Nursing

MSIS/MSN and MSLS/MSN

Many high-tech employers believe that an information technology-related degree is of paramount importance for success in the health care field - and that for some specialized positions, an MSN graduate requires additional information technology knowledge and expertise.

SILS and UNC's School of Nursing (SON) offer a dual degree program that will prepare students with technical backgrounds in information system development and management, information networks, decision support systems, Internet applications and more.

The MSIS, MSLS, and MSN degree requirements (core/required courses and number of credits) must be met by all students. The dual program student would be required to take the core courses in both the SON and SILS. [In the case of two SILS courses, the content of corresponding MSN courses is similar enough to allow exemption from the SILS course.]

• Leadership in Health Care Organizations (NURS 871), and Financial Resources Management (NURS 873) overlap with INLS 585. (Dual degree students would not be required to take INLS 585 and would receive 3 credits toward their SILS degree for the NURS 871 course).
• Research for Nursing Practice I and II (NURS 774 and 775) form a more comprehensive research curriculum than does INLS 780. Because the content of INLS 780 is subsumed within these two courses, SILS dual degree students will not be required to take INLS 780 and will receive 3 credits for NURS 775.
• NURS 872 and INLS 785 are essentially the same course. SILS student will receive elective credit for NURS 872.

A student in a dual program would normally matriculate first in the SON, taking most of their first year course work there, and receiving a one-year deferment from SILS. Some of the core courses in this first year would count for dual credit. The second year would consist primarily of SILS core courses, with a few approved SON courses. The third year would be divided between both programs.

During the second and third year, the typical dual degree student would complete courses in both the School of Information and Library Science and the School of Nursing. Currently, SON/Health Care Systems students who select the informatics option take 6 credit hours in SILS. Thus, for those students who enter the dual degree program, these 6 credit hours will count toward degree requirements.

For more information and sample course schedules for the dual degree program, contact: