Post-Master's Certificate Program Community & Public Health Leadership
New opportunities for nursing leadership are abundant as health care shifts from hospital-based to community-oriented systems. The School of Nursing offers a post-Master’s certificate program to prepare nurses for specialized practice in promoting the health of individuals, families, groups and communities. Emphasis is on the development of knowledge and expertise to assess the health status and health delivery systems of communities and to design nursing interventions to better manage care in complex settings. Courses provide the required knowledge and expertise needed to plan, implement, and evaluate care in community settings, including public health departments, schools, home health agencies, and community nursing clinics. Care management strategies to assure continuity of health service delivery for individuals and groups at the local and global level are emphasized.
The Post-Master's Certificate in Community & Public Health Leadership is also offered for students who do not live in Central Virginia. In this option, students enroll in 2-4 courses per term and complete most of the course requirements via the internet. Classes meet 'live' at the University twice per term (first and last days of the term). Active-duty military nurses are exempt from the requirement to attend classes in Charlottesville those two sessions per term, and may access these class meetings via a web-camera.
The curriculum builds on both the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of the bachelor's and master's prepared nurse.
Students can complete the Post-Master's Certificate in Community & Public Health Leadership in as little as 12 months.
Program Coordinator: Pam Kulbok, DNSc, RN (434)924-0128, email: pk6c@virginia.edu.
- Clinicals
- Certification
- Admission Requirements
- Downloads, Program of Study, and Links
- The admissions application is available on your My Grad UVa page. If you have not created MyGrad UVa page, then please click here to create your MyGrad UVa page.
- For More Information
Students complete a total of 504 hours of clinical preceptorships. Most of these hours are completed in GNUR 7411 (fall) and GNUR 7412 (spring).
Students arrange to complete their clinical requirements close to your home. In the past, students have worked in public health (state or county), with school systems, with HMOs or other non-governmental actors, or with global agencies (W.H.O. Healthy Cities Project, international health missions, etc).
Graduates are eligible to sit for ANCC certification as a Community Health CNS.
Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive and based on evaluation of all portions of the application. To be considered for the Post-Master's Certificate, applicants must submit a completed application and:
- Have a master's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate and graduate study
- Hold an unencumbered RN license for the state where you intend to do your practica
- Submit three satisfactory academic and professional recommendations
- Submit a copy of your resume or CV
- Be available for an interview if requested
Application deadline:
Fall or Summer entry: April 1
Spring entry: November 1
International applicants have additional admissions requirements that can be viewed here.
Downloads, Program of Study, and Links
- Informational Flyer on the CPHL Program
- Program of Study for Post-Master's in Community & Public Health Leadership
- The admissions application will be available in June 2009.
For additional information on admission to and programs of study at the UVa School of Nursing, please fill our our online form. You are also welcome to call the Office of Admissions at (434) 924-0141 / (888) 283-8703.
Questions on admissions and financial aid should be directed to Clay Hysell, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services, email hysell@virginia.edu