PhD

Admissions & Application

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

PhD Admission Requirements

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)

•  A two- to three-page statement describing educational objectives and identifying a focal area for doctoral study

•  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

•  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 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.

During 2006-07, The University of Iowa will accept the IELTS as certification of English language proficiency for admission of students whose first language is not English. The IELTS will be accepted as an alternative to TOEFL.

The cut-off scores on the IELTS are 6.5 for undergraduate admission and 7.0 for graduate admission, with no subscore lower than 6.0.

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

Application Materials :
Students interested in the PhD program should apply for formal admission through the UI Graduate College as early as possible. For information regarding formal program admission, please click here.

Forms required by the College of Nursing in addition to the Graduate College admission forms include:
Three College of Nursing Reference Forms
The College of Nursing Curriculum Vitae Form
Supplemental Information Form

Applicant Completion Checklist:
Materials to be sent to the University of Iowa College of Nursing, Graduate Program Office, 37 Nursing Building, Iowa City, IA 52242:
_____ Application (Departmental Copy)
_____ Undergraduate Transcripts (One set of official academic records/transcripts)
_____ Graduate Transcripts (One set of official academic records/transcripts, if applicable)
_____ Official GRE Test Scores
_____ TOEFL Test Score (for International applicants)
_____ Goal Statement
_____ Curriculum Vitae
_____ 3 Letters of Recommendation
_____ Proof of RN Licensure
_____ Application for Graduate Awards

Send the following materials to the Office of Admissions, The University of Iowa, 107 Calvin Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1396:
_____ $60 application fee, required by all students ($85 for international students)
_____ One set of official academic records/transcripts
_____ Official GRE test scores. The University's institution code is 6681
_____ Official TOEFL scores (if applicable). The University's institution code is 6681
_____ Financial Statement for International Applicants (if applicable)