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University of Wyoming

Master's Program (MS)
and Post-Master's Certificate Options
Application Packet / Admission Criteria
 

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Mail All Application Materials (unless marked otherwise) to:

University of Wyoming
Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing
ATTN: MS Application Records
Dept. 3065 / 1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, WY  82071

APPLICATION DEADLINES - Updated as of 3/6/2008

  • Nurse Educator

    • February 1 application deadline for following fall admission consideration

  • Family Nurse Practitioner

    • February 1 application deadline for following fall admission consideration

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Adult)

    • February 1 application deadline for following fall admission consideration

Your application packet must be complete by the deadline to be considered by the admissions committees. (Postmarks by the deadline are not considered as meeting the deadline.) The applicant is responsible to make certain that our office is in receipt of all application materials/fees.

APPLICATION PACKET

A Complete Application Packet will include the following items:

  1. UW Graduate School Application & $50 Fee

    Click to link to online application. (both Domestic and International Applications and instructions at this link)

  2. School of Nursing MS Application

    Click for online form or to download.

  3. $30 School of Nursing MS Application Fee (non-refundable)

    1. You will have the opportunity to pay the $30 MS Application Fee when you submit your application online (see #2 above)
      OR
    2. You may pay the application fee now online by clicking HERE
      OR
    3. You may send in your payment ($30 check or money order made payable to Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing) to the address at the top of the page

  4. 3 Recommendation Letters

    (this hyperlink takes you to the UW Graduate School forms web page. Find and click on "Letter of Recommendation" to download the form)

    ... from persons knowledgeable about preparation and/or qualifications for the graduate degree.

    Choose your reference writers carefully. Ideally, one writer should be able to speak to your academic performance, e.g., a faculty member from your undergraduate program.  Another should address your health care experience and clinical skills. This person could be a nursing or medical colleague, and should specifically address your potential for contributing to the nursing profession as an advanced practice nurse. Finally, one reference should speak to your general character (this person should not be a family member).

  5. Statement of Goals

    (see  "Goals Data" section on the School of Nursing Application form)

    • For the EDUC and CERT-NSED Options:
      These program options focus on nursing education as an advanced practice role.  It is designed for nurses who wish to teach undergraduate students in accredited nursing programs.  Take time to write your professional statement outlining your goals, why do you want to become a nurse educator.  Include the contributions you intend to make as a nurse educator and why you are interested in undergraduate nursing education.  Finally, include some personal characteristics that you think will make you an effective nurse educator.

    • For the FNP and CERT-FMNP Options:
      These program options focus on primary care within rural areas. Take time to write your professional statement outlining your goals, why you want to become a nurse practitioner, outlining the contributions you intend to make as a nurse practitioner, and why you are interested in rural health care. Finally, include some personal characteristics that you think will make you an effective family nurse practitioner.

    • For the PMHNP and CERT-PMHN Options:
      These program options focus on primary mental health care within rural areas. Take time to write your professional statement outlining your goals, why you want to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, outlining the contributions you intend to make as a nurse practitioner, and why you are interested in rural health care. Finally, include some personal characteristics that you think will make you an effective psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

  6. Current Résumé

  7. Official Transcripts

    from each individual college/university/school previously attended and currently attending - separate transcripts required even if posted on another school's records

    • Prefer a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 calculated on all credits earned up to receipt of baccalaureate degree.
    • Your bachelor's degree must be from an accredited - Council on Higher Education or equivalent -  institution

    • Your nursing degree must be from a CCNE or NLN accredited program

    SEND OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS TO BOTH THE SCHOOL of NURSING AND UW GRADUATE SCHOOL as follows:

    • Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing
      University of Wyoming
      Department 3065
      1000 E. University Avenue
      Laramie, WY  82071

    • UW Graduate School
      Department 3108
      1000 E. University Avenue
      Laramie, WY  82071

  8. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Results

    We look at these test components from the current GRE general test: Analytical, verbal, and quantitative. (Not required if a previous master's degree has been earned).  Check out the GRE website.

    The UW Graduate School prefers a cumulative score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. The GRE test needs to have been taken within five years of admission.

