Post-Masters DNP Admissions
For students who are practice-oriented and who already have a master's degree in a nursing specialty area. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for leadership as advanced practice nurses, clinical experts, health care executives, policy experts, and informaticians. The Post-Masters DNP program is for students who already hold a master's degree in a nursing specialty area.
We offer an Executive Model of education, which means that the majority of coursework is online with three (3) on-campus sessions in the Fall and Spring semesters, and two (2) on-campus sessions in the Summer semester. In all, students are required to be on-campus about eight (8) times per year.
Admission Requirements To be considered for admission into the Post-Masters DNP program, you must have the following: Nursing License
As part of your application you must submit a photocopy of a current registered nurse license. You must hold an RN license in the state in which you will complete clinical courses. International students must submit a photocopy of a current RN license from their home country with their application (see further requirements for international students below). If you are an international nurse, you must obtain a Minnesota license by the end of your second semester in residence. You will need to pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) exam and the NCLEX exam in order to obtain a Minnesota license. You are encouraged to take the CGFNS exam in your home country prior to enrollment. For more information, contact the Minnesota Board of Nursing: www.nursingboard.state.mn.us or call 612-617-2270. Education
You must hold an entry level nursing degree (e.g. BSN, BAN, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, or entry-level Master of Nursing) from a regionally accredited university. In addition, you must hold a master's degree in a nursing specialty from a regionally accredited university. Persons with generalist or nursing education master’s degrees are not eligible for admission into the Post-MS DNP program. Instead, please consider our BSN-to-DNP program with the option to petition applicable graduate coursework. High Scholastic Achievement
Successful applicants typically have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.4 or above (on a 4.0 scale). Each applicant will be considered individually for any exception to the stated requirements. You may wish to submit a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score and describe the circumstances surrounding the GPA below 3.0. - Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
You do not need to submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores unless you submit narrative, pass/no-credit or other ungraded notations for a majority of the credits toward your master's degree in your major field of study.
The GRE must have been taken within the last five (5) years. The preferred minimum combined verbal and quantitative score for the new GRE revised General Test is 297. The preferred minimum combined verbal and quantitative score for the older GRE General Test is 1,000. Please view the GRE revised General Test webinar for more information about the new version of this exam.
English language proficiency
If your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score at least 586 (written) 240 (computerized) or 95 (IBT). Information is available on the TOEFL Web site at www.toefl.org. If the TOEFL is not available in your country, you must take the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) and score at least 85. Information about the MELAB is available at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/testing/melab. You are exempt from taking the test if, within the past 24 months, you have completed 24 quarter credits or 16 semester credits in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States. The School of Nursing will accept TOEFL or MELAB exams taken within three years of the time of application. Official transcripts from ALL institutions
Official transcript(s) from every post-secondary institution you have attended, even if no degree was earned, must be received in a sealed envelope by November 1 for priority consideration. Other DNP applications will be considered on a space available basis through March 1. Please note, official University of Minnesota transcripts are required; we will not pull these for you. Additionally, even if credit from one institution shows up on the transcript of another, we still need the transcript from the original institution for verification.
Applicants who have completed college-level courses outside the U.S. and Canada must have their international coursework evaluated. This can be accomplished by sending transcripts to a foreign credentials evaluation service. This evaluation must be sent to the School of Nursing. The following is a list of foreign credential evaluation services:
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc
http://www.ece.org
414-289-3400
World Education Services, Inc.
http://www.wes.org
212-966-6311
If your international coursework was completed as part of a study abroad through a U.S. institution, only the U.S. transcript is required.
Professional references
Three references from past or current professors, supervisors or professional colleagues are required. One (1) out of the three (3) references must be from a supervisor. You must use the Admission Reference Forms included in the online application; you will find these under the "references" tab. The references should attest to your potential for success in the DNP program (including preparation, initiative, and aptitude) and your commitment to the profession. The evaluation must be received, not post-marked, by November 1 (priority deadline) or March 1 (final deadline). Essays
Doctoral students are expected to possess strong writing abilities. The ability to express one’s thoughts in a logical, analytical manner is essential to being a successful doctoral student. Below are the competencies we assess when reviewing your application essays, as well as the spontaneous essay you are asked to write as part of the interview process: • Ability to present thoughts in a logical, sequential, and analytical manner
• Ability to clearly answer essay questions
• Ability to use proper grammar and syntax
The profile essay requires applicants to provide a brief summary (approximately 500 words) informing the Admissions Committee about their short-term and long-term professional goals after they complete the DNP program. As part of the DNP program students are required to complete a project that focuses on identifying and analyzing a nursing practice problem. Students develop and implement an evidence-based innovation and evaluation protocol that could solve a significant health-care problem. In the summary of a proposed capstone leadership project essay, you are asked to provide a summary (maximum 1,000 words) describing the practice problem you would like to study and your initial ideas about addressing it.
The specific essay requirements can be found within the "essays" tab of the online application. Application
You must complete and submit the application by November 1 for the following fall semester for priority consideration. Applications will be accepted on a space-available basis until March 1. Please note that the two sections of the application listed below will receive special attention by the School of Nursing Graduate Admissions and Progressions Committee. A $60 application fee is required. We recommend applicants send all application materials together in one envelope to:
U of MN School of Nursing
Office of Student and Career Advancement Services
5-160 Weaver-Densford Hall
308 Harvard Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Additional Information
For more information regarding the Post-MS DNP program, admissions, or the application process, please contact:
Kristina Pearson
Admissions & Enrollment Coordinator
612-626-4465 or pearson@umn.edu
View our brochure on doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing
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