Effective Date

These policies become effective immediately upon final approval and shall remain in effect until revoked.

Purpose

Applicant policies are provided to inform prospective applicants regarding admission requirements. The most current policies are posted in each program’s application section of the Metropolitan State University web site and are subject to change.

Responsibility

Each applicant is responsible for knowing and adhering to the current applicant policies for their program. The responsibility for the implementation of these policies is assigned to the Dean and faculty of the Department of Nursing.

Application Requirements

The following are requirements for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner at Metropolitan State University. All application items must be uploaded by the published application deadline.

• A completed application for the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner program via NursingCAS, official transcripts, references, a goal statement essay, evidence of current RN licensure, and evidence of required practice hours.
• An official transcript indicating a BS/BA degree in Nursing or Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing. The applicant must be a graduate of an accredited institution, and the nursing program must be accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• RN-BSN student applicants whose BS/BA in Nursing is in progress may petition for their application to be considered if their degree will be completed by August 1, prior to the fall program start.
• Official transcripts for all other undergraduate or graduate study completed at the time of application. Graduates of non-US schools who apply to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program are required to have transcripts evaluated by a credential's evaluation service. The evaluation report serves as the basis for the transcript evaluation needed for admission to the University and to the graduate nursing program.
• A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 is required for admission. The GPA used for admission assessment is calculated from all post-secondary coursework and evaluation of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• Applicants may petition to have a transcript older than seven years from the application deadline individually reviewed for exclusion from the cumulative GPA calculation. Transcripts for elimination must not include any nursing course requirements for the applicant’s associate's degree in nursing or BS/BA in Nursing, and credentials from an omitted transcript may not be used to satisfy program admission requirements.
• Individuals who completed a BS/BA or Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing that did not assign grades or confer an official GPA may still apply. Such applicants will be evaluated on the basis of the remaining admission criteria.
• Evidence of current unencumbered registered nurse license in at least one state with eligibility for licensure in Minnesota.
• Two professional references: one from either a supervisor or employer, and one from a colleague.
• A goal statement essay. Guidelines for the goal statement essay are provided on the Doctor of Nursing Practice–Family Nurse Practitioner program application section of the Metropolitan State University website and NursingCAS.
• Applicants must use their own words and ideas when responding to essay questions. If clarifying using others' ideas, 7th edition APA citations are required. Essays are subject to plagiarism review, including detecting software. Findings of plagiarism may result in consequences, including full denial of application.
• Evidence of the equivalent of one year of full-time (FTE of 0.6 or greater) RN practice experience.
• An interview with a member or members of the Department of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice faculty may be required.

Review of Application Materials

All submitted materials are reviewed and evaluated by the Department of Nursing Graduate Programs Committee members. Final admission offers are made by the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Admission offers are made on a rolling basis and are limited to 20 seats; the program is competitive.

Admission Offer

• Successful applicants will receive a letter offering admission. Applicants must respond affirmatively by the date indicated and pay the $200 offer acceptance deposit. The deposit is applied to tuition after course registration and is non-refundable if the applicant later declines. Failure to respond and pay by the deadline is considered a decline.
• Pre-practicum Requirements. Students must meet all pre-practicum requirements by the indicated deadline and maintain them throughout the program. Failure to meet requirements may prevent course enrollment or attendance. Requirements are determined by clinical agencies; generally, no exceptions exist. More information: Pre-Practicum Information 
• Students accepted to the ELMSN-DNP/FNP track who have a degree from outside Metropolitan State University must meet with the DNP Program Director to complete an individual course assessment and establish a degree plan.

Deferral

An applicant who accepts a position within a cohort but does not enroll forfeits their position and deposit. These applicants may reapply to a future cohort.