MSN Degree Programs

The Division of Graduate Nursing offers the Master of Science in Nursing degree with majors in Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, and Primary Care Nursing.  (Nursing Education and Nursing Administration programs are also available to students with an Associate of Science in Nursing through the ASN-MSN program). Also offered is a dual degree/major of MSN/MBA Nursing Administration/Business Administration and an abbreviated MSN in Nursing Administration for registered nurses who have already earned an MBA.

Admission Requirements

Admission to all graduate nursing majors begins with submission of required application forms, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts of previous college and university studies.  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 Nursing reserves the right to require the applicant to:

• Interview; and/or
• Take the GRE.

Admission and Registration

Indiana Wesleyan University welcomes applications for admission from any academically qualified person whose motivation is in keeping with the university's purposes. Admission is based on the careful review of all credentials presented by an applicant, but in no case is admission denied due to race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Students are admitted in one of the following categories:

• Regular Admission Status- Students who satisfactorily meet all requirements will be granted standard admission with no restrictions.

• Probationary Admission Status - Students with an entering grade point average (GPA) which falls below the minimum required by the program may be accepted on probation. Probationary status will be removed after the student has completed the first three courses of the core with a satisfactory GPA (3.0). Any student failing to remove the probationary status will be academically suspended from the program.

• International/Non-English Speaking Students - A student who is living in the United States but is not a United States citizen must submit a copy of a visa or permanent resident status during the process of application. Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must submit satisfactory scores from one of the following prior to admission to the university:

• 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.

• Student visas (I-20s) are not issued for students wanting to enter the United States to enroll in programs offered for adult and graduate students.

Registration - Registration occurs at the beginning of the student's core program. At this point, students are registered for all courses within the major. Therefore, if a student needs to miss an individual course, official withdrawal must be made through the Office of Student Services. Students will work with their Advisor to re-enter. Students need to be aware that withdrawals could impact their eligibility to receive financial aid based on the standards outlined in IWU's Satisfactory Academic Progress.

• A student who has failed to make arrangements for the payment of tuition for a course will have registration in that course cancelled.

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 ten years of recent experience in nursing practice may also be considered for admission by Portfolio. These candidates may submit a Portfolio which includes a current CV/resume including evidence of accomplishments in nursing based on The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice.
• 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.
• 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.
• All applicants must provide three letters of professional reference. References should be from faculty members, professional colleagues, work supervisors or a pastor who can evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program. Recommendations from family members are NOT appropriate. These letters should be solicited from professionals who can address the applicant’s qualifications for the MSN or doctoral programs.
• Original transcript from the degree granting institution.
• 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.
• A criminal history background check (at the student's expense) must be completed before registration for any track of the graduate nursing program. Letters of acceptance from the Division of Graduate Nursing will include instructions for completing the criminal background check. The criminal background check must be completed no earlier than two weeks before the beginning of the first course. A second criminal background check and drug screen (at the student's expense) will be required for Primary Care students no earlier than two weeks before the first practicum course begins. Instructions for the second criminal background check and drug screen will be sent to students by the Division of Graduate Nursing. Progression in the program may depend on the results of these checks.

Additional information for ASN/MSN applicants:

• Associate Degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited college or university or a proprietary school which holds a national accreditation

• A grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 from the Associate Degree granting college or university.

Additional information for Post-Master's degree Certificate applicants:

• Master’s Degree in Nursing. 

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet the following requirements:

• Satisfactory completion of all core, major, and clinical requirements for the specific program.
• Minimum grade of "C" in each core (GNUR prefix) course and "B" in each major (NRA, NRE, PYC, and MHNP) 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 ASN-MSN and dual MSN/MBA degree programs must be completed within a maximum of five years from the date of enrollment.
• PYC students must complete a minimum of 700 hours of supervised practicum with no less than 525 patient encounters. Out of the total 525 encounters students must complete a minimum of 300 adult patient encounters, (40 of these related to women’s health), and 150 Pediatric encounters.
• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

Program Requirements 

• 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.
• 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.
• Students must meet all practicum agency requirements.  Primary Care (Family Nurse Practitioner) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing students must have health clearance and documentation of two-step TB, Rubella, and Hepatitis B and meet any other requirements of the practicum site before any 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.
• If a Nursing Administration student does not finish their project by the end of NRA692, the course is repeatable for up to 6 credits.
• Primary Care (Family Nurse Practitioner), Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, and Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate  students will be academically dismissed upon receipt of a second unsatisfactory grade.

Re-enrollment policy for Primary Care or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 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 or MHNP-620, 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 or MHNP-652, the student must achieve an 87% on the Advanced Physical Assessment competency exam.
• Health Assessment Courses require an onsite component. 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.