Online Advanced Population Health Nursing

The Online Advanced Population Health Nursing (APHN) Program is a distance-based master’s degree that prepares registered nurses for leadership roles in population health nursing. The program is geared towards registered nurses who wish to practice in Hawaii, the US mainland or in an international setting. APHN program coursework is completed online, and includes individual and group learning, as well as fieldwork activities conducted locally in the student’s own community.

Advanced population health nurses practice using outcome-driven strategies to manage health for groups of individuals. The APHN program equips graduates with skills to engage with patients in diverse contexts, and develop valuable insight into how health care affects individuals, families, and communities. The program focuses on population-level health, wellness, social determinants of health, health promotion, and disease prevention. Students learn critical population health skills such as community and population assessment; leadership, complex project/program management; disaster nursing, health services research; and health policy analysis.

The 30-39 credit program can be completed in one year as a full-time student or in two years as a part-time student. Students in the (APHN) program complete a six credit capstone project that includes 270 hours of fieldwork experience. The capstone project is designed to provide students with experience in the indirect care level of service at the aggregate population, organizational or systems level.

Fast Facts

• Two-step application process
• Admission in August (Fall)
• The 30-39 credit program is designed to be completed in one year as a full-time student or in two years as a part time student.
• Coursework is completed online and through fieldwork activities conducted locally in the student’s own community.
• Students complete a capstone project that can be conducted in their community.

Curriculum

The Online Advanced Population Health Nursing (APHN) Program is a 30 credit curriculum. The student may select the thesis option and enroll in an additional 9 credits. Below are sample full-time and part-time courses of study. Current students consult with the Online APHN Program Director to develop an individualized path to graduation.

Sample Full-Time Course of Study

Year 1 30 Credits
Fall 12 credits	NURS 620 Nursing Research and Theory (3) NURS 641 Global Health (3) NURS 662 Leadership, Role, Identity and Organizational/System Change (3) NURS 671 Biostatistics (3)
Spring 12 credits	NURS 600 Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing (3) NURS 609 Health Policy (3) NURS 626 Advanced Population Health Nursing (3) NURS 672 Advanced Population Health Nursing Capstone Practicum (3)
Summer 6 credits	NURS 670 Disaster Nursing (3) NURS 672 Advanced Population Health Nursing Capstone Practicum (3)

Total Number of Credits: 30 credits

Curriculum effective for students entering: Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022

Current students consult with the Online APHN Program Director for their individualized curriculum pathway.

Page updated: June 2, 2022

 

Sample Part-Time Course of Study

Year 1
Fall 6 credits	NURS 620 Nursing Research and Theory (3) NURS 671 Biostatistics (3)
Spring 6 credits	NURS 600 Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing (3) NURS 626 Advanced Public Health Nursing (3)
Summer 3-6 credits	NURS 670 Disaster Nursing (3) NURS 672 Advanced Population Health Nursing Capstone Practicum (v 1-6)
Year 2
Fall 6-9 credits	NURS 609 Health Policy (3) NURS 641 Global Health (3) NURS 672 Advanced Population Health Nursing Capstone Practicum (v 1-6)
Spring 3-6 credits	NURS 662 Introduction to Leadership & Management of Health Organizations (3) NURS 672 Advanced Population Health Nursing Capstone Practicum (v 1-6)

Total Number of Credits: 30 credits

Curriculum effective for students entering: Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022

Current students consult with the Online APHN Program Director for their individualized curriculum pathway.

Page updated: June 2, 2022

 

Thesis Option (Plan A): 9 Additional Credits

Thesis Option
Variable	NURS 692 Methods for Nursing Research (3) NURS 700 Thesis (6)

Total Number of Credits with Thesis Option: 39 credits

Curriculum effective for students entering: Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022

Current students consult with the Master’s Program Advisor for their individualized curriculum pathway.

