Admissions

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to this program must:

• Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
• Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
• If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
• If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

Prior to enrolling in nursing coursework students must meet health and safety compliance requirements, to include drug testing, a criminal background check, a physical examination, and several immunizations. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in dismissal from the major.

International applicants must comply with the International Applicant Requirements as directed by the Illinois State University Office of Admissions. Please apply early in the application time frame to ensure adequate time to review transcripts.

To be considered for this program, you must meet the following requirements.

GPA

You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a scale in which an A is a 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work (approximately the junior and senior years).

The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Bachelor's Degree

Have a BSN degree must be from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) at time of admission.

Resume

Submit your current resume.

Essay

Write a three to five page double spaced essay that outlines your research interests and career goals.

Registered Nurse License

Submit a copy of your current, unencumbered RN license in your state of residence.

Academic References

Include on the application the names and email addresses of at least two professional or academic references from persons qualified to assess your potential to succeed in the PhD program. One reference must be from a doctoral prepared nurse. Your recommender will receive instructions to complete and upload this reference form to the recommender site.

International Applicants

International students applying to this program must have a TOEFL score of at least 79 iBT or IELTS score of 6.5 band. Additionally, international applicants must submit a Credentials Evaluation Service Academic Report from CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools). Applicants must comply with the International Applicant Requirements. Please apply early in the application process to ensure adequate time to review transcripts and Credential Evaluation Reports.

Please refer to International Enrollments in ISU Online and Hybrid Programs Disclosure and Disclaimer Statement site prior to submitting an application.

Admission Dates and Deadlines