Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Master's and DNP Students
FAQ for Prospective Master's Students
What specializations does the School of Nursing offer in the Master's program?
The School of Nursing currently offers two online master's specializations: Healthcare and Nursing Administration (HCNA) and Nurse Educator (NE). Post-Masters certificates are available for these two specializations.
What if I am a Out-of-State Applicant?
Applicants who intend to use their degree to practice in a licensed discipline outside of Illinois should visit SIUE’s Consumer Disclosures and contact the School of Nursing to find out how an SIUE Nursing degree can help you achieve your career goals.
As an International student, can I apply for a student visa by enrolling in the master's program?
International students are ineligible to receive a student visa for our Graduate Nursing programs.
Are the master's specializations part-time or full-time programs? Can I work while in the master's program?
The University considers nine hours to be full-time and six hours to be part-time for Master's students. The HCNA and NE specializations are delivered in a part-time format of either 1 or 2 courses per semester.
The HCNA and NE specializations are offered completely online, with three to four courses containing clinical practicum experiences towards the end of the program.
I have a Bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. Can I still apply to the Master's program?
You must have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BS) in order to apply to our Master's program. If you have a Bachelor's degree in another field, you may wish to explore our Accelerated Bachelor of Science (ABS) program. For more information about the ABS program, please contact our Director of Student Services at 618-650-3904.
What is the minimum GPA requirement for the program?
When making admissions decisions, we review three different types of GPA calculations: cumulative bachelor's GPA, nursing course GPA, and science course GPA. Your nursing course GPA must be at least 3.0 in order to be considered for full admission. We prefer that your cumulative GPA and your science GPA are at least 3.0 as well.
When are applications due?
The priority application deadline is February 1st for Summer applicants, June 1st for Fall applicants, and November 1st for Spring applicants.
Do I need to take the GRE or another standardized test?
No, we do not require any standardized tests for admission consideration.
Do I need to submit transcripts from every school I attended or just from the one at which I completed my Bachelor's degree?
You must submit transcripts from EACH institution that you attended.
Can I take classes before I am officially admitted to the program?
Sometimes students are able to take courses before they are officially admitted to one of the Master's specializations. Students who are interested in doing so should submit an Unclassified Graduate Application to the Office of Admissions.
Please note that we are only able to accommodate Unclassified Master's students in our classes AFTER our current students have enrolled. If we have space available in classes after current student enrollment, we will register unclassified students on a first-come, first-served basis.
To discuss taking courses as an Unclassified Master's student, please contact the Graduate Academic Advisor at 618-650-3930.
Do I need work experience before I can apply to the Master's program?
Students who apply to the HCNA or NE specialization should have at least one year of experience as a Registered Nurse before enrollment in the first specialization clinical course. The one year of experience does not have to be completed before a student can apply to the program.
What is the difference between the Master of Science degree and the Post-Master's Certificate?
Students who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree should apply to the Master of Science (MS) program.
Students who have already completed a Master of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited program may apply to the Post-Master's Certificate program. Post-Master's students are reviewed individually to determine their program of study based upon equivalent MSN coursework.
Can I transfer courses taken at other universities to SIUE?
A student is allowed to transfer up to 1/3 of the total required credit hours for a degree from unclassified status or from another university. Students who wish to transfer a course from another university will be required to submit a transcript showing successful completion of the course, as well as a course syllabus so we can determine equivalency. Students are STRONGLY encouraged to submit a syllabus for a potential transfer course PRIOR to taking it. Students must earn a grade of A or B in order for a course to be accepted from unclassified status or from another university.
Will I have to come to campus?
Classes for the HCNA and NE programs are completely online. You will have practicum experiences for which you will find a preceptor using established guidelines. These practicums can be completed close to your home.
What is the Terminal Project?
What type of funding is available to Master's students?
Prospective Master's students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at 618-650-3880 to discuss funding options. Any grant or scholarship opportunities that become available through the School of Nursing will be announced to students via email. Additional funding opportunities are available through the University Graduate School.
