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DNP Program - Admission Information

Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree

 

Download the Doctoral Quick-Start Guide (.pdf).

 

Applications are available beginning July 1 of the academic year prior to admission. The deadline for completion of applications for fall admission is May 1.

 

Admission Criteria

 

Individuals seeking admission to the doctoral program must meet the following requirements:

  1. A completed online application reviewed by Graduate Admissions and Progression Committee.
  2. A graduate GPA of 3.2 if a master’s degree has been earned.
  3. Acceptable score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE ®).
  4. A BSN and a master's degree in nursing or related field. (Please note: In the absence of a BSN degree, a master's degree in nursing is required.)
  5. Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered nursing license as a registered nurse in the United States or one of its territories and eligibility for licensure in the state of Mississippi.
  6. One year of professional nursing experience preferred but not required.
  7. Completion of at least one research course and one statistics course at the undergraduate or graduate level.
  8. Curriculum vitae or professional résumé.
  9. Informal personal statement submitted with application addressing the following:
    • Why are you seeking admission to the DNP program?
    • What practice inquiry project do you plan to pursue in the program?
    • Which faculty member(s) do wish to provide you with mentorship in the DNP program?
    • What are your goals in the program?
    • What are your long-range career goals?
    • Address your qualifications and readiness for the program.
    • Why are you seeking admission to the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing DNP program, and why do you think this program is best suited to your career goals?
  10. Letters of reference from three individuals. Letters of reference must be sent directly to the Registrar's office. Letters of reference should address the following:
    • The applicant’s potential to develop, implement and evaluate a program project;
    • The leadership potential of the applicant at a regional, state or national level;
    • The ability of the applicant to communicate in a scholarly manner, both orally and in writing;
    • The ability of the applicant to be self-directed in learning; and
    • The length and type of the relationship with the applicant.

 

International Applicants


  1. Completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ®) for graduates of foreign schools whose academic language is not English. The minimum TOEFL ® score is 550.
  2. Other documents required by the School of Nursing Office of Graduate Studies and local, state and federal authorities.

 

Additional Program Information and Requirements

 

Admission timeline
DNP students are admitted one time during the academic year (fall semester). The application deadline for fall admission is May 1. If the application deadline is on a weekend,  then the application deadline is on the first business day of the month.

 

Background check
All candidates are subject to a criminal-history background check as mandated by the state of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Students will be fingerprinted upon admission to the program.

 

Applicant’s responsibility
To be considered for admission, all application materials, information and interviews must be received and completed by the application deadline.

 

Computer literacy requirement

To be successful in the DNP program, students must be fluent in computer use. Applicants should be familiar with the use of basic computing, including, but not limited to, the Internet, search engines, browsers and instructional computer systems (Blackboard or Web CT), as well as publicly available research databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Psych, etc.).