Degree Options
Master of Science in Nursing
Admission Requirements (including the RN to MSN option)
If you just want to take the Statistics prerequisites or take a course prior to beginning major (permission is required) and you are not ready to apply into your major/or MSN program you will need to complete the University application only at this time. You will need to put Graduate Nursing under Educational Objective. Once we receive your online University application you will receive an email from our office on how to set up your IUPUI account and registration information. There is a $50.00 application fee to submit the University application. You can save the application and go back to it so you do not need to complete it in one sitting. You will need to create a PIN and Password and there is a technical help icon at the top of the page if you have any trouble with the application.
Admission to the Master’s program requires approval by the faculty and is based on the applicant’s qualifications as evidenced by grade point average, essay, official transcripts, and references. A personal interview may be requested. Acceptance into the program is competitive. Students select a major area of study at the time they apply for admission to the MSN program. See the MSN majors listed in the right column for more information.
Application Dates: Applications for MSN majors are due by February 15 for admission into the fall semester or by September 15 for admission into the spring semester. (Please note: The Family Nurse Practitioner major admits students only in February and the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner major admits students only in September. )
All admission materials must be received by the due dates. Completed applications are reviewed by faculty. Students are notified as soon as possible about the status of their application and their acceptance into the program. Admission is competitive and is based on the number of students who can be accommodated by available resources.
Admission Criteria
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program.
- GRE testing is not needed for application to masters degree programs although it is necessary for application to the PhD program.
- Statistics grade (by transcript or current completion at IUPUI). Applicants must have received a grade of B- (or higher) in a three-credit, 300 level (or higher) class taken within five years of the date of application. Applicants who took a course that is not 300 level may check with an academic advisor or submit a course syllabus (not a course description) to be reviewed for acceptability.
- Copy of current Indiana RN license. Evidence of a current, active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered practitioner of nursing in the state of Indiana. International applicants not yet licensed by any state in the U.S. will need to submit evidence of passing the CGFNS exam before applying for an RN license in Indiana.
- Essay (goal statement) of 200-250 words explaining your career goals, reasons for your choice of major, and why you want to pursue an advanced degree in nursing.
- Applicants must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to use computer technologies to communicate.
- Applicants must agree to the essential abilities policy (PDF) of the School of Nursing, which states that students can demonstrate essential abilities in a variety of areas (judgment, neurological function, communication skills, emotional coping skills, intellectual/conceptual skills, and other behavioral attributes) as well as meeting all progression criteria.
- Three references using the student appraisal form (PDF).
- Applicants must turn in a current resumé which shows clear documentation of clinical practice as an RN:
- Applicants to any nurse practitioner major must have two years of relevant clinical practice by the admission review deadline. Contact the faculty in the specific practitioner major to discuss your experience prior to submitting your application.
- All RN to MSN applicants must have the equivalent of two years full-time practice as a registered nurse in the past five years.
- Applicants to a clinical nurse specialist or nursing administration major who have a BSN do not have to meet a specific practice requirement.
- Application may be made during the cycle when the two years of experience as an RN will be reached.
- Submit and complete MSN Departmental Application.
Ready to apply to the Master's program click here To Apply. Students seeking admission must meet all criteria to be considered. Applications to the master's program remain valid for two years.
Contact us for more information about the master's program, admission criteria, or the application process, please call us at (317) 278-2205 or e-mail oesgrads [at] iupui [dot] edu.