Can I meet with an advisor to discuss the Master's program in more detail?
Prospective students are welcome to meet with Sarah Anderson, Graduate Academic Advisor, to discuss the specializations offered and the admission process. Please call 618-650-3930 or email saander@siue.edu to set up an appointment.
FAQ for Prospective DNP Students
What is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program?
The DNP is a practice-oriented doctoral program designed to prepare experts in specialized advanced nursing practice that is innovative and evidence-based, reflecting the application of evidence-based research findings. We have three specializations within the DNP program: the post-master’s specialization (for master’s prepared advanced practice nurses), the nurse anesthesia DNP (for baccalaureate prepared nurses who want to provide anesthetic care, and the family nurse practitioner DNP (for baccalaureate prepared nurses who would like to provide primary health care across the lifespan). Learn more about the purpose of the DNP degree from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
What do I do if I am an Out-of-State applicant?
Graduates of SIUE’s School of Nursing have successfully become licensed in their field in several states across the US. Applicants who intend to use their degree to practice in a licensed discipline outside of Illinois should visit SIUE’s Consumer Disclosures and contact the School of Nursing to find out how an SIUE Nursing degree can help you achieve your career goals.
As an International student, am I eligible for a student visa if I apply for the DNP program?
International students are ineligible to receive a student visa for our Graduate Nursing programs.
Is the DNP program part-time or full-time? Can I remain employed while in the program?
The Post-Master’s DNP (PM DNP) specialization is a part-time program, based upon the number of hours in which students are enrolled each semester. Post-master’s students are expected to be employed, preferably in their specialty areas, while in the program. Their DNP projects will usually be completed at their places of employment. Both post-baccalaureate options (the NA and FNP) are full-time programs offered over three years and are offered in an hybrid format (some face to face, and some online courses). The NA and FNP students will work on development of their project over several semesters, working under the guidance of faculty mentors. Working full-time while in the NA and FNP program is not encouraged.
How long does it take to complete the DNP program?
How do I apply to the DNP program?
The first step in the application process is to download the application for Graduate Admissions. In the Doctoral Programs section of that page, applicants will find a link to the PDF hard copy of the application. Please print that application, complete the appropriate parts for the specialization desire, and prepare a check for $30 for the university application fee. On that application, please provide a list of all post-high school institutions attended, and contact each institution for transcripts (additional application instructions). Applicants for all three specializations must complete the School of Nursing doctoral application, as well as provide three references. The PM DNP applicants must complete the Potential Project Statement, and the NA DNP and FNP DNP applicants must provide a Goals Statement. Please gather all of these documents into one Application Packet and submit to SIUE Graduate Admissions, Campus Box 1047, Edwardsville IL 62026-1047.
When are applications due?
- FNP DNP applications are due by February 1 for August admission.
- Post-Master’s DNP Applications are due by March 1.
- NA DNP applications are due by June 1 for the following May.
I have a degree in a field other than Nursing. Can I still apply to the DNP program?
You must have either a baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing (e.g., BSN, MSN, MA, or MS) in order to apply to the SIUE DNP program. For the PM DNP, the master’s degree in nursing must be a clinical degree (e.g., maternal-child health, medical-surgical, public health, mental health, nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife) or in nursing administration. Applicants for the NA DNP and FNP DNP must have completed a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
What is the minimum GPA requirement for the program?
Do I need to take the GRE or another standardized test?
No, we do not require any standardized tests for admission consideration.
Do I need to submit transcripts from every college or university I attended or just from the ones at which I completed my degrees?
You must submit transcripts from EACH college or university that you attended.
Can I take classes before I am officially admitted to the program?
