DNE Admissions

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Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the DNE program you must have the following:

Completed master's degree in nursing 

Applicants may have a Master of Science in nursing from a nursing education program accredited through the CCNE, ACEN, or CNEA. An applicant’s master’s degree must be from an accredited graduate program. Applicants may apply to the DNE program while their master’s degree is still in-progress but must receive the degree by August 1 prior to beginning enrollment.

 Active RN license or APRN certification

• Applicants must have an active, unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state where they practice. Applicants may apply before receiving their RN license, but must be in possession of a current, unencumbered RN license by August 1.
• If an applicant is also certified as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), their national certification must also be active. 

Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last degree earned that is relevant to the program of study

GPAs are reviewed by Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions Office. Applicants whose GPAs fall below 3.0 may still apply and be considered for admission.

Recent 3,500 direct care practice hours as an RN or APRN

• This minimum experience requirement equates to approximately two years of full-time employment. This experience must have occurred within the past five years. Applicants must answer questions about their work experience in the online application, as well as include information about their employment history on their resume/CV. 
• Applicants who may not meet this requirement may still apply and be considered for admission.

Visit this page to learn more about requirements related to vaccines, licenses and other requirements upon admission.

Who We Are Looking For

Your application will be reviewed using a holistic approach, meaning all aspects of who you are as an applicant will be considered. This assessment will include academic preparedness and formative experiences in your professional background, education and life. We are also looking for applicants that demonstrate a preferred set of attributes, experiences and strengths described in the following list. This list is not all-encompassing, but is meant to guide you in what you may wish to highlight in your written application materials and in your recorded online video interview:

• Beginning understanding of the role of a DNE-prepared nurse and the alignment with professional goals for the future. You can review outcomes for the DNE program here.
• Experience with teaching in academia or practice, evidence-based practice (EBP), quality improvement, innovation and scholarship
• Demonstration of leadership, interprofessional collaboration and teamwork
• Evidence of resiliency, ability to overcome obstacles, critical thinking and personal and professional growth
• Diversity of thought, perspective and experience
• Written and oral communication skills, organization of ideas and emotional intelligence
• Overall commitment to nursing education and advancing it forward

 

How to Apply

To apply for the Doctor of Nursing Education program applicants must complete the following prior to the posted deadline:

1. Apply online 

Applicants can complete an application online for the next available cohort at The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions office’s website here. A $60 fee is required at the time of submission of the application.

In the online application, applicants will designate whether they are pursuing the Nursing Professional Development (NPD) track or the Academic Nursing Educator (ANE) track, as well as whether they will attend full-time or part-time.

2. Submit all college transcripts

Applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended at both the undergraduate or graduate levels. This includes transcripts for any post-secondary courses taken during high school or of coursework that appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Transcripts from The Ohio State University do not need to be submitted.

Transcripts should be submitted directly by the sending institution by mail or electronic transfer to be considered official. Please request your transcripts be sent early so they arrive before the deadline. Transcripts can be sent to:

The Ohio State University
Graduate Admissions Office
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004

or

gpadocs@osu.edu

Applicants may upload a copy of an official transcript at the time of application or after by way of the Admissions Uploader. Documents submitted in this manner are considered unofficial, but will suffice for the purposes of application. Web-based documents, online grade reports and related materials are not acceptable. If an applicant is admitted, they will be required to supply official transcripts sent directly from previous institutions.

For details regarding these methods of submitting transcripts, please visit The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions office’s website here. Please direct all transcript related questions to the Graduate and Professional Admissions office at 614-292-9444 or to gpadmissions@osu.edu.
 

3. Current resume/curriculum vitae

An applicant’s resume or curriculum vitae should use a similar format to what would be used for a job application. Applicants should include previous education, professional experiences, community service, volunteer activities, publications, presentations, research and leadership experiences on the resume or CV. The resume/CV should include all activities that contribute to the 3,500 hours of direct patient care as an RN or APRN in the past five years.  Applicants may submit this document at the time of application or after by way of the Admissions Uploader.

4. Purpose and goals statement 

Applicants must upload a purpose and goals statement, including a narrative of professional experience, career goals and match to the goals of DNE education. In this statement, please also address the following prompt:

• Describe a significant problem in academic nursing education or nursing professional development and how you believe a Doctor of Nursing Education (DNE) prepared nurse could solve it. 

The statement should address the above prompt and will act as a demonstration of the applicant’s writing skills to the program faculty. The response is not to exceed two double-spaced pages. Consideration will be given to both the quality of the applicant’s writing and the congruence between the stated goals and those of the program. 

Applicants may submit this document at the time of application or after by way of the Admissions Uploader.

5. Recorded online video interview

Applicants are required to complete a recorded online video interview through an online portal called HireVue, during which applicants are recorded answering a brief selection of questions regarding interests and goals in nursing and the DNE program. This interview can be completed at any time during the application window. However, applicants should only do so after completing and submitting an application. Note: Applicants must complete the recorded online video interview before the application deadline. For further details, instructions and links to the online portal go to the interview. 

6. Three letters of recommendation

Applicants will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of three (3) individuals who can speak to their clinical and leadership abilities. Once the application is submitted, an email will be automatically generated and sent to these recommenders with a link and further instructions on how to submit letters of recommendation. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application far in advance of the deadline so that recommenders have ample time to upload letters of recommendation. 

Letters of recommendation should be submitted from individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s academic ability, professional experience and potential to succeed in graduate studies. Applicants should provide recommenders with information on the applicant’s intended degree and specialty and a copy of the submitted purpose and goals statement. Recommenders should address the applicant’s leadership potential, problem-solving abilities, innovative spirit, recognition of importance of using evidence to inform nursing education in academia or practice settings, and enthusiasm for the specialty of nursing education. Finally, applicants should make recommenders aware of the submission process and the application deadline by which letters must be submitted.

One letter of recommendation is required to be submitted by the applicant’s supervisor, if they are currently employed. 

7. Test of English proficiency – International applicants only

Details regarding what English proficiency tests are acceptable, the scores required and how to submit scores may be found on The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions office’s website here.

8. Supplemental application for current or former Ohio State graduate students

If you are currently or have been previously enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program at The Ohio State University for any length of time, you would be considered a Graduate Intra-University Transfer Student. Be sure to choose the appropriate application for "current or former" Ohio State students after following the apply link found here. In addition to that online application, you must complete a Supplemental Application. This separate application must be submitted to the College of Nursing directly at CON-gradrecords@osu.edu. Choose any of the following options to access this application:

• MS Word Document: Supplemental DNE Application (To download, select "Save")
• PDF: Supplemental DNE Application

Failure to complete all required steps of this application process by 11:59 pm ET on the day of the posted deadline will result in your application not being considered for admission, with no exceptions. 

Most applicants may review the status of their application anytime at appstatus.osu.edu. If you are currently or have been previously enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program at Ohio State for any length of time, you are considered a Graduate Intra-University Transfer and can contact nursing@osu.edu to review application status.

 

Admission Timeline

All required materials listed above must be submitted by the posted application deadline to be considered for admission. Please allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on your application status webpage.

If you applied for Autumn 2025, please review the admissions timeline here. This admissions timeline covers what can be expected throughout the application process, including an anticipated timeline for when admissions decisions will be released and next steps if offered admission.

Applicants are not able to defer admittance. Applicants unable to begin studies in the term to which they applied will be required to reapply in the future.