School of Medicine

Admission to Degree Status

Graduate Office Requirements

1. Completed UofL Graduate School Application, including $50 application fee. If you choose to submit a hard copy, please use the following academic plan codes: NURSMSNANP -Adult Nurse Practitioner, NURSMSNFNP - Family Nurse Practitioner, NURSMSNNP - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, NURSMSNPSY - Psychiatric/Mental Health NP or CNS, NURSMSNCER - MSN with a Certificate in Health Professions Education, or NURSMSNUND - Undecided Track.
2. Official transcripts representing all college coursework with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Completion of an accredited (by NLN or CCNE) baccalaureate program in nursing must be verified.
3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Successful applicants usually score at 425 or above on each of the verbal and quantitative scores; and 4 on the analytic score.
4. Two letters of reference from individuals who can speak of academic and/or professional nursing capabilities and potential. References should be chosen from among: former faculty member, current or immediate past employer, or other nursing/health professional. At least one reference should be from a nurse. These letters should accompany the reference form required by the Graduate School.

School of Nursing Requirements

1. Completed on-line UofL School of Nursing MSN Applicant Data Sheet. As a part of this form, you will provide your professional goal statement. You are also required to provide a valid registered nurse licensure number.
   

2. A Certified Background Check - Please complete the background check through this link. The school code is NX 53. You will not send this information to the School of Nursing, as it is handled through the outside agency.
   
   Please note that all nursing students are required to have background checks. As a result, the Kentucky Board of Nursing requires nursing students to report all misdemeanors and felonies to them. After carefully reading the guidelines on the Kentucky Board of Nursing website, you may contact Associate Dean Dr. Rosalie Mainous at 502-852-8387 should you have any questions.

Conditional and Provisional Admission

• Students who do not meet these requirements may be considered for admission in conditional status. Examples: students with low GRE scores. Students admitted conditionally will be reevaluated for full degree status based on criteria identified by the committee. Applications will not be considered for Full or Conditional Degree status unless all application materials are available to the review committee by the application deadline date.
  

• Graduating BSN students: Students completing the final semester of their BSN program with a 3.0 or better grade point average may apply for provisional degree or non-degree status.
  

Admission to Non-Degree Status

This option gives students the opportunity to take graduate courses without being admitted to the UofL School of Nursing graduate program.  Non-degree status limits students to a maximum of 6 credit hours of graduate nursing courses while they are preparing to apply for full MSN degree admission.

Submit the following items to Graduate Admissions:

1. Completed U of L Graduate School Application, including $50 application fee. If you choose to submit a hard copy, please use the following academic plan codes:  NURSMSNANP -Adult Nurse Practitioner, NURSMSNFNP - Family Nurse Practitioner, NURSMSNNP  - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, NURSMSNPSY - Psychiatric/Mental Health NP or CNS, NURSMSNCER - MSN with a Certificate in Health Professions Education or NURSMSNUND - Undecided Track.
2. Official transcripts representing all college coursework with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Completion of an accredited (by NLN or CCNE) baccalaureate program in nursing or a transcript indicating the student is in the final semester of a BSN degree program and will submit a final transcript verifying completion of the BSN degree prior to registration.
   

Visiting students from other schools may apply each semester for non-degree status by submitting the following

1. Completed U of L Graduate School Application, including $50 application fee. If you choose to submit a hard copy, please use the following academic plan codes: NURSMSNANP -Adult Nurse Practitioner,  NURSMSNFNP - Family Nurse Practitioner, NURSMSNNP  - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,  NURSMSNPSY - Psychiatric/Mental Health NP or CNS, NURSMSNCER - MSN with a Certificate in Health Professions Education or NURSMSNUND - Undecided Track.
2. A letter of good standing from student’s home school or transcripts from graduate school in which the student is currently enrolled verifying a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
   

Important Notes for Non-degree Status Applicants

1. Priority enrollment in courses is given to graduate nursing students in degree status.
2. Non-degree students are strongly encouraged to verify financial aid requirements, as non-degree status may not meet eligibility requirements of some financial aid sources.
3. Non-degree students must submit a new UofL application to the Graduate Admissions office when they decide to apply for MSN degree status admission, but the application fee is waived for non-degree students re-applying for degree admission.