Admission Policies and Procedures

Please Note: May 1 is the priority admission deadline for Fall 2008 semester.

Admission Requirements

The decision regarding admission is made by the Graduate Admission, Recognition and Progression Committee (GARP) on the basis of the criteria below, as well as the quality of previous coursework, and demonstrated potential for a productive career in advanced nursing practice.

  1. A completed application form.
  2. Graduation from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited baccalaureate nursing program with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or better or satisfactory completion of undergraduate requirements within the non-nursing baccalaureate Special Entry Option.
  3. Current licensure as a registered nurse in Illinois.
  4. Two recommendations from recent employers, professors, etc. One must be provided by a registered professional nurse who has observed the applicant’s clinical performance.
  5. Submission of acceptable official scores on the Graduate Record Examination. GRE is waived with a grade point average of 3.2 or better. The MSN/MBA program utilizes the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT).
  6. Applicants may be asked to complete an interview with faculty and/or submission of a writing sample.

Admission Requirements for Post-Master’s Certificate for Family Nurse Practitioner

  1. Completion of the application form and personal statement.
  2. Graduation from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited Master’s in Nursing program.
  3. Two letters of recommendation (recent employers, professors, etc.)
  4. Current licensure as a registered nurse in Illinois.

Admission Requirements for Certificate in Nursing Education

  1. Completion of the application form and personal statement.
  2. Graduation from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited Master’s in Nursing program OR current enrollment in the MSN program at Saint Xavier. (The certificate will not be awarded until completion of the MSN degree.)
  3. Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN) or related field OR current enrollment in the MSN program at Saint Xavier. (The certificate will not be awarded until completion of the MSN degree.)
  4. Two letters of recommendation (recent employers, professors, etc.)
  5. Current licensure as a registered nurse in Illinois.

Probationary Admission Policy

Students may be admitted on probation, when a component of the admission criteria is not satisfactorily met. A student admitted on probation is required to attain a 3.0 nursing grade point average (GPA) at the completion of the first 6 semester hours of nursing course work. If a 3.0 GPA is achieved, and if all admission criteria are met, the student is then admitted with full status. Otherwise, the student does not gain admission to the School of Nursing, but may be eligible for admission to other programs at Saint Xavier University.

Deferred Admission

Applicants who do not meet the published admission criteria, may be asked to enroll as a student-at-large and given “deferred” status until they complete 6 semester hours of required core courses in the graduate nursing program at Saint Xavier University. At that time, the student’s progress will be reviewed and a formal admission decision will be made by GARP. The student must attain a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Qualified Deny

Students may be denied admission for a particular term, because of a lack of available space in their elected track. Students who are denied admission for this reason may be offered the option to elect another track or accelerate or slow a chosen plan of studies based on available space in clinical courses. They may also elect to be placed on the cumulative waiting list for the clinical placement that was their first choice. For such waiting lists, candidates will be ranked based on undergraduate GPA and priority will be given to the highest undergraduate GPA.

Transfer of Credit/Credit Earned as Student-at-Large

Nursing students may request transfer of credit for courses completed at other accredited institutions prior to enrollment at Saint Xavier University. Subject to faculty approval, a maximum of six semester hours earned elsewhere or earned as a student-at-large may be accepted toward completion of graduate degree requirements in nursing. This request must be made formally in writing after the student is admitted into the graduate program. See the Saint Xavier University Graduate Academic Catalog for further details.

For further information, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 773-298-3053 or complete a free online application. You may also request more information by using the SXU online inquiry form or by calling the School of Nursing at 773-298-3700.