The Boston College School of Nursing and the Wallace E. Carroll Graduate School of Management offer a joint degree program leading to two separate graduate degrees, an MS in Nursing and an MBA. This option prepares students for advanced nursing practice while providing the management and financial skills required to lead in the strategic planning and financial decision making of health care organizations.
The joint degree option enables the students to earn the two master's degrees simultaneously in three or four academic years. The time required to earn both degrees is shortened by consolidation of some of the requirements in each degree program. Students spend their first year in the joint degree option taking courses in the School of Nursing. The second year is dedicated to graduate management core courses, including the first two courses in the Management Practice sequence. The final year of course work is done in combination with both schools.
Sample Curriculum
Year I - Fall: 15 credits
- NU 415 Concepts in Nursing (3)
- NU 416 Ethical Reasoning (3)
- NU 520 Nursing Research (3)
- NU 420 Pharmacology (3)
- Nursing Specialty Theory I (3)
Year I - Spring: 12 credits
- NU 417 Advanced Practice Role (3)
- NU 408 Pathophysiology (3)
- NU 430 Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- Nursing Specialty Theory II (3)
Year II - Fall: 16 credits
- Management Practice I (6)
- 5 Management Core Courses (10)
Year II - Spring: 15 credits
- Management Practice II (5)
- 6 Management Core Courses (10)
Year III - Fall: 12 credits
- Management Practice III (3)
- 1 Management Elective (3)
- Nursing Specialty Practice I (6)
Year III - Spring: 12 credits
- Management Practice IV (3)
- 1 Management Elective (3)
- Nursing Specialty Practice II (6)
Course Descriptions and Schedules are available.
The curriculum plan above is one example of the 82 credit MS/MBA option. Each student develops an individualized plan of study with his or her faculty advisor; the curriculum plan above shows the full-time plan for the duration of the program.