Dean: Dr. Theresa Cappello

The School of Health Professions offers graduate programs in:
Health Promotion Management (M.S.)
Nursing (M.S.N.)
Physical Therapy (M.S.P.T.)

For more information, please see the School of Health Professions Web site.

The School of Health Professions aims to support the mission of Marymount University to foster the individual development of each student and enable them to become competent health professionals. Marymount’s location provides excellent opportunities for clinical learning experiences in diverse health care institutions and community agencies in the Washington metropolitan area.
The Master of Science in Health Promotion Management is designed for those individuals who are new to the field as well as current practitioners. Coursework provides students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in key areas of health behavior change as well as the design, management, and evaluation of health promotion programs.
The Master of Science in Nursing majors build on the baccalaureate education in Nursing and professional practice. The Nursing majors integrate three core content areas: clinical practice, research, and role development.
The Master of Science in Physical Therapy is an entry-level degree program that prepares generalist practitioners for professional roles consistent with contemporary physical therapy practice throughout the United States.

HEALTH PROMOTION MANAGEMENT (M.S.)
The M.S. in Health Promotion Management (HPM) prepares new and current health promotion practitioners to plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion and wellness programs in a variety of settings: hospitals, corporations, health maintenance organizations, community health agencies, health clubs, government agencies, and academic campuses. Coursework provides students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skill in:

• designing and evaluating health promotion programs;
• behavior change;
• program management; and
• specific health content areas, such as fitness assessment, program design, nutrition, weight control, and stress management.

Admission Requirements
In addition to the Universitywide requirements for admission to graduate programs, applicants must also meet the following criteria:
n acceptable scores from either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (see note on Graduate Admission);
n a total of at least 1,000 points based on the formula:

(200 x GPA) + (MAT total x 12) or
(200 x GPA) + (average of 2 highest GRE subtests); and
n an interview with a program advisor.
Note: If a candidate already holds a master’s degree, the testing requirement is waived.

Degree Requirements
A total of 36 graduate credits is required, of which 21-24 credits are core courses and 12-15 credits are electives.
HPM Core Requirements
A grade of B- or better is needed to pass core courses.
HPR 501 Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion
HPR 502 Introduction to Public Health and Preventive Medicine
HPR 520 Epidemiology of Injury and Disease
HPR 540 Designing and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs
HPR 550 Management of Health Promotion Programs
HPR 598 Internship
NU 591 Health Care Research
OD 521 Organizational Diagnosis and Change
HPM Electives
At least 6 elective credits must be in Health Promotion Management.

HPM electives include the following courses:
HPR 500 Exercise Physiology
HPR 510 Health and Culture
HPR 534 Topics in Nutrition and Weight Management
HPR 536 Stress Management
HPR 560 Design of Adult Fitness Programs
HPR 565 Graded Exercise Testing
HPR 588 Selected Topics in Health
HPR 599 Research Project
Other Electives

Electives may also be chosen from:

• Business and Human Resources graduate courses (offered in the School of Business Administration), and
• Psychology graduate courses.
  

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NURSING (M.S.N.)
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program offers four majors:

Critical Care Nursing
Family Nurse Practitioner
Nursing and Health Administration
Nursing Education

All Nursing programs at Marymount University are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC), 350 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, (212) 989-9393.

The Critical Care Nursing major prepares experienced critical care nurses for the advanced practice role of the Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). The content of the courses parallels the core curriculum recommended by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The AACN’s Synergy Model serves as the theoretical framework for the enactment of the Critical Care CNS role. Emphasis is given to the integration of knowledge in areas including pathophysiology, pharmacology, and diagnostic evaluation/intervention. Clinical practicums provide opportunities to enhance clinical knowledge, and to demonstrate competency as a Critical Care CNS. The program prepares graduates to take nationally recognized certification examinations.

The Family Nurse Practitioner major prepares nurse practitioners to provide primary care to the family. An in-depth study is made of health and common, acute, and chronic illnesses throughout the life cycle. Laboratory and clinical experiences are provided to develop competence in the diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses. The program prepares graduates for a nationally recognized certification examination.

The Nursing and Health Administration major is an interdisciplinary partnership with the School of Business Administration. It prepares nurses to excel as clinical and organizational leaders and managers in a broad spectrum of managerial positions and care delivery systems. The curriculum integrates current health care MBA-level content in managed care and health care policy, law, and finance with nurse executive-level content in organizations and systems, theory applications, and research-based administrative practice. Clinical practicums provide opportunities to enhance clinical management knowledge, and integrate it with health care law, policy, and finance in a variety of care delivery and health policy settings. The program prepares graduates to take nationally recognized nursing administration certification examinations, and to pursue certification in health care management from the American College of Health Care Executives.

The Nursing Education major prepares nurses for successful careers as nurse educators in a variety of academic and service settings. The curriculum emphasizes acquisition and enhancement of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for success as a nurse educator. Foundational content in areas such as the organization and administration of educational programs, adult-focused teaching and learning theories, educational research and evaluation, and curriculum development is complemented by practice-based topics including teaching strategies, syllabus development, and test construction. Educational practicums include experiences in both classroom and clinical settings, and provide opportunities to apply acquired theoretical and practice-based knowledge to teaching practice. The program prepares graduates to take nationally recognized nursing education certification examinations.

Admission Requirements

• Graduation from a B.S.N. program;
• R.N. licensure in Virginia. Practitioner and Critical Care students are required to have licensure also in Maryland and DC prior to placement in clinical courses;
• GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
• Liability/malpractice insurance;
• Practitioner students are required to have the equivalent of two year’s full-time experience;
• An interview with the Graduate Nursing chair; and
• A current résumé.

R.N. to M.S.N. Program
The R.N. to M.S.N. Program provides an opportunity for nurses with associate degrees or diplomas in Nursing to earn a master’s degree in Nursing. In addition to the admission requirements listed previously, students must complete 48 credits of the University’s Liberal Arts Core requirements (applicants with a baccalaureate degree in another field are exempt from this requirement) and complete 12 credits in transitional Nursing courses (NU 400 Community Health, NU 410 Leadership and Management in Nursing Practice, and NU 411 Social and Political Issues in Nursing). Applicants must have 1-2 years of recent nursing experience.

Graduate Clinical Course Requirements

• Students must provide written verification of testing for tuberculosis and the following immunizations: Hepatitis B, Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Chicken Pox, Tetanus/Diphtheria, and Influenza prior to the beginning of each semester.
• Written verification of accident and health insurance coverage must be submitted to the clinical agency coordinator each semester.
• Written verification of CPR certification (adult, child, and infant) is required prior to registration for the first clinical Nursing course. Current CPR certification must be provided to the clinical agency coordinator each semester.
• Students will not be permitted to begin clinical practicums until all requirements are satisfied.

Degree Requirements and Academic Progression
Students must plan a program of study with an M.S.N. faculty advisor/chair. Successful completion of a graduate Nursing course requires a grade of B or better.

