Application Process

• Masters of Science

  Admissions Process: The admissions process requires several steps. Only complete applications are reviewed and scored.

  For admission to the UAA Master of Science in Nursing program: 

  1. Complete the UAA Graduate School online application. Remember to monitor the application portal to make sure all requested transcripts are received and all requested references are uploaded. Only completed applications submitted on or prior to the deadline will be considered. As part of the application process, applicants will be asked to: 

  • • Upload their resumè (follow the provided Resumè Instructions)
    • Provide three names/emails of individuals willing to provide a professional reference
    • Upload a copy of your RN license
      
      

  2.  Apply to the UAA School of Nursing MS program through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS). Applicants are required to complete a writing sample which is submitted to NursingCAS. Information about the topic, formatting and length are outlined in NursingCAS. Applicants are also required to upload their resume/CV. For more information, please visit How to Apply through NursingCAS - Graduate.

  3. Kira Assessment. Once the application has been approved in NursingCAS, applicants complete an asynchronous, timed interview using the Kira Assessment platform. This assesses verbal communication skills and overall articulation of fit for role and program. The Kira Assessment consists of six interview questions. Directions and the opportunity to practice using the KIRA system are provided upon Kira login.
     
     The School of Nursing Graduate Admissions committee review and rank all complete applications of those applicants that meet the minimum requirements for admission.  Applicants are ranked based on their undergraduate nursing GPA,  Kira asynchronous interview, resume/CV, and writing sample. Due to the competitive nature of admissions, an additional live interview may be required. The highest-ranking students are admitted to the program. 
• Graduate Certificate

  Admissions Process: The admissions process requires several steps. Only complete applications are reviewed and scored.

  For admission to the UAA School of Nursing Graduate Certificate program: 

  1. Complete the UAA Graduate School online application. Remember to monitor the application portal to make sure all requested transcripts are received and all requested references are uploaded. Only completed applications submitted on or prior to the deadline will be considered. As part of the application process, applicants will be asked to: 

  • • Upload their resumè (follow the provided Resumè Instructions)
    • Provide three names/emails of individuals willing to provide a professional reference
    • Upload a copy of your RN license
      
      

  2.  Apply to the UAA School of Nursing MS program through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS). Applicants are required to complete a writing sample which is submitted to NursingCAS. Information about the topic, formatting and length are outlined in NursingCAS. Applicants are also required to upload their resume/CV. For more information, please visit How to Apply through NursingCAS - Graduate.

  3. Kira Assessment. Once the application has been approved in NursingCAS, applicants complete an asynchronous, timed interview using the Kira Assessment platform. This assesses verbal communication skills and overall articulation of fit for role and program. The Kira Assessment consists of six interview questions. Directions and the opportunity to practice using the KIRA system are provided upon Kira login.
     
     The School of Nursing Graduate Admissions committee review and rank all complete applications of those applicants that meet the minimum requirements for admission.  Applicants are ranked based on their undergraduate nursing GPA,  Kira asynchronous interview, resume/CV, and writing sample. Due to the competitive nature of admissions, an additional live interview may be required. The highest-ranking students are admitted to the program. 
• Post-Masters DNP

  Admissions Process: The admissions process requires several steps. The admissions process requires several steps. Only complete applications are reviewed and scored.

  For admission to the Post-Master's DNP program: 

  1. Complete the UAA Graduate School online application. Remember to monitor the application portal to make sure all requested transcripts are received and all requested references are uploaded. Only completed applications submitted on or prior to the deadline will be considered. As part of the application process, applicants will be asked to: 

  • • Upload their resumè (follow the provided Resumè Instructions)
    • Provide three names/emails of individuals willing to provide a professional reference
    • Upload a copy of your RN license
      
      

  2.  Apply to the UAA School of Nursing DNP program through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS). Applicants are required to complete a writing sample which is submitted to NursingCAS. Information about the topic, formatting and length are outlined in NursingCAS. Applicants are also required to upload their resume/CV. For more information, please visit How to Apply through NursingCAS - Graduate.

