Admission to the master of science in nursing degree program requires the student to meet the minimum admission requirements for graduate study as established by the university and the following requirements established by the College of Nursing.

• a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program
• a minimum GPA of 2.7 in undergraduate studies and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in nursing major
• acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) within the past five years (GRE score required for nurse anesthesia and nurse midwifery concentration applicants.)
• currently hold a nonrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in North Carolina or a NCSBN compact state (The out-of-state student must procure a North Carolina RN license before enrolling in clinical courses.)
• a statement describing the applicant’s interest in graduate study, career goals, and the MSN degree’s relationship to those goals
• three professional references
• a personal interview with a member of the graduate faculty

Due to the high demand of courses by our enrolled MSN students, the College of Nursing will not enroll nondegree graduate students at this time. Prospective students are encouraged to apply for full admission as soon as possible in order to be eligible for all College of Nursing course offerings.

Applicants for the nurse midwifery concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience (labor and delivery preferred), demonstrate a commitment to practice with under-served populations, and one of the references should be from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice.

Applicants for the family nurse practitioner and adult-gerontology nurse practitioner concentrations, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience and provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice. The application deadline for both concentrations is January 2.

Applicants for the nurse anesthesia concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one-year adult critical care experience, completion of a supplemental nurse anesthesia admissions packet, a total of five professional references (two on forms provided in nurse anesthesia admissions packet), and an interview with the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee. The application deadline for the nurse anesthesia concentration is May 31.

Applicants for the clinical nurse specialist concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year of current practice experience and provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice.

Completed applications for the clinical nurse specialist concentration will be considered for fall and spring admission. Applications must be received by October 1 for spring, June 1 for fall.

Applicants for the neonatal nurse practitioner concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have two years of current practice experience in a critical-care environment for high risk neonatal care RN experience and provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice.

Applicants may take core courses while gaining the required RN experience for admission into selected concentrations.

Applicants for admission to the (AE) MSN option must meet general admission requirements with the exception of a valid RN license and baccalaureate degree in nursing. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in another field. Additional requirements include:

• Completion of prerequisite courses – chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, human growth and development, nutrition, ethics, and statistics.
• A minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate major
• Current nonrestricted license to practice as a RN in NC or a NCSBN compact state prior to entering Phase II clinical concentration courses.

Application deadline for the (AE) MSN option is December 1.

Completed applications will be considered as they are received, with the exception of nurse anesthesia, family nurse practitioner, adult nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and the alternate entry master of science in nursing option.

Applicants for the nursing education, nursing leadership, and clinical nurse specialist concentrations must have a minimum of one year RN experience prior to enrolling in specialty courses.

Applicants for the nursing leadership concentration, in addition to the general admission criteria, must provide a third reference from a health care provider knowledgeable about the applicant’s nursing practice.

Applicants for admission to the RN/MSN option will be evaluated using the following criteria.

• a minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate studies and a minimum 3.0 GPA in the nursing major in the previous nursing program
• one year RN experience
• an acceptable score on the GRE or the MAT within the past five years
• current nonrestricted license to practice as a RN in North Carolina or a NCSBN compact state
• a statement describing the applicant’s interest in graduate study, career goals, and the MSN degree’s relationship to those goals
• three professional references
• a personal interview with the director of RN/BSN studies and a member of the College of Nursing graduate faculty

A course in statistics with a grade of C or higher and basic computer skills with both applications software and the Internet are prerequisites for all concentrations. A course in basic accounting is a prerequisite for the nursing leadership concentration.

Students in the (AE) MSN option must complete all cognate requirements prior to beginning the program. Admission to the (AE) MSN option does not guarantee entry into a specific graduate concentration.

Students in the RN/MSN option must complete all general education and cognate requirements prior to beginning undergraduate nursing courses. Separate application is made to the graduate program in the first or second semester of study in the RN/MSN option. Students enrolled in the RN/MSN option must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the 15 s.h. of undergraduate nursing courses to be eligible to continue in this option. Admission to the RN/MSN option does not guarantee entry into a specific graduate concentration.

Depending upon the concentration area chosen within the degree program, the master of science in nursing requires 36-68 s.h. credit as follows. Concentrations are clustered as administrative, clinical, and education.

• Nursing Leadership – Acute Care Health Systems - 41 s.h.
• Nursing Leadership – Community Based Health Systems - 41 s.h.
• Nursing Leadership – Educational Systems - 41 s.h.

• Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - 46 s.h.
• Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health - 42 s.h.
• Family Nurse Practitioner - 50 s.h.
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner - 41 s.h.
• Nurse Anesthesia - 68 s.h.
• Nurse Midwifery - 50 s.h.

• Nursing Education - 36 s.h.

(Choose appropriate cluster for concentration.)

(Choose one area.)

Enrollment is necessary for continued research advisement. A comprehensive assessment is required for graduation for all MSN degree-seeking students.

Students in the RN/MSN option must complete the following undergraduate courses prior to enrolling in any graduate nursing courses–NURS 3020, 3021, 3510, 3900, 4210, 4211.