Graduate Entry Master of Science in Nursing program
Launch your nursing career with Ohio State’s Graduate Entry Master of Science in Nursing program. Designed for students without a nursing background, this accelerated pathway prepares you to become an advanced practice registered nurse.
What is a graduate entry nursing program?
A graduate entry nursing program allows students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field to transition into professional nursing and earn a Master of Science in Nursing. Ohio State’s graduate entry MSN program combines pre-licensure nursing education with advanced specialty preparation, helping students move efficiently toward advanced nursing practice and leadership roles.
Why Ohio State’s Master of Science in Nursing stands among the nation’s best
Students complete a five-semester pre-licensure curriculum focused on clinical knowledge, patient care and leadership development. After completing the pre-licensure portion of the program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), students continue into Master of Science in Nursing specialty coursework aligned with their career goals.
As one of the nation’s leading academic health centers, Ohio State provides access to nationally recognized nursing faculty, interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse clinical learning environments. Students gain experience through simulation, immersive technologies and real-world healthcare settings that prepare them for the evolving future of nursing practice.
- Hands-on clinical experiences: Learn in hospitals, primary care clinics and community healthcare settings serving diverse patient populations
- Faculty expertise: Study with nationally recognized nursing faculty leading research, education and clinical practice
- Advanced nursing pathways: Continue into specialty coursework and emerging technologies such as extended reality and AI-enhanced learning tools
- Purpose-driven impact: Prepare to improve health outcomes and address complex healthcare needs in communities locally and nationally
At Ohio State, you’ll gain more than a degree. You’ll join a community committed to connection, access and purpose-driven leadership.
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On campus
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96-116 credit hours
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3 years
Graduate Entry Master of Science in Nursing admission requirements
- A non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- If in process of completing your degree, it must be conferred prior to beginning the Graduate Entry program
- International applicants must hold the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. All transcripts must be evaluated course by course by an approved agency to verify equivalency and calculate a GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all college-level work
- GPAs are reviewed by The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions
- Completed all prerequisite coursework with a B- or higher by the application deadline
- All prerequisite courses must be completed before the application deadline. Courses in progress at the deadline will not be considered.
- A grade of B- or higher is required in each course.
- Credit by examination (e.g., AP) is not accepted.
- Lab components may be completed in person or online (Spring 2020 or later).
Required courses:
- Human Anatomy (with lab; all body systems; 3 semester or 5 quarter credits)
- Human Physiology (all body systems; 3 semester or 5 quarter credits)
- Human Nutrition (across the lifespan; includes sociophysiological factors; 3 semester or 5 quarter credits)
- Microbiology (with lab; microorganisms and human interaction; 3 semester or 5 quarter credits)
- Pharmacology (all body systems, drug classifications and their therapeutic uses, drug action; 2 semester or 3 quarter credits)
Prerequisite coursework may be completed at Ohio State during a bachelor’s program or as a non-degree student. To enroll in undergraduate courses outside a degree program, apply as an extended education student by emailing extendeded@osu.edu.
The following Ohio State courses meet prerequisite requirements:
Human Anatomy
- ANATOMY 2220 Human Structure and Function for Engineers
- ANATOMY 2300 Basic Human Anatomy
- ANATOMY 3300 Advanced Human Anatomy for Undergraduates
- EEOB 2510 Human Anatomy
- EEOB 2511 Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
- EEOB 2520 Human Physiology
- PHR 3100 Human Physiology and Disease
- PHYSIO 3101 Human Physiology I and
- PHYSIO 3102 Human Physiology II
- PHYSIO 3200 Human Physiology
Human Nutrition
- HUMNNTR 2210 Science of Human Nutrition (no longer offered, still fulfills requirement)
- HUMNNTR 2310 Fundamentals of Nutrition
- HUMNNTR 2410 Science of Human Nutrition
- MEDDIET 3100 Human Nutrition and Metabolism
- MEDDIET 6300 Evidence Based Topics in Nutrition & Dietetics
Microbiology
- MICRBIO 4000 Basic & Practical Microbiology
- MICRBIO 4100 General Microbiology
Pharmacology
- BIOPHRM 5600 Introduction to General Pharmacology
- HTHRHSC 5510 Pharmacological Aspects of Practice in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- NURSING 2470 Introductory Pharmacology for Nurses
- PHR 2010 Pharmacology: How Drugs Work
- PHR 4000 Molecules to Medicines I: An Integrated Approach to the Pharmaceutical Sciences
- PHR 5010 Fundamentals of Pharmacology
Use Transferology and Ohio State equivalency tools to determine if your coursework meets requirements.
If you cannot find an equivalent course, you may request a course evaluation. You may submit up to three courses to ESUE-gpevaluation@osu.edu. For more than three courses, submit the evaluation request form.
Be prepared to provide:
- Course number and title
- Institution
- Term completed
- Credit hours
- Course description
Course evaluations may take several weeks and may require additional documentation.
Learn more about resolving transfer credit.
There are seven specialties in the Graduate Entry option. One specialty must be selected when you submit your application. This approach enables you to pursue specific areas of interest from the beginning. Then, at the mid-point of the program, you will take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses (RNs). Eligibility for certification in the advanced practice specialty area occurs upon graduation.
