Admission

Applicants who seek admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program must first achieve admission to the Office of Graduate Studies at the University level. Once admission to Graduate Studies is attained and all materials have been received by the graduate nursing program, the applicant may be considered for admission to the DNP program. The USI Department of Distance Learning provides updated information regarding out-of-state student acceptance. 

The following criteria must be met to be considered for admission. Students who do not meet the minimal criteria will not be eligible for admission.

1. Earned master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing
2. Earned a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent
3. Satisfactorily completed a course in graduate research (grade B or better)
4. Submit a copy of unencumbered RN licenses
5. Submit a curriculum vitae
6. Submit three professional references - a minimum of one reference should be from faculty in your graduate program
7. Submit a 1-2 page paper describing your practice experience and your professional goals. Include the area of nursing practice that you will concentrate on in this program.
8. Provide a description of a practice related issue that will serve as the focus of your project. Include the significance and impact of the project to nursing and health care.

Faculty may request an interview with an applicant once all of the admission criteria as listed above have been met.