PhD Admissions
Successful applicants must submit the following criteria by application deadlines of August 15 and October 15 for summer admission:
- Completion of a Baccalaureate in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing from a program within a regionally accredited institution of higher education. (Indiana University School of Nursing faculty retain the right to determine acceptable accreditation status of nursing programs from which applicants have graduated.)
- A baccalaureate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For applicants holding a master’s degree, a graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher is required. The master’s degree GPA will supersede the baccalaureate GPA. Official transcripts are required.
- Completion of a 3 credit graduate-level statistics course with a grade of B (3.0) or higher within three (3) years before the date of proposed application.
- Current Registered Nurse Licensure (RN) in state of U.S. residence.
- Competitive scores (50th percentile and above) on the verbal and quantitative sections and a score of 3.5 or better on the analytical writing section of the Graduate Record Examination (taken within the last five years). For information about the GRE—such as registration information, test dates, and testing locations—visit the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Web site or contact them by phone at 1-609-771-7670. Scores must be sent to IUSON directly from ETS and upon arrival will be matched to your application.
- International students must have competitive scores (minimum of 550) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or satisfactory performance on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam for students whose first language is not English. A test of written English is also required. For more information, visit www.ielts.org. International student applicants are advised to consult with the IUPUI Office of International Affairs.
- The following materials are required to be included in the application materials:
- A two- to three-page essay summarizing immediate and long-term professional goals and a proposed area of research.
- Example of original scholarship or research in nursing as demonstrated by a report, published or unpublished paper, or a thesis.
- Three references, including one from a nurse faculty member who has knowledge of the applicant’s academic ability from undergraduate or master’s work.
- Letter from a nursing graduate faculty member with endorsement to direct dissertations who has agreed to be a Research Mentor because they share a research interest area with you (letter template must be used). For a list of IUSON faculty members and their areas of research interests http://nursing.iupui.edu/directory/faculty. Solicit a letter of support from one of these individuals whose area of research most closely matches your own. Submit this letter with the application materials. If you need help choosing faculty member(s) with similar interests, you may contact the Graduate Advisor for Doctoral Programs.
- An interview with members of the PhD faculty (arranged by school) is also required.
Qualified candidates are interviewed following each admission deadline. The PhD admissions committee makes decisions and nominates the best candidates to the IU Graduate School. Admissions decisions are finalized and students are notified of acceptance with a May (summer) start date for the program.
Application is two-fold:
- Apply online; “Nursing Non-Degree”; “PhD Prep.”
- All application material, in one packet, should be sent no later than August 15 or October 15 to the following:
Graduate Advisor for Doctoral Programs
Indiana University School of Nursing
Center for Academic Affairs
1111 Middle Drive, NU 122
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5107
For more information about the PhD program or the admission criteria, please contact:
Graduate Advisor for Doctoral Programs
Phone: (317) 274-2806
E-mail: dgrew@iupui.edu
Last updated: February, 2012