MSN Degree Programs

The Graduate Studies in Nursing Division offers the Master of Science in Nursing degree with majors in Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, and Primary Care Nursing.  Also offered is a dual degree/major of MSN/MBA Nursing Administration/Business Administration.

Admission Requirements

Admission to all graduate nursing majors begins with submission of required application forms, letters of recommendation, writing sample, and official transcripts of previous college and university studies. Applications will be received by the Division of Graduate Studies in Nursing. Applications will be kept on file for a period of 18 months. Acceptance into any graduate nursing program will remain valid for a period of 18 months.

To assist in the decision-making process, the Division of Graduate Studies in Nursing reserves the right to require the applicant to:

• Interview with the Committee; and/or
• Take the GRE.

Criteria for regular admission are:

• B.S.N. or B.S. degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program. Registered Nurse applicants who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years of recent experience in nursing practice may also be considered for admission. These candidates must also submit a portfolio which includes:
  • Current CV/resume including evidence of accomplishments in nursing based on the nine baccalaureate nursing essentials
  • An expanded goal statement, reflecting how they intend to make an impact in nursing with their MSN
• Undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least a minimum of 30 hours was completed.
• Anyone applying to become a student at Indiana Wesleyan University must provide proof that all nursing licenses – whether current or inactive – are unencumbered. Potential students with encumbered nursing licenses will not be considered eligible for enrollment at Indiana Wesleyan University.
• Three letters of recommendation which must include references from: a former instructor, a pastor or someone with whom the applicant has worked in the past year who can attest to the applicant’s service record or character, and a direct supervisor.
• Original transcript from the degree granting institution.
• A writing sample will be required, consisting of responses to three questions selected from a provided list.
• At least one year of professional practice. Students applying for admission to the Primary Care Program must have 500 hours of direct contact and/or care for patients within the year prior to admission. Students applying for admission to the Nursing Administration or Nursing Education majors must have 1000 hours of nursing practice within the three years prior to admission.
• A criminal history background check must be completed before registration for any track of the graduate nursing program. Letters of acceptance from the Division of Graduate Studies in Nursing will include instructions for completing the criminal background check. The criminal background check must be completed two weeks before the beginning of the first course. A second criminal background check and drug screen will be required for Primary Care students two weeks before the first clinical course begins. Instructions for the second criminal background check and drug screen will be sent to students by the Division of Graduate Studies in Nursing. Progression in the program may depend on the results of these checks.
• If English is not first language, satisfactory scores from one of the following is required:

  -Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For graduate students, a score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) is required for regular academic admission.

  -International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For graduate students, a score of at least 6.5 is required for regular academic admission.

• Master’s Degree in Nursing for Post-Master’s degree Certificate. 

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must have completed the following:

• Completion of all core and major requirements for the specific program.
• Minimum grade of "C" in each core course and "B" in each major course.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.00
• The MSN and DNP degree programs must be completed within a maximum of four years from the date of enrollment; the dual MSN/MBA degree program must be completed within a maximum of five years from the date of enrollment.
• All financial obligations must be settled in order to receive a diploma.

Program Requirements 

• Successful completion of all Core Courses with a minimum grade of "C" is prerequisite to entering the major.
• A minimum grade of “B” must be earned in all Major Courses.
• All courses must be successfully completed in the sequence prescribed by the program's requirements.  Failure to successfully complete a course will result in an administrative withdrawal from the program.
• If GNUR-590 is required for a major, all courses must be successfully completed before beginning this course.
• A grade of "I" in GNUR-590 will require the student to register for GNUR-595 for up to two times. Failure to remove the "I" in GNUR-590 after two registrations in GNUR-595 will result in the grade of "I" being changed to an "F."
• Any student found to have falsified clinical/practicum hours will be immediately dismissed and not allowed to re-enter any graduate nursing program at IWU.
• Primary Care students must have health clearance and documentation of TB, Rubella, and Hepatitis B and any other requirements from the practicum sites for practicums and any other client contact.
• Nursing Education and Nursing Administration students may be required to provide health clearance and proof of immunization.
• Students who maintain continuous enrollment, who make normal progress toward a degree, and who earn their degree within the major program's maximum time from the date of enrollment may meet the graduation requirements as stated in the catalog under which they enrolled.
• Please refer to the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook for a full description of progression policies.
• Practicum Continuation Courses - Students who have satisfactorily completed the didactic portion of a clinical course and have completed all required clinical hours but whose practice skills are not commensurate with faculty/preceptor expectations will be required to register for a Practicum Continuation course. The course will be 10 weeks, and the number of credit hours will be based on the number of clinical hours the student needs to improve skill proficiency based on faculty/Coordinator recommendation (1 credit = 70 clinical hours). Students who fall into this category will receive a grade of "I" for the original course. If the Practicum Continuation course is not completed satisfactorily within 10 weeks, a grade of "NC" will be awarded for the continuation course, and the grade of "I" for the original course will be changed to an "F.

Re-enrollment policy for Primary Care Majors

Any student who withdraws from one or more courses in the graduate nursing Primary Care program must meet the following criteria to progress or re-enroll in the program:

• If more than 6 months have passed since the completion of PYC-612, the student must achieve an 87% on the IWU Pharmacology competency exam.
• If more than 6 months have passed since the completion of PYC-614, the student must achieve an 87% on the IWU Pathophysiology competency exam.
• If more than 6 months have passed since the completion of PYC-652, the student must achieve an 87% on the Advanced Physical Assessment competency exam.
• The Advanced Physical Assessment exam is only offered onsite. The student will be required to conduct a complete history and physical on a client of IWU’s choosing, which must include written documentation.
• If the student does not pass the appropriate competency exam(s) at 87%, s/he will be required to audit the pertinent course(s) and satisfactorily pass the appropriate competency exam(s) before being allowed to re-enroll and continue on in the graduate nursing program. A fee will be charged to audit a class.
• The fee for each competency exam is $100.