We recommend reviewing each of the specialty areas prior to applying. If you have an idea of a few specialties in which you may be interested, pursue volunteer or shadowing opportunities with nearby healthcare facilities where these advanced practice nurses work. Exposure to a specific specialty can help to solidify your decision and can strengthen your application.
Length of program
- 3 years of full-time study, including summers.
Credit hours
- 96 - 116
Educational delivery format
- Mix of online and on-campus classes.
- Most pre-licensure courses are offered on-campus and have both lab and clinical components, while the specialty nursing courses (post-licensure) are offered either on-campus or online.
- Plan to live in the Columbus, Ohio area throughout the program.
- Those pursuing the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialty could live outside of the area after the pre-licensure portion as the master’s courses for these specialties will be completely online.
Post-licensure clinical practicum
- Provides the precepted hours necessary for certification.
- Preceptors are available in Ohio and outside the state.
- Complete three to four semesters of clinical coursework post-licensure depending upon specialty requirements.
Learn more about clinical placement.
Sample schedule
Year 1
Summer
- Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice (2 credits)
- Health Assessment (3 credits)
- Lifespan Development (3 credits)
Autumn
- Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults (7 credits)
- Cultural Competence in Healthcare (3 credits)
- Pathophysiology (5 credits)
Spring
- Nursing Care of Children and their Families (4 credits)
- Nursing Care of Women (4 credits)
- Leadership (3 credits)
- Nursing Policy (2 credits)
Year 2
Summer
- Community Health (4 credits)
- Psychiatric and Mental Health (4 credits)
- Health Promotion, Theory and Population Health (2 credits)
Autumn
- Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults II (8 credits)
- Quality and Safety (1 credit)
- Evidence-based Nursing Scholarship (3 credits)
- Specialty Coursework (2-9 credits)
Spring
- Advanced Health Assessment (3-4 credits)
- Advanced Pharmacology (4 credits)
- Quality Improvement and Informatics (3 credits)
Year 3
Summer
- Clinical Practicum (5-11.5 credits)
- Clinical Reasoning with Diagnostic Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice (2 credits)
Autumn
- Clinical Practicum (7-11.5 credits)
Spring
- Clinical Practicum (8-11.5 credits)
Allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on the application center. You can track the status of your application through your applicant center. Ohio State graduate transfer applicants can track their application status by emailing nursing@osu.edu.
- Deadline
- Submit your application and all required materials by the posted deadline.
- Decision
- Round 1: Late January
- Round 2: Late April
- Most applicants will have a decision posted to their applicant center. All applicants, including Ohio State graduate transfer applicants, will be notified of their admission decision via email.
- Accept
- Round 1: Four weeks post decision
- Round 2: Four weeks post decision
- Your offer will be cancelled if you do not respond by the deadline. You cannot defer admittance. If you are unable to begin your studies in the term to which you applied, you will be required to reapply in the future.
How to apply to the Graduate Entry program
Apply online through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. Pay the $60 application fee at the time of submission.
When completing the online application, select your specialization for the program.
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. Consideration is given to both the quality of your writing and the contributions of your experiences and attributes toward your goals with your program. Experience could include global or community service, leadership, collaboration, experience with the specific population of interest or evidence-based practice projects. Attributes could include evidence of growth, resilience, match with the specialty, ability to appreciate varying perspectives and commitment to nursing. Quality of writing includes proper grammar and spelling with appropriate punctuation.
- What specifically are your academic and career goals?
- How did you decide to seek graduate education in this specialty area?
- How do your attributes and life experiences relate to your potential as a master’s degree prepared nurse and/or advanced practice nurse?
- 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 afterwards on the admissions uploader.
Completed through HireVue. You will answer four brief 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. For further details, instructions and links to the online portal go to the interview.
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 of recommendation. 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 and supervisors are also a good source for recommendations. 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 by which they must submit their letters.
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 Ohio State 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 following the apply link.
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 any of the following options to access this application:
Applicants must submit all application materials by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline to be considered for admission.
Contact
FAQ
Your application will be reviewed on a holistic basis, 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, schooling and life. We are also looking for applicants that demonstrate a preferred set of attributes and strengths described in the following list. This list is not all encompassing, but is meant to help guide you in what you may wish to highlight in your written application materials and in your recorded online video interview:
- A clear understanding of the role of the advanced practice nurse in your chosen specialty and how it aligns with your future career goals
- Previous personal or professional experience with the population of your chosen specialty
- Leadership, and/or ability for teamwork and collaboration
- Community engagement (local or global)
- Diversity of thought, perspective and experiences
- Evidence of the ability to think critically
- Organization of ideas and written and oral communication skills
- Overall commitment to the nursing profession
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, you must pick one specialty area at the time of application. It is also extremely unlikely that you are permitted to switch specialties after admission. If you have an interest in more than one specialty field, consider pursuing a second specialty after you 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. After you have reviewed this information, contact the director of the program in which you are interested for further discussion. 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 for their desired degree program and adhere to all deadlines. Email nursing@osu.edu if you have any questions about how to apply.
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.
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. You are encouraged to research the various specialty options prior to applying so that you're confident in your choice of specialty at the time of application.
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, keep in mind that the program does continue to run at a full-time pace through graduation.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete 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.