Admission Requirements for the M.S. in Nursing

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a professionally accredited program. Applicants from non-accredited programs may be considered for admission on an individual basis.
• Undergraduate minimum GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.*
• Current New York State license registration certificate.
• One year of clinical nursing experience is required prior to specialization courses. Nurse Practitioner applicants are required to have a minimum of one year of recent clinical experience.
• Three letters of recommendation. Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialty applicants’ letters must attest to clinical competency. One letter from a clinical manager.
• Undergraduate statistics.
• Undergraduate nursing research.
• Undergraduate Basic Physical Assessment
• A personal interview.
• A completed application.
• A current curriculum vitae
• For Nursing Education and Nursing Administration with Informatics Applicants:

• A professional goal statement (400-800). Essay should include applicant's professional goals and aspirations.

• For Advanced Practice Nursing (APRN) Program Applicants::
  • Professional goal statement (400 to 800 words) addressing the following:
    • Discuss student's personal reasons for Advanced Practice Nursing (APRN) specialty.
    • Describe how student's past and/or ongoing work experience will enhance their experience in this program.
    • State student's goals/plans upon completion of the degree.
  • Note: Applicants to the MS AGACNP Program one-year inpatient/acute care are preferred. Applicants to the MSPMHNP Program with prior psychiatric nursing care are preferred.

*Applicants who do not have an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 and show promise may be admitted with provisional academic status. These students must receive a minimum grade of "B" in the first six (6) credits taken in the graduate program. Upon completion of these six (6) credits, the student’s records will be reviewed. At this time the student will be accepted as matriculated or asked to withdraw from the program.

Additional information: Graduate Nursing Handbook

Bridge Program for RN's with a Non-Nursing Baccalaureate Degree – Alternative Admission Pathway

This is an alternative admission pathway to a master’s degree program for registered nurses with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree. NUR 4980, a “Bridge’’ course designed to provide learning opportunities that reflect baccalaureate program outcomes, prepares this population of nurses for the graduate nursing program. Upon completion of the “Bridge’’ course with a minimum grade of “B’’ and by meeting the following criteria, the applicant is eligible for matriculation into the graduate program.

The following Master’s program admission criteria apply:

•   Registered Nurse from an accredited associate degree college.

•   Non-nursing baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university.

•   Current malpractice insurance.

•   Successful completion of the “Bridge’’ course (NUR 4980 - Theoretical Transition to Professional Nursing) (Minimum grade of “B’’).

•   Undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

•   Current New York State Registered Nurse license registration certificate.

•   Three years of recent clinical nursing experience.

•   Three letters of recommendation from the applicant's clinical managers (Physician, Nurse Educator, Administrator, APRN) that attest to the applicant's clinical competency.

•   A personal interview.

•   A current curriculum vita.

•   Undergraduate statistics.

•   Undergraduate (nursing) research.

•   Undergraduate Basic Physical Assessment.

•   A completed application.

The course description for NUR 4980 Theoretical Transition to Professional Nursing is in the Graduate Nursing Course Descriptions.