Admission Requirements and Process

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Teaching: Alternative Licensure - Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2). There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, plus any other institution where undergraduate or graduate coursework was completed and regardless of whether a degree was completed.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Teaching: Alternative Licensure - Elementary Education (Grades 1-6). There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, plus any other institution where undergraduate or graduate coursework was completed and regardless of whether a degree was completed.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Teaching: Alternative Licensure - Middle Level Education (Grades 5-8). There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, plus any other institution where undergraduate or graduate coursework was completed and regardless of whether a degree was completed.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Teaching: Alternative Licensure - Secondary Education (Grades 9-12). There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, plus any other institution where undergraduate or graduate coursework was completed and regardless of whether a degree was completed.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education (Grades 1-6). There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, plus any other institution where undergraduate or graduate coursework was completed and regardless of whether a degree was completed.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Education: Secondary Education. There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, plus any other institution where undergraduate or graduate coursework was completed and regardless of whether a degree was completed.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Special Education. On your application, choose the Not Yet Licensed option if pursuing this program for your initial licensure or choose the Already Licensed option if already have a license for regular ed and now pursuing credential to teach special ed. There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, plus any other institution where undergraduate or graduate coursework was completed and regardless of whether a degree was completed.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Early Childhood Special Education Letter of Approval. There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, initial licensure program institution if different than bachelor degree granting institution, and possibly additional institutions' transcripts if determined necessary after receipt of your application.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

This is the application requirements for the Master of Arts in Education Dual Endorsement LBS I and Bilingual/ESL.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Master of Arts in Education: Dual Endorsement LBS1 and Bilingual/ESL. There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, initial licensure program institution if different than bachelor degree granting institution, and possibly additional institutions' transcripts if determined necessary after receipt of your application.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Graduate Endorsement: ESL/Bilingual. There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, initial licensure program institution if different than bachelor degree granting institution, and possibly additional institutions' transcripts if determined necessary after receipt of your application.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

1. A completed Graduate Student Application for Graduate Endorsement: Special Education - Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS1). There is no application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will reach out to discuss next steps and inform you how to have your official transcripts submitted.
2. Official transcript(s) from bachelor degree granting institution, initial licensure program institution if different than bachelor degree granting institution, and possibly additional institutions' transcripts if determined necessary after receipt of your application.
3. Additional documents may be required as part of the application/admission process. If this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.

Our graduate nursing programs begin once per year (the fall term which begins in August). The application deadline date is typically a date in mid-July, but it may vary and so we strongly encourage you to contact our Office of Graduate Admission for details. Completed applications, however, are reviewed on a rolling basis year-round. As such, the sooner a candidate completes the application process, the sooner the candidate can receive a decision.

For more information about the application process and admission requirements, please select the Admission Requirements tab below or contact the Office of Graduate Admission at graduateadmissionFREESXU or 773-298-3053.

After submitting an application, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will confirm which supplemental documents are required in your case, and provide guidelines and instructions for submitting them.

For more information about program coursework and schedules, contact Dr. Caroline Wilson, director of our graduate nursing programs, at cwilsonFREESXU or 773-298-3724.

Qualified applicants for the MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program must have graduated from an ACEN or CCNE accredited baccalaureate nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a 2.8 GPA or higher may be considered for conditional admission. Applicants will be required to provide the following:

• Graduate Student Application. After submitting an application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will provide you with guidelines for submitting the required supplemental documents. There is no application fee.
• Applications are currently being accepted only from Illinois, northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin.
• A two-day on-campus Intensive is required in the second and third year of FNP program.
• Copy of current nursing licensure from a state or territory of the United States.
• Official transcript(s) sent directly from the Registrar of all colleges, universities and professional schools attended including accredited baccalaureate degree-granting college/university and all graduate level coursework.
• Two recommendations from nursing professionals who can speak to the applicant's clinical abilities. One must come from a supervisor/manager or recent nursing professor, and the other from a nurse practitioner or other MSN-prepared nurse.
• Personal statement.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Applicants may be asked to complete an interview with faculty and/or provide a writing sample.
• At least one year of full-time work experience as a registered nurse.

