Program Structure

Complete a total of 33 credits, comprising core, focus, and elective courses with the option to complete a thesis, major project or major paper. Program must be completed in no longer than five years or 15 consecutive terms (fall, winter, summer).

Core courses (15 credits)

  • Knowledge for advanced nursing
  • The Canadian health care system
  • Leadership and managing change in health care
  • Research in health care
  • Choice of one:
    • Indigenous health leadership
    • Directed studies in health
    • Directed studies in nursing education

Project / paper option

A major paper or project is worth six credits; students selecting this option must complete 12 elective credits.

Thesis option

A thesis is worth 12 credits; students selecting this option must complete six elective credits.


Example semester progression maps

Student progress varies based on individual learning goals and plans.

Full-time — thesis or project/paper

Year 1
Semester 1 (fall)
Core courses
NURS 5100
Knowledge for Advanced Nursing (3,0,0)

NURS 5100 Knowledge for Advanced Nursing (3,0,0)

Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus

This course provides an opportunity for students to explore the philosophical (epistemological, ontological and moral) foundations of knowledge for nursing practice. Students will critically analyze the development, organization, and application of nursing knowledge in contemporary practice settings, authenticating the relevance of nursing knowledge to nursing practice as well as within interdisciplinary collaborative healthcare environments. Course emphases are: philosophy of science, knowledge generation, social justice, and critical thinking.
Prerequisite: Admission to Graduate Studies
For more information, search for this course here.

HLTH 5200
The Canadian Healthcare System (3,0,0)

HLTH 5200 The Canadian Healthcare System (3,0,0)

Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus

This course examines the structure and functioning of the Canadian healthcare system in the context of Canadian society, including challenges to the provision of quality care. Students will critically analyze the role of advanced practice in the healthcare system, using the concepts of principled leadership, politics, macroeconomics and the determinants of health as they apply at the local, provincial, territorial and national levels. Comparisons with healthcare systems in other countries will also be made. The emphasis will be on application of knowledge to practice contexts.
Prerequisite: Recommended - Admission to Graduate Studies, NURS 5100
For more information, search for this course here.

Semester 2 (winter)
Core courses
HLTH 5300
Leadership and Managing Change in Healthcare (3,0,0)

HLTH 5300 Leadership and Managing Change in Healthcare (3,0,0)

Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus

This course examines leadership and management theories in the context of healthcare delivery. Participants will develop leadership skills in advocating for clients and nurses to achieve optimal health outcomes and quality practice environments. Students will examine the literature on the development of strategic collaborative partnerships, build conflict management skills, develop strategies to communicate vision, policy and program directions, increase their ability to assess gaps and capacities in the design of programs, strategies, and policies, and demonstrate team building skills.
Prerequisite: Recommended - NURS 5100, HLTH 5200
For more information, search for this course here.

HLTH 6000
Research in Healthcare (3,0,0)

HLTH 6000 Research in Healthcare (3,0,0)

Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus

The focus of this course is the development of knowledge and skills to conduct research. Specific emphases are: theory and conduct of studies in various research traditions, appraisal of studies for scientific merit, interpretation and dissemination of research findings, research utilization and evidence based practice.
For more information, search for this course here.

Semester 3 (summer)
Core courses — one of:
NURS 6100
Directed Studies in Health (0,3,0)

NURS 6100 Directed Studies in Health (0,3,0)

Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus

In this course students focus on a specific health topic relevant to their professional-academic goal. The course serves to build the critical knowledge and skills foundational to a graduate thesis or project. The graduate student is expected to clearly identify the topic for their knowledge advancement, method(s) of inquiry, intended course outcomes, course timelines, and evaluation criteria that is reviewed and negotiated with a qualified faculty member.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000.
For more information, search for this course here.

NURS 6200
Directed Studies in Nursing Education (0,3,0)

NURS 6200 Directed Studies in Nursing Education (0,3,0)

Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus

In this course students focus on a topic specific to nursing education relevant to their professional-academic goal. The course serves to build the critical knowledge and skills foundational to a graduate thesis or project. The graduate student is expected to clearly identify the topic for their knowledge advancement, method(s) of inquiry, intended course outcomes, course timelines, and evaluation criteria that is reviewed and negotiated with a qualified faculty member.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000.
For more information, search for this course here.