  3. Kira Assessment. Once the application has been approved in NursingCAS, applicants complete an asynchronous, timed interview using the Kira Assessment platform. This assesses verbal communication skills and overall articulation of fit for role and program. The Kira Assessment consists of six interview questions. Directions and the opportunity to practice using the KIRA system are provided upon Kira login.
     
     The School of Nursing Graduate Admissions committee review and rank all complete applications of those applicants that meet the minimum requirements for admission.  Applicants are ranked based on their undergraduate nursing GPA,  Kira asynchronous interview, resume/CV, and writing sample. Due to the competitive nature of admissions, an additional live interview may be required. The highest-ranking students are admitted to the program. 

Admission Requirements

• Masters of Science

  The electronic application requires Master of Science in Nursing Leadership (NLDR), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMH-NP) candidates to submit documentation of the following requirements:

  • Baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited program that is also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
  • Undergraduate (and graduate if applicable) GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
    • A student who does not have a 3.00 undergraduate GPA may substitute their graduate GPA (based on completion of three graduate core courses and earning a 3.00 or higher in each course).
    • Applicants who attended a program that issued Pass/Fail grades for all classes will not be competitive unless there is documentation that a passing grade is equivalent to a 3.0 or better.
  • Minimum grade of 2.00 (C) in an undergraduate or graduate research methods course, and a statistics course that covers descriptive and inferential statistics.
  • Minimum of one year of full-time clinical experience as a registered nurse prior to starting clinical course work.
  • Active unencumbered registered professional nurse (RN) license in the state of Alaska. Out-of-state applicants will need to submit an active license in the state where they reside and will be required to have an Alaska state license prior to the start of clinical coursework.
    • The license must remain active and unencumbered while in the SON graduate program.
    • There are different reasons for a license to be encumbered and some may not preclude admission to the program. Students with encumbered licenses should meet with the SON graduate program chair or Director of the SON to determine program eligibility.

  NOTE: all clinical coursework will be done in the state of Alaska.

• Graduate Certificate

  Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education students must submit documentation of the following requirements:

  • Graduate degree in Nursing (masters or doctoral) from a regionally accredited program that is also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
  • Graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (applicants who attended a program that issued Pass/Fail grades for all classes will not be competitive unless there is documentation that a passing grade is equivalent to a 3.0 or better).
  • An academic plan of study based on a gap analysis which is done with a faculty advisor.

  
  Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate students must submit documentation of the following requirements:

  • Graduate degree in Nursing (masters or doctoral) from a regionally accredited program that is also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
  • Graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (applicants who attended a program that issued Pass/Fail grades for all classes will not be competitive unless there is documentation that a passing grade is equivalent to a 3.0 or better).
  • National certification as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner.
  • Licensed in Alaska as a nurse practitioner in a different field than the one being pursued.
• Post-Masters DNP

  Post-Masters DNP students must submit documentation of the following requirements:

  • Masters degree in nursing from a regionally accredited Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) program. The program must also be accredited by the Accreditation for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 
  • Graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (applicants who attended a program that issued Pass/Fail grades for all classes will not be competitive unless there is documentation that a passing grade is equivalent to a 3.0 or better).
  • National certification as a nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist.
  • Active unencumbered APRN license in the state of Alaska.
  • Currently engaged in practice as an APRN.
  • Graduate level inferential statistics course within the last 5 years. Applicants who do not meet this requirement, must complete NSG A633 Statistics for Advanced Practice while in the program. 
  • Email School of Nursing to set up an advising meeting. Applicants will need to provide an unofficial copy of their master's degree transcripts so a Gap Analysis can be completed. 
  • Complete an interview prior to being admitted to the program.
    

Dates & Deadlines

• Masters of Science

  Masters of Science applicants: Applications open in NursingCAS on November 1, 2024 and the deadline is 8:00 a.m. on February 3, 2025.

• Graduate Certificate

  Graduate Certificate applicants: Applications open in NursingCAS on November 1, 2024 and the deadline is 8:00 a.m. on February 3, 2025. 

• Post-Masters DNP
  Applications open in NursingCAS on November 1, 2024 and the deadline is 8 a.m. on February 3, 2025.

Questions?

• School of Nursing at (907) 786-4550 or uaa_son_grad@alaska.edu.