Admissions Requirements

Applicants for the post-baccalaureate DNP program must have earned a baccalaureate degree in nursing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants for post-master’s entry must have earned a master’s degree in nursing. All applicants must be actively licensed as a registered nurse.

Evaluation of transcripts and verification of clinical hours is required before admission to the Post-Master’s DNP programs. Completion of 1,000 clinical practicum hours is required for graduation from the program. Those students who are board-certified advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) at the time of admission may apply up to 500 clinical practicum hours earned during their master’s program. Those students with a master’s program without a minimum of 500 hours of clinical experience will be required to complete additional DNP experience hours based on the gap analysis conducted by the program coordinator upon admission.

All applicants will be considered for merit-based scholarships at the time they are reviewed for admission. Students will be notified of any scholarship awards either at the time of admission or shortly thereafter.

All APRN applicants (certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners) are required to submit their current State Board of Nursing license as an advanced practice nurse and current national certification.

Applicants to the Post-Master’s DNP program whose master’s program did not include a minimum of 500 hours of clinical experience will be required to complete additional DNP experience hours based on the gap analysis conducted by the program coordinator upon admission.   

Additional Requirements for International Students

• For applicants whose native language is not English, the TOEFL is required with a minimum score of 79 on the iBT. These scores should be sent officially to NursingCAS using the NursingCAS-specific TOEFL code of: B506.
• A WES evaluation is required for applicants who completed their degree outside of the United States. This can be requested and submitted through NursingCAS.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: April 15

Additional Admissions Information

According to university policy, the number of credits transferred into any nursing program is not reviewed until after admission. Learn more about Temple’s policy for credit transfers.

Non-matriculated Student Policy

Non-matriculated students can take up to nine graduate credits prior to matriculation, depending on track and program of study. DNP program coordinator and Nursing Department chair approval is required for registration as anon matriculated student. The following courses may be taken by non-matriculated students. Other courses may be permitted by the DNP program coordinator with approval from the chair.

• EPBI 5001 (3 credits): Biostatistics for Health Professionals 
• NURS 8201 (3 credits): Health Indices of Urban Populations in Primary Healthcare
• NURS 8204 (3 credits): Policy: Health Care Advocacy in Advanced Nursing Practice