Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Admission

Admission Requirements

For consideration and admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, applicants must submit the following:

1. Completed Doctoral Application

A $35 non-refundable application fee is required.

1. Official Transcripts, reflecting the following:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from a nationally accredited program. *Note a Bachelor's degree in any discipline and an entry-to-practice Master of Science in Nursing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from a nationally accredited program is acceptable
• Master of Science in Nursing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from a nationally accredited program OR a graduate degree in a health-related discipline (e.g., MBA, MPH, MHA) from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

Official Transcripts may be sent electronically or by mail, directly from the school of attendance, in a sealed envelope to:

Any transcripts from institutions outside of the United States require an official course-by-course evaluation by a NACES.org approved agency.

1. Resume
2. Unencumbered RN license
3. Unencumbered APRN licensure and APRN national board certification (for Advanced Practice concentration applicants only)*
4. Letter of recommendation**
5. Goals statement***

*Upload both an APRN License and an APRN National Board Certification as separate PDFs in your Admissions Portal.

**All letters of recommendation should be:

• from a doctorally prepared professional (i.e. DNP, Ph.D., Ed.D., MD, DO, PharmD), and

• submitted on letterhead and sent directly from the recommender.

Recommendations are to be requested through your Admissions Portal.

Recommender's Instructions:
Please write candidly about the applicant's qualifications and potential to pursue a doctorate in nursing practice. Include the applicant's problem-solving ability, capacity for critical thinking, leadership potential, and ability to effect change in the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Descriptions of significant accomplishments and personal qualities related to nursing practice and leadership are particularly helpful.

***Please respond to the following three questions in a 1,000-word essay. Your responses must be typed and double-spaced. Both the content of your answers and your ability to write are being evaluated, so proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling are important. A minimum of two peer-reviewed references from within the last five years must be utilized and cited in APA format. Submit your essay as a word document or PDF in the Admissions Portal.

• How will earning a DNP contribute to your personal/professional goals and why are you interested in earning a DNP rather than another doctoral degree?

• What professional experiences have prepared you for doctoral study?

• Describe a particular area of interest that you believe can be improved as a result of an evidence-based doctoral project. Please also include any other research areas of interest.