Online Master of Science in Nu...

Nursing: Public & Population Health (Online)

Improve community-wide health initiatives

The Master of Science in Nursing – Public and Population Health online program at Worcester State prepares you to positively impact societal healthcare outcomes while progressing in your role as a professional nurse. With public health concerns on the rise, nurses prepared to engage in community-based intervention models are needed to lead the way toward a healthier society. This online MSN program meets demand by broadening your nursing scope and qualifying you to reach wider audiences.

As part of the curriculum, you will explore the most relevant issues in today’s large-scale health industry and gain the opportunity to specialize your studies in global and cross-cultural health or health systems transformation. Throughout every course, you will learn from our experienced faculty who are experts in their field. In fact, the Dr. Lillian R. Goodman Department of Nursing at Worcester State is one of seven U.S. nursing schools singled out for its innovative population health curriculum and best practices by the AACN and the CDC in their Academic Partnerships to Improve Health (APIH) initiative.

This rigorous academic program prepares you for evidence-based nursing practice with a growing focus on multidisciplinary care and the nurse’s role as leader and manager of the client’s health care. Our graduate level curriculum reflects the core knowledge for all master’s programs in nursing as defined in The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. These Essentials are core for all master’s programs in nursing and provide the necessary curricular elements and framework, regardless of focus, major, or intended practice setting.

The comprehensive MSN Public & Population Health degree leads you to advanced community roles that even an MPH cannot, such as expanded nursing positions, unique teaching opportunities, and global clinical healthcare service and prepares you for further post-graduate or doctoral study.

As an added benefit, in earning this MSN degree and gaining the relevant experience, you will be eligible to apply for national certifications including:

Certified in Public Health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners
Advanced Nursing Executive by the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Certified in Executive Nursing Practice by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE)

In this program, you will:

Learn to use evidence-informed decision-making models and analytic skills to nimbly respond to pressing societal needs
Become equipped with leading-edge, interdisciplinary research to lead sustainable change in community and population health practice
Develop skills to serve vulnerable populations and communities through intensive practicum internship
Build a professional network from a wide range of disciplines

Check out the different nursing courses waiting for you at Worcester State!

NU 952: Public and Population Health Nursing Theory and Practice

Public and population health nursing is shaped by social, behavioral, cultural, and demographic factors that impact healthcare at multiple levels. In this course, students develop an understanding of the history of public health and public health nursing, public health law and ethics, system infrastructure, and health equity and health disparities. Students analyze theories and research that will assist them in understanding the social determinants of health. Students develop models to assess and deliver healthcare to promote a culture of health in identified populations.

3 credits

NU 953: Public and Global Health Policy, Politics, and Progress

In this course, students examine the role of federal, state, and local government in the assurance of public health through health policy and law. Consideration is given to contemporary policy, law and regulatory issues arising in public health practice, as well as to the economics and financing of public health programs. Advocacy, political, and creative processes as they relate to the formulation, implementation, and modification of health policy are examined and discussed. Students also learn how to structure and write a health policy analysis.

3 credits

NU 954: Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice in Public and Population Health

Nurses base practice on sound and tested evidence to ensure the safety, high quality, and cost-effectiveness of patient care. Students have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the development and relationship of nursing theory, research, and public and population health nursing practice. Students explore the role of nursing theory in both research and practice. They examine research literature to differentiate and critique various research designs, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method models; appraise statistical data; and analyze evidence. Critical evaluation of research for decision-making to enhance public and population health practice is emphasized.

3 credits

NU 955: Epidemiology and Population Health

Students in this course are provided with an overview of epidemiologic methodology in the study of the distribution and etiology of disease and health-related conditions in human populations. Students examine common epidemiologic study designs and discuss the strengths and weaknesses inherent in each. They explore and discuss select global problems, such as the global burden of communicable and non-communicable disease, environmental threats to health, bioterrorism, and effects of disasters and emergencies. Students will apply epidemiologic and biostatistical methods to study factors related to aggregate, population, and individual health.

