Main ContentRN-MSN Admission Information
Admission criteria
The GRE score is no longer required for RN-MSN, MSN, BSN-DNP and DNP programs.
- An associate degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited institution – ACEN, formerly NLNAC – or CCNE, which included clinical practice courses in nursing;
- Minimum cumulative GPA (undergraduate and graduate coursework) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; if not met, then a cumulative nursing GPA of 3.0 may be considered;
- Completion of prerequisite courses with a minimum "C" grade in each course;
- Evidence of current unrestricted licensure (RN) to practice in the United States and eligibility for licensure in Mississippi;
- At least one year of clinical experience as a registered nurse, is required for all nurse practitioner tracks prior to beginning the program. For the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track, the one year of clinical experience must be in a critical care/ED setting.
- Preadmission counseling (completed after the application is reviewed by the Graduate Admission and Progression Committee).
- If an applicant has been dismissed from any nursing program, one year must pass from date of dismissal to date of eligibility into any UMMC School of Nursing program.
- Clinical experience as a registered nurse for one year is required for all nurse practitioner tracks; however, only critical care experience is acceptable for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner applicants.
Additional admission criteria for classes beginning May 1, 2024
- Completion of statements sharing experiences demonstrating perseverance, service, leadership and life experiences.
- Depending on the program/track you are applying for, an interview may be required as a part of the holistic admissions process. Additional information will be provided to applicants when they are invited to interview.
Preference is given to applicants with recent full-time experience relevant to the selected track. In unusual instances, the Graduate Admission and Progression Committee may consider applicants who do not meet the admission criteria. The School of Nursing reserves the right to offer programs based on the number of acceptable applicants admitted. When a program is not offered due to limited enrollment, the applicant will be notified and other admission options will be explored.
Please note that the admission requirements for the RN-MSN Early-Entry program are separate from the RN-MSN program.
Prerequisites
For the RN-MSN program, you must complete 62 hours of prerequisite coursework. However, many of these prerequisites are classes that you more than likely completed in your associate-degree program. Additional prerequisites may be completed at the college, university or community college of your choice. If you have questions regarding prerequisites or if you have questions concerning your application's status, please call (601) 984-1080 or (601) 815-0124.
Additional academic policies and regulations (including those pertaining to admission compliance, orientation, registration and examinations)
Technical Standards for Admission, Progression and Graduation (Technical Standards) are an integral component of the School of Nursing (SON) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center academic requirements that identify core professional nursing competencies in eight specific domains - critical thinking/cognitive competencies, professional relationships, communication, mobility, motor skills, hearing and visual skills, observation and tactile senses. Nursing students must meet all the requirements of the Technical Standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, in order to successfully progress through and graduate from their respective curricula.