Aug6
Application Deadlines
As a prospective student, please know that it's your responsibility to make sure all official documents are received by the deadline. The application must be completed by the deadline below by 8:59 PM PT/11:59 PM ET in order to be considered for admission. We strongly recommend submitting your online application in advance to avoid missing the deadline in your specific time zone.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) at the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree (minimum): Degree must be from an accredited college or university.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, based on your most recently completed degree, is required. Applications are reviewed holistically, with additional factors considered alongside academic performance.
- Complete all prerequisite courses:All prerequisite courses must be completed by the application deadline, with the exception of one course that may be in progress at the time of application. See the full list below to make sure you’re on track.
Application Requirements
Applicants to the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing must apply through NursingCAS, the centralized nursing application system. NursingCAS collects all your required application materials in one place, making it easier to manage and track your submission.
We recommend reviewing the Fee Assistance Program to see if you qualify for a fee waiver. For guidance on completing your online application, visit the NursingCAS Help Center for step-by-step support.
In 500 words or fewer, share the story of an individual, experience, or challenge that shaped who you are today and inspired your decision to become a nurse dedicated to caring for a diverse population of patients.
You’ll need to submit a resume outlining the nature, scope, and responsibilities of all your work experience. While volunteer or paid healthcare-related experience is encouraged, it is not required.
Please upload your resume directly to the NursingCAS application. You do not need to complete the separate employment history section — your resume should provide this information.
Applicants must submit two professional letters of recommendation that evaluate their potential for academic success in graduate study. Choose recommenders from a mix of professors, employers, registered nurses, and/or volunteer supervisors. Personal recommendations (from friends or family) will not be accepted.
All references must be completed electronically through NursingCAS. Designate your references early in the application process. We strongly encourage you to enter your reference information first to expedite the receipt of the reference request. Since NursingCAS reference requests may be caught by spam filters, it's a good idea to contact your reference in advance and ask them to allow their email systems to "permit" the NursingCAS reference mail address: nursingcasinfo@nursingcas.org
The following nursing prerequisites must be completed prior to applying to the Master's Entry Program in Nursing:
Science prerequisites: Minimum grade of B required.
Other prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- required.
Grading: All courses/labs must be assigned a letter grade; pass/no pass is not accepted.
Note: As of November 1, 2023, coursework completed via study.com will no longer be accepted. Courses taken before this date will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.Prerequisite courses include:
- Human Anatomy*
- Human Physiology*
- Microbiology*
- Psychology (Introduction, General or Developmental)
- Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or Introduction to Sociology
- English Composition
- Communication (Introduction to Public Speaking, Group Communication, OR Interpersonal Communication)
- Statistics
- Nutrition
* Must be 4 semester units and include a lab.
All other courses must be at least 3 semester credit units.
Course guidance
- Review the MEPN Prerequisite Course Descriptions to ensure your coursework matches the USD equivalent.
- Prerequisites must be completed at an accredited, degree-granting institution (in-person or online).
- Many students complete these courses at their local community college.
Prior Military Healthcare Experience
Applicants with relevant military healthcare experience — such as Basic Medical Technician Corpsman (Navy HM or Air Force BMTCP), Army Healthcare Specialist (68W Army Medic), or Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician (IMDT 4NOX1C) — may be eligible to challenge a course through examination in the nursing program.
Applicants must submit one official transcript from each college or university attended. This includes transcripts from community colleges, summer courses, and any graduate-level work.
Official transcripts must be sent directly to NursingCAS by your institution, either electronically or by mail.
If you earned a degree from an institution outside the United States, you are required to submit an official international transcript evaluation (also called a foreign credential evaluation) as part of your application. Please note that the evaluation must be a course-by-course evaluation. If you completed prerequisite coursework at a foreign institution (and it is not included in your bachelor's coursework), you will also be required to submit an official course-by-course evaluation for that coursework.
Applicants can elect from:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
- The Evaluation Company*
- International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
- Josef Silny & Associates Foundation, Inc. (JS&A)
- The Evaluation Company (TEC)
- Foreign Academic Credentials Service (FACS)
Applications from students educated outside the United States will not be considered complete, and an admissions decision cannot be made until a degree evaluation has been submitted.
*The Evaluation Company link leads to a custom application with a discounted rate for USD applicants.
Have Questions About Applying?
Join our weekly Ask Admissions Live! Zoom session to receive guidance on program requirements, application steps, and important deadlines. Speak directly with our team and get the answers you need.
International Students
If you are an international student, please review the following application requirements carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re wondering about it, others are too!
NursingCAS is the centralized application service used to apply to the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN). Applicants submit all required materials, including transcripts and supporting documents, through NursingCAS.
Applicants are expected to meet the minimum GPA requirement outlined in the admissions criteria. If your GPA falls below the minimum, you may still be considered based on the strength of your overall application, including academic trends, prerequisite performance, and relevant experience.
No, USD does not require the TEAS or GRE for admission.
No. The MEPN program is designed for individuals who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and are seeking to become a registered nurse through an accelerated master’s-level pathway.
Certain prerequisite courses, such as Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology, Prerequisite courses include foundational science and non-science coursework required for program readiness. These courses may be completed at accredited community colleges or universities, including approved online programs.
No. All prerequisite courses must be completed as outlined in the admissions requirements. Substitutions or waivers are not typically granted.
All prerequisite courses must be completed by the application deadline. Only one prerequisite course may be in progress at the time of application.
Yes. You may apply if your bachelor’s degree will be completed before the program begins and all prerequisite requirements are met by the application deadline.
AP credit may be accepted on a case-by-case basis if it is reflected on an official college transcript. Additional coursework may be required depending on the subject area.
Applicants with international degrees must submit a course-by-course evaluation from an approved credential evaluation service to determine U.S. equivalency.
The MEPN program is competitive. Strong applicants demonstrate academic readiness, successful completion of prerequisites, a clear commitment to nursing, and relevant volunteer, clinical, or service experience.
Selected applicants may be invited to participate in an interview as part of the admissions review process.
For Fall admission, decisions are typically communicated in January, with final decisions made by March. For Spring admission, first-round (interview) decisions are shared in April, and final decisions are made by early June.
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