Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
*Special Notice: Entrance exams (GRE or MAT) no longer required for Adult-Gerontology (AGCNS) and Neonatal (NCNS) Clinical Nurse Specialist applicants.
The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration prepares nurses for advanced nursing practice roles in complex care settings. Nationally approved clinical nurse specialist competencies in adult care and gerontology are the basis of the curriculum.
Emphasis is placed on providing students with advanced theoretical knowledge and practice skills needed to improve patient care.
The AG-CNS concentration prepares students for roles such as:
- clinician
- educator
- clinical consultant
- researcher
- program planner
- leader
Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification examinations as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
This concentration is reviewed by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and meets the criteria for consistency with the standards set by that national organization.
Faculty
The following faculty members will be your instructors/advisors as you move through the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration of our Graduate School.
- Chelsea Passwater, Concentration Director
- Julie M. Linder
Curriculum
The program includes core courses, clinical core courses, and concentration specialty that are required for graduation from the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration.
The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration offers two methods for completing your graduation requirements:
- Full-time curriculum plan spanning approximately two years.
- Part-time plan which takes approximately three and a half years to complete.
These curriculum plans are only a suggested course sequence and can be modified by meeting with a graduate advisor:
- Curriculum Plan for students admitted prior to Fall 2024 (PDF)
- Post-Master’s Curriculum Plan for students admitted prior to Fall 2024 (PDF)
- Curriculum Plan beginning for students admitted in Fall 2024 (PDF)
- Post-Master’s Curriculum Plan beginning for students admitted in Fall 2024 (PDF)
**Any request for potential transfer credits should be reviewed by the program director prior to beginning the program
** Note: If you reside outside North Carolina, please contact the Concentration Director (passwaterc@ecu.edu) for guidance prior to starting an application.
For more information, contact Dr. Chelsea Passwater, Concentration Director or please visit the ECU Graduate Catalog.