• Critical Care Nursing major requirements (36 credits): 12 credits in Nursing core courses, 6 credits in support courses, 9 credits in critical care, and 9 credits in electives. Courses that fulfill degree requirements are:
  NU 501 Theoretical and Ethical
  Foundations of Advanced Nursing
  Practice (3)
  NU 512 Nursing and Health Care Systems
  and Organizations (3)
  NU 550 Advanced Pathophysiology I (3)
  NU 551 Advanced Pathophysiology II (3)
  NUC 503 Critical Care Nursing I (4)
  NUC 505 Critical Care Nursing II (5)
  NU 552 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
  NU 590 Health Care Data Analysis (3)
  NU 591 Health Care Research (3)
  Electives (6)
• Family Nurse Practitioner major requirements (40 credits): 12 credits in Nursing core courses, 12 credits in support courses, 13 credits in primary care family courses, and 3 credits in electives. Students enrolled in clinical courses are not guaranteed their choice of placement sites. It is recommended that students take graduate core courses prior to courses in the major:
  NU 501 Theoretical and Ethical Foundations of Advanced Nursing
  Practice (3)
  NU 512 Nursing and Health Care Systems
  and Organizations (3)
  NU 550 Advanced Pathophysiology I (3)
  NU 551 Advanced Pathophysiology II (3)
  NU 552 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
  NU 590 Health Care Data Analysis (3)
  NU 591 Health Care Research (3)
  NU 503 Advanced Assessment
  and Health Screening (3)
  NUF 503 Primary Care of the Family I (7)
  NUF 504 Primary Care of the Family II (6)
  Elective (3)
• Nursing and Health Administration major requirements (36 credits): 12 credits in Nursing core courses, 15 credits in interdisciplinary courses, and 9 credits in Nursing Administration courses. Courses that fulfill degree requirements are:
  NU 501 Theoretical and Ethical
  Foundations of Advanced Nursing
  Practice (3)
  NU 512 Nursing and Health Care Systems
  and Organizations(3)
  NU/HCM 590 Health Care Data
  Analysis (3)
  NU/HCM 591 Health Care Research (3)
  NUA/HCM 510 Introduction to Health
  Care Management (3)
  NUA/HCM 520 Introduction to Managed
  Care (3)
  NUA 503 Introduction to Nursing
  Administration (3)
  NUA/HCM 550 Health Care Finance (3)
  NUA 590 Nursing Administration
  Practicum I (3)
  NUA/HCM 535 Health Care Policy (3)
  NUA/LA 540 Health Care Law (3)
  NUA 591 Nursing Administration
  Practicum II (3)
• Nursing Education major requirements (40 credits): 31 credits in Nursing courses and 9 credits in electives:
  NU 501 Theoretical and Ethical Foundations of Advanced Nursing
  Practice (3)
  NU 512 Nursing and Health Care Systems
  and Organizations (3)
  NU 550 Advanced Pathophysiology I (3)
  NU 551 Advanced Pathophysiology II (3)
  NU 590 Health Care Data Analysis (3)
  NU 591 Health Care Research (3)
  NUE 503 Nursing Education I (3)
  NUE 504 Nursing Education II (3)
  NUE 505 Nursing Education III (3)
  NUE 590 Nursing Education Practicum (4)
  Electives (9)

Graduation Requirements
All graduate Nursing students must take and pass a comprehensive examination in the semester of graduation.
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PHYSICAL THERAPY (M.S.P.T.)
The Master of Science in Physical Therapy program’s goals are to:
n graduate scholarly practitioners who have sound clinical decision-making skills and are well prepared for general practice;
n nurture self-responsibility, active learning, intellectual curiosity, and self-efficacy in lifelong learning;
n prepare students for the various professional roles of the physical therapist practitioner (e.g., clinician, manager, educator, advocate, researcher, consultant); and
n produce well-informed ethical decision makers.
The Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Admission Requirements
Students enter the three-year, full-time-only graduate program in the fall semester. Class size is limited. Students seeking early consideration should submit a complete Physical Therapy application to the Graduate Admissions Office by December 15, 2003. Subsequent application deadlines are February 16 and April 15, 2004. Applications may be submitted after April 15, 2004, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis until the class is filled. Application materials are available on the University Web site or from the Graduate Admissions Office. A complete application includes:

• the University application form for the Physical Therapy program;
• an autobiographical essay, as described in the application packet, that outlines the student’s interest in physical therapy and educational and career goals;
• official transcripts for all college and university coursework;
• verification of completion of 40 hours of clinical observation or work in a physical therapy setting under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist;
• two letters of recommendation (using the form provided in the application packet) from faculty, academic advisors, or employers addressing the applicant’s ability, motivation, and interest in pursuing graduate studies in Physical Therapy; and
• scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

The Physical Therapy program’s Admissions Committee reviews all applications. Initial evaluation of applicants includes assessment of overall GPA, prerequisite science and math GPA, GRE scores, applicant’s written statement, community activities, and recommendations.
Special consideration is given to current Marymount students who have completed at least two full-time semesters at Marymount prior to applying, Marymount University graduates, current James Madison University students who qualify for the Marymount University/James Madison University articulation, and persons from minority groups that are underrepresented in the profession.
Applicants are selected based upon their qualifications and potential to contribute to the profession and their community, and who represent a broad diversity of backgrounds. Applicants are invited to campus to participate in Interview Day. Two Interview Days are scheduled each spring semester (January and March). Interview Day consists of a personal interview, group activity, and the completion of a writing sample. Please call the Office of Graduate Admissions to determine the dates of Interview Day for the upcoming year. Applicants who are unable to participate in Interview Day will be scheduled for an individual interview at the convenience of both the applicant and the program. Admission decisions are announced to applicants within 30 days following their scheduled interview. All accepted students must confirm acceptance within three weeks of notification.

