Colleges and Schools

Admissions Requirements

The North Park Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing program is academically rigorous and offers outstanding clinical experiences. Admission is selective and not all students who apply are admitted, even by meeting all requirements.

The Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) at North Park University is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in another academic major. Students can apply to the program through NursingCAS, the centralized application for nursing programs. Application fee waivers are available for those who qualify.

To apply, you will need to meet the following requirements:

      • Non-nursing baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
      • Transcripts must show completion of the following prerequisite courses within the past seven years:
        • Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs
        • Microbiology with lab
        • Chemistry with lab
        • Psychology
        • Human Growth and Development
        • Statistics
        • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for prerequisite courses; science courses must have a grade of “C” or better; non-science courses must have a grade of “C-“ or better; no “D”s, “F”s, and no more than one “W” (withdrawal).
      • Provide proof of Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider certification from the American Heart Association only.
      • Submit a 500–800-word essay addressing the following (via NursingCAS):
        • Why do you want to pursue a master’s degree in nursing at North Park University?
        • Discuss your ability to manage an accelerated rigorous curriculum.
        • How will this program further your professional goals?
      • Professional résumé
      • Two references—recommender can be a recent professor, work supervisor, or professional colleague, and should address the student’s ability to perform graduate work successfully and their work ethic; no personal, friend, or family references will be accepted.
      • Due to the high-level language competency required in nursing, international applicants** must possess proficiency in English at a level to enable them to succeed in graduate-level studies. All international applicants for the DEMSN program are required to submit results from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET).
        • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A minimum score of 100 is required. The expected breakdown is as follows: Reading 26, Listening 26, Speaking 25, Writing 25.
        • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A minimum combined score of 7.0 is required with each subsection score of at least 7.0.
        • Duolingo English Test (DET): A minimum score of 125 is required.
        • **International applicants include those with English as an additional language and/or an applicant with a permanent resident card.
        • North Park University will not be issuing I-20s for the DEMSN program.

Applicants may be invited for an interview. Before enrolling in the program, accepted students must complete all required immunizations, health screenings, drug screenings, and background checks for clinical clearance.

Visit the NursingCAS application to apply or request more information and speak with an admissions counselor to discover if North Park’s DEMSN program is right for you.

Apply now