Master of Science (MS) in Nursing Leadership and Strategy in Healthcare

Complete online application at Ohio State’s Graduate and Professional Admissions office website. A $60 fee is required at the time of submission of the application.

In the online application, select:

• Nurse Leadership
• full-time or part-time 

Please note that Spring 2027 will admit for part time only.

Internationally educated applicants can find additional information on Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions website.

You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have previously attended at both the undergraduate and 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. Request that your transcripts be sent early so they arrive before the deadline. Transcripts can be sent to gpadocs@osu.edu or by mail to: 

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

You may upload a copy of an official transcript at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader. Documents submitted in this manner are considered unofficial but will suffice for the purposes of your application. Web based documents, online grade reports and related materials are not acceptable. If you are admitted, you will be required to supply official transcripts sent directly from your previous institution(s). 

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

Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) should be in a similar format as a job application. Include your previous education, professional experiences, community service, volunteer activities, publications, research and leadership experiences. Submit this document at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader.

An opportunity to introduce yourself, to express your interest in advanced nursing practice and to demonstrate your writing skills. Here are some recommended questions to consider and to address when composing your statement: 

• What specifically are your academic and career goals?
• How did you decide to seek graduate education in this specialty area?
• How have your life experiences prepared you for a master’s degree and/or to be an advanced practice nurse in your selected specialty?
• How do you see yourself as a leader and advocate for patients in your future practice setting? 

Your statement should not exceed three pages and use a standard format of single-spaced, 12-point font, with one-inch margins. You may submit this document at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader.

You are required to complete an interview through an online portal called HireVue. You will answer a few questions and your responses will be recorded. This interview can be completed at any time during the application window, however, we ask that you do so only after you have completed and submitted your application. 

You must complete the recorded online video interview before the application deadline. Video details and instructions.

During the application process, you will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of three recommenders. Once the application is submitted, an email will be automatically generated and sent to your recommenders with further instructions on how to submit their letters. We encourage you to submit your application far in advance of the deadline so that your recommenders have ample time to upload their letters. Letters of recommendation should not be mailed, and you may not personally submit letters of recommendation. 

It is suggested that at least two of the three letters of recommendation come from academic sources. We suggest providing your recommenders with information in advance on the degree and specialty to which you are applying and with a copy of your purpose and goals statement. Ask that they address your potential for success in a rigorous graduate program and what attributes and experiences they feel will allow you to excel as an advanced practice nurse in your chosen specialty. Finally, make them aware of the submission process and the application deadline.

If you completed the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree or higher at an institution outside of the United States, you must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation that verifies U.S. degree equivalency and includes a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.

The evaluation must be completed by an approved credential evaluation agency and sent directly to the university by the agency. Our preferred agency is TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International) as TruMerit credential evaluations are also required by the Ohio Board of Nursing for RN licensure. 

You can find additional information on Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions website.

We will also accept evaluations from the following approved agencies:

• World Education Services (WES)
• SpanTran (The Evaluation Company)
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
• International Education Evaluations (IEE)
• Josef Silny & Associates (JS&A)
• International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
• International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)

The course-by-course credential evaluation must include:

• Verification of U.S. degree equivalency
• A list of completed coursework with credit hours and grades
• Calculation of a cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale

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. Choose the appropriate application for "current or former" Ohio State students after starting your application.

In addition to the 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 one to access the supplemental application: 

• MS Word Document: Supplemental Traditional Master’s application
• PDF: Supplemental Traditional Master’s application