Admission Requirements

• A completed baccalaureate degree from an institution that is accredited by a nationally recognized, regional accrediting association. The baccalaureate nursing program (i.e., initial major or upper division, post-baccalaureate second major) in which the nursing degree is awarded must be accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
• Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and a grade of not less than B- in every nursing course. If the applicant's GPA is less than 3.0, an explanatory statement should be included with the application. A limited number of exceptions may be made to this requirement and if admitted, would be on a provisional basis.
• A current nursing license.
• Two years of recent clinical practice as a registered nurse (R.N.). Applicants to the Nurse Practitioner concentrations in pediatric and adult-gerontological options must have at least one year experience in the area of specialization. Applicants to the neonatal option must have two years recent experience in a Level 3 nursery.
• A post-secondary statistics course inclusive of inferential and descriptive statistics with a grade of not less than C (or S). See Curriculum.

The admission decision is made by the Graduate Interview Committee, which evaluates the applicant’s background, qualifications and potential as a whole. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission.


Application Form | Recommendation Form

Application Instructions

Deadlines: The priority deadline for the Nurse Practitioner option is January 15; for the Nurse Educator option the priority deadline is March 15.

**We are no longer accepting applications to the Neonatal and Pediatric Nurse Practitioneroptions for the 2008-2009 school year. We are still accepting applications to the Adult Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educatoroptions. We will begin processing 2009-2010 applications after September 1, 2008**

Submit all materials to:

The College of St. Catherine
Graduate Admission, #4027
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure her or his application is completed by the application deadline. Any applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis. No applications for fall semester will be considered after August 15. Applicants for advanced standing programs who wish to begin in the winter semester must apply by October 1.

• Application Form
  Complete all sections of the application form. You may use the online application or you may request a paper application to be mailed to you.

• Application Fee
  Submit a $25 non-refundable application fee; make check or money order payable to the College of St. Catherine. This fee is waived for St. Catherine current students and alumnae.

• Personal Statement
  Prepare a personal essay that demonstrates written communication skills and clarifies your purpose in pursuing a graduate degree in nursing. Do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page for each topic. Handwritten essays will not be accepted. Please address the following topics:
  
  1. Goals and objectives for professional growth and graduate study
  2. Concept of the advanced nursing role
  3. Ideal practice setting
  
  Additionally, Nurse Educator applicants must include a description of past teaching experiences in nursing (e.g., precepting new graduates, teaching classes, providing patient education, offering continuing education programs, other teaching experiences in nursing). Personal statements should be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admission at the address listed above. Applicants who wish to submit their statements via e-mail should send the completed attachment to: graduate_study@stkate.edu (Subject line should read: MANU Personal Statement). Please include your full name at the top of the statement.

• Resume
  Submit a current resume highlighting professional and volunteer experiences. Applicants must have a minimum of two years of recent clinical practice as a registered nurse. Applicants to the Pediatric or Adult-Gerontological options must have at least one year of experience in the area of specialization. Applicants to the Neonatal option must have at least two years of recent experience in a Level 3 nursery. Applicants who wish to submit their resumes via e-mail should send the completed attachment to: graduate_study@stkate.edu (Subject line should read: MANU Resume). Handwritten resumes will not be accepted.
  
  
• Recommendations
  Three MANU recommendation forms must be completed by professional and/or academic references who can attest to the applicant's ability to satisfactorily pursue graduate study and can address the applicant's nursing practice. Click here to download the Recommendation Form. These are confidential recommendations and must be sent directly from the references to the Office of Graduate Admission at the address listed above. Original documents must be sent to our office. Applicants who wish to view a copy of the completed forms are responsible for making the appropriate arrangements with their references.

• Transcripts
  Official transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution attended, even if courses are recorded on another transcript and regardless of the number of credits earned. Transcripts should be mailed directly from the Registrar of each institution to the Office of Graduate Admission at the College of St. Catherine. Graduation with a baccalaureate degree or documentation of a completed upper-division second major in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing is required.

• License
  Applicants must hold a current U.S. nursing license. Verification of current licensure with eligibility for licensure in Minnesota will be made prior to students entering the program. Nurse Practitioner candidates will need to show evidence of professional liability insurance as a registered nurse/nurse practitioner, which will be verified prior to beginning clinical courses.
  
  
• Statistics Course
  Applicants for all concentrations must have completed a post-secondary statistics course inclusive of inferential and descriptive statistics with a grade of not less than C (or S). This requirement is waived for applicants who have successfully completed a master's degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
  
  
• TOEFL / MELAB Scores
  Applicants whose native language is not English are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 600 or better on the paper and pencil test, 100 on the iBT or 250 on the computerized test, or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a score of 90 or better. This requirement is waived for students who have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the United States.
  
  
• Credential Evaluation
  Applicants with a college or university degree completed outside of the United States must submit an official evaluation from a NACES-approved evaluation service (such as World Education Services), as well as original transcripts and official translations of all documents not in English. All costs related to document translation and evaluation are the applicant's responsibility.
  
  
• International Application
  Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must submit an International Student Application and Certification of Finances, in addition to the program application. No additional application fee is required.
  
  
• Interview
  Qualified applicants will be contacted for a personal interview with the Admission Committee.