Admission to the RN-MSN Pathway requires that the following University and McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing criteria be met:

• Earned associate degree or diploma in nursing from an approved nursing program

• Possess an unencumbered RN license to practice as a registered nurse in North Carolina

• One year of practice as a registered nurse is recommended

• Meet minimum requirements as specified in the current undergraduate catalog

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate study

• Complete required 25 hours of RN-BSN coursework before or during semester of application to MSN program through the School of Graduate Studies

• In semester prior to anticipated enrollment in the MSN program, students will submit an application packet to the UNCP School of Graduate Studies that includes the following:

  • Competitive scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with scores not older than 5-years (GRE or MAT is waived if an applicant's cumulative GPA is 3.5 or higher)

    • Three letters of recommendations from instructors, supervisors or professional colleagues, two of which must come from individuals with a minimum of a master's degree in nursing
    • Copy of resume or curriculum vitae
    • Statement of purpose describing applicant's experience and objective in undertaking graduate study in chosen specialty
    • Official transcripts of all post-secondary coursework
    • Be available for an interview if requested (may be a phone interview with admissions committee)

Admission to the RN-MSN Pathway does not guarantee admission to a specific MSN area of specialization.