Graduate Admissions
The College of Nursing graduate programs admits students once a year for a fall semester start. Admission to the DNP Program is limited and selective. Applications are reviewed by both the University of Utah Office of Graduate Admissions and the College of Nursing. Successful applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements for, and be accepted by, both the graduate school and the College of Nursing.
Applicants should note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the DNP program. Applicants are evaluated with respect to university and departmental requirements and with respect to the pool of available applicants.
The College of Nursing strongly recommends that applicants first attend a College of Nursing Graduate Information Session before submitting their application.
Applications received after the DECEMBER 1 deadline will not be reviewed.
Admission Requirements
The following are the minimum requirements needed to apply for the DNP program:
- Completed application for graduate admission
- Transcripts from ANY and ALL colleges and universities attended, including the University of Utah, must be uploaded as part of the graduate application
- Evidence of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited university or college, and a nationally accredited nursing school from either,
- The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Accreditation (CCNE), or
- The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Verification of licensure as an RN or APRN in at least one of the jurisdictions of National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- A current resume or curriculum vitae
- Three (3) professional references
- Professional goal statement
- Upper division physiology/pathophysiology prerequisite
- International applicant requirements
Applicants to the Neonatal Specialty Track: The National Certification Corporation requires the equivalent of 2 years of full-time clinical practice experience (within the last five years) as a registered nurse (RN) in the care of critically ill neonates or infants in critical care inpatient settings is required before a student begins clinical courses. Students may enroll in preclinical courses while obtaining the necessary practice.
Prerequisite Course Requirement
Applicants must have completed an upper division physiology/pathophysiology course, with a minimum B grade within five years of starting the DNP program. The prerequisite course may be completed during the admission process. If the prerequisite is needed, the University of Utah offers NURS 5905 Clinical Physiology as an online course in spring and summer terms. Applicants can enroll in this course as a Non-Degree Seeking Student. If applicants choose to take the prerequisite in the summer, you must enroll in NURS 5905 to ensure that a grade is posted before the fall semester begins.