Graduate Admission Requirements

BSN Admission Requirements:
Registered nurses (RNs) who have successfully passed the NCLEX-RN and currently hold an unencumbered active RN license in the United States and who hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing are considered for admission to the Clinical Nurse Leader, Evidence-Based Nursing, or the Family Nurse Practitioner track. Applicants are required to have a good academic record and completion of coursework in statistics and research. Scroll down this page to continue at References.

Non-BSN Admission Requirements:
RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a discipline other than nursing may apply to the Evidence-Based Nursing track. Once the master of science degree in nursing (MS) is conferred, the student may apply to the Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program, if desired.

1.  Unencumbered, active RN license in the United States
2.  Baccalaureate degree in another field
3.  Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in associate and baccalaureate programs
4.  Nursing experience preferred but not required
5.  Submit sample of a scholarly paper
6.  Successful completion of undergraduate statistics
7.  Successful completion of undergraduate research
8.  Interview may be requested
Scroll down this page to continue at References.

Accelerated Master's Program for Current UNH Senior Nursing Students:
Qualified senior students at the University of New Hampshire may be admitted to the Graduate School provided they have followed normal application procedures; they must have been admitted for the semester in which they wish to enroll in courses for graduate credit.  A 3.2 cumulative grade-point average is normally required to be considered for the accelerated master’s program.  Such seniors are normally admitted prior to the start of their last undergraduate semester.  Seniors who have been admitted under accelerated master’s program may register for a maximum of three courses for up to 12 graduate credits. 

When seniors admitted to the accelerated master's program have registered for graduate courses, they must maintain a grade-point average of 3.20, complete their undergraduate degree as planned, and pass graduate courses taken for credit with a grade of B- or better.  If these conditions are not met, admission is withdrawn.

Dual-credit forms must be completed and approved by the dean of the Graduate School at the beginning of the semester for which dual credit is sought. 

Students accepted under accelerated master’s follow the clinical nurse leader or evidence-based nursing track. Undergraduate students accepted as graduate nursing students under accelerated master’s guidelines, are admitted with the stipulation that their RN license must be obtained prior to beginning any clinical course.  Stipulation is removed upon verification of the RN license provided to the department of nursing.

Apply to the accelerated master’s program through the Graduate School by April 1 of your junior year if you wish to begin summer after your junior year, by July 1 after your junior year if you wish to begin fall of your senior year.  Apply November 1 of your senior year if you wish to begin spring of your senior year.  Admission is provisional:  must have RN license before registering for NURS 952 or NURS 955.

References:
All applicants' references should be substantial with at least one academic from your nursing program and two current nursing professionals with graduate education background. 

TOEFL:
All applicants who are  non-native English speakers are required to demonstrate a sufficient level of proficiency in the English language to meet the admission requirement of the Graduate School.  Proficiency can be demonstrated by the receipt of a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or from a university in another country where English is the primary language of instruction.  All other non-native English speakers must achieve a minimum score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 80 (Internet based) on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL).

GRE and MAT:
The GRE and MAT are not required. 

Apply:
Apply on line at www.gradschool.unh.edu. Application deadline for fall admission is April 1; application deadline for spring admission is November 1. The Student Affairs Council in the Department of Nursing reviews completed applications September through May for fall or spring admission (rolling admission).