    Computer-Based Testing: Year-round testing at over 600 test centers around the world. Convenient Scheduling - call 1-800-GRE-CALL. Paper-Based Testing Dates: November and April. Register for paper-based tests online at  http://www.gre.org. Need test preparation material? Call the following toll-free number: 1-800-537-3160 or order on the GRE Web site.

  9. RN Licensure

    • EDUC and CERT-NSED Options: A current, active, unencumbered RN license for the state in which you would be doing your education practicum

    • FNP/CERT-FMNP, PMHNP/CERT-PMHN Programs: A current, active, unencumbered RN license for any state in which you do clinical practice. If you are not from Wyoming, you will need a Wyoming license because you will come to campus at times to work with faculty in their clinical placements. Information about licensure in Wyoming is available at the Wyoming State Board of Nursing (307) 777-7601.

  10. Additional Criteria:
    For FNP/CERT-FMNP, PMHNP/CERT-PMHN Applicants:

    • On-campus Interview
      For FNP/CERT-FMNP, PMHNP/CERT-PMHN options ONLY.
      (Applicants will be notified regarding interview dates).  

    • The interview for the nurse practitioner programs is expounded upon below:
      As part of the admission process for the NP Program options (FNP/CERT-FMNP, PMHNP/CERT-PMHN) at the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, you will participate in an on-campus interview. You will need to come to the UW campus for approximately 2 hours. During this time you will participate in an interview with faculty that will focus on your goals as a prospective nurse practitioner. Following the interview, you will be given a tour of our new facility so that you can see the wonderful learning environment available for students in the program.

      • FNP or CERT-FMNP applicants will be asked to participate in a simulated patient encounter with a “standardized patient” or “SP.” SPs are laypersons that have been trained to role play a specific clinical situation. You will be asked to do a brief interview with the SP, functioning in the RN role, to address their immediate concerns. This will allow the faculty to see your interpersonal skills in action and to see the way in which you approach and organize your care practices. You will have 10 minutes for the encounter. After you are done, you will be asked to answer questions about the case. A computer will be available for you to formulate your answers, or if more comfortable you can hand write your responses. You will have 45 minutes to answer the questions.

  11. Additional Criteria:
    For ADN/Diploma RNs with baccalaureate degree in area other than nursing

    • These students must have evidence of the following UW BSN Courses (available online - check out ONLINE UW to view the course catalogue to see if offered in the upcoming semester) or equivalent courses (submit syllabi for review of transfer equivalency), and have passed the courses with a grade of "C" or better:

      • NURS 3010 - Introduction to Higher Education in Nursing - 3 credits
        (This course is offered online spring, summer and fall semesters. See last bullet of this step #11 for information on registering.)

      • NURS 3020 - Cultural Diversity in Family Health Care - 3 credits
        (This course is offered online spring, summer and fall semesters. See last bullet of this step #11 for information on registering.)

      • NURS 4240 or NURS 5060 - Community Health or Epidemiology - 3 credits (This course requirement can be taken concurrently once accepted into program; See last bullet of this step #11 for information on registering, should you wish to take a course prior to official acceptance into the program.) Incidentally, if you are planning to pursue the FNP option, you may want to choose NURS 5060, since that is a required course for the FNP option.

    • Application files that are complete with the exception of these courses may be considered for admission, if documentation of course enrollment is available. Final admission, if offered, would be contingent upon verification of successful completion of the BSN prerequisite courses.

    • How do you register for those courses?  Click HERE.

  12. Additional Criteria:
    For International Applicants:

    Learn more about the services, programs and information that International Student Services offers by going to their website.

  13. Additional Criteria: Physical Requirements

    All graduate nursing students must be able to perform the essential functions of a nurse. Reasonable accommodations will be afforded to disabled student nurses as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A student who can no longer perform the essential functions of a nurse must report that to the School of Nursing Dean and suggest any accommodations that they feel will enable them to perform as a nurse. The School of Nursing Dean will determine if the suggested accommodations are reasonable or if there are any other reasonable accommodations that can be made. If reasonable accommodations can not be made, the student will not be able to remain in the nursing program.

Updated 3/20/2008