HLTH 6300
Indigenous Health Leadership (3,0,0)

HLTH 6300 Indigenous Health Leadership (3,0,0)

Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus

In this course leadership best practices for effective, culturally relevant Indigenous people's healthcare are examined. Participants develop knowledge of Indigenous peoples' history, traditional perspectives, health-wellness practices, and challenges inherent in the complex and interrelated socio-cultural, historical, and contextual determinants that influence health. Participants analyze Indigenous and mainstream knowledge/practices and how each shapes service design and delivery. The importance of respectful relationships, partnership, and Indigenous leadership in improving healthcare access and outcomes is explored. Course activities will strengthen participant abilities to draw on the literature and other information sources to inform program and policy development, knowledge translation, and evaluating program effectiveness as well as assist in preparing for a major paper or thesis in the area of Indigenous peoples' health.
Prerequisite: HLTH 6000 Recommended Requisites: HLTH 5300, HLTH 5200 and NURS 5100
For more information, search for this course here.

Electives
Two courses for a total of six credits
Year 2
Semester 4 (fall)
Thesis option
NURS 6800
Graduate Thesis (0,12,0)

NURS 6800 Graduate Thesis (0,12,0)

Credits: 12 credits
Delivery: Campus

Students in the Master's Thesis Option in the MN degree program will prepare and defend a thesis in accordance with the policies established by the Research, Innovation, and Graduate Studies Office. A thesis is completed under the direction of a faculty member and a Thesis Supervisory Committee and evaluated by a Thesis Defence/Examining committee.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000 and NURS 6100 or NURS 6200 and HLTH 6300 and 6 credits of electives and successful completion of undergraduate introductory statistics course
For more information, search for this course here.

Project option
Two courses for a total of six credits
Semester 5 (winter)
Thesis option
NURS 6800
Graduate Thesis (0,12,0)

NURS 6800 Graduate Thesis (0,12,0)

Credits: 12 credits
Delivery: Campus

Students in the Master's Thesis Option in the MN degree program will prepare and defend a thesis in accordance with the policies established by the Research, Innovation, and Graduate Studies Office. A thesis is completed under the direction of a faculty member and a Thesis Supervisory Committee and evaluated by a Thesis Defence/Examining committee.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000 and NURS 6100 or NURS 6200 and HLTH 6300 and 6 credits of electives and successful completion of undergraduate introductory statistics course
For more information, search for this course here.

Project option
NURS 6600
MN Major Project (0,6,0)

NURS 6600 MN Major Project (0,6,0)

Credits: 6 credits
Delivery: Campus

Students will have an opportunity to engage in focused study in a specific area of advanced nursing practice, policy, education, or research leading to an original major project in consultation with the faculty supervisor and placement or work setting where the project will be completed. The project identified will be determined by an identified needs or gap analysis in the literature or health care system and will have to meet educational and learning objective for the MN program.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000 and NURS 6100 or NURS 6200 and HLTH 6300. Recommended - 12 credits of electives.
For more information, search for this course here.

NURS 6700
Knowledge Integration, Application, and Dissemination: Major Paper (0,6,0)

NURS 6700 Knowledge Integration, Application, and Dissemination: Major Paper (0,6,0)

Credits: 6 credits
Delivery: Campus

Students in the Major Paper Option in the MN program will be required to prepare and make public a comprehensive paper that demonstrates their ability identify an emerging nursing issue, prepare a substantive and integrative review of literature, recommend and substantiate best practices, and engage in one of diverse forms of professional dissemination.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000 and NURS 6100 or 6200 and HLTH 6300. Recommended - 12 credits of electives.
For more information, search for this course here.

One course worth three credits
Semester 6 (summer)
Thesis option
Thesis defence: 12 credits
Project option — one of:
NURS 6600
MN Major Project (0,6,0)

NURS 6600 MN Major Project (0,6,0)

Credits: 6 credits
Delivery: Campus

Students will have an opportunity to engage in focused study in a specific area of advanced nursing practice, policy, education, or research leading to an original major project in consultation with the faculty supervisor and placement or work setting where the project will be completed. The project identified will be determined by an identified needs or gap analysis in the literature or health care system and will have to meet educational and learning objective for the MN program.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000 and NURS 6100 or NURS 6200 and HLTH 6300. Recommended - 12 credits of electives.
For more information, search for this course here.

NURS 6700
Knowledge Integration, Application, and Dissemination: Major Paper (0,6,0)

NURS 6700 Knowledge Integration, Application, and Dissemination: Major Paper (0,6,0)

Credits: 6 credits
Delivery: Campus

Students in the Major Paper Option in the MN program will be required to prepare and make public a comprehensive paper that demonstrates their ability identify an emerging nursing issue, prepare a substantive and integrative review of literature, recommend and substantiate best practices, and engage in one of diverse forms of professional dissemination.
Prerequisite: NURS 5100 and HLTH 5200 and HLTH 5300 and HLTH 6000 and NURS 6100 or 6200 and HLTH 6300. Recommended - 12 credits of electives.
For more information, search for this course here.