Prior to admission to any graduate program at Valdosta State University, applicants must first submit a completed application packet to the Graduate School. A completed application packet includes official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, completed application form, fee, and any additional program requirements (listed below), submitted by the admission deadline. To be considered for the preferred term, all required materials must be received by the Graduate School no later than the close of business on the deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to allow adequate time for document submission and to ensure receipt of documents.

Admission Deadlines

  • Fall Deadline: May 15
  • Spring Deadline September 15

Program Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program, an applicant must have:

  1. graduated from a NLNAC-accredited or CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
  2. a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point scale.
  3. evidence of a valid (current, unencumbered) nursing license.
  4. three letters of recommendation from persons whose observations of the applicant’s character and abilities are current. Letters of recommendation must be accompanied by the required General Graduate Recommendation Form.

Post-Master's Certificate Programs

In addition to the admission criteria listed above, applicants who have a master's degree in Nursing and who have graduated with at least a 3.0 GPA may be admitted to the department's Nurse Practitioner (FNP, AGNP, or FPMHNP) Post-Master's Certificate Program. Because these certification programs utilize past learning experience to satisfy some course requirements, programs of study are highly individualized and tailored to the needs of the students. Therefore, the applicant must meet with the School of Nursing's Graduate Nursing Program Director to complete a gap analysis and design a program of study for post-master's requirements. Out-of-state applicants should become familiar with their state's regulations governing distance accessible programs.

Transfer Credit

Courses considered for transfer must:

  1. be no more than 7 years of age at the time of admission, unless otherwise approved by the program;
  2. be earned at an institution that is regionally accredited;
  3. be graduate-level courses; and
  4. not exceed specific program limitations on total number of hours.

All transfer requests are subject to approval by the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research. 

Program Considerations for Probationary Status

Students must be recommended for Probationary status by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Graduate Faculty. To be reclassified as Regular status, probationary students must, at a minimum, maintain a 3.0 grade point average in the first 9 semester hours of graduate coursework and meet any and all contingencies and conditions set forth by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Program Retention, Dismissal, and Readmission Policies

  1. Students must have documentation of current malpractice insurance of $1,000,000/$3,000,000.
  2. Students must have documentation of current health and accident insurance.
  3. Students must have documentation of current certification in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR.
  4. Students must maintain current, unencumbered nursing license.
  5. Students must provide evidence of current health status:
    1. Current physical examination (by a licensed health care provider) on admission, affirming that they are free from communicable disease and able to function safely in a clinical environment.
    2. Immunizations: Documentation must include but is not limited to MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), tetanus toxoid, varicella titer, hepatitis-B vaccination, and PPD tuberculin test as required by affiliating clinical agencies.
      1. MMR, serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination.
      2. Tetanus toxoid must remain up to date during tenure in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The CDC recommendations for healthcare personnel are utilized by our clinical agencies. Adultswho have completed a primary series of a tetanus/diphtheria-containing product (DTP, DTaP, DT, Td) should receive Td boosters every 10 years. Students younger than age 65 years with direct patient contact should be given a 1-time dose of Tdap, if Td booster is scheduled prior to admission or during tenure in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
      3. Varicella (chickenpox) requires serologic proof of immunity, prior vaccination, or documented history of varicella disease.
      4. Hepatitis-B vaccination or proof of immunity (anti-HBs at least 10 mIU/ml) is required. Students who initiate the recommended series for admission must provide proof of maintaining scheduled 3-dose series (dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2).
      5. PPD (tuberculin skin test) is required annually or proof of a negative chest X-ray (every 5 years).
      6. Influenza vaccine annually is recommended, but not required.
  6. Students may be subject to background check and drug screening at any point during the program.
  7. Students must have a minimum grade of “B” in all nursing courses.
  8. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all graduate courses.
  9. Students receiving two grades of “C” or below (“D,” “F,” “WF,” or “U”) will be dismissed from the program. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission. 
  10. The maximum time allowed for completion of the master’s degree is 5 calendar years. No work completed more than 5 years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the student’s major professor and the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and approval from the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research.
  11. No more than 9 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a master’s-level graduate program. This credit must be documented in the form of an official transcript at the time of admission. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic department. To be eligible, credit must be no more than 7 years old prior to completion of the degree.

