Office of Graduate Admissions

A unit of Enrollment Management

Master of Science Majoring in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner

The Master of Science with a major in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner Program prepares experienced registered nurses to sit for national certification as a family nurse practitioner and to qualify for advance practice authorization in the State of Georgia.

• Students may progress full-time through two years of study or at an individualized part-time pace.

• Program is 46 semester credit hours.

•  Classes meet one day per week.

• Clinical courses require 120 clinical hours each semester.

• Full-time cohort begins each summer session.  

•  Application deadline is February 28. 

• Admitted students may request permission to enroll in core courses during an earlier term on a space-available basis with approval of the graduate program coordinator.

For additional program information, call the Department of Nursing (706) 867-2800, or write to the Department of Nursing, MS Program, Family Nurse Practitioner, North Georgia College & State University, Dahlonega, GA  30597.

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions or from the NGCSU website, http://apache.northgeorgia.edu.

• When all application materials required to make an admission decision have been received by the Office of Graduate Admission, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of application materials will be forwarded to the program.

• Notification from the FNP program will be mailed to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

• In some instances, the applicant may be requested to come to Dahlonega for an interview or testing.

• Students who are admitted but do not enroll within one year of acceptance
  must reapply through the Office of Graduate Admissions.

• Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply.  

General Admissions Eligibility

1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited School of Nursing. An individual plan of study may be developed for an RN with a BS in a related fields with MS/FNP coordinator permission.

2. One year post-licensure clinical work experience with US nursing license.

3. Current unencumbered Georgia Registered Nurse license.

General Admissions Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission

1. Graduate Admissions application with FNP supplemental form.

2. Application fee.

3. Two sets of official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended.
   
   International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. Evaluation must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate with a minimum grade point average of at least 2.50.

4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.

5. Three recommendation forms, one must be from a supervisor.

The following documents must be received prior to the first day of the term

1. NGCSU Immunization Certification form, in accordance with Board of Regents policy. Former NGCSU students are required to meet any new immunization requirements.

2. Copy of Georgia Registered Nurse (RN) License.

3. Proof of FNP liability insurance.

4. Accident/Illness Waiver form.

5. Evidence of current CPR certification.

6. Criminal background check form.

7. Department of Nursing Medical form.

Students enrolled in clinical courses who have not submitted the above documentation prior to the first day of the term will not be allowed to attend until documentation has been received.  

Transfer Residency Requirement

To be awarded a Master of Science with a major in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner, students must earn a minimum of 24 hours of graduate degree requirements in residence.

• The program coordinator and the Dean of the School of Science and Health Professions must approve all transfer credit.
   
• Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of less than a B was earned.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission 

1. Baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with NGCSU Graduate Admission procedures.

2. Acceptable score on an entrance test of at least
   
   Miller Analogy Test (MAT) 391
                           OR
   GRE 800 (verbal & quantitative combined)

3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

Requirements for provisional admission

1. Baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with NGCSU Graduate Admission procedures.

2. Acceptable score on an entrance tests of at least
   
    Miller Analogy Test (MAT) 378
                             OR
    GRE 700 (verbal and quantitative combined)

3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

• Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a total of 6-9 hours of graduate credit.

• Provisionally admitted students should schedule an appointment with the program coordinator for individual advisement.

• Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the first term of enrollment or following the completion of 6 hours, whichever is first.

• Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate nursing course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue to in the NGCSU Nursing FNP program.

Non-Degree Admission

Individuals interested in taking graduate nursing courses, but do not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as non-degree graduate students.

• Individuals must receive pre-approval from the nursing program coordinator before enrolling in courses.

• Individuals may register for no more than a total of 6-9 hours of graduate
  credit under non-degree status.

The following documents must be received prior to admission

1. Graduate Admissions application with FNP supplemental application form.

2. $40 application fee.

3. Two sets of official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended.
   
   Official international transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. Evaluation must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate with a minimum grade point average of 2.50.

4. Three recommendation forms.

The following document must be received prior to the first day of the term

1. NGCSU Immunization Certification form, in accordance with Board of Regents' policy. Former NGCSU students are required to meet any new immunization requirements since last attended.

