Admission Standards and Procedures

Admission to the program will be based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants. Multiple criteria will be used when considering applicant admission including, but not limited to, personal statement, undergraduate and graduate grade point averages, professional experience, applicant interview, and letters of recommendation. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission.

1. Admission Requirements for MSN Applicants:

1. Admission to the University of Memphis Graduate School and Loewenberg College of Nursing graduate nursing program.
2. An undergraduate minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Personal statement which discusses prior professional experience, future career goals, and reasons for pursuing graduate study.
4. Letters of recommendation from three persons qualified and familiar to judge the applicant’s academic and professional background and experience in nursing practice, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future practice as an advanced practice nurse.
5. Interview with LCON graduate faculty if requested by Admissions Committee.
6. Submission of current professional resume
7. All applicants who will be attending the University on a student visa who are not native speakers of English and are not graduates of The University of Memphis must meet the minimum language proficiency requirements set by the University of Memphis Graduate School. Refer to the graduate catalog.
8. Eligibility to practice as a Registered Nurse in Tennessee or in an approved state in which the clinical assignments are completed. Appropriate licensure/authorization must be obtained during the first semester following admission to the program.
9. Students transferring from another graduate nursing program must submit a letter of good standing and transcript from the dean/director of the previous nursing program.
10. The standardized admission test is successful completion of the NCLEX-RN.
11. Successful completion of 3 semester hour or 4 quarter hours of undergraduate statistics.

2. Admission Requirements for individuals with a BSN Degree

1. Completion of BSN
2. An unrestricted registered nursing license to practice in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed.
3. Admission Requirements for Registered Nurse Applicants with a BA/BS non-nursing major
   1. An unrestricted registered nursing license to practice in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed.
   2. Completion of a 9-unit RN/MSN nursing bridge sequence. RN/MSN graduates will not be awarded the BSN degree.

4.  Admission deadlines and procedure

1. Fall semester applications are received between September 15^th and July 1^st.
2. Spring semester applications are received between May 1^st and December 1^st.
3. Applications are reviewed by a panel of graduate directors and faculty on an ongoing basis (rolling admission). The LCON aims to notify applicants of their acceptance status in a timely fashion. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the application period.

5. Students admitted to MSN program, or post-graduate certificate programs must have and maintain while in the program:

1. An unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed.
2. Current CPR certification.
3. Evidence of hepatitis B; measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); polio; tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (Tdap) varicella, and COVID vaccinations and/or titers if available.
4. Freedom from tuberculosis as evidenced by a negative PPD or health provider examination.
5. Annual flu vaccination, unless medically contraindicated.
6. Evidence of current professional malpractice insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate, which is provided by the College.