1 GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING 9 May 2012 102 Kern Graduate ...
1 GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING 9 May 2012 102 Kern Graduate ...
1 GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING 9 May 2012 102 Kern Graduate ...
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M9<br />
must have earned a master’s degree with a major in nursing from a program<br />
accredited by a national accrediting agency for nursing. Well-qualified doctoral<br />
applicants with a baccalaureate degree in nursing and master’s degree in a related<br />
discipline (e.g., public health) will be evaluated individually to assess the need for<br />
prerequisite master’s-level course work in nursing for doctoral program<br />
admission.<br />
2. Strong letters of reference and a well-crafted statement of purpose.<br />
3. Applicants must submit transcripts of all previous course work from institutions of<br />
higher learning. For M.S. applicants, a cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 (on a<br />
4.0 scale) for junior/senior baccalaureate degree is expected with a B or better in<br />
all science and nursing courses. College chemistry and statistics are also required.<br />
For doctoral applicants, a cumulative grade-point average 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for<br />
master's and subsequent course work is expected.<br />
4. Two letters of reference are required for the master's program and three letters of<br />
reference are required for the doctoral program. The letters should be solicited<br />
from professional colleagues who can attest to the applicant's ability.<br />
5. All applicants must submit a statement of purpose. In addition, doctoral applicants<br />
must also submit a published or unpublished scientific paper, thesis, or other<br />
scholarly writing sample and a complete curriculum vitae.<br />
6. The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants<br />
must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign<br />
Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the<br />
exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for<br />
the paper-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for<br />
the Internet-based test (iBT). The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5.<br />
International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who<br />
have received a baccalaureate or a graduate degree from a<br />
college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British<br />
Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana,<br />
Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United<br />
States, and Wales.<br />
7. Applicants to the master's program must hold a current Pennsylvania license to<br />
practice professional nursing. Applicants to the doctoral program must be<br />
licensed to practice professional nursing in at least one state or in a foreign<br />
country.<br />
8. Applicants to the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Option are required<br />
to have two years of acute care hospital experience.<br />
9. Applicants to the master's degree program are encouraged to discuss program<br />
options with the faculty; however, an interview is not required. Doctoral<br />
applicants will be contacted by the School of Nursing to schedule a required<br />
interview (either in person or via telephone).<br />
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