MSNc

[nursemaa]

Someone told me today that a Master's student who is almost finished with the program can use "MSNc" after their name. I've seen this abbreviation used but never knew what it meant. Does anyone know?

[WashYaHands]

the "c" indicates that the person is a candidate for an MSN degree. In other words, they have completed their thesis and awaiting graduation.

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

Well having just graduated with an MN in June I and the folks in my cohort started using the c about 6 months before graduation and well before my research was done, written etc. I don't know that there is an OFFICIAL rule about the c use.

[nursemaa]

Thanks, I'm 4 months away from graduation...I was signing something and said "It'll be so cool to write MSN" and the person said you can use MSNc until you graduate...just wondered if that was true. :)

[llg, PhD, RN]

I believe that is dependent on your school and the exact nature of your program. You should check with the school before you start signing your name and using letters that might not be correct.

As other people have explaned the "c" means that you are a "candidate" -- meaning that you have successfully passed the criteria that YOUR SCHOOL has established for candidacy. Often, the "c" is written in parenthesis after the letters. It is commonly used in PhD programs for students who have completed all their coursework and passed their comprehensive exams, but who have not yet completed their dissertations.

While the official "candidacy status" is common at the PhD level (where a person might be a candidate for 2 or 3 years), I have never seen it used at the Master's level. However, it wouldn't shock me if your school had that designation. It would also not shock me to learn that a few students just decided to use that designation on their own without any official sanction because they were in a hurry to add the letters to their signatures.

The key is ... Does your school have an official "candidate" status? Do they have established criteria for what qualifies you as an "MSN candidate" as opposed to just being an "MSN student?" If so, then ... Have you met that criteria? ... and ... How does your school use those letters to designate the candidacy status?

You really should ask those questions of the school before you just add the letters after your name on your own. If the school does not recognize an official candidacy status, it would be inappropriate for you to add the letters to your signature prematurely. Too many people would wrongly assume you had completed your Master's Degree.

I'm curious ... let me know what your school's policy is about that.

llg

[nursemaa]

Hmm...now you've got me wondering. It really is no big thing, I was just curious. I'll check out what the school has to say. I know that I filled out an "advancement to candidacy" form and it was approved. Thanks for the info.

[Ross1]

I think that the title MSNc is very misleading and should not be used after one's name on a title or signature. Most people will not understand the significance of the "c" and erroneously believe that the person has already earned his or her Master's degree. Until today, I never heard of it myself....and I have a Master's degree.

That said, it is entirely appropriate to indicate on one's resume something like:

MSN Candidate, University X, degree to be awarded May 2005

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think that the title MSNc is very misleading and should not be used after one's name on a title or signature. Most people will not understand the significance of the "c" and erroneously believe that the person has already earned his or her Master's degree. Until today, I never heard of it myself....and I have a Master's degree.

That said, it is entirely appropriate to indicate on one's resume something like:

MSN Candidate, University X, degree to be awarded May 2005

Actually, I kind'a agree with you -- but don't want to take anything away something to which someone else might be entitled. The public is not used to seeing the "c" used in that way. In a lot of places, the actual degree includes the letter "c," for example DNSc meaning Doctor of Nursing Science.

For that reason, I think if it is going to be used, the "c" should be put in parenthesis as it usually is with PhD candidates, who use PhD© with the "c" often written in subscript, dropped a little below the other letters and in a smaller font. It is commonly used at that level and is understood by people in academia who work with that sort of thing on a regular basis. But like you, I have never seen it used at the Master's level and it might cause more confusion than it is worth.

llg

[Ross1]

Actually, I kind'a agree with you -- but don't want to take anything away something to which someone else might be entitled. The public is not used to seeing the "c" used in that way. In a lot of places, the actual degree includes the letter "c," for example DNSc meaning Doctor of Nursing Science.

For that reason, I think if it is going to be used, the "c" should be put in parenthesis as it usually is with PhD candidates, who use PhD© with the "c" often written in subscript, dropped a little below the other letters and in a smaller font. It is commonly used at that level and is understood by people in academia who work with that sort of thing on a regular basis. But like you, I have never seen it used at the Master's level and it might cause more confusion than it is worth.

llg

Thanks. I too find the "c" confusing for the exact same reasons. I am a frequent traveler to Canada and Australia where "Sc" in a degree is used for "Science" in the same manner that we use "S" here in the USA

Example:

B.S. = B.Sc.