2. Students enrolled in clinical courses will be required to submit additional documentation prior to the first day of the term.

• Non-degree students later wishing to apply for admission to the MS degree program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application, and meet all program admission requirements.

• No more than 9 hours of graduate credit earned while holding a non-degree status may subsequently be applied toward meeting the requirements of the
  MS graduate degree program.

• All credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the program coordinator.

Post-Graduate Non-Degree Admission

Individuals holding a graduate degree from an accredited institution may be admitted as a post-graduate, non-degree student. This admission type is appropriate for individuals interested in taking graduate family nurse practitioner courses, but not wanting to pursue another graduate degree. Students must receive pre-approval from the family nurse practitioner program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of 6-9 hours of graduate credit.

The following documents must be received prior to admission

1. Graduate Admissions application with FNP supplemental application form.
    
2. $40 application fee.
    
3. Two sets of official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended.
   
   International transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. Evaluation must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate with a minimum grade point average of 2.50.
    
4. Three recommendation forms.

The following document must be received prior to the first day of the term

1. NGCSU Immunization Certification form, in accordance with Board of Regents' policy. Former NGCSU students are required to meet any new immunization requirements since last attended.
    
2. Students enrolled in clinical courses will be required to submit additional documentation prior to the first day of the term.

Post-graduate non-degree students wishing to apply for admission to the MS degree program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application, and meet all program admission requirements. No more than 9 hours of graduate credit earned while holding a non-degree status may subsequently be applied toward meeting the requirements of the Master of Science degree program. All credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the program coordinator.

Post Masters Certificate Program (PMC) for FNPs

To receive the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate, students must successfully complete up to 46 credit hours of family nurse practitioner coursework, including all clinical courses plus Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical Assessment if not already taken at the graduate level. An individualized plan of study is developed based on the student’s earned master’s degree.

 

General Admissions Eligibility for Post Master's Certificate for FNPs

1. MSN from an accredited School of Nursing.

2. One year post-licensure clinical work experience in the United States.

3. Current unencumbered Georgia Registered Nurse license.

Admission Requirements for Post-Master's Certificate for FNPs
The following documents must be received prior to admission

1. Graduate Admissions application and supplemental FNP form.
    
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. Transcripts must include certification that the applicant has received a master's degree. 

The following documents must be received prior to the first day of the term

1. NGCSU Immunization Certification form, in accordance with Board of Regents policy. Former NGCSU students are required to meet any new immunization requirements.
    
2. Copy of Georgia Registered Nurse (RN) License.
    
3. Proof of FNP liability insurance.
    
4. Accident/Illness Waiver form.
    
5. Evidence of current CPR certification.
    
6. Criminal background check form.
    
7. Department of Nursing Medical form.

All students who have not submitted all of the above documentation prior to the first day of the term will not be allowed to attend until all documentation has been received.  

Transfer Residency Requirement

To be awarded a Post Masters Certificate for FNPs, students must earn a minimum of 12 hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. The program coordinator and the Dean of the School of Science and Health Professions must approve all transfer credit. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of less than a B was earned.

Transient Student Admission

Individuals currently enrolled at a regionally accredited college or university as  graduate students in good standing may apply to NGCSU as transient students.

Individuals must receive pre-approval from the nursing education program coordinator before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.

The following documents must be received prior to admission

1. Graduate Admissions application with supplemental FNP application form.

2. $40 application fee.

3. NGCSU Immunization Certificate form according to Board of Regents' Policy. Former NGCSU students are required to meet any new immunization requirements.

4. Letter of good standing or Transient Permission Form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or on disciplinary suspension at the home institution.
   
   The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at NGCSU.

Transient admission is for one semester term only. Individuals who wish to return to NGCSU as a transient student for a subsequent term must re-apply to NGCSU.

The NGCSU nursing program coordinator may require the applicant to submit a transcript of previous college work in order to verify adequate prerequisite knowledge/skills.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision.

Appeals must be made in written form to

Department Head of Nursing
Nursing Progression & Retention Committee
Department of Nursing, North Georgia College & State University
Dahlonega, GA  30597

• The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal.
• Students whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally.
• Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.
• Students may not appeal for regular admission.