University of Wisconsin–Madison



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BS in Nursing to Master of Public Health Degree

Advanced Placement Degree Option

The School of Nursing and the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program in the School of Medicine and Public Health have approved an advanced placement BS in Nursing to MPH degree option. The option seeks to strengthen the public health nursing workforce by preparing an elite group of public health nurses to provide population-based services and health education in the prevention of diseases and promotion of health in communities. Graduates of this option are able to complete a BS in Nursing and MPH degree in an accelerated fashion over five-years (three years from admission to the nursing major). Graduates are prepared for a wide range of nursing and public health practice positions. Prospective students should be aware that the MPH degree does not prepare graduates to teach in nursing programs.

The degree option utilizes a structured schedule that allows students to begin to take MPH courses during their second year in the nursing program. The program will be implemented in the fall of 2012.

The Need for Public Health Nurses

Public Health Nurses (PHNs) currently make up the largest portion of the public health workforce in health departments across the country (IOM, 2003). Major concerns regarding the current and future shortage of PHNs have been raised at the local, state, and national levels. A report from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) stated that 30 out of 37 states reported public health nursing as the field that will be most affected by workforce shortages in the future (ASTHO, 2005). Many factors contribute to the public health nursing shortage including the aging of the nursing workforce, inadequate funding and salaries for public health, lack of qualified applicants, and ineffective recruitment and retention (NACCHO, 2005, Gebbi, et al, 2009).

In addition to apprehensions concerning public health nursing workforce shortages, there is also uneasiness about inadequate preparation of the current public health workforce. Many PHNs have very little formal education in public health beyond one or two required courses during their nursing program (HRSA, 2005). The Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations (2006) provided recommendations for increasing the public health workforce and strengthening public health nursing education including (a) encouraging schools of nursing, public health training centers, and schools of public health to provide educational opportunities for nurses; (b) forming new educational partnerships that support the development of qualified nurses, preceptors, and clinical sites; and (c) developing and sharing innovative strategies to teach public health nursing.

Admission Information

UW-Madison School of Nursing students who are committed to a career in public health and have a 3.2 GPA or above are eligible to apply for the option.

Students admitted to the nursing major will apply for the BS-MPH option by February 1 of the first year in the nursing major. Applicants submit the following materials as part of the application for admission:

• MPH application

• Residency Form

• Resume’

• Transcripts of all post-secondary education

• Three professional references from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s capability for graduate work and interest in the field of public health, with at least one from a UW-Madison SON Faculty member

• A personal statement summarizing interests in public health and public health nursing

• The GRE is not required for applicants to the Advanced Placement Degree Option.

Applications are reviewed by the MPH Program’s Admissions Committee as part of the general admissions process. Upon positive review, applicants are conditionally admitted in the advanced placement option for the fall semester of the next academic year.

In the second year of the nursing major, if admitted students are making satisfactory progress (earning a “B” or above) in all MPH courses and are maintaining an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, admission to the MPH program is automatic. Students will matriculate into the MPH Program following completion of the BS in Nursing, either at the beginning of the summer session or fall semester. At the point of matriculation, the student will complete the MPH application and residency forms again.

Program Overview

The UW-Madison MPH Program requires 42 credits, including 20 credits of core courses and seminars; 6 credits of field experience; 16 elective credits; and a capstone project. The advanced placement option includes 9 credits of MPH courses taken during the second year of the BS in Nursing Program and 33 credits taken over 4 semesters as a student in the MPH Program after graduation from the nursing program. A sample plan of the proposed program is included on the next page.

For more detailed information on the MPH program, visit . Questions about the option may be addressed to Gale Barber in the School of Nursing , (mgbarber@wisc.edu, 608-263-5172) or Barbara Duerst in the Master of Public Health Program (bduerst@wisc.edu, 608-263-4215).

Sample Program for BS in Nursing to Master of Public Health Degree Option

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Year 1 of the Nursing Undergraduate Major

Apply for Admission to the BS-MPH Option by February 1 of Year 1

|Fall Semester |Spring Semester |Summer Semester |

|Course Number/Title |Credits |Course Number/Title |Credits |Course Number/Title |Credits |

|Pharm Sci 401 Survey of Pharmacology |3 |Path 404 Pathophysiologic Principles of Human Diseases |3 |N322 Community Health Nursing |3 |

|N105 Health Care Systems: Interdisciplinary Approach |2 |N312 Human Responses to Health and Illness II |4 |Immersion clinical (substitute for N419 |3 |

| | | | |Clinical III: Community Health Nursing | |

| | | | |Practicum) | |

|N212 Human Responses to Health and Illness I |4 |N319 Nursing Care in the Inpatient Setting |4 | | |

|N219 Clinical Nursing I |4 |N332 Essentials of Family-Centered Perinatal and |3 | | |

| | |Pediatric Nursing | | | |

|N301 Health History and Patient Assessment |3 |Global health or summer immersion clinical intro course |1-2 | | |

|Total Credits |16 | |15-16 | |6 |

Year 2 – Continuing Student in the Nursing Undergraduate Major, begin course work in the MPH Program

Apply for formal admission to the MPH Program by March 1 of Year 2

|Fall Semester |Spring Semester |Summer Semester |

|Course Number/Title |Credits |Course Number/Title |Credits |Course Number/Title |Credits |

|N310 Mental Health and Mental Illness: Implications for Nursing |3 |N401 Legal and Social Forces in Nursing |3 |MPH Electives |3 |

|N449 Nursing Care of Persons and Families with Complex Health Care|4 |MPH Core Course (PHS 650-063 Environ Health, PHS 786 |3 | | |

|Needs | |Social Behavioral Health or PHS 785 Health Policy) | | | |

Graduate in May of Year 2 with the BS in Nursing; Enter MPH Program Summer of Year 2

Year 3 Student in the Master of Public Health Option

|Fall Semester |Spring Semester |Summer Semester |

|Course Number/Title |Credits |Course Number/Title |Credits |Course Number/Title |Credits |

|BMI 511 Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health |3 |Remaining TWO (2) core courses (PHS 650-063 Environ |6 |PHS 788 Public Health Field Work |6 |

| | |Health, PHS 786 Social & Behavioral Health, or PHS 785 | | | |

| | |Health Systems, Management, and Policy Policy) | | | |

_____ = Courses that meet requirements for the Master of Public Health degree.

Prospective Student Materials re BS-MPH

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