Master of Science in Nursing Admissions Process
Background Information
For an overview of the MS in Nursing program and options for concentrations, please see the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Fact Sheet linked below.
The MS in Nursing program admits students annually to begin classes in the fall term.
The program is offered in a hybrid format, combining online delivery of most course lessons with a limited number of face-to-face sessions. Face-to-face class sessions may be scheduled at either the San Bernardino or the Palm Desert campus, in an effort to equitably serve graduate students from both the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley.
Clinical practicums are arranged to correspond with practicum learning objectives. Every attempt is made to place students in practicum locations as close as possible to students’ cities of residence. However, practicum placements can only be arranged in agencies and facilities with whom CSUSB has formal affiliation Contracts. The majority of CSUSB’s formal affiliation Contracts are with agencies and facilities located in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
For information about various compliance requirements that must be met by students in the MS in Nursing program, follow this link:
For the schedule of MS in Nursing Informational Sessions, please see the Informational Sessions page.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a CCNE-accredited program, or a regionally-accredited baccalaureate degree in a discipline related to nursing;
- Applicants with non-nursing baccalaureate degrees must meet competencies in health assessment, research, leadership, and community/public health.
- Competency may be verified through completed courses, credit by examination, certification, or documented professional expertise in the subject.
- Applicants are encouraged to discuss options with the Graduate Program Coordinator (contact information below).
- Applicants with non-nursing baccalaureate degrees must meet competencies in health assessment, research, leadership, and community/public health.
- 3.0 (“B”) minimum GPA calculated according to recommended practice of the CSUSB Graduate Council;
- Current California registered nurse (RN) license, unencumbered, unrestricted, with no disciplinary action pending or imposed;
- Three (3) satisfactory letters of professional recommendation*;
- Personal statement;
- Successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course.
The deadline by which all required application materials must be received for Fall 2023 admission is June 1, 2024.
Applications open in Cal State Apply on October 1, 2023.
Application Information
To apply please access the Cal State Apply online application system at:
Cal State Apply
The California State University has prepared a tutorial on using the Cal State Apply system. To find the tutorial, follow this link:
Cal State Apply Application Tutorial
The CSUSB Office of Graduate studies also provides information on how to use the Cal State Apply system when applying for a graduate program. Find the information at this link:
Graduate Studies – How to Apply
*Three letters of professional reference are required as part of the application to the MS in Nursing program. When requesting a professional letter of reference, advise your prospective references to write a narrative:
- describing how long they have known you and in what capacity;
- describing the behaviors they have observed that attest to your nursing professional and/or academic competence.
Additional Information
For more information, please contact one of our MSN Program Coordinators:
Dr.Cheryl Brandt, MSN Program Co-Coordinator
Email: cheryl.brandt@csusb.edu
Dr. Anne Lama, MSN Program Co-Coordinator
Email: alama@csusb.edu