Admissions Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an institution of higher education that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency and either the NLNAC or the CCNE and a minimum of one year experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) with preference given to applicants with two or more years of experience.
- Current, unencumbered registered nurse license to practice in the State of Texas, current compact license, or licensed in the state where practicums will occur (must show active licensure by the end of the first semester).
- Up-to-date immunizations including flu and TDaP vaccinations, CPR certification from the American Heart Association, negative 12-panel drug screen, negative TB test result, and personal health insurance.
- Clear FBI background check.
- Completed application and fee payment; official transcripts from each institution attended; résumé; letter of interest, commitment, and purpose for pursuing a master's degree; and at least two letters of support from supervisors or professional mentors.
- Interview with the Program Coordinator, which may be waived at the Program Coordinator’s discretion.
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate nursing coursework.
- Transfer credit for Advanced Pathophysiology (NURS 540), Advanced Physical Assessment (NURS 542), and Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (NURS 541) may be granted if the student has taken these courses in the past 5 years and if the courses are deemed by the Program Coordinator to be APRN-specific or inclusive, across the lifespan, and of the appropriate rigor and detail.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
International applicants with foreign transcripts must follow the policies and procedures for international students as outlined by the University. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit proof of English proficiency, which is satisfied by a minimum TOEFL score taken within the previous two years of:
- 550 for paper-based testing (p-BT), or
- 213 computer-based testing (c-BT), or
- 79 Internet-based testing (i-BT)
These scores must be sent directly from ETS to the University, and the test must have been taken within the two-year period prior to enrollment.
Admission Decisions
The number of students admitted to the program will be based on available faculty and clinical facilities. From the group of qualified applicants, an admission decision will be made using an approved rubric.
Admission decisions for all programs will be communicated to potential students via email and by letter. To secure a position, the potential student must notify the Division of Nursing of their intent to accept the offer within the designated time frame. If the student fails to accept the offer, the position may be awarded to another applicant. If not admitted, the student may be given the option to be placed on a waiting list, to be admitted based on space available.