Admission Process: 51��, Greater Cincinnati Region

How to Apply

As a graduate student at 51��, you will join a diverse community of students enrolled at one of the region's top public universities.

For admission into any graduate program, 51�� requires all applicants to submit both the university requirements and specific program requirements listed below by the appropriate��application deadline.

Grad students discussing topics during class

Check my status

Student Orientation

International Applications

NOTE: Effective Spring 2023, College of Health and Human Services will only be accepting applications from these states Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, and Ohio in the following programs:

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner FNP
MSN Adult-Gero Acute Health Nurse Practitioner
MSN Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Post MSN Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Post MSN Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Nurse Practitioner to Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Please check back with us for future updates.

Non-Refundable Application Fee

Students who do not qualify for an application fee waiver are required to pay the application fee. The application fee is $40 for master's programs and graduate certificates. For doctoral programs, the application fee is $55.

Application Fee Waiver Criteria

Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from 51��
Applicants who have earned a graduate certificate from 51��
Active duty military and veterans
Eligible faculty and staff

If you believe you are eligible for an application fee waiver for a reason NOT listed above, please contact the Office of Graduate Education at graduate@nku.edu // 859.572.6364 BEFORE submitting payment.

University Requirements

Complete the for graduate admission.
Pay the non-refundable application fee (51�� Alumni - no fee is required!)
Submit official transcripts* of ALL college level work, from a regionally accredited institution**. Any additional documents needed for your program should be emailed to graduate@nku.edu.

*An official transcript is a transcript submitted directly to the Office of Graduate Education by the college or university or a transcript submitted by the applicant in the original sealed envelope from the college or university. 51�� transcripts do not need to be submitted.

** We highly encourage you to request the electronic delivery option when available.

Program Requirements

Master's Programs

Master's Degree Programs��
��Program	GPA	Test	Recommendation Letter	Letter of�� Introduction/ Purpose	Essay	Resume	Additional Requirements
Accountancy	2.80	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Expedited Program*
	2.75	No	3	No	No	No	Yes*
Business Administration	2.50	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	None
	2.50	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Business Leadership & Innovation	2.50	No	2	No	Yes	Yes	Yes*
	3.00	No	3	Yes	No	Yes	Yes*
	2.75	No	3 (on form)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes*
	2.50	No	No	No	No	No	No
Educational Leadership, M.A. ED.	3.00	No	3	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
	2.50	GRE	No	No	No	No	Yes*
English	3.00	No	2	Yes	No	No	Yes*
	2.50	No	No	No	No	No	Yes*
	2.50	No	No	Yes*	No	Yes	No
	2.50	No	No	No	No	Yes	None
Industrial-Organizational Psychology	3.00	No	3	Yes	No	Yes	Yes*
Interdisciplinary Studies	3.00	No	2	Yes	No	Yes	None
	2.50	No	No	Yes	No��	Yes	None
Nursing	3.00	No	No	No	No	No	Yes*
Public Administration	2.75	No	2	Yes	Pre-Career	In-Career only	Yes*
Public History	2.50	No	2	Yes	No	No	None
	2.75	GRE��	3 (on form)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes*
	3.00	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes*
Teaching	2.75	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes*

Post Master's Programs

Post-Master's Programs��
��Program	GPA	Test	Recommendation Letter	Letter of�� Introduction/ Purpose	Essay	Resume	Additional Requirements
	3.00	No	3 (on form)	No	Yes (on form)	No	Yes*
	3.00	No	No	No	No	No	Yes*
	3.00	No	No	No	No	No	Yes*
	3.00	No	No	No	No	No	Yes*
	3.00	No	3	Yes	No	No	Yes
	3.00	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
	3.00	No	3	No	Yes (on form)	No	Yes*

Doctoral Programs

Doctoral��Programs��
��Program	GPA	Test	Recommendation Letter	Letter of�� Introduction/ Purpose	Essay	Resume	Additional Requirements
	3.25	No	3	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes*
	3.00	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes*
	3.00	No	1	Yes	No	Yes	Yes*
Doctor of Occupational Therapy	3.00	Yes	3	Yes	No	No

Graduate Certificates

Admission requirements for graduate certificates differ from program to program, please refer the the for a complete list of requirements.