3 credits

NU 956: Informatics and Data Science for Population and Public Health

This course introduces population and public health informatics, the field devoted to the optimal use of data, information, and knowledge to advance individual health, health care, public health, and health-related research. Healthcare research topics covered include evidence-based practice, use of large databases, data mining, consumer information, health promotion and maintenance, and quality assessment. The management of health data in the achievement of healthcare organization objectives is emphasized. Students will learn the application of informatics in areas of public health, including surveillance, prevention, preparedness, and health promotion. Application activities will include public and population health data analysis, visualization of data, answering questions using information retrieval methods, and performing simple association analysis.

3 credits

NU 957: Public and Population Health Nursing Leadership

The development of leadership strategies is imperative to the delivery of high-quality, population-based care by the public health system. Students address the application of principles and theories of leadership and management in a public health setting as well as the skills needed for nurses to provide effective leadership across agency partnerships at the local, state, national, and international levels. Special focus is placed on developing collaborative partnerships, systems-based thinking, evidence-based decision making, organizational problem-solving, public health finance and budgeting, accreditation, emergency preparedness, and global health competencies.

3 credits

NU 958: Global Perspectives on Health and Environment

Students are introduced to current public health issues and challenges affecting vulnerable populations around the globe. Particular emphasis is given to the environmental, social, and economic determinants of health and possible intervention strategies for addressing the global burden of disease. Students examine causal links between chemical, physical, and biological hazards in the local and global environment and their impact on health. Using theories, frameworks and methods presented in the course, students assess current solutions and consider new ways to address strategies to promote human health and justice in light of environmental threats, such as waste, water, air, vectors, and global warming as well as issues related to bioterrorism and disaster preparedness and management.

3 credits

NU 959: Genetics and Genomics in Public and Population Health

In this course, students will understand the emerging science of genetics and genomics in public and population health. Students will gain insight of conditions and environmental forces on health from natural and acquired genetic and genomic perspectives. Focusing on screening for genetic risk factors and environmental impacts on the genome the student will describe both local, regional and worldwide impacts.

3 credits

NU 962: Program Planning and Evaluation for Public and Population Health

Students in this course develops competency in the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategic and program planning. They receive an overview of public health program planning and development, as well as needs and asset assessment. Students focus on the methods required to develop, implement, and evaluate a strategic plan. Students discuss the administration and coordination of public and population health program interventions and activities, and they explore the variety of methods used to facilitate public health research (quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-methods) in practice settings. Students engage in course assignments that focus on real-world nursing practice applications of theory.

3 credits

NU 963: Population-Based Public Health Nursing Interventions

In this course, students continue to develop specialized knowledge and skills in advanced public health nursing (PHN) and the delivery of population healthcare within the context of inter-professional practice. Students gain a greater understanding of public health and population health informatics, environmental health issues, evidence-based public health, and the role of advocacy for policy and social change. The focus of the course is on the assessment and development of culturally sensitive interventions targeted at community and population levels through a practicum experience.

3 credits

NU 964: Applied Project in Public and Population Health

As a culminating experience, MS students are provided the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to synthesize and integrate advanced knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program and to apply theory and principles in a public health project focused on social change. For this project, students write a grant proposal for a public health initiative or create a community health program plan. The project must address the needs of a specific population in the student’s field site community. Students are also required to describe how the ANCC Advanced Public Health Nursing Scope and Standards were demonstrated while carrying out the project.

4 credits

Admissions requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution
Grade point average of 2.75 or higher
Active, unencumbered RN license in the state you would like to complete practicum hours
Two professional references
Career essay

Official transcripts may be mailed or emailed directly from the granting institution(s) to:

Mailing Address:

Graduate Admissions Office
Worcester State University
486 Chandler Street
Worcester, MA 01602

Email: gradadmissions@worcester.edu