RN to MSN Admission

Admission Process

When applying to the university, RN to MSN students must complete the undergraduate admissions application. Application form, official transcripts, and questions regarding admission to the university should be directed to

Undergraduate Admissions
East Carolina University
106 Whichard Building
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
Telephone: 252-328-6640

East Carolina University admissions procedures, including an online application, are located at ECU Admissions. The admission process may take several months, so the process should be initiated early. Students cannot be admitted to RN/BSN Studies without admission to the university.

The RN to MSN application should be submitted no later than February 1 for fall semester admission and September 1 for spring semester admission.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the RN to MSN option will be evaluated using the following university and College of Nursing criteria:

• Associate degree or diploma in nursing from an approved nursing program
• Current, unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in North Carolina (International applicants must validate credentials with the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools before applying for RN licensure.) or NCSBN - compact state
• Acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - (850 or higher) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) -  (386 or higher) within the past five years.
  (For Greenville students: the GRE may be taken locally through Prometric Testing Center at 252-756-0342. For information on the MAT, please visit the ECU Testing Center or call 252-328-6811.)
• One year of experience as a registered nurse
• Minimum requirements as specified in the current undergraduate catalog
• Minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Minimum nursing grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Grade of C or higher in all mathematics and science courses
• Satisfactory completion of all pre-requisite general education and cognate courses
• A two-page statement describing the applicant's interest in graduate study, career goals, and the MSN degree's relationship to those goals
• Three professional references
• A personal interview with the Director of RN/BSN Studies and a member of the College of Nursing graduate faculty

Applicants for specific concentrations within the graduate program must also meet any additional criteria for the concentration. A course in statistics and an undergraduate course in nursing research are prerequisite for all MSN concentrations in nursing. A course in basic accounting is a prerequisite for the Clinical Services Administration concentration.

Pre-requisites

Prior to admission to the RN to BSN option, the following general education and cognate courses must be completed:

• English Composition (two semesters)
• Chemistry - General, Organic, and Biochemistry (two semesters)
• Anatomy and Physiology (two semesters)
• College Algebra
• Microbiology
• Introduction to Sociology
• Introductory Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Nutrition
• Introduction to Computer Literacy
• Statistics (Mathematics or Psychology)
• Health
• Physical Activity and Fitness
• Social Science Elective - at least one course in Anthropology, Communication, Economics, Geography, History, or Political Science
• Humanities and Fine Arts Electives (ten semester hours) - at least one course from the humanities area and one course from the fine arts area. Humanities include ethics, literature, philosophy, and religion. Ethics is a required course for RN to BSN students. Fine arts courses include art, dance, music, speech and theater.

The prerequisite courses can be taken at ECU, a community college, or other college or university. Generally, academic credits from other accredited institutions are accepted by ECU if a grade of C or higher is earned. There is no time limit for acceptance of academic credits. Advanced placement, credit by examination, and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) are other ways to meet these requirements.

The Director of RN/BSN Studies will assist each student to plan an individual program of study prior to and during enrollment at the university.