Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Baccalaureate Entry)

Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted by March 1 for fall semester admission. Late applications will be placed on a waiting list and will not be reviewed until all timely applicants have been processed. No action will be taken until all admission documents have been received. Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice is limited and competitive. All required credentials must be on file in the Office of Admission before applicants can be admitted to the program. Applicants whose credentials are from countries other than the United States must have their credentials evaluated through the Office of Admission. Applicants are expected to meet the following admission requirements: graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program in nursing. International students must graduate from a nursing program that has undergone comparable review per AACN Baccalaureate Essentials criteria and must score a minimum of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL; a minimum undergraduate nursing cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0, on a four-point scale, or equivalent “B” average. Note: Applicants not meeting this criterion may be considered for conditional admission status; evidence of current registered nurse licensure in the State of Illinois (for students planning to complete the program in Illinois) or from an appropriate jurisdiction (for out-of-state students intending to complete practice requirements outside the state of Illinois); evidence of successful completion with a grade of B or better of an upper division statistics course taken within the last five years. Alternately, one may be taken concurrently with the first term of graduate coursework; a personal interview with a graduate admissions committee; basic computer competency as follows: Students should be able to use e-mail with attachments; access online course materials and navigate BlackBoard courses; demonstrate intermediate competency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint; be able to effectively use clinical simulation modules; have beginning competency with a statistical package preferably SPSS; and be able to navigate the Web including access to online library materials, and similar sites. Students who are unfamiliar with web-supported instruction are encouraged to take ONTL - 5101 Introduction to Online Learning (2) prior to or during the first term of enrollment; grades in all previous master’s course work of “B” or better; and submit an application packet which includes: the Graduate School Application form. This is to be completed online; official (original) transcripts showing the award of the BSN and the MS in Nursing (if a post MS applicant) and any other program pre-requisites; a 300-500 word essay, which addresses your reasons for pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice, career goals, and practice interests; three letters of recommendation evaluating your scholarly potential. One should be from a clinical advisor or supervisor, one from an academic advisor or faculty member, and one from a nursing peer; a curriculum vita or resume; and a copy of your current registered nurse license.5