A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in Canada can be offered in a variety of formats. Traditional in-class formats are found at most of the top schools. The University of Toronto offers a nursing science degree at the master's level that covers administration, clinical nursing, and nurse practitioner training in an in-class setting. (see reference 2)
The second most common format for MSN degrees in Canada is through distance education. Athabasca University is known for its distance-education format, offering all courses on line. This includes the MSN program featuring a general and advanced nursing practice stream. This course requires online conferencing, but can otherwise be done on the student's own schedule using an Internet connection to access course material.
University of Toronto
Graduate Department of Nursing Science
Suite 130, 155 College Street
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1P8
Canada
416-978-8727
utoronto.ca
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3
Canada
800-788-9041
athabascau.ca
Although many MSN programs in Canada allow students to specialize in different areas of health care, there is a core set of learning objectives that can be found in the majority of programs. Some of the more common topics studied include clinical nursing, nursing administration, nurse practitioner training, leadership in nursing, theories of nursing practice, trends and issues in current nursing practice, and methods of diagnosis.
While taking an MSN degree, students can choose to specialize in one of several areas. These areas often include leadership specializations such as nursing administration or nurse education streams, as well as more clinical specializations like perioperative nursing and women's health. Depending on the format of the degree, students may choose a specialization in their second year of their master's degree, or they may add on a post-master's certificate upon completion of the core curriculum.
Master MSN degrees in Canada usually require that students have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or equivalent. Some degrees, such as the direct-entry applied Master of Science in Nursing program from McGill University, allow students with no nursing experience or education to obtain their MSN. This does require a bachelor's degree, but not necessarily in nursing. Other requirements will vary by school, but usually consist of a minimum grade point average, some nursing experience, and recommendations from undergraduate professors or employers.
McGill University
School of Nursing
Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street
Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7
514-398-4144
mcgill.ca
Upon completion of an MSN degree in Canada, students can enter the nursing profession from a variety of careers. Some of the careers open to graduates include registered nurse, nurse administrator, clinical nurse, nurse practitioner, oncological nurse, public health and more. Those interested in pursuing higher education in nursing can also obtain a doctoral degree after a master of nursing degree, and go on to teach nursing at the academic level.