Admission Requirements
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:
- A completed APU graduate application
- 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 (National 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
- Combined verbal and quantitative score of 1,200 (reflecting a minimum score of 600 on each) and an analytical score of 4.5 on a 0-6 score scale on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), taken within the past five years
- 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
- Acceptance is required prior to enrollment.
- Active status as a licensed registered nurse (RN)
Admission Criteria (International Applicants): International students have a separate application procedure. Please contact the Office of International Student Services at (626) 815-3055 or ies@apu.edu. 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.)
- A minimum of 560 score on the paper and pencil Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a 240 score on the computer-based test for international students whose native language is not English and whose degrees were not earned in countries where English is the primary language [Both the TOEFL score of written English (TWE) and TOEFL score of spoken English (TSE) are required.]
- 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
- Acceptance is required prior to enrollment.
- Active status as a licensed registered nurse (RN)
All materials should be submitted to:
Graduate Center: Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
Located at:
Azusa Pacific University
568 E. Foothill Blvd.
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
(626) 815-4570
Fax: (626) 815-4545 • (626) 815-4571
graduatecenter@apu.edu
International applicants send forms to:
International Center
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000 USA
(626) 812-3055
Fax: (626) 815-3801
ies@apu.edu
Screening of Applicants
Both the Graduate Center and the School of Nursing handle screening of applicants for admission in 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 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.
Residency Requirement
To be considered in residence, a student must be enrolled in at least one Azusa Pacific University course. This includes any course taken online or at an APU regional center.
English Proficiency Requirements
All students graduating from non-English speaking institutions and applying for university graduate admission, with the exception of APU-approved bilingual programs, must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score sent by ETS. The university minimum required score for graduate study is 550 (213 for the computer-based test). The minimum required score may be higher for a specific graduate program. Please see the applicable program information for its minimum TOEFL score requirements.
An Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) score can also be used as a verification of English proficiency. Please contact ISS for specific scoring requirements.
An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score can be used as a verification of English proficiency. For regular admission, a minimum score of seven (7) is required.
Applicants studying full time and earning 48 units (not including ESL units) in an English-speaking university immediately prior to applying to APU may be eligible to waive the TOEFL requirements. Verification of English as the language of instruction will be required.
In addition, students must enroll in TESL 500 English for International Students during their first term at APU regardless of TOEFL score. During the first class session, an opportunity will be given to demonstrate proficiency in English. If this is met, the student can waive the class.
A student's ability to speak English well and use clear pronunciation is an important part of a graduate education. It is assumed that a student's spoken English will be at a high enough level to communicate and participate competently in classes. If, while in classes, it is determined that the student's ability to communicate and participate in English is below the necessary standard, a teacher may refer him/her to the department chair who can require him/her to enroll in a noncredit program, at the student's expense. This program will be specifically designed to enable the student to raise his/her English communication ability.
American Language and Culture Institute
Applicants who are not able to take the TOEFL test may apply to APU's American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI). Upon arrival at the ALCI, English testing will be provided to determine the level of English proficiency. Students who pass all the English testing can proceed directly into the university at the next available starting date without studying in the ALCI (provided they have already been accepted to the graduate program at the university). When a student has been placed in or advanced to level six (6) of ALCI, they may take one graduate class concurrent with their intensive English studies.
