difference between MSN and MS degrees

llg, PhD, RN · May 7, 2006

Why didn't your dean tell you what the difference is?

The underlying difference is that the MSN degree is a professional degree offered by a professional school. The MS degree is a degree awarded by the entire university. The committees that oversee the 2 degrees are different within the university and they might have different requirements.

Some schools offer an MSN degree simply because they want to avoid the hassle of meeting the requirements of the university-wide committees. But if you look at the actual programs, those MSN's have the same requirements as the MS degrees offered by other schools.

In schools that offer both MS and MSN degrees, the MSN is usually more oriented toward practice while the MS is more oriented toward scholarship (research and teaching) -- perhaps requiring a thesis, a foreign language course, more theory and research courses, etc.

But the details differ from school to school.

I hope that helps.

llg

luvmywork · May 7, 2006

thank you. that was very helpful.

btw, i did ask my dean... she wanted me to find out myself. so, i tried google search. i only came up with a listing of school and master's program. so, when i emailed her that i couldn't find it... she said that it had only been 4 hours from the time i asked her. it's just like her to make me look for the answer on my own. isn't she great?!

Lietuvos · May 28, 2006

I think you have a perfectly reasonable question! Your Dean's response makes me wonder if she even knew the answer to the question...

sunnyjohn · May 28, 2006

thank you. that was very helpful.
btw, i did ask my dean... she wanted me to find out myself. so, i tried google search. i only came up with a listing of school and master's program. so, when i emailed her that i couldn't find it... she said that it had only been 4 hours from the time i asked her. it's just like her to make me look for the answer on my own. isn't she great?!

I think you have a perfectly reasonable question! Your Dean's response makes me wonder if she even knew the answer to the question...

Good grief! The nursing instructor/professor mind game continue into GRADUATE SCHOOL????

luvmywork · May 28, 2006

Good grief! The nursing instructor/professor mind game continue into GRADUATE SCHOOL????

:chuckle it never ends! anyways, i understand the difference now... thanks to llg and some additional research.

love this site.:1luvu:

llg, PhD, RN · May 28, 2006

:chuckle it never ends! anyways, i understand the difference now... thanks to llg and some additional research.
love this site.:1luvu:

You're welcome. I think your Dean's response was just fine. She wanted to teach you to do some research, make contacts, learn where to find answers, etc. She wasn't going to "spoon feed" you and I respect her for that -- and you for having a good attitude about it.

In one of my best (but most difficult) PhD classes, I asked a question on the 2nd day. The professor said, "That's a very good question. Why don't get a hold of the book ____, read it, and report back to us on what you find next week." I had to go find the book, buy it, and read it -- but that's the moment I knew I was really in a good class and would learn a lot that semester. The class was tough and only 20% of the class got A's, but the lessons I learned in that class were imortant and have stuck with me more than that of any other class.

llg

criticalHP, MSN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

IIG-- you inspire me. How can I bookmark YOU?:bowingpur