Qualified applicants for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) post-master's certificate program must have graduated from an ACEN or CCNE accredited master's in nursing program. Applicants will be required to provide the following:

• Graduate Student Application. After submitting an application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will provide you with guidelines for submitting the required supplemental documents. There is no application fee.
• Applications are currently being accepted only from Illinois, northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin.
• A two-day on-campus Intensive is required in the second and third year of FNP program.
• Copy of current nursing licensure from a state or territory of the United States.
• Official transcript(s) sent directly from the registrar of all colleges, universities and professional schools attended, including accredited baccalaureate degree-granting college/university and all graduate-level coursework.
• Two recommendations from nursing professionals who can speak to the applicant's clinical abilities. One must come from a supervisor/manager or recent nursing professor, and the other from a nurse practitioner or other MSN-prepared nurse.
• Personal statement.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Applicants may be asked to complete an interview with faculty and/or provide a writing sample.
• At least one year of full-time work experience as a registered nurse.

Qualified applicants for the MSN: Nurse Educator (NE) program and the Nursing Educator (NE) post-master's certificate program must have graduated from an ACEN or CCNE accredited baccalaureate nursing program and hold a current registered nursing license. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is preferred, but applicants with a GPA less than 3.0 will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Applicants will be required to provide the following:

• Graduate Student Application. After submitting an application, you will receive an automated confirmation email within 24 hours (check your spam). Within several business days, a representative from the Office of Graduate Admission will provide you with guidelines for submitting the required supplemental documents. There is no application fee.
• Copy of current RN nursing licensure from a state or territory of the United States.
• Official transcript(s) sent directly from the registrar of all colleges, universities and professional schools attended including accredited baccalaureate degree-granting college/university and all graduate-level coursework.
• One written recommendation from a nursing professional or recent nursing professor that includes information related to the applicant's potential for success in graduate studies (i.e., written and verbal communication, maturity, ability to work effectively with others, independence, ability to initiate ideas and actions).
• Personal statement.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• At least one year of full-time work experience as a registered nurse.

Request an information packet for any graduate nursing program.

Before beginning courses, applicants must provide all of the following:

• Physical Examination
• Titers
• Tetanus
• Annual TB Screen
• Influenza Immunization
• Current BLS certification for Health Care Providers
• Complete Immunization Record

Additionally, students are required to test negative for drugs in a 12 panel drug screening prior to beginning their clinical experience and as required by clinical agencies. The University and School of Nursing and Health Sciences reserve the right to require random drug screenings based upon reasonable suspicion.

Students are responsible for completing and clearing a criminal background check as a condition of admission to the nursing program and must do so annually thereafter. In addition, all students have an ongoing duty to report any violations of this policy and/or state and/or federal law.

Family Nurse Practitioner Applicants

Your statement should be clear and succinct, double-spaced, 1-2 pages in length and should respond to the following topics:

• How your previous education, experience and professional interests have prepared you to be successful in the FNP program.
• Your professional goals and how completing the FNP track will help you meet your professional goals.
• Your understanding of the primary care nurse practitioner role and your intentions regarding service in primary care practice with underserved populations.

Nurse Educator Applicants

Your statement should be clear and succinct, double-spaced, 1-2 pages in length and should respond to the following topics:

• How your previous education, experience and professional interests have prepared you to undertake a graduate-level nursing leadership/educator program.
• Your rationale for the specialty track to which you are applying.
• Your professional goals upon completion of your MSN or post-master's certificate program.

Students educated outside of the U.S. or the U.S. territories are eligible to apply. However, one year of full-time work experience in the U.S. and a current U.S. nursing license are required. For more information, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 773-298-3053.

The School of Nursing Graduate Admission Recognition and Progression Committee make admission decisions based on the criteria outlined above, as well as the quality of previous coursework and demonstrated potential for a productive career in advanced nursing practice.

Nursing students may request credit transfer for courses completed at other accredited institutions prior to enrollment at Saint Xavier University. Subject to faculty approval, a maximum of six credit hours of non-clinical courses earned elsewhere may be accepted toward completion of graduate degree requirements in nursing. This request must be made formally, in writing, after the student's admission into the graduate program. See the Saint Xavier University graduate academic catalog for further details.