Master's Programs

Program	Additional Requirements
Accountancy	Expedited program - only statement of purpose and resume required; to enter the MAcc Expedited Track, undergraduate BSBA students at 51�� who have completed ACC 200 may be invited to apply and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must have completed at least 15 credit hours at 51��.
	Background Check, Interview with MSAT Fac/Staff and C or better in the following courses: Introductory Psychology, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab, Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab, General Chemistry, General Physics, Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Introductory Statistics, Strength and Conditioning.�� Expedited MSAT concentration: Major in the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Junior standing at 51�� (minimum 93 credits completed or currently in progress).
Business Leadership & Innovation	Minimum 3 years of professional or managerial work experience with significant decision making authority (e.g., experienced managers, small or family business owners, management consultants, human resources or technical professionals); Full-time employment in a professional or managerial position at the time of application/entry is required.
	��and successful interview.
	Supplemental application,��writing sample, and successful interview. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.0 must submit official GRE scores.��
	Applications for the MS Cybersecurity program are accepted for all terms. Students must fullfill the requirements of the 51�� Office of Graduate Education: a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5, a GPA of at least 3.0 in any graduate work in the same field (if applicable), demonstration of English proficiency for non-native English speakers, a graduate application submitted with the application fee, and official transcripts. See the current graduate catalog for detailed information.
Educational Leadership, M.A. ED.	Three (3) years of documented teaching experience in a public school or a nonpublic school which meets state performance standards as established in KRS 156.160, an agreement from a school district pledging support that includes opportunities for the candidate to participate in a clinical experience.
	Supplemental Application, teaching certificate, Teacher as Leader admission agreement (available here; print, sign, and submit to Office of Graduate Education).
English	Writing sample.
	Evidence of successful completion of the following undergraduate courses: Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Research Methods in a Kinesiology related course.
	Applicants must have a course in statistical methods with a C grade or better (equivalent to STA 205 at 51��).
Industrial-Organizational Psychology	Nine semester hours in psychology, statistics class with a B or better.
	Supplemental application, available to download��here.��
Nursing (MSN)	Copy of nursing license verification, 1,000 clinical hours of experience, letter from��employer verifying employment (use��employment verification form), successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course; AGACNP applicants must submit��. Our applicants are required to use PreCheck StudentCheck to purchase their background check.�� Instructions on how to purchase and initiate the background check can be found at:��. Any cost associated with the background checks are the responsibility of the applicant.
	Criminal background check,��, successful interview, prior��statistics class.
	Prior classes in psychology, sociology, and statistics. Resume must include 3��references from people (former instructors, supervisors, colleagues, etc.) who are qualified to evaluate academic and professional potential in the field of social work.
Public Administration	In-career applicants: 5 years professional experience, resume, portfolio of 2-3 work products Pre-career applicants: 10-12 page writing sample or written portion of GRE exam; applicants with 3.0 or higher GPA are exempt from the GRE requirement.
Teaching	Criminal background check,��interview, Praxis II in content area.

Post-Master's Programs

Programs	Additional Requirements
	Teaching certificate, professional folio, successful interview.
	Teaching certificate showing Rank II status, Master's degree in Education,��Supplemental Application
	Kentucky teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent at Rank II.
	Teaching certificate at the Rank II level or out-of-state equivalent. New teachers in Kentucky may submit a Kentucky Statement of Eligibility.
	Teaching certificate, three years full-time teaching, two years in leadership�� position, Level I and Level II preparation and certification for leadership positions,��(see��program admissions page��for more information).
	Copy of Nursing License with clearly visible expiration date, MSN from ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA accredited program of nursing, proof of 1,000 RN practice hours via��employment verification form; Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner applicants must have 1-year experience in critical care.��
	Copy of Nursing License with clearly visible expiration date, ��MSN from ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA accredited program of nursing, proof of 1,000 NP practice hours via��employment verification form; Family NP to Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult NP to Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner��concentration applicants must have 1 year experience in critical care.

Doctoral Programs

Programs	Additional Requirements
	Admission interview.
	Unencumbered RN license, a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing at or above the bachelor’s level from a nationally accredited school, employment verification (use��employment verification form), successfully completed��an undergraduate (or higher level) statistics course.
	Master’s degree or higher in nursing, nurse anesthesia, or a related field from a fully regionally accredited college or university in the United States with 3.0 cumulative GPA, BSN from a fully regionally accredited college or university in the United States if master’s degree is not in nursing with 3.0 cumulative GPA, completion of a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in state of residence, current unencumbered APRN licensure, or other authorization to practice as a nurse anesthetist, in state of residence, current certification or recertification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), pre-requites courses (graduate or undergraduate): ��Statistics equivalent to 51�� STA 205 or above with��B��or better and research equivalent to 51�� NRS 320 or above with��B��or better, admissions interview.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy	Admission interview and 20 hours observation.

51��