Application Information

Qualifications

Applicants for the DNP Program must have:

  • A Master of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program and regionally accredited college or university.
  • An overall GPA on all college work attempted of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (Provisional admission may be considered if the overall GPA is 2.75-2.99 depending upon space available and other qualifications).
  • A minimum overall nursing GPA or a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • A Personal Essay: Submit a personal essay (APA format, and no more than 3 pages). Please see the Guidelines for Writing the Personal Statement (DNP).
  • Transfer students must provide a letter of good standing from the Nursing program in which currently enrolled or left incomplete.
  • An active, unrestricted RN license in at least one state at the time of application (and licensure in the state in which they plan to complete clinical immersion).

For advanced practice nurse applicants, requirements also include:

Completion of a nationally accredited Master of Science in Nursing Program meeting the AANC 2011 Master’s Essentials, national advanced practice certification, and graduate transcripts evaluated for equivalence to WVU School of Nursing courses in:

  1. Advanced Pathophysiology
    2. Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
    3. Advanced Health Assessment
    4. Research Process/statistics
    5. Quality & Safety
    6. Informatics
    7. Nursing Theory

For applicants who are pursuing a DNP with a leadership focus, requirements include:  Completion of a nationally accredited Master of Science in Nursing Program meeting the AANC 2011 Master’s Essentials, and graduate transcripts evaluated for equivalence to WVU School of Nursing courses in:
1. Research Process/statistics
2. Quality & Safety
3. Informatics
4. Nursing Theory

Students who are completing certain prerequisite courses may be offered admission; however, the offer will be rescinded if the courses are not completed prior to the first day of classes.

To be considered, applicants will be required to meet all WVU admission requirements in addition to program specific admission criteria.

Students must satisfactorily complete background checks and drug screens upon admission.

New program applicants with a positive drug screen will be ineligible for admission to the program and will forfeit their admission “seat.” Please see the WVU SON Drug and Alcohol Screening Policy and the Health Information and Credential Documentation Policy.

Note: Any student who has been dismissed from the West Virginia University School of Nursing or any other nursing program may be considered for readmission if the dismissal was academic and was followed by successful completion of an additional degree. Any student who has withdrawn from the WVU School of Nursing program may be considered for readmission. Students may apply for readmission in accordance with the following guidelines and criteria but must follow the standard admission procedures. Students must meet all original admission requirements.

Apply To WVU

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until July 1 for a Fall term start date. Acceptance is dependent upon space available in the program.

Apply Now

Click on the Apply Now button above.

  1. Please select the following options on the New Application screen:
    • Type of Student: Professional
    • Which Program: Nursing DNP
  2. On the Supplemental Materials screen, you will upload the following:
    • Current curriculum vita or resume
    • Professional goals statement. View the guidelines on writing the statement.

 

Request Official Transcripts from All Colleges and Universities Attended

Request an official transcript of records from each college or university attended. 

  1. It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service such as eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment to graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
  2. Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be sent directly to: WVU Graduate Admissions, P.O. Box 6510, Morgantown, WV 26506-6510. 
  3. Current or former WVU students do not need to send transcripts from the Morgantown, Beckley, or Keyser campuses.
  4. Applicants who completed prior education outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES).  Please request a “course-by-course” International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).

 

Acceptance

Candidates for admission are evaluated on the entire admission packet. The WVU School of Nursing accepts new DNP students on a rolling admission basis and will review all qualified applications based on admission criteria. Acceptance is dependent upon space available in the program with the most qualified applicants being accepted at the time of review. Decisions will be emailed to students. Accepted students will receive information regarding orientation and course registration. 

Students will be evaluated based on the following:

  • Nursing GPA
  • Work Experience
  • Professional Writing Statement Score
  • Overall GPA

Clinical rotations with approved preceptors in the final year of your program must be arranged with course faculty. Due to potential preceptor limitations, students may have to travel out of their local areas to their clinical sites and are required to provide their own reliable transportation. 

In programs with limited capacity and competitive admissions, the most qualified students are selected among those that meet the minimum requirements. Students who want to appeal the Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions Committee decision as unfair, arbitrary, or capricious may contact the director of Admissions and Enrollment for the School of Nursing. The request will be forwarded to the program director for consideration, and the student will receive detailed information regarding the formal appeal process.

Contact info for director of Admissions and Enrollment:

 

 

Orientation

Students are required to attend an online orientation session prior to the beginning of the summer session where they will learn about the program and meet with their advisors.