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Nursing, PhD

• About the Program
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*All stated financial information is subject to change. The At a Glance provides Base Cost (cost per unit x program units) to aid in program comparison only. For a detailed cost estimate or more information, contact APU's Graduate Student Financial Services.

Admission

• Admission Requirements
• Screening of Applicants

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the PhD program in nursing are expected to meet the admission criteria of the university and the School of Nursing. All applicants for graduate study at APU are required to submit the following documents to the university:

1. A Graduate Application for Admission
   (Apply Online | Download PDF)
2. Official transcripts of completion of BSN and MSN. (Transcripts should be sent directly to APU from the registrar’s office of applicants’ previous place of study.)

Admission Criteria (Domestic Applicants): Admission of students into the PhD program in nursing will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• A master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Official transcripts showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees (master’s degree must be in nursing)
• A graduate-level statistics course, taken within the last five years
• A graduate-level nursing research course
• A graduate-level nursing theory course
• Evidence of written creative work and/or scholarly papers
• A completed PhD program application that includes a statement of educational objectives, specific focus of research, and career goals
• Current curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation from persons who are suited to evaluate applicant’s qualifications for PhD education in nursing
• A faculty member(s) interview with the prospective student
• Active status as a licensed registered nurse (RN)

All materials should be submitted to:

Located at:

Admission Criteria (International Applicants): International students have a separate application procedure. Admission of international students into the PhD program in nursing is evaluated according to the following criteria:

• A master’s degree in nursing that meets the unit requirement of an accredited master’s in nursing program in the U.S. with a comparable GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Submission of English translation of transcripts provided by a certified translator showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees (master’s degree must be in nursing)
• For international students whose native language is not English and whose degrees were not earned in countries where English is the primary language, the following iBT (Internet-based) TOEFL scores are required:
  Reading: 25       Speaking: 25
  Writing: 25         Listening: 25
• A graduate-level statistics course, taken within the last five years
• A graduate-level nursing research course
• A graduate-level nursing theory course
• Evidence of written creative work and/or scholarly papers
• A completed PhD program application that includes a statement of educational objectives, specific focus of research, and career goals
• Current curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation from persons who are suited to evaluate applicant’s qualifications for PhD education in nursing
• A faculty member(s) interview with the prospective student
• Active status as a licensed registered nurse (RN)

International applicants send forms to:

Screening of Applicants

Both the Graduate Center and the School of Nursing handle screening of applicants for admission into the nursing PhD program. Screening of applicants' portfolios is conducted by the Graduate Center and is evaluated according to the admission criteria. The school reviews completed applications for admission to the doctoral program to discern an applicant’s academic qualifications and preparation for advanced graduate study. Upon completion of the screening and review process, the Nursing Doctoral Admission Screening Committee forwards a list of qualified/alternate applicants to the Graduate Center. The Graduate Center officially notifies applicants of admission decisions.