Doctor of Nursing Practice

To apply, you must:

• Hold or obtain a master's degree from a college or university approved by a recognized accrediting body before the first day of classes.
• Have a current unencumbered license to practice professional nursing.

International Students

Applicants from countries other than the United States must also meet the admission requirements for international students seeking a graduate degree. Review all admission requirements for international students.

Applicants must submit evidence of English proficiency before UT Tyler grants admission. Applicants whose primary language is not English (the undergraduate degree is from a foreign institution) must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, Pearson Test of English or the International English Language Testing System. The minimum score requirements are as follows:

• 79 TOEFL iBT (internet-based test)
• 550 TOEFL PBT (paper-based test)
• 53 PTE
• 6.5 overall band score and 6.0 in each subsection of the IELTS

Other Admissions Considerations

The university also gives consideration for admission to one or more of the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to their chosen field of study.
• Socioeconomic background.
• Involvement and level of responsibility in extracurricular activities, employment and community service.
• First generation of family to graduate from an undergraduate program.
• Family responsibility or raising children.
• Multilingual proficiency.
• Geographic region of residence.

STEP 1: Apply to the University

All applicants must apply to the university prior to applying to the nursing program. Go to The Graduate School to complete the application.

Current or previous UT Tyler students must complete a new application if applying for a higher level of degree (i.e., BSN to MSN, MSN to PhD, MSN to DNP, MSN to post-master’s certificate).

If you are an online, out-of-state applicant, please be aware of reciprocity agreements that may impact clinical hours: State Authorization.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply?

The application cost is $50 for domestic students; $75 for international students. The fee is nonrefundable and required before your application is processed. Make credit card payments at the time of application by Visa or MasterCard only.

The university waives fees for all UT Tyler alumni. Please select the “Pay by Check” option. The fee is waived once your application is processed. Please do NOT send a check, as no refunds are given.

STEP 2: Submit Official Transcripts

DNP Applicants: Official transcripts for a master's degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree in nursing plus a master's degree in another discipline from accredited institutions. You do not need to submit community or junior college transcripts. UT Tyler transcripts are available from the Registrar's Office; applicants need not forward them. GRE scores, while not required, may be requested by the Admissions Committee.

Transfer Students: You must submit an official letter of good standing from your previous institution’s nursing department stating you are in good standing and eligible to return to their program. To review individual transfer course eligibility, you must also submit course syllabi from the time of enrollment. The maximum allowed transfer credit hours is nine, subject to review for equivalency. Submit both the letter of eligibility and any syllabi to nursing-graduate@uttyler.edu with the subject line: “Transfer Student Application Documents.”

STEP 3: Submit Nursing Documents

DNP Applicants: Please submit documents via the Nursing Application Page:

• A master's degree from a college or university approved by a recognized accrediting body.
• A current license to practice professional nursing.
• A three- to five-page paper describing your area of interest (e.g., advanced clinical practice, administration, education, informatics, etc.), why you want to pursue a DNP degree, the rationale for selecting the UT Tyler DNP program and how it may benefit you professionally. Identify a problem of interest that could be the focus of an evidence-based approach to healthcare issues emphasized in this program, and describe its relevance to current society, stakeholders with whom you would collaborate and rationale for why the problem needs an evidence-based practice change.
• Three academic and/or professional letters of reference; provide your references with the following link: Reference Form. Once your reference submits their form, look for a confirmation email.

The UT Tyler School of Nursing offers programs year-round with multiple start dates. Applications are accepted throughout the year, and prospective students need to be admitted two weeks before the session start date. In case of non-admission by that date, the start date will be deferred to the next session. For inquiries about the application process, please contact an enrollment advisor.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

3 start dates each year - January, May, August

See the current Academic Calendar for exact start dates.

Applicants offered acceptance into a graduate nursing program may be assessed a nonrefundable seat deposit of $200 by the date indicated in the acceptance letter. Failure to pay the deposit results in forfeiture of the acceptance. The university applies the $200 toward the first semester of tuition. Applicants who accept an offer of admission but later decide not to attend forfeit their seat deposit.