MS in Nursing - for Non-Nurses with a Baccalaureate Degree - The Options program

Information Sessions about USM Masters in Nursing programs are held on a regular basis

Please note that prior to starting lab and clinical courses, students must have completed the nursing health requirements, including Hepatitis B immunization.

Admission to the M.S. Option Program:

Application deadline: November 1

Admission: Admission to the accelerated MS Option Program in Nursing is open to students holding a Baccalaureate degree or higher in other disciplines. Admission is competitive and limited. This accelerated graduate program requires full-time enrollment in the planned sequence of study. Some scholarship monies are available. Each student's application will be evaluated based on a composite of the following recommended standards.

Admission Requirements: The applicant must:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college.
• Have a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average.

• Test Scores: MAT or GRE taken within five years of application submission:
  
  
  • Miller Analogy Test (MAT) - A score that ranks in the 45th percentile or higher for intended major.
    
    
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) -
    • Taken prior to August 1, 2011 - combined aptitude scores of 1,000 (V.Q.) or higher.
    • Taken after August 1, 2011 - a verbal reasoning score of 153 or higher; a quantitative reasoning score of 147 or higher; and, minimum of 4.0 on the analytic writing sample.
      
      
  • Submission of official TOEFL scores In addition to GRE scores, applicants whose native language is not English must have earned a score of at least 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 79 or higher on the Internet-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test.

• Have two letters of reference.
• Complete an essay reflective of professional goals.
• Current resumé.
• Successfully completed a college/university course in statistics with a minimum grade of B-.

Prior course work that could strengthen an application:

• Microbiology & Lab
• Chemistry & Lab - particularly organic or biochemistry
• Growth & Development - life-span preferred
• Anatomy & Physiology

Prior to entering the first summer of the program:

• Completion of a course in introductory statistics (applied statistics is recommended; including descriptive and inferential statistics) with a grade of B- or above.

Prior to entering the second summer of the program:

• Completion of a course in pathophysiology with a grade of B- or above.
• Completion of a research methods course with a grade of B- or above.

Course Recommendations:

• Completion of a course in Anatomy and Physiology is highly recommended.

The Graduate Admissions Committee will review each individual's undergraduate coursework and make individual prerequisite requirement recommendations if any one or more areas are significantly under represented. (For instance, an individual whose major includes no social sciences may be required to take sociology/psychology courses.)

Graduates who complete this program are eligible to sit for national certification in the advanced practice nursing specialty completed.

Assistantships, Scholarships, and Traineeships:

Research/teaching assistantships, scholarships, and traineeships are available for graduate students. Further information may be obtained by visiting the Graduate Financial Aid page. In addition, you may contact the School of Nursing administrative Office: (207) 780-4131 for information about traineeship grants.

Program Selection Form
Submission of a completed program selection form is required as part of the application process.

Online Application

Paper applications will no longer be accepted except in extenuating circumstances.  If you feel you have an extenuating circumstance, please contact Lisa Sweet, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions (prior to submitting a paper application) at 780-4165 or lsweet@usm.maine.edu

For application information please contact:
Office of Graduate Studies & Research
University of Southern Maine
96 Falmouth Street
PO Box 9300
Portland, ME 04104-9300
Phone: (207) 780-4386

Updated 01/17/12