Admissions

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to a graduate certificate 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 within one academic year
• present 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 accepted, official transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 209 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.

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.

Admission consideration is given to applicants who submit complete applications by the February 1 deadline for fall term admission. Applicants will be notified of their admission status by early April.

A student applying to this program must:

• have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or a 3.0 on earned graduate degree plus any in progress graduate coursework.
• have satisfactory completion of a graduate level statistics course. Note: If not completed prior to entry into the program, provisional admission may be granted with the requirement that the graduate level statistics course be taken before the graduate nursing research course
• submit a two to three page essay outlining educational and professional goals
• submit a current resume
• provide a copy of your current RN license as evidence of RN licensure in Illinois
• Include on the application the name and email address of one professional or academic reference who is qualified to assess your potential to succeed in the post-MSN certificate program. This reference must be a nursing faculty from the student's baccalaureate or master’s in nursing program or a master's prepared nurse. Your recommender will receive instructions to complete and upload this reference form to the recommender site.

Two years of recent full-time relevant clinical or administrative nursing experience is preferred, but not required.

Admission Dates and Deadlines

Graduate Coordinator