Nurse Educator Certificate Program, Certificate

MSN Admissions Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• An active registered nurse license or eligibility for licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. New Jersey licensure as a registered nurse is also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all MSN programs.
• Evidence of the equivalent of 12 months full-time nursing practice within the last three (3) years
• For the Post-Graduate Certification Programs, evidence of a minimum of one (1) year of experience as a practicing licensed registered nurse within the past two (2) years

How to Apply

*For applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement, completion of the GRE or MAT will be required to be considered for admission to the program

*International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)

* All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.

Courses are designed using a variety of multimedia and technology applications that role model effective online teaching strategies. 

Courses

• NU 550:  Theories of Teaching and Learning (4 credits) 
• NU 552:  Teaching Methods and Media (4 credits) 
• NU 553:  Curriculum Design and Evaluation (4 credits) 

Students may take one course for personal development. However, applicants to the Nurse Educator Certificate program must comply with all admission criteria and processes as other DeSales MSN certificate programs.

The virtual learning environment assumes that the adult learner is an internally-motivated, active participant in the learning process who will embrace a vibrant academic experience that allows for a degree of self-direction and internal monitoring.

Nurse Educator Certificate Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Nurse Educator Certificate program will:

1. Demonstrate an inner core of Christian humanistic values that guide professional decisions.
2. Facilitate learning through a variety of methodologies that are theoretically grounded and evidence based.
3. Design and evaluate educational offerings based on the needs of diverse learners in academic and clinical environments.
4. Establish proficiency in outcome development and measurement.
5. Incorporate best practice evidence in the use of technology and information systems in the learning environment.
6. Articulate the role of the nursing faculty member in program accreditation and regulation.
7. Discuss scholarship, teaching, professional development, and service within the context of the faculty role.
8. Ethically respond to challenges presented in higher education.

Tuition and fees for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) are as follows.

• Tuition/credit hour: $975*
• Laboratory Fee: $250**
• Returned Check Service: $30
• Graduation Fee: $120

*Tuition/credit hours listed are for 2024/2025 academic year. Tuition and fees are reviewed each academic year and are subject to change with notice.
**Average cost. Laboratory fees are due on registration.

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and graduate program information sheets

Tuition Deferment

DeSales University offers graduate students the opportunity to defer payment of their tuition when they will be receiving reimbursement from their employer or when they are eligible to receive financial aid. A copy of your employer's tuition reimbursement policy must be forwarded to the Treasurer's Office and/or all necessary financial aid paperwork must be filed with the Financial Aid Office before tuition deferment is granted. 

Tuition deferment is a privilege given to graduate students at DeSales and can be revoked if this privilege is abused. Please note that you, as the student, are responsible for payment of your tuition balance in the event that your financial aid/loans or employer reimbursement is not received by the Treasurer's Office.

Tuition Reimbursement

When a student is eligible for tuition reimbursement from his/her employer, written evidence of eligibility is required. The student is responsible for requesting this reimbursement from his/her employer. In cases where reimbursement is contingent upon successful completion of the course(s) and the student either withdraws or does not achieve a grade sufficient to warrant maximum reimbursement, the student is ultimately responsible for payment for the course(s).

Refund on Withdrawal

A refund of tuition payments will be made to a student who withdraws from a course. In all cases, credits will be calculated from the date the student completed the official withdrawal form, and the rebate will be based on the schedule shown below. 

Refunds apply to tuition only. If a student is allowed to enroll by use of the deferred payment procedure, any funds due the University are immediately due and payable upon withdrawal.

Withdrawal during the add/drop period is 100% of tuition refunded. The schedule below is for withdrawal after the first class after the close of the add/drop period. 

The refund policy is based upon the number of classes held up to 
the date of withdrawal.

• Withdrawal after 1st class: 80% of tuition refunded
• Withdrawal after 2nd class: 65% of tuition refunded
• Withdrawal after 3rd class: 50% of tuition refunded
• Withdrawal after 4th class: 25% of tuition refunded
• >Withdrawal after 5th class: No refund