Admissions

Entry Points

Several entry points are available, depending on the educational goals and academic background of the applicant.

1. Students with a baccalaureate degree in another field may apply for the Generalist Entry Master’s (GEM) program.
2. RNs with a baccalaureate degree with an upper division major in nursing may apply directly for the Clinical Nurse Leader MSN, advanced practice DNP, or PhD degree options.
3. RNs with a master’s degree in nursing may apply for all DNP or PhD degree options.
4. RNs who already have an advanced practice graduate degree in nursing (MSN or DNP) who wish to specialize in a different clinical area may apply for a non-degree post-graduate certificate.
5. Non-nurses who hold a graduate degree in a health-related field will be considered for admission to the PhD program.

Deadlines for Application

Application deadlines may be obtained by viewing the specific program page of interest on the College of Nursing web site. All application materials must be received by the indicated deadline. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid missing deadlines due to missing documentation.

Practice Experience Requirements

Some advanced practice programs have RN clinical practice requirements that must be completed prior to admission or prior to registration for the specific clinical courses in that program. The specific program pages and the application instructions page have information on current practice requirements.

International Students

TOEFL scores, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), are required for applicants who are non-native speakers of English and have not completed a minimum of three (3) years of higher education and received their baccalaureate degree in the United States. All foreign institutions attended require course-by-course ECE, WES, or COGFN transcript evaluation.

Exit Options

Four current exit options are available to students enrolled in the College of Nursing. Depending on the background of the student, three degree offerings, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science (PhD) comprise the exit points on the curriculum continuum. These are the points at which students may graduate or continue their academic growth in nursing by seeking admission to another program. Movement from one exit level to the next is always contingent upon evidence of academic potential for success at higher levels of study. Academic progression is reviewed regularly and students are advised of the options available to them. Additionally, a post graduate, non-degree certificate option is available to nurses with advanced practice degrees who wish to attain other specific advanced practice nursing skills without replicating an entire graduate program.

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The curriculum for the pre or post-licensure MSN degree is designed to prepare graduates to function as generalist nurses with an advanced level of skill and knowledge in clinical leadership.

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The DNP degree (BSN or MSN - DNP) leading to specialty certification is available in several clinical areas. The MSN - DNP leadership tracks are designed to prepare leaders able to effect change in clinical outcomes through system redesign and evidenced-based decision making.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science (BSN or MS - PhD)

A graduate of the PhD program is prepared to become a nurse scientist with the investigative skills of a researcher and the clinical and leadership skills necessary to influence the health care system.

• Post-Graduate Non-Degree Certificate

The post-graduate certificate option is available for RNs who already have an advanced practice graduate degree in nursing (MSN or DNP) and wish to specialize in a different clinical area.

Conditionally Admitted Students

A conditionally admitted student is one who does not meet current admission guidelines for a graduate option, but whose records show evidence of ability to successfully complete a graduate program. Upon admission, the student is assigned a faculty advisor in their area of concentration. As a requirement of admission, the conditionally admitted student must successfully complete a minimum of 2 required courses specified by their advisor. It is highly recommended students take only those courses specified by their advisor until the conditions of admission are met.

The specified courses must be completed within 2 terms of admission with a letter grade of B or better. A grade of “Incomplete” is not acceptable unless under special circumstances with permission of the Admissions & Progressions Committee. A student may not take a leave of absence until all of the conditions of admission have been met. Failure to meet any of these conditions will result in automatic dismissal.

Readmission

Any student in good academic standing who has voluntarily withdrawn from a program or been administratively withdrawn must apply for readmission by submitting an application through NursingCAS. Applications must be received prior to the designated deadline for the term sought. A re-entering student must meet the conditions for re-enrollment stated in his/her acceptance letter and all policies, requirements, and course sequences in effect at the time of re-entry. The student will pay tuition and fees at the rate in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Nursing students who have been dismissed from the college for academic reasons or withdrew from the college on a probationary status may not automatically apply for readmission. The student may continue as a student-at-large if given permission by the Admissions and Progressions Committee. The student must receive an acceptable grade in the course that resulted in dismissal or probation and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater in order to be considered for readmission. The hours and grade points of the second grade only will be counted in the cumulative GPA.

Transcript and Licensure Delinquency

Transcript Delinquency

Students who are admitted to a program pending successful completion of a course/degree must submit a final transcript (with either an acceptable course grade or degree posted) to NursingCAS prior to matriculation. Students who do not submit the required documentation by the first day of class will have their admission rescinded.

Licensure Delinquency

Students who are admitted to a program pending successful completion of their RN licensure examination must submit proof of licensure to the College of Nursing Office of Admissions prior to matriculation. Students who do not submit the required documentation by the first day of class will have their admission rescinded.

Student-at-Large Status

Student-at-large status is available for persons who have not yet been accepted by the college as classified students.

1. Persons who wish to take a course as a student-at-large may obtain a special registration form from the Office of the Registrar’s web site. At-large students who wish to seek admission to a graduate program must obtain a grade of B or better in all courses taken or risk not being admitted. Students who have been accepted into a program may have their admission rescinded if they do not receive a grade of B or better in all courses taken prior to matriculation as an accepted student.
2. Students need the permission of the College of Nursing Office of Academic Affairs for the course in which they are interested.
3. An instructor is not obligated to accept any student-at-large in his or her class, and students without appropriate background take courses at their own risk. Students in degree programs have priority enrollment over students registering for the at-large-status. At-large students registered for a course may be removed from the course if a degree-seeking student wishes to enroll in the class. If a student cannot be accommodated in a class, a full refund will be issued.
4. Tuition is assessed at the regular tuition rate for all at-large students.
5. A student may not accumulate more than 12 credit hours of at-large status. Review of the program of study in which the student is interested to guide course selection is highly recommended.
6. It is also highly recommended that students interested in admission to a particular specialty contact the specialty program director to notify them of their interest.
7. At-large students may not take clinical courses.
8. Students who have been dismissed from the College and wish to retake courses as at-large students must seek permission from the Admissions and Progressions Committee.

To view the university policy on Student-at-Large status, click here.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Postdoctoral fellows come to study at the College of Nursing under the auspices of a faculty-sponsored grant. The following systems assist in tracking the progress of the fellow. It will allow fellows to enroll in courses that support their research.

1. Faculty who are sponsoring post-doctoral fellows will notify the Associate Dean for Research and the Graduate College Division of Nursing Admissions Committee of the number of positions to be filled each July.
2. When post-doctoral fellows enter the college, their application materials will be presented to the Graduate College Division of Nursing Admissions Committee.
3. Fellows will be entered into the College of Nursing and Registrar’s information systems as postgraduate students under the faculty sponsor’s name and department.
4. Fellows will be able to take courses at Rush as post-graduate students. Progressions policies apply to all coursework taken by doctoral fellows.
5. Transcript will designate student as post-graduate/post-doctoral fellow.
6. Coursework taken during post-doctoral training will carry the following transcript notation:
   Coursework completed during post-doctoral fellowship training