Program Graduation Requirements

  1. Students must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.
  2. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination.

Requirements for the Post-Master Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current MSN Degree Holders

Clinical Core
NURS 7200Advanced Health Assessment3
NURS 7200LAdvanced Health Assessment Practicum2
NURS 7230Advanced Pharmacology3
AGNP Coursework
NURS 7330Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I3
NURS 7330LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I: Practicum3
NURS 7350Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II3
NURS 7350LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II Practicum3
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate26
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate505

Requirements for the Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current MSN Degree Holders

Clinical Core
NURS 7200Advanced Health Assessment3
NURS 7200LAdvanced Health Assessment Practicum2
NURS 7230Advanced Pharmacology3
FNP Coursework
NURS 7328Advanced Practice Nursing: Women's Health3
NURS 7328LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Women's Health Practicum2
NURS 7329Advanced Practice Nursing: Pediatrics3
NURS 7329LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Pediatrics Practicum2
NURS 7330Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I3
NURS 7330LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I: Practicum3
NURS 7350Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II3
NURS 7350LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II Practicum3
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate36
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate715

Requirements for the Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

FNP Coursework
NURS 7328Advanced Practice Nursing: Women's Health3
NURS 7328LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Women's Health Practicum2
NURS 7330Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I3
NURS 7330LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I: Practicum3
NURS 7350Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II3
NURS 7350LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II Practicum3
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate23
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate595

Requirements for the Post-Master Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners

FNP Coursework
NURS 7328Advanced Practice Nursing: Women's Health3
NURS 7328LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Women's Health Practicum2
NURS 7329Advanced Practice Nursing: Pediatrics3
NURS 7329LAdvanced Practice Nursing: Pediatrics Practicum2
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate16
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate435

Requirements for the Post-Master Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current MSN Degree Holders

Clinical Core
NURS 7200Advanced Health Assessment3
NURS 7200LAdvanced Health Assessment Practicum2
NURS 7230Advanced Pharmacology3
Family Health Coursework
NURS 7329Advanced Practice Nursing: Pediatrics3
NURS 7330Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I3
NURS 7350Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II3
PMHN Coursework
NURS 7250Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice3
NURS 7252Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan4
NURS 7251Advanced Psychopharmacology2
NURS 7251LAdvanced Psychopharmacology Practicum1
NURS 7348Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7348LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7352Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7352LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate44
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate645

Requirements for the Post-Master Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

Clinical Core
NURS 7200Advanced Health Assessment3
NURS 7200LAdvanced Health Assessment Practicum2
NURS 7230Advanced Pharmacology3
Family Health Coursework
NURS 7330Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health I3
NURS 7350Advanced Practice Nursing: Adult Health II3
PMHN Coursework
NURS 7250Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice3
NURS 7252Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan4
NURS 7251Advanced Psychopharmacology2
NURS 7251LAdvanced Psychopharmacology Practicum1
NURS 7348Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7348LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7352Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7352LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate645

Requirements for the Post-Master Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current Family Nurse Practitioners

PMHN Coursework
NURS 7250Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice3
NURS 7252Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan4
NURS 7251Advanced Psychopharmacology2
NURS 7251LAdvanced Psychopharmacology Practicum1
NURS 7348Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7348LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7352Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7352LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate27
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate645

Requirements for the Post-Master Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Current Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners

Family Health Coursework
NURS 7329Advanced Practice Nursing: Pediatrics3
PMHN Coursework
NURS 7250Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice3
NURS 7252Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan4
NURS 7251Advanced Psychopharmacology2
NURS 7251LAdvanced Psychopharmacology Practicum1
NURS 7348Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7348LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7352Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan3
NURS 7352LAdvanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families and Groups Across the Lifespan Practicum3
NURS 7590Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone6
Total Credit Hours Required for the Certificate30
Total Minimum Clinical Hours Required for the Certificate645