NURS 5191: Foundations of Life Story Innovations and Practice (3-credit)

This course provides students with the historical and theoretical perspectives of Life Story methods. The published research of leading contributors in the field will be critiques. Students will compare and contrast different life story methods and theories.

NURS 5193: Life Story Methods (3-credit)

This is the second course in a five course sequence for the Certificate in Life Story Practice and Research. In this course students will acquire the knowledge, skills, and principles for conducting successful Life Story sessions. Interview techniques, strategies for conducting individual and group sessions, and cultural considerations will be examined. Students will apply concepts by conducting Life story sessions with individuals, families, or groups by the end of the course.

NURS 5194: Seminar in Life Story Methods (2-credit)

National and international faculty specializing in guided autobiography, personal history, memoir writing, and other life story methods will present their innovations, research, and practice experiences in an online seminar format. Emphasis will be placed on preparing students for their fieldwork experiences.

NURS 5190: Fieldwork I in Life Story Innovations and Practice (2-credit)

Students are required to plan, conduct, and evaluate individual and/or group reminiscence or structured life review sessions as applicable to their population of interest. Weekly seminars will guide the student through the experience.

NURS 5192: Fieldwork II in Life Story Innovations and Practice (2-credit)

Under the supervision of a mentor, students will have the opportunity to explore an individual's, a family's, or group's past by utilizing a method such as personal history, narrative, memoir writing, guided autobiography or digital storytelling. Students will work with an individual, family or group to create a unique presentation (i.e. video, puppetry, artwork, memory book) reflecting the Life Story.

Per a Board of Trustees decision (2019), online students in the Life Story Practice and Research Graduate Certificate Program pay a comprehensive fee of $925 per credit or $2,775 for a 3-credit course.

The cost is the same for Connecticut residents, non-Connecticut residents, and international students.

Financial Aid
Some Life Story Practice and Research students may be eligible for financial aid or may wish to utilize unsubsidized loans. You can learn more by contacting the UConn Financial Aid Office at 860-486-2819.

Scholarships
To learn about available scholarships, please visit the UConn School of Nursing’s Scholarship Page.

Applicants to UConn's online Life Story and Research Graduate Certificate program must have completed a baccalaureate degree in nursing or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. The Life Story and Research Online Graduate Certificate are not approved for students residing outside of the United States.

To apply for admission to the Life Story and Research Graduate Certificate program, complete the online application process using the link below.

Begin your Application

Application Process

Applications will be evaluated upon receipt of all required documentation (rolling admission):

• • A written response to the following:
    1. Why have you decided to pursue this degree?
    2. Why have you selected this track?
    3. What are your career interests and goals?
    4. Why are you applying to UConn?

  Important Deadline

  The FNP MS and DNP program only accept students within the fall semester. Please submit materials no later than January 15 to begin the following fall semester.

  Applications submitted after the designated deadline will be considered on a space available basis until enrollment caps are reached, or, considered for admission to the following semester. Upon acceptance, a $1000 non-refundable deposit toward your tuition will be required prior to course registration, as well as, electronic or hard copy submission of official transcripts.

  If you have any questions on how to use the online application system, please contact The Graduate School at 860-486-3617.

  International Students: This program is a part-time or full-time and online program. Pursuant to U.S. immigration regulations, the University of Connecticut may not sponsor F-1 and J-1 visas for the purpose of coming to the U.S. for enrollment in this program. International students may enroll in this program if they are currently in the U.S. in another visa status that permits foreign nationals to engage in school enrollment while meeting their primary visa objective.

  • Three letters of reference.
    • Academic (1 letter): A professor, faculty member, or academic advisor (who can provide meaningful input regarding your academic record and aptitude for demanding graduate course work)
    • Professional (2 letters): to address abilities, character and accomplishments in nursing as well as potential for leadership and advancing practice, service, research or teaching in the chosen field.
      • One Each:
        1. A clinical supervisor or nurse manager (who directly supervised you in a clinical setting.
        2. A practicing advanced practice nurse (APRN) or physician who has served as a mentor or whom you have shadowed (preferably in the APRN specialty to which you are applying).

  • Current resume (uploaded).
  • Unofficial transcript(s) for all undergraduate and graduate coursework (uploaded). 
  • An uploaded verification of RN direct patient care hours form for 2080 hours completed prior to application.
  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required.
  • If you use the results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), you must have a minimum overall score of 550 for the paper-based test or 79 for the internet-based test.
  • The GRE and Residence Affidavit are not required.
  • Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) on the application are required fields.

  Applications are evaluated as soon as the student’s file is complete.