Application Deadlines
Fall Semester
Applications Open: August 15
Deadline: March 15
Application Requirements
- Applicants are required to have:
- a bachelor’s degree in nursing, OR
- a bachelor’s degree in another field AND a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- GRE is not required
- Successful completion of a general statistics course
- Favorable recommendations regarding practice and potential for graduate work in nursing
- Students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license in each state or United States territory where practice or clinical experiences occur.
- Written goal statement congruent with program’s philosophy and focus
- Completion of a written interview
- Minimum of 1 year of nursing practice preferred
Program Requirements
Required Coursework
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 523 | Nursing Education: Curriculum Design | 3 |
| NURS 521 | Nursing Education: Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| NURS 533 | Nursing Education: Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 |
Total Required Credits – 9
Optional Coursework
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 585 | Nursing Education: Faculty Role Practicum* | 3 |
* In addition to the three theory courses, students accepted in the HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) must also take NURS 585: Faculty Role Practicum to fulfill their practicum requirement. All other students may opt to take NURS 585 for practicum experiences and may repeat the course in order to develop further teaching competency.
Please note that transfer courses will not count towards certificate completion (i.e. if you transferred in a course that fulfills NURS 523, you will still have to take NURS 523 for the certificate).
Program Outcomes
- Students will have gained an overall perspective on course development and learning evaluation strategies.
- Students will develop skills in the use of educational tools and learning management systems.
- Students will be able to apply pedagogical and educational theories to course and curriculum development that are in line with diverse cultural backgrounds and learning needs.
- Student will be able to integrate program and course competencies with processes that are required by accreditation agencies and state regulatory requirements.
Paying for the Program
What does it cost to attend the program?
Visit the WSU Student Financial Services website for information on tuition and expenses at the program and campus level.
How much does it cost to apply?
Nursing CAS itself will cost approximately $80. Official transcripts from everywhere you have attended will be required as well.
What support can I get with financial aid?
Please see our Financial Aid page for information on scholarships.
What is the Border Bill as it relates to WSU?
The State of Washington’s Border Bill is a program that allows Oregon residents who live in specified counties to attend WSU Vancouver and/or WSU Tri-Cities part-time (8 credits or less per semester) and pay resident tuition rates for the courses taken through these 2 WSU campuses ONLY. More information is below after the pricing table.
What is the WRGP program as it relates to WSU?
The DNP program is now part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) which allows students living in a 16-state region to utilize in-state tuition. There are some criteria to be aware of for utilizing the WRGP: Students must be full time for WSU standards, taking at least 10 credits per Fall and Spring term (this does not apply to summer term – there is no out-of-state tuition charge for summer term). More information is below after the pricing table.
| Item | *Amount | Expense Occurs | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Service & Activities Fee included in tuition with slight campus variation) | Varies | Beginning of each semester | See tuition link for up-to-date details. Note that some campuses may have additional fees as well on top of tuition. |
| Books | Coming Soon | Throughout program | Coming Soon |
Course and Program Fees | Coming Soon | Throughout program | Coming Soon |
| Immunization and Onboarding requirements | $15: liability insurance $140: CastleBranch Account Varies: Immunizations | Required prior to first semester | Some immunizations are also required annually, and pricing will vary depending on individual health plan. |
| Health Fee (Spokane and Yakima students) | $100 | Beginning of each semester | Charged to students enrolled for seven or more credit hours in Fall and Spring, and 1 or more in Summer. Tri-Cities & Vancouver students are not charged this campus fee. |
| Personal budgeting | Computer needs | If you do not already have a computer, one option is this agreement between WSU and Dell. |
I live in Oregon. Am I eligible for in-state tuition, or do I have to pay non-resident rates?
There are two options for Oregon residents to qualify for in-state tuition while completing a graduate nursing program.
The Border Bill may be an option for Oregon residents in “bordering counties” attending either the Tri-Cities or Vancouver campuses. The state of Washington’s Border Bill allows Oregon residents who live in specified counties to attend WSU Vancouver and/or WSU Tri-Cities (8 credits or less per semester) and pay resident tuition rates for the courses taken through these two WSU campuses only. Please note that most graduate programs have semesters above the eight credit Border Bill limit, whereby a student will be required to pay out-of-state tuition for all credits in those semesters.
Full-time students enrolled in 9+ credits for Fall and Spring may inquire about the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). This program is only available to incoming graduate students and they are selected prior to starting the degree program.
For further information, we encourage you to contact a graduate advisor. Additional border bill information can be found below.
AACN Fee Waivers
- The applicant can only qualify based on either income or service.
- The applicant is only able to apply for one fee waiver per application cycle.
- The waiver counts only for the applicant’s first application, if the applicant completes applications for additional schools and/or programs, they must pay the fees associated with those applications.
- The fee waiver form must be completed before the application is fully submitted.
- The fee waiver form can take up to 10 days to process, so the applicant must keep this timeframe in mind when applying. The application may not be fully submitted until a fee waiver decision has been made. If the decision falls outside the application deadline, the applicant will not be able to submit their application.
- If the waiver is approved, the application must be submitted within 30 days of approval or the waiver will be void.
For more information, including additional qualification requirements and how to apply, please visit the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center Fees and Fee Waiver page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technology & Program Materials
What computer skills and technology are required?
- Microsoft Office – Word and PowerPoint
- Internet and email
- Canvas software (WSU will provide instruction)
- High-speed internet
Where do I get my books?
Order your books from WSU’s Official Campus Bookstore.
- Spokane & Yakima Students – select ‘Spokane’ Campus
- Tri-Cities & Walla Walla Students – select ‘Tri-Cities’ Campus
- Vancouver Students – select ‘Vancouver’ Campus
- All Students – select ‘WSU online‘ for non-nursing electives available online.
Program Advisors
The Washington State University College of Nursing BSN, MN and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K. Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
