For admission to the Graduate Nursing Program, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Meet general admission standards for graduate education at the University of Saint Francis.
• Hold an associate, baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing.
  • Associate degree graduates apply for the ASN-Graduate Nursing Program track.
  • Baccalaureate degree graduates apply to the Graduate Nursing program.
  • Master’s degree in nursing graduates apply for the Post-Graduate Nursing Program track.
• Hold a current license as a Registered Nurse.
• Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.20 on a four-point scale. (See admission criteria below about provisional admission if GPA is less than 3.20.)
• Submit a resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit three (3) letters of reference from professional and/or academic contacts.
• Complete and submit the USF Graduate Nursing Essay.
• Complete admission interview (Personal Interview).

Prior to admission, it is highly recommended that candidates:

• Have professional experience as a Registered Nurse.
• Complete an undergraduate or graduate statistics course within the past 5 years.
• For nurses applying for an advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) track, complete a minimum of a one-day shadow experience with an APRN working in their planned practice area.
• For nurses applying to a DNP track, investigate topics suitable for a DNP Scholarly Project.

Traditional CASPA Admissions Requirements

Admission to the PA Program is granted through a competitive selection process. Applicants file using the Centralized Application Service for the PA (CASPA) between the dates of May 1 and March 31 for the class beginning the following August. Though students may be accepted into the University of Saint Francis, they are not guaranteed admission into the PA Program.

Faculty score each CASPA-submitted application using a point system. Points are awarded based on the status and type of degree(s) pursued / obtained; the number of credit hours of 300+ level courses previously completed; cumulative overall total GPA and science GPA; type of direct patient care experience and hours of experience; shadowing experiences; personal statement; letters of recommendation; volunteer activities; and extracurricular activities. All applicants who meet the minimum number of points required for an interview are offered an on-ground interview at the University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne campus.

The interview experience consists of a general program welcome by principal faculty and an overview of the 27-month curriculum. Interviewees participate in a mock active learning session, attend a Q&A with current students, and participate in both 1:1 multiple-mini-interviews as well as a longer, more personalized 1:1 interview. A student-led campus tour is an optional feature.

Applicants are awarded a cumulative score upon completion of the interview experience that considers their CASPA scores and scores from the interview (including multiple-mini-interviews and the personalized interview). Scoreable activities are entered in an Excel spreadsheet, along with comments regarding each candidate’s strengths and areas for improvement. At the end of each calendar month, candidates are informed of their acceptance status via the email address provided on the CASPA application or phone. Candidates may be accepted without reservation, accepted with reservations (if there are outstanding pre-requisites), waitlisted, or denied acceptance. Applicants accepted with reservations must complete all outstanding pre-requisites prior to matriculation in August or will forfeit their spot in the program. Waitlisted students are ranked based on their scoreable activities and are offered acceptance into the program based on availability. Students on the waitlist may be offered a seat in the program at any time prior to the start of classes. This process continues until all 25 seats in the cohort are filled.

Accepted applicants are given two weeks to submit a non-refundable $1000.00 deposit to secure their seat in the program. Following matriculation, the deposit is applied to the student’s tuition. Applicants who choose not to pay the deposit within the two-week period and/or do not communicate with the PA Program during this time are considered to have declined the offer of acceptance.

Traditional Admissions Requirements

Each accepted applicant to the PA Program must have all entrance requirements fulfilled at the time of matriculation in August. Successful applicants to the PA Program must meet both general admission criteria for the University of Saint Francis and program-specific requirements (A3.13a-e). The PA program makes student admission decisions in accordance with clearly defined and published practices of the institution and program (A3.14). Minimum requirements for admission to the PA Program include:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States of America or equivalence verification of foreign credentials.
• Completion of the College of Health Science Technical Standards (completed during the interview).
• A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
• A minimum overall science GPA of 3.0.
• Satisfactory completion of 12 semester credit hours in chemistry with a grade of “C” or better; to include courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.
• Satisfactory completion of 15 semester credit hours in biology with a grade of “C” or better; to include courses in human anatomy, physiology (courses can be combined or separate), and microbiology.
• Satisfactory completion of 6 semester credit hours in psychology with a grade of “C” or better.
• Possession of direct patient care experience. The most direct and responsible forms of patient care experience in a compensated position are preferred.
  • Clinical components of the educational experience required for other healthcare professions are considered but will not totally fulfill this requirement.
  • Volunteer activity and/or appropriate life experience will be considered but will not totally fulfill this requirement.
• To participate in clinical experiences, clinical requirements set by the Physician Assistant Studies Program and clinical agencies must be met, including, but not limited to, criminal background checks, drug testing, immunization and health screening.
• Academic placement credit appearing on a college transcript with assigned credits will be accepted toward matriculation into the program. No transfer credit, academic placement credit, or credit by portfolio will be accepted toward graduation from the program (A3.16a-c).

Dual Accept Admissions Track

The PA Program currently offers dual accept status (BS/MS) to highly qualified applicants. Applicants must be undergraduate students currently enrolled as biology majors at the University of Saint Francis. Five seats per cohort are reserved for this track, and admission is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who are to begin their freshmen year of studies at the University of Saint Francis beginning in the Fall of 2021 are the last cohort that may apply for dual accept status. After this time, the current dual accept track into the PA Program will be expired.

Articulation Agreements

The University of Saint Francis PA Program currently maintains articulation agreements with Ohio Northern University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Manchester University. Under the terms of the agreement, two seats are reserved for each program each year. Details regarding each agreement may be shared by request.

Non-Academic Exclusion

Any individual may be denied admission to the PA Program and any student may be dismissed or excluded from the program if it is determined by the responsible administrator that the individual or student does not possess the likely capabilities required of a practicing health care professional or practitioner in the field of that student’s training. This may be based upon the individual’s knowledge, conduct, character, or mental or physical fitness.