Graduate Entry FAQs

No, you will not receive a BSN. Upon completion of the program you will receive a Master of Science in nursing. You will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX licensing exam when all required pre-licensure nursing courses are completed, after six quarters of full-time study.

Although the coursework and clinicals are rigorous, especially in the first and second years, some Graduate Entry students do work part-time, usually no more than 10-15 hours per week. In the third year of study, some students choose to work part-time as registered nurses, though the final year of the program is still full-time requiring about three to four days of clinical and didactic content per week.

No, applicants must pick one specialty area at the time of application. It is also extremely unlikely that students are permitted to switch specialties after admission. If you have an interest in more than one specialty field, consider pursuing a second specialty after graduate through our Post-Master’s Study option.

No, all coursework required for this degree program must be taken as an admitted, degree-seeking student. 

Students who enroll in two graduate degree-granting programs concurrently are called Dual Degree students. Please review this information on the Graduate School website to learn more about the Dual Degree designation.

Dual Degree students must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each degree program. There may be little overlap between the two sets of coursework, which can result in students being required to fully complete the degree requirements for both programs in order to graduate. This can extend time to graduation. Due to the rigorous nature of some of our graduate clinical programs, prospective students interested in a Dual Degree option with the College of Nursing are advised to closely examine the curriculum requirements of our programs before applying. For degree programs with clinical components, it is important to recognize that adjustments to the standard curriculum plan may not be possible.

To learn more about the process for applying as a Dual Degree student, please visit the Graduate School’s website. After you have reviewed this information, please contact the director of the program in which you are interested for further discussion. The director’s name and contact information can be found by visiting the homepage of the program on the college’s website. This discussion should occur before you begin applying in order to gain a better understanding of program requirements. Applicants interested in applying to a College of Nursing graduate program as a Dual Degree student must follow the application process listed on the program admission webpage and adhere to all deadlines. Please email nursing@osu.edu if you have any questions about how to apply.

No, the Graduate Entry Master of Science in Nursing has in-person courses on the Ohio State campus included in its curriculum. 

There is a petition process for students to request to switch to a different specialty. However, the program is not typically able to accommodate changes in specialty due to enrollment capacity, as well as other reasons. Prospective students are encouraged to research the various specialty options prior to applying so that they are confident in their choice of specialty at the time of application. We also offer a graduate nursing specialty quiz to get you started in that research. 

Yes, you will be considered a nurse and can be employed as one. Some students do pursue employment during the second half of the program, however, please keep in mind that the program does continue to run at a full-time pace through graduation. 

Students are strongly encouraged to completed the program by following the established, three-year graduation plan (or five years for the NNP specialty). 

No. Graduate Entry students cannot transfer to the RN to BSN program upon completion of their prelicensure coursework or when they obtain their RN license. Applicants to the RN to BSN program are required to have completed an associate's degree in nursing or nursing diploma in order to be eligible for admission. The Graduate Entry option does not award an associate's degree in nursing or nursing diploma, therefore students are not eligible for the RN to BSN program.

No, all prerequisite coursework must be completed by the application deadline. If any prerequisite course requirements are not complete or are in progress at that deadline, your application will not be considered for admission.