Admissions Requirements for Nursing
Every application needs:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts to all post-secondary educational institutions
- Language proficiency
English proficiency is considered essential to providing quality client care. Students for whom English is not their primary language, regardless of US citizenship, are required to submit their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score with their application. The MBU school code is 5397. A minimum score is 570 for the paper-based exam. A minimum score of 89 (DPT program only) or 88 (all other programs) for the internet-based exam. A student may be exempted if they have graduated with a bachelor’s or graduate degree from a four-year accredited U.S. university.
Holistic Application Review
Our mission is to identify individuals who are compassionate while also being dedicated to academic excellence. We consider the wholeness of each candidate rather than disproportionately focusing on any one factor. Therefore, we encourage you to tell us about yourself beyond your academic achievements.
What We Look For
Tell us about your unique attributes/characteristics. Tell us about your experiences, work or volunteer, even if not directly healthcare-related. These factors are part of our review and selection process, just like your GPA. We are looking to create a cohort of students who will make a difference in our program, our community, and as professionals.
Casper Assessment (select programs)
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test (SJT) that helps determine behavioral tendencies of applicants pursuing people-centered professions. To complete Casper visit Acuity Insights to create an account and complete the following assessment (Test: US Professional Health Sciences, CSP-10101) for Mary Baldwin University. A Casper Assessment must be completed in order to be considered for an interview. Early submission is recommended. Duet is not required.
Casper: 90-110 minute online, open-response situational judgment test (SJT)
Program-specific requirements:
Jump to:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
- Nurse Anesthesiology (DNP)
- Post-MSN Doctorate (DNP)
- Post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Certification
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Track (MSN)
- Master of Science in Nursing – Administration & Leadership (MSN)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner Track (DNP)
Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP; hybrid)
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- No GRE/GMAT entrance exam is required.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Personal statement (no more than 500 words) about short-term and long-term goals after completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
- BSN from an accredited CCNE or ACEN School of Nursing.
- Completion of undergraduate or graduate statistics course with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Current unrestricted RN and/or an APRN license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or state participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) or be eligible for licensure in Virginia.
- Current BLS certification.
- A minimum of one year (2080 hours) of current, continuous, acute care experience* as a registered nurse within two years of application is preferred. Orientation hours do not count towards minimum hours.
*Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories, or a US military hospital outside of the United States. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered, provided they can demonstrate competence with managing unstable clients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology.
Nurse Anesthesiology (DNP; hybrid)
- Current unrestricted RN and/or an APRN license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or state participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) or be eligible for licensure in Virginia.
- Earned BSN from an accredited CCNE or ACEN School of Nursing.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for baccalaureate nursing degree and subsequent graduate work.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Personal statement (no more than 500 words) about short term and long-term goals after completion of the Doctor of Nursing practice degree
- Completion of application for admission.
- Official transcripts to all post-secondary educational institutions. Transcripts should include 8 credits of anatomy & physiology with lab, 3 credits of chemistry (The chemistry can be general, organic, or biochemistry), 3-4 credits of microbiology, and 3-4 credits of pharmacology. 3 credits of Statistics undergraduate or graduate.
- Three letters of recommendation from professional references with current knowledge of professional and/or academic skills. One recommendation must be from the applicant’s immediate supervisor.
- Completion of undergraduate or graduate statistics course.
- Current AHA Certification: BLS, ACLS, and PALS.
- Minimum of one year (two years preferred) current, continuous full time or part-time equivalent, critical care experience* as a registered nurse within two years of application.
- Critical care certification with the submission of a score report is required.
- Completion of critical care checklist with clinical supervisor signature.
- Completion of the Casper situational judgment test (Acuity Insights)
- Qualified individuals may be asked for more information and invited for an interview.
Post-MSN Doctorate (DNP; online)
Advanced Practice Nurse Admission Requirements
- Earned MSN from an accredited CCNE or ACEN School of Nursing
- A minimum GPA of 3.0.
- No GRE/GMAT entrance exam is required.
- Current certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse from a US National Certifying Board such as a CNP, CRNA, CNS, or CNM with a minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of full-time experience as an APRN
- Current BLS certification
Non-Advanced Practice Nurse Admission Requirements
- Earned MSN from an accredited CCNE or ACEN School of Nursing
- A minimum GPA of 3.0.
- No GRE/GMAT entrance exam is required.
- Minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of full-time nursing experience.
- Current BLS certification
Post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Certification
Program Director: Sheila Talbott
The Post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Program is a 32-credit hour program designed for Registered Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing offered as a part-time plan of study. The entry to FNP practice post-master certificate offers students a hybrid approach to learning by combining remote, asynchronous and synchronous courses with timely on-campus hands-on learning intensives. In this program students will gain the requirements necessary to be eligible for a National Certification Examination (NCE).
