Admission Requirements

Applicants must complete the university’s Graduate online application before admission consideration to the M.S.N. program will be conducted. Individuals are admitted for study beginning only in the fall semester. Students are expected to be proficient in use of MS Word, PowerPoint, and online resources (Internet, library resources, discussion boards) to participate in class. Admissions decisions are announced on a continuous basis; applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Not every applicant who meets the minimum admission requirements can be admitted; the department reserves discretion in admission of the most highly qualified applicants. Specific admission requirements are outlined below:

1. Evidence of an earned B.S.N. or B.S. degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program in nursing. Nurses with a baccalaureate degree in another discipline will be considered on an individual basis;
2. A grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 in the last 60 credit hours of the undergraduate nursing studies;
3. Completion of the following prerequisites:
   • Undergraduate course in descriptive and beginning inferential statistics
   • Undergraduate course in research design
   • Undergraduate course in health informatics
4. Current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in one of the 50 U.S. states or territories;
5. Submission of scores on TOEFL for students whose undergraduate degree was obtained internationally with minimum score of 80;
6. Evidence of personal and professional qualifications for graduate study, as reflected in
   • Three letters of reference from colleagues or supervisors able to comment on the applicant’s clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study
   • Response on written statement related to advanced professional nursing
   • Current resume or curriculum vitae
7. Other assessment procedures as indicated.

Program Requirements

In order to graduate from the M.S.N. program, students must complete graduate core courses, support courses, and relevant specialty courses in their chosen track (addiction, gerontology, or nurse educator), with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or better (up to 12 hours may be transferred in from master’s level nursing course work on which the student earned a grade of “B” or better). Students are expected to manifest throughout the program, behavioral and professional competencies consistent with the ANA Code of Ethics.