The admission requirements for both MSN concentrations are the following:

• Payment of the application fee.
• Evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program.
• Hold licensure as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• An undergraduate grade-point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or a graduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• One year of recent full-time clinical practice or two years of part-time clinical practice.
• Demonstrated ability in typing using computer keyboard and a word processing package.
• Ability to analyze statistical data.

Application Procedures

• The applicant contacts the Graduate Office of Clarion University and is sent an admissions packet for application to the desired concentration.
• The applicant submits all the materials required
• Upon receipt of this material, the graduate office notifies the individual to arrange an interview with a faculty member at one of the three universities.
• The applicant arranges an interview and the interviewer requests copies of the application materials from the Graduate Office.  During the interview process, the applicant completes an essay describing his/her career goals and expectations regarding the program in meeting these goals.  This essay is typed on a computer made available to the applicant at the interview site.
• At the conclusion of the interview, the interviewer completes the interview form and forwards it and the essay to the Graduate Office.
• Upon receipt of these materials, the applicant’s application material is forwarded to members of the Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee, with an applicant recommendation form that summarizes each applicant’s admission criteria.  Each applicant’s materials are reviewed and a recommendation regarding admission is made and sent to the graduate office via applicant recommendation summary forms.  Options include: deny admission, admit provisionally (with provisions described), and full admission. Second masters applicants must submit materials describing the courses they think will substitute for Courses in the Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum and Admissions, Progression, and Graduation Committee makes the decision regarding such substitution.
• The graduate office informs each applicant of the decision of the admissions committee via a letter that also informs the applicant of advisor and directs him/her to contact them to develop a program plan.
• The faculty advisor meets with the applicant.  At this meeting, the faculty advisor evaluates the applicant’s previous coursework and the decision of the Admissions, Progression, and Graduation Committee, and an individual program plan is developed.  A copy of the program plan is sent to the program director for inclusion in the student data base.

Admission Procedures

• Applications are reviewed by the Admissions, Progression and Graduation Committee which is comprised of graduate nursing faculty members from Clarion, Edinboro and Slippery Rock Universities as they are complete.
• Official transcripts
• Professional recommendation from two individuals
• Copy of verification of Professional Liability Insurance showing coverage of at least $1,000,000 for each incident and $3,000,000 aggregate
• An on-site interview with a graduate nursing faculty member from Clarion, Edinboro or Slippery Rock
• An essay written during the interview entitled “The Value of an MSN Degree to My Career Goals”

Students are admitted into the MSN program after they have met the graduate admission requirements of the Program and have been recommended for acceptance by the Admissions, Progression, and Graduation Committee.  Notification of acceptance is by the Office of Graduate Studies, Clarion University.