See FNP Main Page for additional FNP academic policies
Admission Requirements
PURPOSE: The purpose of the policy is to describe the criteria for admission to the post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Program.
POLICY APPLIES TO: The policy applies to post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program applicants for admission.
POLICY: Students applying for admission to the post-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program must meet minimum requirements to be considered for acceptance to the program.
PROCEDURE: The following criteria are considered when reviewing all graduate applications for admission:
1. Current unrestricted RN license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or state participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Official transcripts
4. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate Statistics course with a grade of “C” or higher 5. 3.0 GPA or above out of 4.0 scale in all undergraduate and graduate work
6. Minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of current continuous full-time nursing experience as an RN, preferably in acute care
7. Current BLS certification
Note: Due to the competitive nature of the admission process applicants should understand that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. Applicants will be screened, and the most qualified individuals will be invited for an interview.
Department: Nursing
Type: Post-MSN Certificate
Department: Nursing
Type: Certificate
| Item # | Title | Credits | ||||||||
| NUR 620 | ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR THE APRN | 3 | ||||||||
| NUR 704 | ADV PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS | 4 | ||||||||
| NUR 706 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT | 3 | ||||||||
| NUR 824 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING I: PEDIATRIC | 4 | ||||||||
| NUR 825 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING: CLINICAL I | 2 | ||||||||
| NUR 826 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING: CLINICAL II | 2 | ||||||||
| NUR 828 | ADV PRAC NURSE ADULT PRIMARY CARE I | 4 | ||||||||
| NUR 830 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING: CLINICAL III | 2 | ||||||||
| NUR 832 | ADV PRAC NURSE ADULT PRIM CARE II | 4 | ||||||||
| NUR 845 | ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING: ADULT PRIMARY CARE III | 4 | ||||||||
| Total credits: 32 |
Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Track (MSN)
Program Director: Shelia Talbott
The Master of Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Track is a 47-credit hour, BSN to MSN program offered as a full-time plan of study. The entry to practice MSN degree offers students a hybrid approach to learning by combining remote, asynchronous, and synchronous courses with timely on-campus hands-on learning intensives. Students will complete 600 hours of supervised clinical experience in a variety of primary care settings including family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, women’s health, and geriatrics. In this program students will gain the requirements necessary to be eligible for a National Certification Examination (NCE).
Accreditation
The Master of Nursing -Family Nurse Practitioner Track is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Program Mission
The Family Nurse Practitioner Program curriculum prepares advanced practice students to be transformational and innovative nurse leaders who provide culturally competent care and exhibit professionalism, respect, integrity, and legal/ethical standards. The curriculum is designed to provide the student with the skills they need in assessment and management of the patient within the health system to provide safe, evidenced based primary care to individuals throughout their life span.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner Program must meet minimum requirements to be considered for acceptance into the program.
The following criteria are considered when reviewing all graduate applications for admission:
1. Current unrestricted RN license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or state participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
2. Resume or Curriculum Vitae
3. Official transcripts
4. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate statistics course with a grade of “C” or higher 5. 3.0 GPA or above out of 4.0 scale in all undergraduate and graduate work
6. Minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of current continuous full-time nursing experience as an RN, preferably in acute care
7. Current BLS certification
Note: Due to the competitive nature of the admission process, applicants should understand that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. Applicants will be screened, and the most qualified individuals will be invited for an interview.
Department: Nursing
Type: MSN
Core MSN Requirements
| Item # | Title | Credits |
| NUR 501 | ORGANIZATION/SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP (O) | 3 |
| NUR 502 or NUR 800 | 3 | |
| NUR 503 | MANAGING OUTCOMES – INFORMATICS (Q) | 3 |
| NUR 504 or NUR 710 | 3 | |
| NUR 505 | POPULATION HEALTH & COLLABORATION | 3 |
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration
| Item # | Title | Credits |
| NUR 620 | ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR THE APRN | 3 |
| NUR 704 | ADV PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS | 4 |
| NUR 706 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| NUR 824 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING I: PEDIATRIC | 4 |
| NUR 825 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING: CLINICAL I | 2 |
| NUR 826 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING: CLINICAL II | 2 |
| NUR 828 | ADV PRAC NURSE ADULT PRIMARY CARE I | 4 |
| NUR 830 | ADV PRACTICE NURSING: CLINICAL III | 2 |
| NUR 832 | ADV PRAC NURSE ADULT PRIM CARE II | 4 |
| NUR 845 | ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING: ADULT PRIMARY CARE III | 4 |
| Total credits: 47 |
Master of Science in Nursing – Administration & Leadership (MSN)
Program Director: Shelia Talbott
Accreditation Requirements
The Master’s degree program in nursing at Mary Baldwin University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Admission Process for the Master of Science in Nursing Program
Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences will admit new MSN students each August and January. Application deadline for spring: December 1
Application deadline for summer: April 1
Application deadline for fall: August 1
• College Transcripts: A bachelor’s degree in nursing is required from an MBU approved, regionally accredited university prior to enrollment.
