Admission
To be considered for admission, in addition to meeting University admission requirements, at a minimum, an applicant must:
For the Master of Science in Nursing and the Post-Baccalaureate D.N.P. students must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university offering a program in nursing accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accrediting (CNEA), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for international students or those educated in other countries, recognizing that this may limit eligibility for Advanced Practice certification. Graduates of programs not accredited by the CNEA, ACEN or CCNE. Evaluation must have transcripts evaluated for comparability to an American BSN degree. Evaluation may be conducted by either the World Education Services or the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
Master of Science in Nursing
- Be licensed as a registered nurse in a state or jurisdiction of the United States, without restrictions.
- Have acquired some post-baccalaureate nursing experience recommended.
- Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Post-Baccalaureate D.N.P.
1. One year of clinical nursing experience preferred, but clinical experience can also be obtained concurrent with coursework.
2. Present transcripts of undergraduate study that give evidence of strong academic ability. A GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4-point scale is preferred.
3.Submit a professional portfolio that includes:
- a. Curriculum vitae or résumé.
- Copy of RN license from at least one state.
- Narrative description of current and past clinical practice.
- Two letters of reference (at least one from a former dean, faculty member, or academic adviser or current or former supervisor).
- Statement of reason for seeking the D.N.P. degree and a short description identifying a potential topic or focus for an evidence-based practice project. This may be a practice improvement issue, a clinical management problem, or area of clinical translational research that the applicant will address while in the program. The project does not have to be fully developed, but the applicant should provide a general idea of their area of interest.
- Statement of purpose
- Meet the School of Nursing's Health-Related Behavioral Standards for clinical programs.
Post-Master's D.N.P.
1. Have earned a master's degree from programs accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accrediting (CNEA), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Present transcripts of undergraduate and graduate study that provide evidence of academic ability to complete the program. Undergraduate and graduate GPAs of 3.2 or higher on a 4-point scale are preferred.
2. Submit a professional portfolio that includes:
a. Curriculum vitae or résumé.
b. Copy of RN license from at least one state.
c. Documented completion of 500+ post-baccalaureate clinical hours.
d. One letter of reference (from a current or former dean, faculty member, or academic adviser, or a current or former supervisor).
e. Academic writing sample or publications.
f. Statement of reason for seeking the DNP and a short description of a potential topic or focus for an evidence-based practice project. This may be a practice improvement issue, a clinical management problem, or area of clinical research that the applicant will address while in the program. The project does not have to be fully developed, but the applicant should provide a general idea of their area of interest.
g. Previous graduate level coursework in Health Policy, Bioethics, and Research are required as
part of the master's degree or as independent courses.
3. Meet the School of Nursing's Health-Related Behavioral Standards for clinical programs.
The Catholic University School of Nursing employs a "whole person" philosophy for evaluation of applicants for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in nursing program. In addition to the University Admission requirements, applicants must meet the following admission criteria:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
1. Possess a baccalaureate degree in Nursing (BSN) or a master's degree in nursing accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accrediting (CNEA), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for international students or those educated in other countries.
2. Graduates of programs not accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE must have transcripts evaluated and comparability to United States (U.S.) degrees established. Evaluation may be conducted by the World Education Services.
3. Present transcripts of undergraduate and graduate study that provide evidence of academic ability to complete the program and do original research. A GPA of 3.2 or higher is desired.
4. Two to three letters of reference (at least one from a former dean, former faculty member or academic adviser and at least one from a current or former supervisor preferably in a clinical practice/research/academic setting).
5. A written statement of career goals and proposed area of research. The research topic does not have to be fully developed, but applicants should provide a general idea of the area of interest.
6. A copy of a recent scholarly paper, research report, or publication to demonstrate writing and critical thinking ability.
7. International students must meet all University requirements, including TOEFL scores to be considered. See the School of Nursing Website for additional admissions information. International students with TOEFL scores below 600 or ITLES below 7 will be enrolled in Intensive English courses beginning the Spring semester prior to beginning PhD courses the following Fall semester. Individual waivers of language requirements will be considered.
Applicants who do not meet the requirements for regular admission as degree-seeking candidates may be eligible for provisional admission if required documents are missing or for conditional admission if there are questions about academic performance or English language proficiency.
Progression and Dismissal
The following are grounds for academic dismissal from the Conway School of Nursing:
- Failure to achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA after one semester on probationary status.
- Inability to attain a grade of C (2.0) or higher in a course following one attempt.
- Failure to attain a grade of C or higher in any two nursing courses.
- Violation of any University or Conway School of Nursing Behavioral or Student Responsibility Policies may result in dismissal.
At the Conway School of Nursing a grade point average of 3.0 is required for retention. A maximum of two grades of “C” is allowed in the graduate program of study. “C” is an unacceptable grade for clinical/practicum courses and such a grade must be repeated. A course may be repeated only once. If a student’s GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. For satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree, each student should consult school or department regulations which may specify a
maximum number of C grades, depending on the nature of the courses, permitted in a degree program.
Dismissal
Graduate students who incur two or more failing grades in formal course work after being admitted to graduate study are subject to academic dismissal, as are students who fail to meet additional or more rigorous academic standards imposed by individual departments or schools. Students are directed to consult their school or department for such standards. The university reserves the right to review records any time for the purpose of determining whether a student meets the standards necessary for graduation. If, in the opinion of the university, this review reveals serious shortcomings, the student may be dismissed.
Academic dismissal is made by the dean of a school upon recommendation of the faculty or department. Behavioral Expectation and Code of Student Conduct Graduate nursing students are expected to uphold not only the standards and responsibilities of the nursing profession but also to embody ethics as a fundamental component of professional identity. In keeping with this principle, graduate nursing students at The Catholic University of America are expected to consistently demonstrate professional and ethical behavior in all academic, clinical, and interpersonal settings.