Oct 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Forensic Nursing, Graduate Certificate


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School of Nursing
3008 Human Health Building  (map)
(248) 370-8733 • Fax (248) 364-8740
www.oakland.edu/nursing

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Program Director:
Brenda Dzierzawski
2016 Human Health Building
248-364-8769
bdzierzawski@oakland.edu

Program description

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing is an 18-credit program that prepares graduates for professional practice in the role of the forensic nurse through the application of knowledge and principles foundational to nursing science and forensic science. Curriculum emphasizes interprofessional education related to the diverse roles and responsibilities of the forensic nurse as an independent practitioner and collaborator within the multidisciplinary forensic team while providing specialized care and services to individuals, families, communities, populations, and systems that have experienced violence, trauma, or maltreatment.

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing prepares graduates to practice globally as a forensic nurse examiner with the ability to sub-specialize in a specific area of forensic nursing if desired. Graduates may practice in a variety of forensic nursing areas such as sexual violence, intimate partner violence, child/elder maltreatment, death investigation, and emergency preparedness and disaster management.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in NursingCAS (a centralized application system) by the deadline listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

All applicants to this program are admitted for the Fall Semester only. The application deadlines are:

  • Fall Semester - February 15 (early): April 15 (regular): July 15 (late).  All applications completed by July 15 will be considered for the following Fall Semester.
  • International students: May 1 for the following Fall Semester  (see additional requirements below)

Application requirements

Applicants do not submit an online Oakland University Graduate Application.  A completed application and required materials must be submitted through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS).   

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines.

Additional department application requirements

  • Applicants for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing program must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an overall undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
  • Proof of a current unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the United States or its territories.
  • A minimum of one year of clinical experience as an R.N. (at program start) is required during which time the applicant must have functioned as an independent decision-maker and demonstrated advanced psychomotor skills.
  • Two (2) Recommendations must be completed by healthcare professionals in forensic nursing, leadership, administration/management, or education and are able to attest to the applicant’s nursing skills and/or abilities. One reference must be from a colleague who is familiar with the applicant’s work.
  • Professional statement of 500 to 1,000 words. The professional statement should focus on the applicant’s reason for seeking formal forensic nursing education, how recent clinical experience has prepared them for forensic nursing practice, career goals after program completion, as well as plans for professional development in the specialty of forensic nursing. The professional statement will be evaluated on content and appropriate use of grammar, style, spelling, and rhetoric.

International Students

  • International students are encouraged to contact The Graduate School (www.oakland.edu/grad) to determine what additional documentation is required for admission eligibility.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, the School of Nursing assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Qualified applicants may be selected for an individual interview with a School of Nursing faculty. The interview will be scheduled after all application materials have been submitted.

Certificate requirements


The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 18 credits in an approved program of study and includes a minimum of 500 clinical practice hours. The program of study allows students to complete the requirements in 16 months.

Satisfactory academic progress


Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Student Financial Services to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact Student Financial Services for additional details.

Good academic standing


All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing  throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of (B) 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

  • Holding a Graduate Assistantship
  • Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
  • Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
  • Going on a leave of absence
  • Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Program requirements:   Students are required to follow the university policies and procedures for graduate students, as described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. In addition to the university requirements, specific School of Nursing policies and procedures are outlined in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Students are expected to earn a grade of (B) 3.0 or above in each course in the graduate certificate program. In courses graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U), students are expected to earn a course grade of satisfactory. Students who are not making satisfactory progress in the program may be placed on probation with conditions imposed for retention in the program or may be recommended for dismissal from the program.

Students are required to keep RN license and health requirements current.  See the School of Nursing Web site for health requirements. Students are also required to meet any requirements of the health care facilities where they have clinical learning experiences. 

 Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information


Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with the FN program director, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be signed by the program director and student.

Note:  Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Advising

Students are responsible for requirements and policies stated in the School of Nursing MSN Student Handbook and in each course syllabus. Every student admitted to the graduate certificate program is assigned an academic adviser and program director who are available to discuss coursework, plans of study, concerns regarding progression in the program, and student career goals.

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