Admissions Requirements
Applicants for the Master of Science in Nursing Program (Advanced Generalist and Family Nurse
Practitioner tracks) must meet the following admissions requirements:
1. Submit a non-refundable application fee of $50.00 to cover administrative cost of processing application.
2. Have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing or closely related field from an accredited institution recognized by the United States Department of Education for admission to the MSN curriculum. Students with a Bachelor of Science degree in a field other than Nursing will be required to verify course work or experience in undergraduate research, leadership/management, and public/community health. If course work is required, the student may be admitted to the program, but must complete the additional course requirements before starting the MSN core courses.
3. Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions recognized by the United States Department of Education. A bachelor’s degree from a professionally accredited nursing program is required. Nurses who have received a bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution in another discipline are eligible to apply. An undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher is required.
4. Applicants with an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.7 to 2.99 may be considered for admission on probation, but must achieve a B (3.0) or better in the first 9 credits in the program to be removed from probation.
Note: Applicants submitting non-U.S. or non-English transcripts should refer to the International Admissions section of the catalog.
5. Provide proof of current unobstructed professional licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States**
6. Completion of an introductory Statistics course with a grade of “C” or better, equivalent to MATH 211 (Applied Statistics).
7. English proficiency for all applicants whose first language is not English will be required to either complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) http://www.toefl.org, or meet one of the criteria shown below. Note: The minimum overall TOEFL score is 84 (internet-based test); 24 is the minimum score in the speaking section, and 24 is the minimum score in the writing section. Consult with Nursing and Student Affairs for any questions on TOEFL examinations and scoring.
West Coast University will also consider proof of English Proficiency established if official documentation of one of the following is provided:
a. Graduation from an accredited U.S./international high school program where English is the primary language of instruction and examination, achieving a minimum GPA of 3.0 in a
minimum of three English courses.
b. Within the last five years, successfully completed at least three years of instruction from an accredited U.S./international high school where English is the primary language of instruction and examination, including three years of English (not ESL) courses with a grade of “B” or higher.
c. Within the last three years, successfully completed at least two years of full-time coursework at the post-secondary level (accredited college or University) where English is the primary language of instruction and examination, including two English courses (one course must be a 200 level course or higher) with a grade of “B” or higher.
d. Minimum university ACT composite score with a minimum English score of 20.
e. Minimum university SAT composite score with a minimum Critical Reading score of 525.
f. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination (academic modules) taken within the last twelve months, results must be sent by paper to the University campus Registrar office, with a score of 6.5 of better."
8. A minimum of one year documented and university-verified work experience as a registered nurse is desirable for the MSN Advanced Generalist track. Students in the Family Nurse Practitioner track must have completed a minimum of one year of direct patient care nursing experience within the past 2 years.
Admissions Requirements (MSN-FNP only)
In addition to meeting the admissions requirements above, applicants to the Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner track must also meet the following admissions requirements:
1. Recommendation for admission following an interview with the Nursing Dean and admission committee members. This also includes an on-site hand-written essay evaluation. Past academic performance and professional activity will be evaluated, e.g., community, organizational, and volunteer service, and creative professional accomplishments. These qualifications will be evaluated using a rubric in order to determine the applicant’s level of qualification.
2. Applications are expected to be complete and submitted 60 days prior to the first day of instruction. Applications received after the application deadline will be considered for admission on a space available basis.