Q.  Do I have to take the GRE or MAT?
A.  No the GRE or MAT is no longer required.

Q.  When can I start the program and how many credits can a student take as a non-matriculated student?
A.  Students may begin this program in the fall (September - December), spring (January – May) or summer (late May) semesters.   Graduate students may complete 12 graduate credits within 1 year while preparing an application for admission*.  Students looking to take Spring 2018 courses may start with:

• NURS 8000 Introduction to Forensic Nursing Online 1/22 – 5/14/18
• NURS 7000 Nursing with Diverse Populations Online 1/22 – 5/14/18
• NURS 7200 Nursing Theory Online 1/22 – 5/14/18
• NURS 8410 Criminal Law 1/22 – 5/14/18
  (No clinical requirements for these courses)

Q.  What is the average course load of a Forensic Nursing student and how long does it take to complete the program?
A.  Students typically complete 6 graduate credits per semester. You must complete 3 graduate credits per semester to meet federal financial aid requirements.  This program can be completed in 2.5 years, however students have a total of 6 years from the first course they take in the program to graduate.

Q.  What is the price per credit for an out of state student?
A.  Graduate credits are priced the same for in or out of state students. Graduate credits for these programs are currently priced at $377.00 per credit, which covers tuition and fees, books are a separate cost**.
 
Q.  Does the MSN in Forensic Nursing or Forensic Nursing Graduate Certificate program have a residency requirement? Can I do the program 100% online?
A.  The MSN in Forensic Nursing or Forensic Nursing Graduate Certificate programs have no residency requirement, meaning you will complete the coursework 100% online. Students complete the clinical component in their home state.

Q.  Do you offer a payment plan?
A.  Yes, a payment plan is available for fall and spring GCE courses. Please visit our website for more information.

Q.  How many hours of clinical do I need to complete?
A.  Students in the M.S.N. in Forensic Nursing (Online) program complete a total of 420 clinical hours. Students in the Forensic Nursing Graduate Certificate (Online) program complete 360 clinical hours.

Q.  Where do I complete the clinical hours?
A.  Clinical agencies include:

• District Attorney’s Office
• Hospitals
• Police Departments
• Medical Examiner’s Office
• Department of Human Services
• Youth Services

Q.  How do I set them up?
A.  Students are provided with a form that guides them into setting up their clinical.  They are given “Suggested” clinical agencies and steps on how to formally set all required information up.

Q.  Can I do the clinical hours at my place of employment?
A.  Student can do clinical at the institution where they work, but not on the unit where they work.  Clinical cannot be completed while a student is paid for the same hours.

Q.  What happens if a student moves during the program?
A.  Since the program is all online it does not matter if a student relocates prior to graduation.  However, he or she would need to arrange clinical wherever they are.

Q.  Why do you say the program is offered completely online if I have to complete clinical in my home state?
A.  Coursework in the MSN in Forensic Nursing and Forensic Nursing Graduate Certificate programs are offered 100% online. Students complete clinical hours in their home state.
 
Q.  I’m new to online learning, how should I begin?
A.  Watch a free online course demo to get a feel for online learning.

Q.  I’m a RN with a B.A. or B.S. in another subject than Nursing, can I apply to your program?
A.  Yes, RN’s with a B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., Ed. D. or Ph.D. may complete a pre-matriculation portfolio. Please contact us at gce@fitchburgstate.edu or 978-665-3182 for more information.
 
Q.  Do I need to have an MSN to apply for the Forensic Nursing Certificate?
A.  Yes, you must hold your MSN to apply for the Forensic Nursing Graduate Certificate

Q.  I’ve been out of school for a while where can I get an academic letter of recommendation?
A.  If you have been out of school for some time and are unable to get an academic reference please submit 3 professional references.  Please review our recommendation blog for additional ideas for people to ask.

Q.  Where have your graduates ended up working?
A.  Students who graduated from this program have worked in a variety of settings and roles including:

• Medical Examiner’s office, as Death Investigators
• Legal Nurse Consultants with various law firms or as an independent consultants,
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. In addition our graduates work as
• Nursing educators,
• Trauma RN’s,
• In-patient locked behavioral health units,
• Forensic nurse in the Child Protection Program at Mass Memorial Health Care, and as a forensic nurse for Children’s Advocacy centers.
• Prison/Correctional Facilities

 Q.  I’m from Canada, what are the application requirements for an international student?
A.  All foreign transcripts must be formally evaluated before we are able to make an admissions decision. Graduate applicants are required to submit a “general” evaluation.
Following are suggested organizations which provide foreign credential evaluation services:

• The Center for Educational Documentation (cedevaluations.com)
• The World Education Services (wes.org)
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ece.org)
• International Documentation Center (eurasiacom.org)

Prospects from Canada are not required to take the TOEFL or IELTS.
Please note: An F-1 Visa will not be issued since this is an online program.

Q.  Do you have an RN to MSN bridge program as I don’t hold my Bachelor’s degree?
A.  No, at this time Fitchburg State doesn’t offer a RN to MSN bridge. Fitchburg State offers a RN to BSN (Online) program. Please contact us after the webinar for more information.

Q.  I already have my MSN degree. Will you accept any of these credits in lieu of your classes?
A.  Unfortunately you can't transfer graduate credits applied from one degree to another. We offer a Post-Master's Forensic Nursing Graduate Certificate for MSN trained RN's.

Still have questions?

*Certain restrictions apply, please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
**Prices based on fall 2017 rates and are subject to change.