Our graduate program offers a Master of Science degree with a major in nursing with a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) concentration. The program will provide theoretical and practical knowledge in the areas of evidence-based practice, pharmacology, pathophysiology, assessment, and the care of women in a variety of settings. WHNP's are advanced practice nurses who are experts in woman-focused health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention. WHNP's manage chronic health conditions affecting women.
Student Learning Objectives for the Graduate Program:
- Articulate a well-developed and differentiated client plan within the nursing domain and the area of specialization.
- Synthesize advanced practice nursing knowledge including, ethical, legal, economic, and cultural considerations within the area of specialization.
- Employ knowledge of evidence-based practice using information, informatics, and cultural literacy.
- Apply advanced leadership skills to advocate for vulnerable populations.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare members including client, family, and community to facilitate desired outcomes.
- Demonstrate continued growth as a nursing professional through self-reflection.
The curriculum evolves from the aspects of the role of the nurse practitioner as identified by National League for Nursing (NLN), The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF). At the completion of this program, graduates will be eligible for certification and licensure/prescriptive authority as an advanced practice provider. This 46 credit hour program includes 600+ hours in supervised clinical practice in primary and acute care settings. This program is designed to be completed in eight semesters or three calendar years.
Admission Requirements
Classes begin May, August and January.
You may be considered for conditional admission status if you do not meet one or more of the following requirements:
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Undergraduate 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Registered nurse licensure and eligible for Indiana licensure
- TOEFL examination required for students whose native language is not English
- 300-level undergraduate research and statistics courses within the last five years
A Purdue University Graduate Application must be submitted electronically. You should complete the application according to the procedures detailed on cover page of the form and indicate Fort Wayne as the selected campus.
- 300-350 word essay which addresses the following topics:
- Your reasons for pursuing this graduate degree.
- The area of specialization (Adult Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, or Nurse Executive) you are applying for.
- Your career goals and professional plans.
- One (1) official transcript from each college/university attended.
- Three references utilizing the recommendation for admission form. One of the references must be from a current or former nurse educator and one must be from a current or former nurse supervisor/manager.
- One (1) copy of your current resume.
- The completed application is to be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499. When all the necessary materials to complete your application file have been received, they will be forwarded to the Nursing Department.
- The application will then be submitted to the Department Chairperson for evaluation and recommendation to the Graduate Committee. The application will be reviewed and evaluated by the Graduate Committee of the Nursing Department. Each member of the Committee will recommend acceptance or rejection of the candidate. Applicants are notified of official acceptance by the Graduate School of Purdue University.
- Application Deadlines:
- Spring Admission -
- November 15 of the preceding year (for domestic students)
- September 15 of the preceding year (for international students)
- Fall Admission -
- June 30 (for domestic students)
- April 1 (for international students)
Post Baccalaureate Admission
Students may enroll as post baccalaureate students and complete up to 12 credit hours by submitting a non degree status application as well as the application for degree enrollment.
Must be Completed Upon Admission to the Graduate Program in Nursing:
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Background Check (Complete background check on line, results are sent directly to the Department of Nursing.): Healthcare Student Background Check
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Health record form including proof of Hepatitis B immunizations, or a positive titer is to be turned in to the Graduate Program secretary in the Department of Nursing. Health Record Form.
English proficiency requirement: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language System (IELTS) is required for students whose native language is not English. Applicants must achieve a TOEFL score of 550 or higher on the paper-based test, 213 or higher on the computer- based test. Applicants who take the Internet-based test (TOEFLiBT) must achieve the following minimum test scores, in addition to an overall (combined) score of at least 77: reading, 19; listening, 14; speaking, 18; writing, 18. Applicants taking the IELTS must score at least 6.5 on the academic module.
Selection of a Committee: A student's graduate committee consists of at least three faculty members from the department, and possibly one or more external members.
Submission of a Plan of Study: A tentative plan of study should be drafted with an academic advisor prior to registration for the first semester of graduate work. Students must file a formal plan of study at least two semesters before graduation.
Transfer of Credits: A maximum of 21 hours of graduate credit from another institution may be approved by the student's committee for inclusion in a program of study.
Although students may take courses on other Purdue campuses, at least 51% of the total credit hours used to satisfy degree requirements must be earned in residence on the IPFW campus. Remote televised instruction from a campus is considered to have been obtained from that campus, regardless of the student's physical location.
Credit for courses taken in post baccalaureate status: Students are eligible to include in the program of study, no more than 12 hours of graduate credit taken while enrolled as a post baccalaureate residents prior to being admitted to a graduate degree program.
Note: Course names underlined and in BOLD require clinical hours
All clinical requirements must be met for these courses. The lab hours are completed in a clinical setting.
The semester prior to enrolling in a clinical course, several forms must be completed. Clinical Requirements can be found at this link: Graduate Student Resources
Graduate Core Requirements 25 Credits (cr.)
- NUR 50200 - Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing (Cr. 3)
- NUR 50300 - Advanced Health Assessment (Cr. 3)
- NUR 50700 - Physiologic Concepts for Advanced Practice Nursing (Cr. 4)
- NUR 52100 - Theoretical Constructs in Nursing (Cr. 3)
- NUR 52300 - Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (Cr. 3)
- NUR 52500 - Informatics in Nursing (Cr. 3)
- NUR 55500 - Health Disparities: Care of Vulnerable Populations (Cr. 3)
- NUR 68200 - Synthesis and Application (Cr. 3)
Nurse Practitioner Core 6 Credits
- NUR 51100 - Theories and Applications of Health Promotion (Cr. 3)
- NUR 56800 - The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in Practice Management (Cr. 3)
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization 15 Credits
- NUR 56500 - Women's Health I: Advanced Nursing Care of Well Woman (Cr. 3)
- NUR 56600 - Women's Health Clinical Practicum I (Cr. 3)
- NUR 56700 - Women's Health II: Advanced Nursing Care of Women with Health Alterations (Cr. 3)
- NUR 56900 - Women's Health III: Advanced Nursing Care of the
Low Risk Obstetrical Patient (Cr. 3)
- NUR 57000 - Women's Health Clinical Practicum II (Cr. 3)
Scholarly Achievement (Optional)
- NUR 69800 - Research MS Thesis (Cr. 3)
Thesis option student: Students may choose to complete a thesis. All thesis students must pass a final oral defense of their thesis work, after the student's thesis committee has approved the completed thesis and before their degree is awarded. The time and format of the examination will be decided and arranged by the student and by the student's thesis committee.
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
