Graduate Nursing

Before completing an application for any of Messiah University’s graduate and certificate programs, please read our admissions requirements to ensure that you are eligible for enrollment and to receive a helpful checklist of the supporting documentation that you will need to provide to complete your application.

All graduate nursing applicants must have active licensure as a registered nurse (United States and territories).

Additional prerequisite requirements by program:

M.S. in Nursing (all tracks)

• bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA accredited program (or equivalent) and an institution that is regionally accredited

MSN/MBA dual degree program

• applicants must meet the prerequisite requirements of both the MSN program and the MBA program.

MSN or BSN to DNP family nurse practitioner track

• bachelor’s or entry level master's degree in nursing from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA accredited program (or equivalent) and an institution that is regionally accredited
• it is highly recommended that applicants have at least one year of direct patient care clinical experience

Post-master's DNP nursing leadership and DNP nurse educator tracks

• master's degree in nursing (or master's in related field) from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA accredited program (or equivalent) and an institution that is regionally accredited
• completion of the following prerequisite courses. Students who enter without one or more of these prerequisite courses will have them added to the plan of study.
  • Healthcare Informatics (HLTH 500)
  • Research and/or Evidence-Based Practice (NURS 507)
  • Graduate-level Statistics (NURS 507)
  • Theory, Roles, and Issues in Advanced Nursing (NURS 545)
  • 700 hours post BSN clinical/practicum/capstone hours (NURS 715 – A gap analysis is completed upon admission and as many credits as needed to complete 1000 hours required for a DNP degree are added to the plan)

CAGS (all tracks)

• minimum of a master's degree in nursing (or master's in related field) from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA accredited program (or equivalent) and an institution that is regionally accredited

• Submit a Messiah University application

• Request official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of prior degrees and coursework. To be considered "official", transcript(s) must be requested and sent directly from institution(s) attended to gradprograms@messiah.edu

• Demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and B or better in BSN nursing courses and any non-BSN courses leading to RN licensure, and a GPA of 3.0 in any graduate-level courses.

• Write a statement of purpose: a 300-500 word statement describing how you have prepared for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program, and how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals.

• Include a resume or CV (curriculum vitae)

The degrees and certificates in the graduate program in nursing are primarily or completely online. Because of this, the U.S. government does not allow Messiah University to offer an F-1 student visa for entry to the United States in order to study in this program. International students living outside of the U.S. are also unable to participate remotely in this program.

Prospective students living in the U.S. on different visa types may qualify on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the enrollment counselor for nursing to determine eligibility.