Admission Eligibility
1. Bachelor’s degree
Except for students enrolled in an approved undergraduate/graduate articulation (Pre-Physical Therapy) program, applicants to the Master of Science in Physical Therapy program must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to entry into the Physical Therapy program.

2. Prerequisite Coursework
The following prerequisite courses, or their equivalent, must be completed with a grade of C or better prior to beginning the Physical Therapy program. No more than 12 credits from this group of courses may remain incomplete at the time of application to the program. For those students admitted to the program, final transcripts for these courses (if applicable) must be submitted to the PT office by mid-August.
PSC 151-152 Principles of Chemistry I & II (8)
BIO 151-152 General Biology I & II (8)
BIO 161-162 Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II (8)
PSC 171-172 General Physics I & II (8)
HPR 202 Exercise Physiology (3)
College-level Math (3)

The following prerequisite courses, or their equivalent, must be completed with a grade of C or better by the end of the second semester in the Physical Therapy program. It is recommended that no more than two of these courses should be left to be taken prior to beginning the Physical Therapy program.
MA 132 Statistical Analysis (3)
PSY 101 General Psychology (3)
PSY 210 Human Growth and Development (3)

3. International Students
In addition to meeting all admission requirements of the graduate program, all degree applicants for whom English is a second language are required to have a minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited postsecondary institution where the language of instruction is English are exempt from this requirement.

Other Requirements

• A 2.85 or higher cumulative GPA for all college and university coursework;
• A 2.85 or higher cumulative GPA for all prerequisite science or math coursework; and
• Completion of 40 hours of observation or volunteer service work in a physical therapy clinical setting, verified by a physical therapist from the clinical setting. These hours may be completed at more than one clinical facility. These hours must be completed before the application deadline.
  

Degree Requirements
Successful completion of all required courses (86 credits), including clinical practicum:
PT 500 Critical Assessment of Information (2)
PT 501 Clinical Neuroscience (5)
PT 502 Applied Pathophysiology (5)
PT 503 Health Care Delivery and Contemporary Society (3)
PT 504 Gross Anatomy (5)
PT 505 Foundations of Physical Therapy Assessment and Treatment (6)
PT 507 Evaluation and Management of Patients in Acute Care (5)
PT 508 Clinical Application of Physical Therapy Management of Patients in Acute Care (5)
PT 510 Research Principles/Critical Inquiry (3)
PT 511 Evaluation and Management of Patients with Peripheral Musculoskeletal Disorders (5)
PT 512 Evaluation and Management of Patients with Spinal Musculoskeletal Disorders (5)
PT 513 Thesis Seminar I (1)
PT 514 The Physical Therapist as a Manager (3)
PT 515 Clinical Practicum I (3)
PT 516 Evaluation and Management of Patients with Neurological Disorders (5)
PT 517 Clinical Application of Physical Therapy Management of Patients with Neurological Disorders (5)
PT 518 Thesis Seminar II (2)
PT 519 Clinical Practicum II (3)
PT 520 Clinical Practicum III (3)
PT 521 Critical Inquiry Project (3)
PT 522 Clinical Integration Seminar (3)
PT 525 Physical Agents and Electrotherapeutics (3)
PT 526 Evidence-Based Clinical Practice (2)
PT 527 Special Populations in Physical Therapy (1)

The Thesis
All candidates are required to complete a written thesis as part of a small-group research project that spans the three-year curriculum and culminates in a professional presentation of the scientific findings during the final semester of the program.

The Comprehensive Examination
Each student must pass a comprehensive written examination after completion of all coursework. All Physical Therapy program faculty members contribute questions to the exam.

Academic Progression Requirements
In addition to meeting University academic standards for graduate students, Physical Therapy students MUST successfully complete all required PT courses with a grade of C or better. A grade of C- or below indicates an unsatisfactory performance. When a course grade is unsatisfactory, the student MUST repeat the course (or a comparable course approved by the department chair) and receive a grade of B or better. Upon receiving an unsatisfactory final grade in any PT course, the student should immediately contact the PT department chair to examine remediation/continuation options. Students can be dismissed from the PT program if they demonstrate unsatisfactory performance in three or more required PT courses.
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