Program Requirements
- What are the admissions requirements for the program?
- The admission requirements for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program, and the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) can be found here.
- What prerequisite courses are required for entry into the program?
- Undergraduate statistics and basic health assessment courses are required to be considered for entry into the program.
- Do I have to be a registered nurse to gain entry into the program?
- Yes, all applicants must have an unencumbered New York State Registered Nurse license./dd>
- If I meet all the admission requirements, am I assured admission into the program?
- Meeting all of the admission requirements means that you may be eligible for an admission interview. Your application will be considered in competition with others for a seat in the program.
- Do I need to have a bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible for entry into the program?
- A Bachelor of Science with a major in nursing from an accredited institution is required.
- Am I required to take the GRE to be considered for admittance into the program?
- We are not requiring applicants to take the GRE to be considered for the program.
All applicants are required to conduct a Pre-admission interview through the CASPer™ exam. CASPer™, a 90-minute online situational judgment test, serves to further enhance our holistic application review process by assessing non-cognitive skills and identifying personal attributes such as ethics, empathy, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, resiliency, and adaptability. CASPer™ test results are only valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have taken the test in previous years will need to re-take the exam.
Application
- How can I apply?
- Applicants can apply through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS) which can be found here.
- Is there an application fee?
- An application fee is required when applying.
- How many letters of recommendation do I need? From whom? Where can I submit them?
- Applicants will be asked to submit a total of three letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a current employer. The additional two letters may be from a person whom can attest to the professional work of the applicant. For applicants who have graduated in the last five years, a letter from a faculty member would also be acceptable as one of the additional letters. All letters will be submitted electronically through the online application system.
- May I submit more than the required amount of letters?
- Unfortunately, we will not consider more than the required number of letters./dd>
- Where do I send my transcripts?
- Official copies of your transcripts should be sent to NursingCAS.
- Do I have to be a Northwell employee to apply?
- You do not need to be an employee of Northwell Health to apply to the MS program.
- What is the deadline for applying?
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for the fall semester./dd>
- Am I guaranteed admission into the program if I am an employee of Northwell Health?
- Being an employee of Northwell does not guarantee admission into the MS program.
- Can I apply to both tracks?
- Yes, if you meet the required clinical experience in more than one area, you can apply to more than one program, and pay the application fee for each.
MS Program
- What graduate nursing programs do you offer?
- We offer a Master of Science degree with a major in Nursing, with a concentration in either Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
- Is there a waiting list for the program?
- Qualified applicants who have successfully completed the admission interview process, and are not accepted into the MS program will be placed on the waiting list in case a seat becomes available.
- Can students work while in the MS program?
- Students may work while in the MS program, but are made aware of the curriculum’s rigorous schedule and workload, particularly during the second and third years while completing clinical hours.
- How many credits are in the program?
- There are a total of 51 required credits for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner tracks, and a total of 48 required credits for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track.
- What is the length of the program?
- The program consists of three years of part-time study.
- When do classes begin?
- The first day of the fall semester can be found here. Mandatory Orientation will be held for two days in August.
- Is the program accredited?
- The Master of Science programs with a major in Nursing are accredited by the New York State Board of Regents. The master's degree program in Nursing at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C., 20001, 202-887-6791. For more information about types of nursing program accreditation, please visit http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/agencies.aspx.
- Does the program offer online courses?
- The MS program at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies does not offer solely online courses, as we hold great importance on the physical interaction of the nurse practitioner student in the classroom.
- Do I have to choose a specific track prior to applying to the MS program?
- Students are required to choose their track prior to admission into the MS program.
- Do clinical hours start in the first semester?
- Clinical hours begin in the fall semester of year two and are generally evenly divided between the fall and spring semesters in years two and three.
- How many credits are required per semester?
- The semester hours vary but are less than 9 per semester. The total required semester hours for the program are 48-51.
- Will there be a point person from the faculty for questions regarding pre-work, assignments, etc.?
- There will always be faculty available for questions and support throughout the program.
Other
- Where is the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies located?
- The school is located in Hagedorn Hall on the Hofstra campus.
- What must I do if I’m accepted?
- Once you are accepted into the program, you will be asked to send in payment for a professional background check and a deposit to confirm your commitment to the program.
- Who can a prospective nursing student contact for additional questions?
- For any additional questions, please contact Hofstra University's Office of Graduate Admission at 516-463-4723.
- Is financial assistance available?
- For more information on financial aid programs and resources, please visit Student Financial Services.
- Can I be a part-time student?
- Yes, the graduate nursing program is a part-time program.
- What does a typical day look like?
- Part-time study will consist of on-campus seminars, pre-class work, Blackboard assignments and discussions, simulation, clinical skills, structure lab, and case-based learning.
- How do I properly search for nursing courses?
- When searching for the graduate nursing courses, please use the prefix of "NUR" or type "Nursing".
- Are transfer students from other nurse practitioner programs accepted?
- At this time, transfer students are not accepted because our learning environment is so unique.