Admission

All students admitted to the MSN program must meet all UNA graduate admission requirements (see General Regulations and Procedures). All required admission material must be submitted by the deadline date. Additional requirements for admission to the MSN program are:

  1. A completed application to the ACONHP graduate program (available online at https://www.una.edu/graduate/ 
  2. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better on the BSN degree granting institution transcript.
  3. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a professionally accredited nursing program in the United States.
  4. A written statement of professional goals and the role of graduate education in achieving those goals.
  5. A current registered nurse license with no restrictions or reprimands.  Nurses with any restrictions or reprimands on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program cannot be admitted. 
  6. Clinical practice is preferred, but not required.
  7. All MSN applicants must complete a criminal background check and drug screen.
  8. All Nurse Practitioner tract applicants must have a minimum of two completed recommendation forms.

Conditional admission to the Leadership and Teaching-Learning option is considered for applicants who meet the admission criteria in part. A student admitted conditionally must have a minimum of one year of full time clinical experience as a registered nurse.

Conditionally admitted students must earn a grade point average of 3.0 or greater after the first nine hours of study. Conditionally admitted students who fall below 3.0 after nine hours of study may not continue in the program.

International students must meet all University and ACONHP graduate admission requirements and must have a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 213 on the computer- based TOEFL.

All applications for admission undergo review by the graduate nursing administration and/or faculty. Admission decisions will be made by the ACONHP graduate administration and/or faculty.  Admission to the MSN major is competitive.  Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the nursing program.

A student currently meeting the requirements for the post-masters certificate and graduate studies at UNA can enroll in a Graduate Certificate Program in the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions.  Students are limited to enrolling in only the courses required for the certificates. 

MSN Academic Requirements

  • Graduate students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 on all valid work attempted in the MSN program.  Additionally, a grade of "A" or "B" is required for NU 508, NU607, NU 614, and all practicum courses. (NU 641, NU 642, NU 643, NU 644, NU 645, NU 651, NU 652, NU 653, NU 654, NU 655, NU 680, NU 681, NU 682, and/or NU 683)
  • A MSN student may make a grade of "C" or below in no more than six semester hours on non-clinical coursework within the MSN program.  A student who has earned a grade of "C" or below in no more than six semester hours of coursework is ineligible for graduation, may not take any additional courses, and will be dismissed from the program.  If a course is repeated, a grade of "B" or higher must be earned in the course that is repeated. 
  • Students who fall below a 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students will remain on academic probation until their cumulative GPA is restored to a 3.0 or above. However students must maintain a 3.0 in each probationary semester until the student’s overall GPA is 3.0.
  • A student whose final GPA is less than 3.0 is not qualified for graduation.
  • If a student earns a grade below "C" (D or F) in any required MSN course, the student must repeat that course. If the subsequent grade is below C, the student may not continue in the program. If the subsequent grade is C or above, continuance in the program is contingent upon the MSN Academic Requirements as stated above. A student may repeat a maximum of three semester hours.  Repeating a course does not delete the previous grade.
  • A student who has a GPA below 3.0 after completing all courses in his/ her program of study is ineligible for graduation. However, this student may enroll in a maximum of six additional hours in order to reach the required GPA. Students may enroll in MSN courses not previously taken, or may retake courses in which they earned a grade of C or less. No other courses will be accepted. Students must complete the six additional hours within two semesters of completing the program of study. Repeating a course does not delete the previous grade.
  • A student must complete all coursework within seven years from the date of initial enrollment. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances. A written request for extension should be sent to the director/chair of the MSN program explaining the reason for the extension. If granted, the extension will be for one calendar year.
  • MSN students who receive restrictions or reprimands on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program will not be able to continue in the program.  Admission can be denied based upon verbal disclosure of substance use or abuse.