Admission Requirements

Program Admission Requirements (Post-Master's)

Admission to the post-master’s DNP program requires approval by the Graduate Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. Admission of applicants is based upon the following criteria:

  1. A complete application.
  2. MSN from a CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing program.
  3. Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA for graduate work is required.
  4. Final official transcript(s) from each college or university attended should be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admission and should not be marked “Issued to Student.” Note: It is the student’s responsibility to request all official transcripts. Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution to Bellarmine University and should not be marked issued to student or addressed to the student.
  5. If any transcript(s) or undergraduate degree(s) is from an international institution, you must provide an official copy of a third-party course by course credential evaluation Bellarmine University. The following organizations offer this service and information regarding processes and fees are available at: www.aacrao.org, www.wes.org, and www.ece.org. The Office of Graduate Admission reserves the right to request a certified copy of the original transcript(s).
  6. Enter the names and emails of two individuals who hold a masters or doctoral degree professional as references on your electronic application. These individuals should address academic skills including oral and written communication, as well as clinical competence.
  7. Goal statement (Prompt provided by email upon submission of application)
  8. Current CV or resume, describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences
  9. Proof of active, unrestricted license to practice nursing in Kentucky and/or compact states
  10. Completed verification of post-baccalaureate clinical and practice hours form
  11. Graduate level statistics course within 5 years of projected program start date. Applicants who do not meet this criterion may be admitted conditionally and complete the course as part of their program of study.
  12. Additional information is required from international applicants.
  13. In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported healthcare facilities across the United States are increasingly requiring healthcare workers be vaccinated for vaccine-preventable diseases to reduce disease outbreaks. Therefore, those who choose not to be vaccinated for personal, religious, or medical reasons are not eligible for admission to the School of Nursing. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/vaccinationlaws.html 

Program Admission Requirements (BSN-DNP Leadership Track)

Admission to the BSN-DNP Leadership Track requires approval by the Graduate Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. Admission of applicants is based upon the following criteria:

  1. A complete application.
  2. BSN from a CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing program.
  3. Minimum required GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate work and 3.5 for any graduate work.
  4. Final official transcript(s) from each college or university attended should be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admission and should not be marked “Issued to Student.” Note: It is the student’s responsibility to request all official transcripts. Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution to Bellarmine University and should not be marked issued to student or addressed to the student.
  5. If any transcript(s) or undergraduate degree(s) is from an international institution, you must provide an official copy of a third-party course by course credential evaluation Bellarmine University. The following organizations offer this service and information regarding processes and fees are available at: www.aacrao.org, www.wes.org, and www.ece.org. The Office of Graduate Admission reserves the right to request a certified copy of the original transcript(s).
  6. Enter the names and emails of two individuals who hold a masters or doctoral degree professional as references on your electronic application. These individuals should address academic skills including oral and written communication, as well as clinical competence.
  7. Goal statement (Prompt provided by email upon submission of application)
  8. Current CV or resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences
  9. Proof of active, unrestricted license to practice nursing in Kentucky and/or compact states
  10. Additional information is required from international applicants.
  11. In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported healthcare facilities across the United States are increasingly requiring healthcare workers be vaccinated for vaccine-preventable diseases to reduce disease outbreaks. Therefore, those who choose not to be vaccinated for personal, religious, or medical reasons are not eligible for admission to the School of Nursing. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/vaccinationlaws.html 

After initial review of applications, applicants may be contacted for an interview with graduate faculty members. Please be aware that, depending upon the size of the applicant pool, meeting the minimum requirements may not assure admission.

Goal Statement

The goal statements should each be uploaded to your electronic application.

  • What are your professional goals and how will the DNP help you attain them? (Limit 250 words)
  • What strengths do you possess that would contribute to your success in the program and to a community of interprofessional scholars? (Limit 250 words)
  • Identify one or two topics/areas that you would like to explore as part of the DNP program (e.g., quality improvement initiative, evidence-based practice guideline, new model care, policy analysis) and your preliminary plans for approaching them. (Limit 500 words)

International Applicants

Please complete the items under Procedure for Admission and submit the following:

Language proficiency is required to ensure that international students within the department of nursing are able to communicate with diverse populations. The department of nursing accepts one of the following as evidence of required language proficiency for students for whom English is a second language or who have a degree from an international institution:

  • TOEFL-iBT (internet-based test) and receive a total score of 83 or higher AND a score of 26 or higher on the speaking test OR
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and receive a total band score of 7 or higher AND a speaking band score of 8 or higher OR
  • Successful completion of Language training at an approved center. Bellarmine University recognizes the following standards and centers: English Language Services level 112 (http://www.els.edu/en); Interlink Level 5 (http://interlink.edu/); Intensive English Program at Indiana University Level 6 (http://iep.indiana.edu/): and other centers may be approved at the discretion of the Admissions, Progression & Graduation Committee of the Department of Nursing.

International students who are exempt from language proficiency requirements are the following:

  • Students who are citizens of or have completed a degree from a TOEFL exempt country.
  • Students who have a secondary or high school diploma earned in TOEFL exempt countries.
  • International students who have completed at least one year of full time university study or its equivalent (i.e., a minimum of 24 earned credit hours or its equivalent and earned a 2.0 GPA) in a TOEFL exempt country.

Only official score reports will be accepted.

Financial Affidavit. All applicants must provide credible evidence (e.g. a bank statement, letter on bank stationary attesting to the availability of funds, etc.) of the ability to fund the cost of attending Bellarmine University for one academic year. If funds are provided by another person on behalf of the student, an affidavit must accompany the financial information.

Proof of Passport. Scan of passport ID page must show validity for 6 months post completion of the program.

Application Deadline

Students can start the DNP in any semester. We suggest applying 6-8 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which you want to enter the program.