Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Adds Nursing Master’s Degree
SMWC's previous English Language Institute program dissolved in the 1980s.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSaint Mary-of-the-Woods College has announced a new program designed to prepare registered nurses for a career as a family nurse practitioner. The Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner degree program is expected to begin in the fall.
The three year program requires 44 credit hours of coursework and 500 clinical hours. Students in the program will attend classes on campus once a week. SMWC officials say research shows many areas in Indiana, especially the counties surrounding the college, are in need of this specialty. “There’s a tremendous need for nurse practitioners in both urban and rural settings,” said Marcia Miller, Ph.D., chair of the nursing department. “Nurse practitioners will play a vital role in healthcare for U.S. citizens to have a more effective, more efficient and more cost-savings model.”
Nurse practitioners are expected to see 31-percent growth from 2014-2024, due to an increased emphasis on preventative care. Nursing is also the fastest growing major at SMWC. The new program is subject to approval from the Higher Learning Commission.