Admission Requirements
Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is competitive. Ideal candidates demonstrate a history of academic success, strong leadership, and potential for future success in leadership and practice scholarship. Applications are submitted online via CollegeNET.
Applicants must submit the following:
- completed application form accompanied by $50 nonrefundable application fee
- current unrestricted registered nurse licensure in the state of intended practice
- MSN degree or a BSN and master's degree in a related field
- proof of a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the graduate level
- transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
- completion of graduate-level inferential statistics course within the past five years, with a minimum grade of C (Please Note: Students who have not completed a graduate statistics course may be admitted to the program and may complete this requirement within one year of matriculation. Students may not progress beyond 12 months until this requirement is met.)
- verification of number of clinical/experience hours completed at the graduate level (Please Note: Verification should be provided by the program director or chairperson on school letterhead.)
- statement of intent that demonstrates the candidate's leadership and practice experience, their reason for pursuing doctoral study and their potential area of focus for the DNP Scholarly Project (Please Note: This statement should be representative of the applicant's writing ability. The statement should be two to four pages, double-spaced and written in 12-point font.)
- current résumé or curriculum vitae
- 3 letters of recommendation
- possible interview prior to admission, if asked
International Applicants
- Applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
- An official report of scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required from international applicants who are from countries where English is not the first language.
Non-Matriculated Students
Credits earned at Rhode Island College by a student in a non-matriculated status before admission to a degree program may be used toward degree requirements only upon the recommendation of the student’s advisor or the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing Graduate Committee, with the approval of the dean. No more than a total of 6 credits of courses taken at Rhode Island College by a non-matriculated student may be applied toward degree requirements for the DNP program.
