Post-Licensure Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements

  1. Completed Graduate Admission Application
  2. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, or higher from a CCNE or ACEN accredited college or university that holds regional accreditation with official transcripts sent to the MSJ Office of Graduate Admission*
    • A minimum overall GPA of 3.0/4.0 scale or 3.0/4.0 scale from the final 45 hours of undergraduate coursework
  3. Active United States RN license with no restrictions by first certificate class start date
  4. International applicants – TOEFL score (if needed)
  5. One-to-two-page essay with reasons for seeking the post-licensure Nursing Education or Nursing Administration certificate and professional goals
  6. Professional resume
  7. Interview with MSN/DNP Program Director
*Current MSJ BSN students may apply to the certificate programs after successful completion of their junior year in the nursing program. MSJ MSN-MAGELIN students may apply to the certificate programs during their second semester (or equivalent). If the applicant is accepted for certificate program admission before the applicant’s pre-licensure program is complete and an RN license is obtained, the applicant will be admitted on “conditional standing” status until all admission criteria are met. Once met, the applicant will transition to “certificate-seeking” status and may begin certificate classes.

Post-Licensure Graduate Certificate Progression Policy

In order to progress in the MSN program in the Department of Nursing, the student must:

  1. Submit health records as requested if the organization selected for a practicum experience requires health information.
  2. Adhere to the Department of Nursing Code of Professional Conduct Policy as specified in the Nursing Graduate Certificate Student Handbook.
  3. Maintain a current unrestricted United States RN license in your state of practice as a RN and in the state of practicum experiences as required.
  4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program. If the cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 the student will be placed on “academic probation”. A student’s cumulative GPA must be at least a 3.0 after completion of 6 semester hours to be removed from academic probation.

Certificate Completion Requirements

In order to complete the Post-licensure Nursing Graduate Certificate, the following criteria must be met:

  • Earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher
  • Completion of the nursing graduate certificate within 5 years of starting the certificate
  • Earned a minimum of 75% of credits at Mount St. Joseph University
  • Completion of required practicum hours
  • Completion of the Petition for Certificate Review, which demonstrates completion of the nursing graduate certificate requirements.

Certificate Requirements

Nursing Administration Graduate Certificate Requirements (12 credit hours)

NUR 730 Human Resource Management for Nursing Administrators (3)
NUR 731 Strategic Management in Nursing Administration (3)
NUR 733 Finance for Nurse Administrators (3) Includes 10 practicum hours
NUR 734 Nursing Administration Practicum (3) Includes 100 practicum hours

Nursing Education Graduate Certificate Requirements (12 credit hours)

NUR 720 Teaching & Learning Theories and Strategies (3)
NUR 721 Curriculum Development in Nursing Education (3)
NUR 722 Evaluation in Nursing Education (3) Includes 10 practicum hours
NUR 723 Nursing Education Practicum (3) Includes 100 practicum hours

Certificate Outcomes

Upon completion of the Post-Licensure Graduate Nursing Certificate, the learning will be able to: 

1. Provide caring, values-based, ethical leadership as a member of the interprofessional health care team to improve patient and population health outcomes.
2. Promote therapeutic interventions within systems and organizations leading to quality improvement and safety.
3. Analyze current best practices in the specialty area of study through intellectual debate and inquiry and the synthesis of theory and research.