Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Master’s of Science in Nursing Eligibility and Prerequisites

• GPA

  Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for all college-level work.

  • You may have a 2.5 to 3.0 cumulative GPA if you have two or more years of full-time work experience as an RN (or 3 years part-time) and your nursing GPA (nursing-only courses) is at or above a 3.0 GPA.
• Degree Requirements

  Prospective students must be a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university and a major in nursing from a nursing program that has been accredited by one of the following agencies: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA).

• Licensure Requirements

  Prospective MSN students must have an active, unrestricted RN license or be eligible to obtain licensure without restrictions to practice in their current state of residence. Applicants who are not yet licensed may begin the program, but are required to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and submit certification documentation to the MSN administrative assistant during the program's first semester to progress in the program.

• Transferring Credits

  Degree holders from institutions other than WSU should check the Course Transfer Guide.

  • The MSN Program may accept transfer credit according to procedures that provide adequate safeguards to ensure high academic quality, relevance to the students’ programs, and integrity of the receiving institution's degrees. The MSN program may award nine transfer credits. Transfer credits cannot replace required residency credits.
  • The MSN program must approve all transfer credits, imposing minimum grade requirements or age limits on such credits.
    • The student must request a review of the transcript credits. The MSN Program considers the credits taken in the transfer semester for timely degree completion. The final decision to accept transfer credit is the receiving institution’s responsibility. The MSN Program Director or the Department of Nursing Graduate Studies Chair will decide if the transfer credits are acceptable.
• After Program Acceptance
  • The MSN Program requires all admitted applicants to complete a mandatory background check, drug screening, and physical exam, and have personal health insurance. 
    • Admission to the program is contingent upon submission of a satisfactory background check, a negative drug screening, a physical exam, and documentation of personal health insurance. The applicant understands that they may not be allowed to begin or remain in the program and will not be entitled to any refunds of tuition dollars or other fees if a background check reveals a history of criminal actions or the drug screen reveals the presence of controlled substances (prescription or non-prescription).
  • A mandatory MSN new student orientation process includes an MSN New Student Orientation Canvas Course. Students are also required to attend an online MSN Residency & Project Orientation, which takes place over Zoom in May.