Page updated: June 2, 2022

How to Apply

Fall (August) 2023 Applications Available: September 1, 2022

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Application Information

The Master’s Program uses a rolling admissions process. Applicants must submit fully completed applications containing all requirements for both the UHM Graduate Division and the DON to be reviewed for admission to the program. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and cannot be re-submitted. Applicants can apply only once per annual admission cycle. Applicants must meet the requirements of both the UH Manoa Graduate Division and the DON for admission to the program.

Each applicant is evaluated on the merit of their individual application and placed into one of three categories: admit, alternate or deny. Notifications about decisions occur following review of the completed application by the admissions team.

We encourage applicants to apply beginning September 1 both in the NursingCAS system and the UHM Graduate Division. Please check NursingCAS and the UHM Graduate Division for a full listing of application requirements.

Two-Step Application Process

Application Requirements are found on the websites listed below.

Step 1 – Apply to UH Manoa Graduate Division

• https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/how-to-apply/
• Fee: $100
• Select “MS in Nursing” as the planned course of study

Step 2 – Apply to Nursing’s Centralized Application Service

Application deadlines for NCAS are set to Eastern Standard Time (EST) and will close at midnight EST the date of the deadline.

• http://www.nursingcas.org
• Fee: $75 (fee increase effective August 11, 2022)
• Select “Online MS Advanced Population Health Nursing (APHN)” for the planned course of study

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Admission Requirements for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in nursing

Education

Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited college or university earned by July 15 of the program start year.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Undergraduate GPA 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Licensure

Current unrestricted RN license in the United States or evidence of passing the NCLEX-RN exam and have a current RN license in the state or jurisdiction of practice by the end of the first semester of the program.

Research Course Completion

Successful completion of an undergraduate research course or equivalent within 7 years of beginning classes in the MS program. Applicants who have not completed an undergraduate research course within 7 years of beginning classes in the program may still be admitted, but must complete the undergraduate research course by the end of the first semester of the program.

English Language Proficiency

If an applicant’s native language is not English or has not obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an English speaking college, then the applicant must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores with a minimum score of 600/100 (paper/internet) and subtest scores of 25 for listening and 25 for speaking or Grad International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum score of 7.00.

International Students

Please visit the UH Manoa Office of International Student Services page, email them at issmanoa@hawaii.edu, or call them at (808) 956-8613.

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Admission Requirements for RNs with an Associate Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor degree or higher in another field

Education

Completion of a Diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing Program and a non-nursing baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university earned by July 15 of the program start year.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Undergraduate GPA 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Licensure

Current unrestricted RN license in the United States or evidence of passing the NCLEX-RN exam and have a current RN license in the state or jurisdiction of practice by the end of the first semester of the program.

Research Course Completion

Successful completion of an undergraduate research course or equivalent within 7 years of beginning classes in the MS program. Applicants who have not completed an undergraduate research course within 7 years of beginning classes in the program may still be admitted, but must complete the undergraduate research course by the end of the first semester of the program.

RN to MS Requirement

Applicants with a non-nursing baccalaureate should have evidence of baccalaureate level knowledge in research; community, public, and global health; and an integrative clinical practicum and leadership development within the last seven years. Competency in each of the three areas may have been obtained through course work, professional programs, and/or professional or life experience.

The admitted student can petition to waive coursework by submitting an experiential portfolio to demonstrate either coursework or experience in the required areas. Samples of evidence include: resume, transcripts for previous college coursework; course syllabi which outline course descriptions and learning objectives; professional training programs coursework that includes learning objectives. Guidelines for the experiential portfolio are available from the Nursing Office of Student Services.

English Language Proficiency

If an applicant’s native language is not English or has not obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an English speaking college, then the applicant must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores with a minimum score of 600/100 (paper/internet) and subtest scores of 25 for listening and 25 for speaking or Grad International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum score of 7.00.

International Students

Please visit the UH Manoa Office of International Student Services page, email them at issmanoa@hawaii.edu, or call them at (808) 956-8613.

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