Steps to apply for graduate programs

Apply to the School of Nursing’s online graduate programs

We are thrilled that you’re interested in joining the School of Nursing at Northern Arizona University for your graduate education. You will complete an online application for the university through the Graduate College, which will then be sent to the School of Nursing for review. There is no separate graduate nursing application.

Apply to Graduate College

Master of Science in Nursing

These admission requirements apply to the following degrees:

MS in Nursing with emphasis options in Strategic Systems Leadership and Leadership, Quality, and Patient Safety

MS in Nursing – Advanced Practice with emphasis options in Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Application details

To apply to one of the programs above, you’ll need:

a completed Graduate College application
a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited program OR an associate degree in nursing (AAS) from an accredited program and a baccalaureate degree in another field
minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all nursing coursework of the BSN or AAS in nursing
- If the applicant’s GPA is below 3.0, we recommend taking two graduate nursing courses; if the applicant’s grades are B or better, they can then apply to the graduate program.
RN licensure
- MS in Nursing students: A current RN license, in good standing. Graduate students living in Arizona during their enrollment at Northern Arizona University must have an RN license to practice nursing in Arizona.
- MS in Nursing – Advanced Practice students: A current RN license, in good standing, to practice as a registered nurse in Arizona OR eligibility to obtain an Arizona license, or to meet the regulations of the Arizona Board of Nursing regarding multi-state licensure.
completion of an undergraduate introduction to statistics course from a college or university with a passing grade of C or better OR completion of a graduate course in statistics, passed with a grade of B or better, and completed prior to enrollment in NUR 530 (EBP)
completion of an undergraduate course in nursing research with a grade of B or better
for applicants with an associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate degree in another field, completion of undergraduate public health nursing (theory and clinical) course(s) passed with a grade of B or better
a comprehensive statement about your experiences, interests, and goals
a structured interview with School of Nursing faculty may be required

*If applying to the Advanced Practice track, we recommend 3–5 years of general nursing practice before applying. However, students may begin their core courses sooner and will be considered on an individual basis.

Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

To apply for this certificate program, you’ll need:

a completed Graduate College application
a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program
a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all nursing coursework for the master’s degree
RN licensure: a current RN license, in good standing, to practice as a registered nurse in Arizona OR eligibility to obtain an Arizona license or meet the Arizona Board of Nursing regulations regarding multi-state licensure
recommendations from three professional persons knowledgeable about your potential to work effectively in advanced professional and scholarly roles
a comprehensive statement about your experiences, interests, and goals
a structured interview with faculty may be required

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner certificate.

Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate

To apply for this certificate program, you’ll need:

a completed Graduate College application
a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from an accredited program
a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all nursing coursework for the master’s or doctorate in nursing program
RN licensure: a current RN license, in good standing, to practice as a registered nurse in Arizona OR eligibility to obtain an Arizona license or meet the Arizona Board of Nursing regulations regarding multi-state licensure
recommendations from three professional persons knowledgeable about your potential to work effectively in advanced professional and scholarly roles
a comprehensive statement about your experiences, interests, and goals
a structured interview with faculty may be required

Learn more about the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Prescriptive Authority Endorsement

To be admitted to the program and ultimately obtain prescription rights, you’ll need:

CNS certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification, or an equivalent organization as determined by the Board
a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited institution
an RN/APRN license in good standing
an intent to apply (or already submitted application) for APRN prescribing authority in Arizona

Learn more about the Clinical Nurse Specialist course bundle.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Application details

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is designed for nurses holding a master’s degree (MS) to obtain a doctorate degree in nursing. The DNP builds on master’s education to provide expanded unique knowledge and expertise. These graduates will have a broader capability to provide high-quality care in a complex and increasingly strapped healthcare system. The DNP is an online clinical doctorate with emphasis on enhancing leadership expertise in rural and underserved populations.

To apply to the DNP, you’ll need:

a completed Graduate College application
a master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university and a nationally accredited nursing program
- If the institution and the program are outside of the US, equivalent accreditation standards must be met.
minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (4.0=A) in all nursing coursework of your master’s degree program
current RN license in good standing to practice as a registered nurse
recommendations from three professional persons knowledgeable about your potential to work effectively in advanced professional and scholarly roles
a comprehensive statement about your experiences, interests, and goals in your personal and professional life that make you a good fit for this degree
a structured interview with faculty may be required
upon acceptance, you will be required to provide an official letter directly from the degree issuing institution with the actual total number of clinical hours completed

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