University of San Francisco Masters Degrees in Nursing & Health

Why get a dual degree in public and behavioral health?

The MPH-MSBH dual degree has been designed to prepare practitioners who are committed to eliminating health disparities, working with vulnerable populations, and creating social and physical environments that promote good health for all. This program is ideal for students who want a broad, in-depth knowledge base in public health with an emphasis on behavioral health skills. Courses are practice oriented and applied skills are emphasized. Dual degree students graduate with the knowledge to design, implement, and lead evidence-based health care and community programs.

The dual degree requires approximately 60 units. Full-time, dual degree students should be able to complete their course work in 6 semesters (24 months). Students can attend on a part-time basis and spread the program over three years. The course sequence can be adjusted on an individual basis.

On completing the dual degree program, graduates will have two degrees: Both the Master of Public Health and the MS in Behavioral Health. By pursuing this dual degree option, students will achieve a substantial savings in time and credits over completing these two degrees separately.

The dual degree has been designed to help students understand and address the social, emotional and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing. The program stresses the needs of underserved and at-risk populations. It teaches students how to implement and monitor programs; set up budgets, timelines and tracking tools; and write a grant proposal. Students also learn about ethics and policy, research methods, epidemiology, and statistical analysis and their roles in program development.

There is substantive focus on how to develop evidence-based interventions that have a high likelihood of success, use behavior change theory and holistic models and frameworks, and are based on community needs and assessment.

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Our classrooms extend beyond campus borders, into a city famous for its forward-thinking approach to public health advocacy and community outreach.

An interprofessional degree for tomorrow's public health leaders. Study public health in classrooms that extend well beyond campus borders, into a city famous for its forward-thinking approach to public health advocacy and community outreach.

• Authoritative – CEPH-Accredited Program
• Flexible – Entry in Fall for On-Campus; Entry in Fall or Spring for Online Format
• Interprofessional – Award-Winning Faculty from Nursing, Law, and Public Health

The Master of Public Health (MPH) Program is an interprofessional degree offered by the School of Nursing and Health Professions through its Department of Population Health Sciences.

Candidates complete coursework in a myriad of fields, including epidemiology, biostatistics, community and behavioral health, environmental health, and public health policy and management.

The program is particularly well suited for candidates eager to develop practice-oriented skills and competencies to promote population health.

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The Master of Science in Behavioral Health (MSBH) at USF prepares you to address disparities in the current health care delivery system. As a student in our program, you will examine the intersection of social, physical and psychological factors that impact health and well-being. Through inter-disciplinary classes, fieldwork experiences, and a capstone project, you learn psychosocial interventions as well as tools for planning, managing and evaluating community-based programs and services.

Our graduates have learned to become effective team members, who have acquired the tools to improve the accessibility and delivery of health and mental health programs. We look to our graduates to become leaders in designing the evidence-based, integrated health practices that are the cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act.

Program Highlights

- Program can be completed in 12 months
- Classes meet twice a week in the evenings
- Courses are designed to teach practical, real world skills
- Curriculum is fully integrated so that courses build on one another
- Classes are small, inter-professional and highly interactive
- Internships, located throughout San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, allow students to apply classroom learning in the field under the guidance of a preceptor and USF faculty
- Faculty are accomplished academics and practitioners

What is Behavioral Health?

Some use the term "behavioral health" to refer strictly to mental health care or substance abuse counseling. At USF we think of behavioral health more broadly. In our MSBH program, behavioral health involves analyzing and understanding how human behavior is influenced by social, physical and mental factors and how human behavior, in turn, impacts physical well-being, empowerment, and engagement in all aspects of care.

The MS in Behavioral Health program is designed for people:

- Interested in human behavior, especially the intersection between mental and physical health
- Wanting to start a career in behavioral healthcare
- Currently working in the healthcare system and wanting additional skills in interdisciplinary team leadership, program evaluation, and project management
- Wanting a foundation for other careers such as medicine or dentistry

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The Master of Science in Nursing (ME-MSN) Non-Nurse program is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in areas of study outside of nursing and are seeking new careers as registered nurses (RNs).

The program, rated among the top in the country, prepares students for licensure as RNs while integrating graduate-level study that prepares them for positions as clinical nurse leaders (CNLs).

Students complete 68 credits over the course of two years of continuous study on the USF main campus. It’s full time, with classroom instruction three days weekly and clinical practice two days weekly.

The CNL Role

The new Clinical Nurse Leader role prepares nurses as clinical leaders in often complex environments to assist patients in creating an experience of a coordinated approach to care. The CNL role is a pivotal role that allows health care professional teams to be creative in envisioning how other roles will best promote reliable and competent patient care.

ACCREDITATION

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

It is also approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. Students who graduate from the program are also eligible to receive the California Public Health Nursing Certificate.

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The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program prepares RNs already holding an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to advance within the field by gaining experience to develop and manage patient care plans, and to advocate for best practices within the health care field.

The program, rated among the top in the country, prepares students as Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs). It comprises 35 credits for RNs with a BSN and 46 credits for RNs with an ADN over the course of 2 years of study. Designed with a comprehensive schedule of classroom and online instruction plus practicum coursework.

TOP RANKING PROGRAM

Rated among the best graduate schools in the country for Clinical Nurse Leader Program.

BYPASS THE BSN

Nurses with an Associate's degree can bypass the BSN degree and complete their degree in two (2) years. Save Time and Money.

THREE CAMPUS LOCATIONS TO CHOOSE FROM

Classes are offered at the following locations:
San Francisco | Pleasanton | San Jose

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

Classes are held one night a week - same night throughout the program

RECOGNIZABLE DEGREE

Considered one of the most versatile and flexible MSN degrees. Our graduates are everywhere - AND Employers love our graduates. Our graduates are on the frontlines of patient care, on the boards of leading health organizations and in hospitals and governmental organizations where health policy is crafted. They will be your network.

The CNL Role

The Clinical Nurse Leader role prepares nurses as clinical leaders in often complex environments to assist patients in creating an experience of a coordinated approach to care. The CNL role is a pivotal role that allows health care professional teams to be creative in envisioning how other roles will best promote reliable and competent patient care.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

All graduates of the program meet the master’s degree outcome AACN Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader (SM) Education and Practice standards, and are eligible for certification by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) as a CNL.

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