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How do I apply for the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) MSN or DNP programs?
 

BSN to MSN and BSN to DNP admission:

• Submit a university application and a curriculum vitae or resume. Click “start a graduate application” to apply.
• Hold bachelor’s in nursing from an accredited college or university.
• Possess current unrestricted license to practice nursing as a registered nurse in applicant’s state.
• For those applicants practicing in Michigan, a current registered nurse Michigan license is required. Applicants to the Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthesia program who hold registered nurse licensure from other states or countries may be admitted provisionally with the requirement that a United States and Michigan registered nurse license must be obtained prior to progression to clinical courses.
• Minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for total credits completed during the second-half of the four-year baccalaureate nursing program.
• Complete a 3-credit undergraduate statistics course with a grade of 2.0 (4.0 scale) or better within the last five years or complete a 3-credit graduate statistics course with a grade of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or better within the last five years.
• Submit a written essay that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for graduate study in the selected area of specialty nursing practice.
• Submit three letters of recommendation. The reference letters must be from a source that has direct knowledge of the applicant’s work and educational experience specifying the applicant’s ability to do graduate work.
• Complete an admission interview with the College of Nursing faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the dean of the college based on the requirements for admission and the personal interview.
• If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum average score of 550, no sub-score below 52 on the paper-based test (PBT). If the applicant completes the Internet-based test (iBT), no sub-score below 19 for reading, listening and speaking; no writing sub-score below 22 and a minimum average score of 80. Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University Office of Admissions.

MSN to DNP admission criteria:

Admission to the post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is limited to advanced practice registered nurses with a master’s degree from a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education- or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission-accredited program and who have current national certification in their specialty.

To be considered for admission to the Post Master's DNP program, and applicant must:

• Submit a university application for admission and a curriculum vita or resume.
• Complete a Master of Science of Nursing degree from an accredited college or university.
• Possess a current unrestricted license to practice nursing as a registered nurse in the applicant’s state or country. For those applicants practicing in Michigan, a current registered nurse Michigan license is required. Applicants who hold registered nurse licensure from other states or countries and who are in the Nurse Practitioner and Anesthesia concentrations may be admitted provisionally with the requirement that a United States and Michigan registered nurse license must be obtained prior to progression.
• Possess current certification from a U.S. National Certifying Board as an NP, CRNA, CNS or CNM .
• A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (4.0) scale for total credits completed during the master’s program.
• Complete a 3-credit undergraduate statistics course with a grade of 2.0 (4.0 scale) or better within the last five years or complete a 3-credit graduate statistics course with a grade of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or better in the last 5 years.
• Submit a written essay that addresses the applicant’s career goals and motivations for doctoral study.
• Submit three letters of recommendation. The reference letters must be from a source that has direct knowledge of the applicant’s work and educational experience specifying the applicant’s ability to do doctoral work.
• Complete an admission interview with the College of Nursing faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the Dean of the College based on requirements for admission and the personal interview.
• If the applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum average score of 550, no subscore below 52 on the paper-based test (PBT). If the applicant completes the Internet-based test (iBT), no subscore below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 22 and a minimum average score of 80. Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University Office of Admissions.

Following the initial screening, applicants identified as well-matched with the College of Nursing academic standards and program focus will be contacted for a required personal interview with program faculty. Recommendations for admission are made by the faculty committee to the dean of the college based on the requirements for admission and the personal interview.

Validation form (post-master's only):

Applicants are required to submit a validation form to the administrator of their APRN program to verify the total number of clinical hours completed in the program as well as curriculum content for three APRN courses.  

All forms must be received by the final application deadline, April 1.

Applicants are responsible for uploading the completed validation form directly to the application or submitting to:

Office of Student Affairs:
Email:  CON.Nurse@msu.edu
Fax: (517) 432-8251

Out-of-state applicants

Students who reside outside the state of Michigan who are considering an on-line nursing program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency to confirm whether the course or program meets requirements for professional licensure in the student’s state of residence prior to beginning a course of study. MSU has an up-to-date, state-by-state summary available online.