PhD - Admission Requirements

Students are admitted to the program in the Fall semester.
Application deadline: November 15^th of each year for the following fall.

Persons may enter a program of study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing with a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing.

A. General Admission Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled for admission to either the post master's PhD or BSN-PhD programs:

• Completion of an accredited basic nursing program
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE), preferably within the past five years
• Current license to practice nursing (Special license for international students)
• Goal Statement
• Three (3) recommendations from professionals in the field that speak to the potential of the applicant as a scholar
• A current resume or curriculum vitae covering the following items: Higher Education; Academic and Professional Work Experience; Scholarship; Professional Membership; Professional Service; Special Honors, Awards, and Professional Recognition; Service Contributions; and Presentations
• Complete transcript of all college programs and courses

B. Requirements Specifically for Master's Prepared Students

• Completion of a master's degree program with a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• A minimum of one graduate-level, 3-semester-hour course in research and inferential statistics

C. Requirements Specifically for BSN Prepared Students

• Minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Strong statement of research focus and career goals prepared by the applicant
• Successful completion of an upper division course in statistics

D. Requirements Specifically for International Students

A minimum score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based or 81 iBT on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for students whose first language is not English.

The University of Iowa does accept the IELTS.  We require an IELTS total score of 7.0, with no sub-score less than 6.0.  All IELTS test takers will be held to the on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation.

If admitted:

All international students will be required to take the on campus English Proficiency Evaluation.  If a student is found to need more than 2 courses in English as a Second Language, he/she will be required to enroll in, and successfully complete, the Iowa Intensive English Program.  Concurrently with the Iowa Intensive English Program, the student will be allowed to register for one course within their doctoral program of study.  More information related to the Iowa Intensive English Program is found at the following link http://www.uiowa.edu/~iiepesl/ .

International students are required to take the CGFNS examination.

The CGFNS examination is offered in 37 locations in 26 countries.
Write or call for information:
Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
3600 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-2651 USA
(215) 349-8767