DNP Program - Admissions

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students without a MS degree in nursing will be enrolled in the MS/ANP or MS/PNP program before continuing on through the DNP program. Students with some MS course credit will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program in nursing. International students must graduate from a nursing program that has undergone comparable review per AACN Baccalaureate Essentials criteria and must score a minimum of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL.
• A minimum undergraduate nursing cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0, on a four-point scale, or equivalent "B" average. Note: Applicants not meeting this criterion may be considered for conditional admission status.
• All degree-seeking students to the School of Nursing must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students who currently hold an MS in Nursing are not required to take the GRE. For information, test dates, and application forms, visit http://www.gre.org/. The GRE must be taken within five years prior to the applicant's admission date.
• Evidence of current registered nurse licensure in the State of Indiana.
• Evidence of successful completion (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) of an upper division statistics course (STAT 301, SOC 382, SOC 581, STAT 501, STAT 511, PSY 500, or other course deemed comparable by the School of Nursing Admissions Committee.) taken within the last 5 years. Alternately, one may be taken concurrently with the first semester of graduate coursework.
• A personal interview with a graduate program faculty advisor.
• Basic computer competency including word processing and use of the Internet.
• Grades in all previous master's course work of "B" or better.

Application Procedure

Applications with all supporting documents must be submitted by April 1 for Fall semester admission and October 1 for Spring semester admission. Late applications will be placed on a waiting list and will not be reviewed until all timely applicants have been processed. Typically, late applications are not successful. Special consideration may be given on an individual basis. No action can be taken until all admission documents have been received. The Purdue Graduate School application must be completed electronically; send all other materials to:

Jenny Franklin
School of Nursing, Johnson Hall
502 N. University St.
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
(765) 494-9248

1. The Graduate School Application Form. This is to be completed on-line at the Graduate School Web site: http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/admissions/).
2. Two official (original) transcripts from each school attended.
3. A 300-500 word essay, which addresses your reasons for pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice, career goals, and practice interests.
4. Three letters of recommendation evaluating your scholarly potential (available from the Graduate School Office). One should be from a clinical advisor or supervisor, one from an academic advisor or faculty member, and one from a nursing peer.
5. A curriculum vita or resume.
6. A copy of your current registered nurse license.

Action on Admissions

• The Admissions Committee will select the best qualified applicants for the DNP program based on a composite assessment of:
  • Academic performance in all coursework taken, with particular emphasis on the sciences (because of their relationship to assessing analytical problem-solving abilities), patterns of course withdrawals and course repeats, and the nature of general education course selections.
  • Applicant-supplied information and statements on the application form.
  • Recommenders' statements.
  • A personal interview with representatives of the Admissions Committee. (Each applicant given final consideration for acceptance will be interviewed at least once by one or two faculty and/or staff members).
  • Writing and verbal communication skills.
  • Applicant's initiative to seek out firsthand knowledge about various nursing practice environments.
  • Completeness of application forms.
• All applicants will initially be reviewed for evidence of basic qualifications for admission to the DNP program, and those most qualified will be invited for a personal interview.
• All interviews will be conducted on the West Lafayette campus. Letters of invitation for an interview will specify the date and time.
• Admissions will be granted to the most highly qualified applicants. The next most highly qualified applicants will have their names placed on a waiting list.
• Some students may not be admitted. They will be referred to appropriate advising offices for assistance.

Confirmation of Admission

If you receive an offer of admission to the School of Nursing, it must be accepted within 14 days after the date of the letter of offer.