Interested in obtaining a Master's in Nursing? Click the appropriate link below to find out the admissions process for your ideal program.

RN to MS

MS in Nursing Admissions

Professional Master's Program

For more information about any program, please contact:

Kathy Houlihan
(800) WILKES-U ext. 3235
570-408-3235
kathleen.houlihan@wilkes.edu

RN to MS Admissions Process

This accelerated program is designed for the experienced, practicing registered nurse who plans to continue nursing studies through the master's level and does not hold a baccalaureate degree. Adjustments of the undergraduate requirements permit rapid progress into the graduate level. The Master's Program remains intact and prepares an advanced practice nurse. Program plans are individualized for each student. Time to complete the program is related to the applicability of transfer credit as well as the number of credits taken in any semester.

An interview with the Program Director is required prior to entry into the program. Formal admission to Wilkes University is necessary and will include evaluation of transfer credits.

The following items must be submitted prior to the completion of six graduate credits: 

1. Online application www.wilkes.edu/applyonline

2. Two  academic or professional letters of recommendation
                 Recommendation Form

3. Official transcripts for all schools listed on application

4. Statement of Professional Goals

5. International Students(ONLY) are required to submit TOEFL and WES Evaluation

Students may take up to six credits before they are accepted to the Master’s program and admission is based on the following criteria:

1. Graduation from an accredited nursing program.
2. Licensure as a Registered Nurse.
3. One year of clinical experience prior to clinical courses.
4. A GPA from the original program of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
5. A statement of professional goals.
6. Two letters of recommendation.Personal Interview.

A student whose background is judged to be deficient in any area will be evaluated individually and a program plan that will remedy the deficiency will be developed. Courses to remedy such deficiency do not carry graduate credits.

MS in Nursing Admissions

This program is designed for the experienced, practicing registered nurse who plans to continue nursing studies through the master's level and holds a baccalaureate degree. The Master's Program prepares students to become an advanced practice nurse.

The following items must be submitted prior to the completion of six graduate credits:

1.     Online application 

2.     Two  academic or professional letters of recommendation
                Recommendation Form

3.     Official transcripts for all schools listed on application

4.     Statement of Professional Goals

5.     International Students(ONLY) are required to submit TOEFL and WES Evaluation

Students may take up to six credits before they are accepted to the RN to MS program and admission is based on the following criteria:

1. Graduation from an approved baccalaureate program in nursing.
2. Licensure as a Registered Nurse.
3. One year of clinical experience.
4. A GPA from the original program of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
5. An undergraduate statistics course.
6. An undergraduate research course.
7. Evidence of health assessment skills.
8. A statement of professional goals. These goals should relate to the goals of the graduate program in nursing at Wilkes.
9. Two letters of recommendation.
10. Personal Interview

Length of Program

Upon successful completion of NCLEX-RN and Nursing 299 the student is awarded 36 Wilkes Nursing credits. Registered Nurse students meet the same academic requirements as the basic students with the exception of the total number of credits required (RNs' total number of credits is 120, a reduction of seven elective credits). The total number of credits to complete the RN to MS program varies depending on the courses completed prior to admission.  A program plan will be designed for you upon admission.

Professional Master's Program

This program admits students with baccalaureate degrees, but no previous nursing education, and prepares them for entry into the nursing profession. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Master of Science Degree with a major in Nursing. (THIS IS NOT AN ADVANCED PRACTICE DEGREE.) The curriculum is designed for the adult learner and builds upon earlier educational experience in the humanities, social studies and sciences. It is based on the development of the individual throughout the life cycle.

Graduates of the Professional Master's Program will be educationally eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which must be successfully completed for registration as a professional nurse. A pass-through Bachelor of Science degree will be entered on the student's transcript upon completion of all clinical nursing courses.

Admissions the Professional Master’s Program only occurs in the Fall terms. 

Application Deadline: April 15^th

Admission to this program is competitive and applicants are urged to apply early. The nursing faculty will make admissions decisions by May 10th. Students who are accepted will receive their letter of admission by May 30^th for the first round. Deposits for fall admission should be made by June 5^th.   If seats are still available, 2^nd round selections will be made by June 10^th and must be deposited by July 5^th.

The following items must be submitted by April 15^th to be considered for the first round application.

1.     Online application 

2.     Two  academic or professional letters of recommendation
                Recommendation Form

3.     Official transcripts for all schools listed on application

4.     Statement of Professional Goals

5.     Applicants must take the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) from Educational Resources, Inc. and achieve a composite score at the 50th percentile or better in each of the following: Essential Math Skills, Science Reading Comprehension, and Written Expression.

6.     International Students(ONLY) are required to submit TOEFL and WES Evaluation

Prerequisites- The following requirements must be met before the Fall Semester begins: 
- A 3-credit Elementary Statistics course and two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology and one semester of Microbiology, with a related laboratory experience in each of these courses, are required.

-Applicants must complete a self-study Medical Terminology module (details and information provided by the Nursing Department).

-Nutrition, a co-requisite course, is to be completed no later than the students' first semester in the Professional Master's Program.

The total number of credits to complete the Professional Master's Program, beyond the pre- and co-requisite requirements, is 48.

The program can be completed in three full-time semesters.