All courses within the Graduate School Nurse program are completely online. Courses are taught using the educational platform Blackboard.  
 
Through this platform, students will have access to assignments, discussion boards, messaging (other students, faculty, and staff), syllabi, and the graduate nursing community which will include all necessary resources, important information, updates, and announcements for their time as a student within the program.  
 

The Graduate School Nurse program follows the NJCU Graduate Academic Calendar linked below:  
 
Graduate Academic Calendar | New Jersey City University (njcu.edu).  
 
Fall and Spring semesters follow 13 – 15 Week schedules while Summer courses are 10-week sessions.  
 
While the courses are completely online, lesson modules and assignments are posted weekly through Blackboard and will have assigned due dates.  
 
Following the start of each semester, if a student has not yet submitted assignments, communicated within the course discussion boards, or contacted their instructor to make them aware of personal circumstances, a wellness check email will be sent with a reminder to complete any missing coursework and to communicate with the course instructor.  

The program does not follow a set schedule, but there are specific classes that are offered during certain semesters. Below is a table showing current course offerings per semester. Please note that there are no winter session course offerings. 

Non-Instructional Certification allows you to serve as a school nurse within a New Jersey school district. 
 
Standard Instructional Certification allows you to serve as a school nurse as well as teach health education.

Yes, there are two practicum courses within the program. NURS 672: School Nurse Practicum will earn students their Non-Instructional certification. For students seeking to earn their Instructional Certification, they must also complete NURS 673: Health Education Practicum.

The School Nurse and Health Education Practicum courses (NURS 672 & NURS 673) allow for full-time nurses to complete their Practicum hours at the schools where they are currently employed.  
 
At the time of applying to the Practicum courses, students submit signed workplace request forms and, if accepted for enrollment, have placement contracts completed by their district-level administrators. Full details and instructions are provided weeks in advance of Practicum admission cycles. 

The Graduate School Nurse program has rolling admission, and you can apply at any time to begin classes at the start of an upcoming semester/session.  
 
For example, if you apply during the Spring, you could begin your classes as early as Summer, or if you apply during the Summer, you could begin in the Fall, etc. 
 
Please be mindful that while we do have rolling admission, course registration becomes available by the university months in advance to the start of an upcoming semester. 
 
Certain courses and semester start terms are more popular than others which means you may find yourself added to course registration waitlists the later you wait to apply for admission to the program.  
 
When applying for the program, it’s possible to select a future semester as your start-date. For example, if you submit an application in Spring, it is possible to choose to apply for a Fall start and be registered for your first class much earlier.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master's degree program in nursing at New Jersey City University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The MS Program is accredited until December 31, 2032. This accreditation action was made effective March 28, 2022.

New Jersey Department of Education
The School Nurse Certificate Program is approved by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). Program completers who meet all program and State certification requirements will be eligible for the appropriate school nurse instructional or non-instructional certifications.

• Full-online program with asynchronous and synchronous course options 
• The program is designed for adult learners
• A Comprehensive and challenging curriculum
• NJCU's culturally diverse faculty possess excellent teaching and academic credentials, including school nurse certification
• Affordable tuition rates
• Seamless learning experiences
• Professional growth opportunities to support nurses’ career trajectories

Students who complete the Master of Science in Nursing with a Specialization in School Nursing Program at NJCU will be able to:

1. Engage in the processes of scholarship, critical thinking, communication, and research for practice and advanced study.
2. Employ information systems technology and inter-professional collaboration to manage and transform clinical and educational practice.
3. Evaluate socioeconomic and healthcare policy issues and trends that affect advanced practice and nursing education.
4. Provide leadership to promote effective change in health care delivery systems and nursing education through the integration of advanced nursing knowledge, theories, and principles for effective outcomes.
5. Design population-centered and culturally responsive strategies in the delivery of clinical and educational practice.
6. Assimilate the role of the school nurse in schools and communities with diverse populations.
7. Demonstrate competencies in using evidence-based practice to design, implement, and evaluate nursing services and health education curricula in schools and communities