• Application: Applications will be accepted online through the Nursing Centralize System (NursingCAS). A Mary Baldwin University application is required.
• Test Scores: No entrance exam is required; however, applicants may submit GMAT or GRE scores if they believe the scores will strengthen their application.
• If English is not your native language, you will be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Mary Baldwin University’s TOEFL institution code is 5397. You do not need to submit scores if you earned an undergraduate or graduate degree at a U.S. college or university
Admission Requirements for the BSN to MSN Program
• Bachelor’s degree from an institution that is regionally accredited and nationally accredited by ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA.
• Current unrestricted RN license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or state participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
• Completed application to Mary Baldwin University
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Official college transcripts
• Completion of undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C” or better
• 3.0 GPA or above out of 4.0 scale in all undergraduate and graduate work
Department: Nursing
Type: MSN
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Nursing Program is a three-semester program that prepares graduates for advanced practice roles in health care. The courses are scheduled based on the principles of sequence, continuity, and integration. This allows for progressive building on knowledge, clinical practice concepts, and research.
| Item # | Title | Credits |
| NUR 501 | ORGANIZATION/SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP (O) | 3 |
| NUR 502 | THEORETICAL FOUND FOR ADV NURSING | 3 |
| NUR 503 | MANAGING OUTCOMES – INFORMATICS (Q) | 3 |
| NUR 504 | POLICY, ETHICS, LEGAL PERSPECTIVES | 3 |
| NUR 505 | POPULATION HEALTH & COLLABORATION | 3 |
| NUR 600 | PRACT/ROLE OF NURSE ADMINISTRATOR | 3 |
| NUR 606 | EPIDEMIOLOGY, VULNERABLE POPULATION | 3 |
| NUR 610 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, PATIENT SAFETY | 3 |
| NUR 612 | TRANSLATIONAL NURSING IN PRACTICE | 3 |
| NUR 715 | TRANSLATION THEORY AND RESEARCH IN NURSING | 3 |
Sample Course Schedule
Based on a full-time, 15-week session model
Semester 1
| Item # | Title | Credits | ||
| NUR 501 | ORGANIZATION/SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP (O) | 3 | ||
| NUR 502 | THEORETICAL FOUND FOR ADV NURSING | 3 | ||
| NUR 504 | POLICY, ETHICS, LEGAL PERSPECTIVES | 3 | ||
| NUR 600 | PRACT/ROLE OF NURSE ADMINISTRATOR | 3 |
Semester 2
| Item # | Title | Credits | ||
| NUR 503 | MANAGING OUTCOMES – INFORMATICS (Q) | 3 | ||
| NUR 505 | POPULATION HEALTH & COLLABORATION | 3 | ||
| NUR 606 | EPIDEMIOLOGY, VULNERABLE POPULATION | 3 |
Semester 3
| Item # | Title | Credits | ||
| NUR 610 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, PATIENT SAFETY | 3 | ||
| NUR 612 | TRANSLATIONAL NURSING IN PRACTICE | 3 | ||
| NUR 715 | TRANSLATION THEORY AND RESEARCH IN NURSING | 3 | ||
| Total credits: 30 |
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner Track (DNP)
Sheila Talbott, Program Director
The Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner Program is a 74-credit hour, BSN to DNP program offered as a full-time or part-time plan of study. The entry to practice DNP degree offers students a hybrid approach to learning by combining remote, asynchronous and synchronous courses with timely oncampus hands-on learning intensives. In this program students will gain the requirements necessary to be eligible for a National Certification Examination (NCE).
See DNP Main Page for additional DNP academic policies
Admission Requirements
PURPOSE: The purpose of the policy is to describe the criteria for admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner Program.
POLICY APPLIES TO: The policy applies to Family Nurse Practitioner program applicants for admission. POLICY: Students applying for admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner Program must meet minimum requirements to be considered for acceptance to the program.
PROCEDURE: The following criteria are considered when reviewing all graduate applications for admission:
1. Current unrestricted RN license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or state participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Official transcripts
4. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate Statistics course with a grade of “C” or higher 5. 3.0 GPA or above out of 4.0 scale in all undergraduate and graduate work
6. Earned BSN from an accredited CCNE or ACEN School of Nursing with a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale 7. Minimum of one year (2,080 hours) of full-time nursing experience, preferably acute care 8. Current BLS certification
Note: Due to the competitive nature of the admission process applicants should understand that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. Applicants will be screened, and the most qualified individuals will be invited for an interview.
Department: Nursing
Type: DNP