Pre-Master’s Pathway Admissions

Requirements for Admission

In order to be admitted to the Pre-master’s Pathway, students are required to have completed undergraduate professional nursing courses in leadership, health assessment and concepts/practice in community health. Students may have to submit course syllabi for evaluation. Although the Pre-master’s Pathway does not grant a bachelor’s degree in nursing, it can enable the student to meet the criteria for admission into the graduate program in nursing.

Application Deadline: March 15th  

Applications to the Pre-master’s Pathway will be considered complete when all of the following have been received:

  • completed application via NursingCAS;
  • evidence of unrestricted Massachusetts licensure as a registered nurse;
  • application fee made payable to the University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Nursing;
  • official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended;
  • official report of GRE scores from tests taken within the last five years;
  • three letters of recommendation from people with whom the applicant has been in contact within the last five years. At least one letter of reference must be from a professional nurse who has been recently responsible for evaluating the applicant’s professional nursing practice. One letter of reference must be an academic reference from a person with an advanced degree; the third letter should be a professional letter of reference;
  • a clear personal statement indicating goals of study not to exceed 500 words.  Why are you choosing to pursue a career as an advanced practice in your chosen specialty?
  • applicant must have baccalaureate degree in a field other than nurisng and a degree earned from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better is required.
  • applicant must have an unrestricted Massachusetts license as a registered nurse

Applicants should have:

  • completed an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of C or better;
  • computer competence at the user level;
  • proficiency in reading and writing in the English language. Applicants whose native language is not English must supply their Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) results;
  • completed undergraduate professional nursing courses in nursing leadership, health assessmentand concepts and community health with practicum
  • CPR Certification for Health Providers (BLS) by the American Heart Association.