Graduate Admissions Requirements

Your personal statement should reflect your ability to write at the graduate level and should be no more than 500 words. In addition to providing evidence of appropriate grammar, spelling, form and structure throughout your statement, we ask that you address the following areas:

1. Your professional and personal goals.
2. Your reasons for selecting your chosen graduate program at TESU.
3. How you expect your chosen graduate program to help achieve your goals.
4. How your background and leadership style will enhance the experiences of other students in your chosen graduate program.

Upload Your Personal Statement

Provide our admissions team with an updated, professional resume that reflects your work experience and education in detail.

Upload Your Resume

For admission to our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, you must:

• Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
• Have an active RN license from the United States.

For admission to our Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program, you must have 24 credit hours in the following accounting courses (a minimum of three credit hours per class):

• Financial Accounting
• Intermediate Accounting I
• Intermediate Accounting II
• Auditing I
• Cost Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Federal Taxation I
• Accounting for Municipals and Not-For-Profit Organizations or Accounting Information System

For admission to our Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, you must have completed one undergraduate course in each of the following topics:

• Financial Accounting
• Microeconomics
• Statistics

MBA with Area of Study in Accounting

In addition to the requirements above, you must have 12 credit hours in undergraduate accounting courses. Two of those courses must be equivalent to Intermediate Accounting I and II.

A GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into this program. Students who do not meet the 3.0 threshold may be considered for restricted admission by submitting a resume and personal statement for the consideration of the Heavin School Admissions Committee. Students admitted in a restricted status will be evaluated upon successful completion of six credit hours of graduate coursework in the program with a 3.0 GPA.

Applicants must identify a site supervisor who is a New Jersey standard certified principal or assistant principal and upload the appropriate Site Supervisor Form (PDF) after submitting an application.

Upload Your Document

Each specialization of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program has additional requirements.

Building Leadership Specialization

In addition to the general Master of Arts in Educational Leadership requirements above, the Building Leadership specialization requires three years of successful educational experience under a valid New Jersey (or equivalent out-of-state) instructional, educational services or administrative certificate.

You will be required to provide a statement of your experience as part of your application. In addition, please upload a copy of your certificate after submitting your application.

District Leadership Specialization

In addition to the general Master of Arts in Educational Leadership requirements above, the District Leadership specialization requires:

• Three years of successful educational experience in a public or nonpublic school/district or a regionally accredited higher education setting.
• A valid New Jersey (or equivalent out-of-state) instructional, educational services or administrative certificate (if seeking the principal or supervisor endorsements of this program).

You will be required to provide a statement of your educational experience as part of your application. And, if applicable, please upload a copy of your certificate after submitting your application.

School Business Administration (SBA) Specialization

In addition to the general Master of Arts in Educational Leadership requirements above, the School Business Administration specialization requires relevant professional experience. Certification is not a requirement for this specialization.

Additionally, you must identify a site supervisor who is a New Jersey standard certified principal or assistant principal to complete the SBA-specific Site Supervisor Form (PDF).

For admission to our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, you must:

• Provide an official transcript indicating a bachelor's and master’s degree in business, management, organizational-related studies or a closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Have a graduate GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Have a minimum of three years of organizational leadership, management or equivalent professional experience.
• Undergo an applicant interview.
• Three essays and a current resume are required. You can find the essay questions here: Graduate Admissions Essays & Resume Forms/Uploads (Please select the Doctor of Business Administration as your degree choice and the essay questions will appear)

DBA Start Terms

The DBA program introduces new cohorts twice each year in January and July.

For admission to our Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program, you must:

• Provide an official transcript indicating a bachelor's and master’s degree in business, management, organizational-related studies or a closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Have a graduate GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Have a minimum of three years of organizational leadership, management or equivalent professional experience.
• Undergo an applicant interview.
• Three essays and a current resume are required. You can find the essay questions here: Graduate Admissions Essays & Resume Forms/Uploads (Please select the Doctor of Education as your degree choice and the essay questions will appear).

Ed.D. Start Terms

The Ed.D. program introduces new cohorts twice each year in January and July.

For admission to our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, you must:

• Have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from an institutionally accredited higher education institution and a nationally accredited school of nursing (i.e., accredited by CCNE, CNEA or ACEN)
  -OR-
  Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an institutionally accredited school of nursing and a master's degree in a related discipline from an institutionally accredited higher education institution.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in your completed master’s program.
• Name and contact information for two professional references (educator, supervisor, professional colleague)
• Well-written statement of background and goals and an essay (see instructions below).
• Possess relevant professional work experience (two years recommended).
• Possess an active RN license from the United States.
• Provide a current resume.
• Undergo an applicant interview with the School of Nursing Admissions Committee.

Statements and Essays

As part of your application to the DNP program, you are required to submit a personal statement and a scholarly essay. Read the full instructions (PDF).

• Personal Statement: Provide a statement of your background and future goals.
• Scholarly Essay: Provide a well-written essay based on our prompt.

When complete, upload these documents to your application.

DNP Start Terms

The DNP program introduces new cohorts four times each year. Apply by the outlined date for the term you wish to begin:

• To start in the January term, apply by November 1.
• To start in the April term, apply by February 1.
• To start in the July term, apply by May 1.
• To start in the October term, apply by August 1.

For admission to any graduate certificate program in the TESU School of Nursing, you must:

• Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Possess an active RN license from the United States.

Additionally, an applicant interview may be requested.

If Your GPA is Lower than 3.0

If your graduate GPA is below 3.0, we require the following additional materials as part of your application:

• A current resume.
• A personal statement of background and goals no more than 500 words that addresses the following prompts:
  • Your professional and personal goals.
  • Your reasoning for selecting your chosen program for graduate study.
  • How you expect this program to help you achieve your goals.

These materials, especially your personal statement, will be evaluated and used to determine your admission to a graduate certificate program in the School of Nursing.

View Program information

• Nurse Educator Certificate Program
• Nurse Preceptor Certificate Program
• Nursing Administration Certificate Program
• Nursing Informatics Certificate Program

Applications for the PMHNP program can be submitted at any time but are only reviewed during application cycles. Applications expire after one year.

The PMHNP program is not part of the RN-BSN/MSN program. Students must apply to the PMHNP program and submit all required documents to be considered for admission.

Admissions Requirements

• Active, unencumbered RN license valid in the United States
• Official transcript showing conferred BSN degree (must be from a regionally accredited institution or recognized foreign transcript evaluation service)
• Current professional resume
• Personal statement (describing background and goals)
  • Approximately 750 words using APA format and citations where applicable
  • Your professional and personal goals as a provider of psychiatric mental health care
  • Your reasons for selecting the PMHNP program at Thomas Edison State University
  • How you expect the PMHNP program will help you achieve your goals
  • Briefly discuss your position on the current state of access to mental health care services
  • This statement is an important part of your application for admission. It allows the PMHNP admissions committee to evaluate the clarity of your goals and your suitability for the program. In this context, you may wish to briefly summarize any employment, community involvement, personal history, and accomplishments that helped shape your decision. Explain as precisely as possible what you hope to do when you complete the PMNHP degree.
• Personal interview
• TOEFL scores (if applicable)