occur in the classroom, learning laboratory, or practice setting. Therefore, all undergraduate and graduate students are required to carry health insurance while they are enrolled in courses in your major or discipline or study track.  Students will not be allowed to participate in major course experience without adequate documentation of current health insurance.

Statement of Essential Abilities

Graduate students must meet the same essential abilities as stated for undergraduate nursing students.

Professional Nursing Requirements

Students must maintain active health care provider level CPR status and Indiana RN licensure.

Criminal Background Check

Criminal history background checks are required of all graduate nursing students in compliance with state and federal (House Bill 1633) regulations for individuals in clinical settings and working with patients and individuals who are vulnerable or minors. Licensure is also contingent upon the absence of most felony and some misdemeanor charges. An updated check for an enrolled student might have a bearing on the clinical site in which the student will be placed. Students will be asked to complete a criminal disclosure form each year in the fall.

A past criminal history may become a significant barrier to clinical practicum rotation placements. In addition, current Indiana law states that individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes may not be employed by or operate a home health facility or work in the Indiana public school system. While a conviction of a crime does not automatically disqualify a student from participation in community-based clinical, a criminal history may be grounds for denying progression depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding each individual case.

Other Policies

In addition to policies described under the general statement of the School of Nursing, the following policies govern master’s study in particular.

Credit Transfers

Students must obtain the consent of the graduate program director before credit earned at other institutions may be added to the official transcript. A maximum of 6 credit hours with a minimum grade of B in courses that fulfill the curriculum requirements may be transferred from an accredited college or university with the consent of the graduate program director. Credit hours used to meet requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing may not be used toward the Master of Science in Nursing. Students wishing to take graduate-level courses at another university to transfer to IU South Bend are highly encouraged to seek advising regarding credit transferability. Requests to transfer courses are reviewed on an individual basis. Specific information regarding transfer of credit hours can be obtained from the graduate program director.

Graduate Faculty Council

The Graduate Faculty Council is a group of nursing faculty and administration who have the primary function of overseeing the development, delivery and assessment of the curriculum and program. Student representation on the Graduate Faculty Council is highly encouraged.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate and master’s programs at IU South Bend are accredited by the

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education | One Dupont Circle, NW | Suite 530 | Washington, DC, 20036 | (202) 887-6791.

We are very proud that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, a national agency for the accreditation of baccalaureate and graduate-degree nursing education programs, accredited the Master’s in Nursing Program, Indiana University South Bend, School of Nursing through February 25, 2025.

Photo credit | Teresa Sheppard