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 before beginning the program
• 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.

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 March 1st deadline for summer term admission. Applicants will be notified of their admission status by early April.

Interested applicants must:

• be employed as a school nurse
• have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or a bachelor's degree in another field of study with an associate degree in nursing
• have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work; to include courses in which the student is currently enrolled
• copy of RN license, as evidence of RN licensure in Illinois
• submit a current resume or curriculum vitae
• secure a preceptor who meets criteria to serve as a preceptor for the student's clinical experience in NUR 418.  Preceptor criteria is as follows:
  • Licensed as Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois and a bachelor's degree
  • A Professional Educator's License (PEL) in Illinois
  • Certified School Nurse endorsement
  • Two years' full-time experience as a school nurse
  • One full year of full-time employment with current employer
• include on the online application the name and email address of one reference, which must be from the principal or assistant principal of the school in which the applicant serves in the role of a school nurse or from the Nurse Manager in the district where you work. Your recommender will receive instructions to complete and upload this reference form to the recommender site.

Admission Dates and Deadlines

Graduate Coordinator