• How long is the program?
• Are any of your classes offered on-line?
• What is the cost of the program?
• When would I start if I were accepted?
• What grade point average (GPA) is required?
• Must I take the GRE?
• Are there any pre-requisite courses?
• I do not have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in my BSN. Do I have any other options?
• I won’t complete my BSN before the application deadline, but I will graduate before starting the MSN program. May I still apply?
• I won’t have my RN license before the application deadline, but I will before starting the MSN program. May I still apply?
• I have a letter of reference from a previous employer. May I submit that instead of providing contact information for a reference on the School of Nursing’s Graduate Application form?
• What are the components of a successful Nursing application essay?
• Do you offer an RN to MSN “bridge” program for nurses who do not have their BSN?
• I submitted official transcripts to CSU when I was an undergraduate student. Why does Graduate Admissions want another copy? Can they obtain a copy themselves?
• Why do I need to submit transcripts from all of my previous institutions? Some of them have nothing to do with my BSN.
• I earned my baccalaureate degree from a foreign institution. What do I do?
• May I transfer to Cleveland State University’s School of Nursing from another accredited Nursing program?
• How are students selected for admission into the program?
• When should I apply? When is the application deadline?
• Are there any clinical hours required for the program?

How long is the program?

As MSN students have told us they prefer a part-time schedule, courses are offered in a sequence to allow students to complete the MSN degree inn approximately 2 ½ years.

Are any of your classes offered on-line?

All of the Nursing courses are taught on-line. Courses offered by the College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) or the Nance College of Business Administration (COB) may be offered either in the classroom or on-line. This affects only one course in the Nursing Education track, and two courses in the Clinical Nurse Leader track. In the MBA portion of the MSN/MBA track, all of the 500-level courses except GAD 515 are offered online, and all of the 600-level courses are taught in the classroom. Registration for online sections of courses taught by COEHS and COS is first come, first served.

What is the cost of the program?

Current graduate tuition rates may be found on the Office of Treasury Services website. Text book selection is evaluated by faculty every semester. As of Fall 2009, textbooks for the MSN program cost approximately $1400.

When would I start if I were accepted?

MSN students begin the Nursing sequence in the Fall (August) semester each year. The MBA portion of the MSN/MBA may be started any semester.

What grade point average (GPA) is required?

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in your BSN is required in order to be eligible to apply for the program.

Must I take the GRE?

At the present time, the GRE is not required to apply to the MSN program. However, students applying to the MSN/MBA program must have completed either the GRE or the GMAT within 5 years of the date of application. Contact the Nance College of Business Administration for more details.

Are there any pre-requisite courses?

You must have completed an undergraduate or graduate-level statistics course with a grade of C or better within 5 years of the application deadline for which you are applying. CSU offers and the School of Nursing recommends EDF 570, Statistics for Health & Human Services, which is offered on-line during the Summer semester. This course is also cross-listed as EDF 470.

I do not have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in my BSN. Do I have any other options?

If you do not meet the minimum GPA requirement, you may apply to the College of Graduate Studies as a non-degree student. Upon completion of 12 credit hours of specific graduate nursing courses, with a grade of at least a B in each, you may apply as a degree-seeking student to the College of Graduate Studies. You will also need to apply to the School of Nursing. Successful completion of these 12 credit hours of graduate nursing courses does not guarantee admission to the Graduate Nursing Program. In addition, non-degree student registration in the graduate nursing courses is by departmental permission only, on a space-available basis. Priority is given to degree-seeking MSN students.

I won’t complete my BSN before the application deadline, but I will graduate before starting the MSN program. May I still apply?

Yes, you may apply while you are still in the process of completing your BSN. However, you must complete the BSN before starting the MSN program. You also must have a current RN license by end of the first semester (Fall) of coursework.

I won’t have my RN license before the application deadline, but I will before starting the MSN program. May I still apply?

Yes, you may apply while you are still in the process of obtaining your RN. However, you must have a current RN license by the end of the first semester (Fall) of coursework.

I have a letter of reference from a previous employer. May I submit that instead of providing contact information for a reference on the School of Nursing’s Graduate Application form?

No. Letters of reference will not be considered by the Committee.

What are the components of a successful Nursing application essay?

A successful application essay clearly covers the content outlined in the essay instructions found in the School of Nursing Graduate Application. First and foremost, it demonstrates well developed writing skills, indicting an applicant is capable of graduate-level work. The essay is at least three (3) full pages long, and does not exceed five (5) pages of text. It is type-written, has no misspellings or grammatical errors, and conforms to current APA guidelines for margins, font, spacing, etc. The writer does not attempt to meet page requirements by using extra-wide margins, increased spacing, headers, signature blocks, and other similar tactics. These diminish the intended outcome of the essay and reflect poorly on the writer. A successful essay is not written hastily, but is well thought out and reflects the applicant’s potential to earn a graduate degree in nursing.

Do you offer an RN to MSN “bridge” program for nurses who do not have their BSN?

No. Students must complete a BSN prior to starting CSU’s MSN program. The School of Nursing does, however, offer an RN to BSN program which is entirely online, and may be completed in three (3) consecutive semesters.

I submitted official transcripts to CSU when I was an undergraduate student. Why does Graduate Admissions want another copy? Can they obtain a copy themselves?

You will need to obtain new copies of your official transcripts for Graduate Admissions. Your graduate record is maintained separately from your undergraduate record. It is your responsibility to obtain these transcripts from all of your previous institutions. You do not need to obtain an official CSU undergraduate transcript.

Why do I need to submit transcripts from all of my previous institutions? Some of them have nothing to do with my BSN.

Although your performance in your BSN is very important in the admissions decision, the Graduate Nursing Admissions Committee considers your overall academic performance, not just your performance in your BSN.

I earned my baccalaureate degree from a foreign institution. What do I do?

After applying to Cleveland State University, you will need to submit official transcripts to International Admissions in order to have them evaluated. It is your responsibility to provide an official/certified translation if your transcripts are not in English. If you are an international student and have questions about your visa, contact the Center for International Services and Programs.

May I transfer to Cleveland State University’s School of Nursing from another accredited Nursing program?

Students from other graduate Nursing programs are welcome to apply to CSU’s graduate Nursing programs. After you have applied to the College of Graduate Studies and the School of Nursing, you may request that your transcripts be evaluated for transfer of coursework. This does not guarantee your acceptance into the program or that your coursework will be accepted. Contact the recruiter/advisor to discuss your options.

CSU’s Graduate Nursing Program prepares graduates for general advanced practice Nursing with aggregates. Please note that CSU’s MSN program is not designed to prepare graduates to become Nurse Practitioners. However, graduates may be eligible to seek certification as Clinical Nurse Leaders or Certified Nurse Educators.

How are students selected for admission into the program?

Selection of students is based on a number of criteria including past academic performance, references, and their admissions essay. The number of spaces in the program is limited. Students not admitted due to lack of space or who do not accept an admission slot must reapply. There is no ongoing waiting list.

When should I apply? When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is March 1. You are strongly encouraged to submit all of your materials at least 2 months prior to the deadline. This will give the Recruiter/Advisor time to notify you if any materials are missing, or if there are any issues with any of the materials, and allow you time to rectify the problem.

Are there any clinical hours required for the program?

MSN students complete a total of 400 clinical hours over the course of the program. MSN/MBA students complete 300 clinical hours.