We do not recommend enrolling in courses as an unclassified student before admission to the DNP program. Please note that the School of Nursing can only accommodate unclassified graduate students AFTER current DNP students have enrolled in their courses. If there is space available in classes after current student enrollment, unclassified students may be registered on a first-come, first-served basis. However, our class sizes often prohibit this practice. To discuss taking courses as an unclassified graduate student, please contact the Graduate Academic Advisor at 618-650-3930.
Do I need work experience before I can apply to the DNP program?
Applicants to any of the DNP specializations are expected have a minimum of 1 year of professional nursing practice. The NA DNP applicants must have one year of recent adult critical care experience.
Can I transfer courses taken at other universities to SIUE?
A student is allowed to transfer up to 1/3 of the total required credit hours for a degree from unclassified status or from another university. Students who wish to transfer a course from another university will be required to submit a transcript showing successful completion of the course, as well as a course syllabus to determine equivalency. The syllabus will be reviewed by SIUE doctoral faculty and must be approved by the faculty.
Students are STRONGLY encouraged to submit a syllabus for a potential transfer course PRIOR to taking it. Students must earn a grade of A or B in order for a course to be accepted from unclassified status or from another university.
Is the DNP program online? Will I have to come to campus to attend courses?
The PM DNP will is offered primarily online, with two immersion experiences, a six-day experience at the beginning of the program and a three-day immersion at the beginning of the second year. The NA DNP and the FNP DNP are offered in a hybrid format, with some online courses, and some face-to-face courses provided on the Edwardsville campus.
Can I enroll in the DNP courses in any order?
The curriculum has been developed to build upon prior course work throughout the program. Courses will be offered in a set sequence each academic year. Any change in the sequence in which courses are taken must be approved by the Assistant Dean for the Graduate Program.
What is the time frame for offering courses?
How are online courses managed?
The Blackboard course management system is used at SIUE for online courses. Each course will follow are specific format to facilitate navigation as students enroll in each course. Students will access syllabi, course calendars, and other course materials through Blackboard. Asynchronous discussion boards are often used for assignments to allow students to post information and for the instructor and other students to respond. Live chats may also be used for small group discussion. Synchronous class sessions may also be held using specialized conferencing equipment.
How do I communicate with course instructors?
What are the technology requirements for the DNP program?
All students should have a computer with soundcard, webcam, printer, and headset (defined as microphone and headphones) to access email, Cougarnet, Blackboard, and conferencing. Computers may be a desktop or a laptop based on personal preference. Within the PM DNP, students will need to bring a laptop computer that can access the internet through SIUE’s wireless system during the immersion experiences. We recommend a fast processor, at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory (RAM), and over 40 GB free disk space. An internet service provider (ISP) is required and can be hardwired, wireless, or satellite. A USB flash drive may be helpful for back-ups and bringing presentations to class. However, all students also have access to a virtual hard drive via Blackboard (located under the “My Content” tab of Blackboard). Software should include:
- Microsoft Office software, which is available for free to SIUE students
- Antiviral software if using personal PC
- Free software such as Quicktime, RealPlayer, etc.
How many courses require clinical practice hours?
AACN requires that all DNP programs consist of a minimum of 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate, supervised specialty practice. The PM DNP transcripts of admitted students will be evaluated individually to determine the number of hours that need to be completed. NA DNP students will complete almost 2700 practicum hours, and the FNP DNP students will complete over 1000 practicum hours while in the program.
What is the DNP Project?
How much does it cost to complete the DNP program at SIUE?
The tuition for the DNP program is $650 per credit hour. With additional fees dependent upon whether the course is online or face-to-face.
What type of funding is available to graduate students?
Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at 618-650-3880 to discuss funding options. Any grant or scholarship opportunities that become available through the School of Nursing will be announced to students via email. Additional funding opportunities are available through the Graduate School.
Can I meet with an advisor to discuss the graduate program in more detail?
Prospective students are welcome to meet with the Graduate Academic Advisor to discuss the programs offered and the admission process. Please call 618-650-3930 or 618-650-3956 to set up an appointment.