The Master of Science in Forensic Nursing at Duquesne is given in collaboration with the Duquesne School of Nursing and the School of Law's Institute of Forensic Science and Law. Since all courses are conducted online, you must have the technology and skills necessary to conduct online chats, send and receive email and conduct web research. To apply, you must first complete the online university application at duq.edu, and then complete a separate application to the nursing school.
Students can enroll to take courses full-time or part-time, but must finish within six years. The requirements include eight core M.S.N. courses such as Methods of Nursing Research and Theory in Nursing, and seven forensics courses such as Theories of Violence, Trial Preparation and Criminal Law, and a forensics clinical. Upon completion of the M.S.N. program, students may continue on to obtain a Ph.D. in Forensic Nursing.
Registered nurses at hospitals affiliated with Duquesne may be eligible for a 30 percent tuition discount.
Duquesne University
600 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
412-396-4945
duq.edu/nursing
The forensics M.S.N. program at Boston College includes not only course work but also clinical observation and practice in area correctional facilities. These include centers for adult, crime labs and legal clinics. Students may also observe trials at local courts, to hear how forensic nurses provide testimony.
The length of the program is at least one year. Only six courses are required, but each one covers a broad area of knowledge. For example, Psychosocial and Legal Aspects of Forensic Practice in Nursing and Health Care covers topics which in other programs might be in two or three separate courses. If you have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, you can earn licensure as a Registered Nurse in 11 months and then continue immediately on to the M.S.N. program, completing both in 21 months.
Boston College
William F. Connell School of Nursing
Cushing Hall, Room 202
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-4928
bc.edu/schools/son
Xavier's School of Nursing offers a forensics concentration in the M.S.N. program that prepares students for leadership roles in forensic nursing, such as management positions or lobbying work. The program also trains students to continue into sub-specialties such as forensic nursing death investigation, forensic psychiatric nursing or nurse coroner.
The 36 credits of requirements are divided equally between M.S.N. core courses (Epidemiologic Methods in Health Care, Health Care Ethics for Nursing Leaders) and specialty forensics courses (Criminalistics, two practica).
To be admitted you must be a Registered Nurse and have taken an undergraduate statistics course. If you do not have a bachelor's degree, you might be eligible for the R.N.-to-M.S.N. program. Special programs are also available for those whose bachelor's degree is in an area other than nursing.
Xavier University
119 Cohen Center
3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207
513-745-3814
xavier.edu/msn