As a graduate student at NKU, you will join a diverse community of students enrolled at one of the region's top public universities.
For admission into any graduate program, NKU requires all applicants to submit both the university requirements and specific program requirements listed below by the appropriate application deadline.
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:
Please check back with us for future updates.
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.
*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. NKU transcripts do not need to be submitted.
** We highly encourage you to request the electronic delivery option when available.
| 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* |
| Athletic Training | 2.75 | No | 3 | No | No | No | Yes* |
| Business Administration |
2.50 | No | No | Yes |
No |
Yes | None |
| Business Informatics |
2.50 | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Business Leadership & Innovation | 2.50 | No | 2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| Cardiovascular Perfusion | 3.00 | No | 3 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes* |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 2.75 | No | 3 (on form) |
No | Yes |
Yes | Yes* |
| Cybersecurity | 2.50 | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Educational Leadership, M.A. ED. | 3.00 | No | 3 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Education: Teacher as Leader |
2.50 | GRE | No | No | No | No | Yes* |
| English | 3.00 | No | 2 | Yes | No |
No | Yes* |
| Exercise Science | 2.50 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes* |
| Health Informatics |
2.50 | No | No | Yes* | No | Yes | No |
| Health Administration | 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 |
| Legal Studies | 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 |
| School Counseling |
2.75 | GRE | 3 (on form) |
No | Yes |
Yes | Yes* |
| Social Work | 3.00 | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes* |
| Teaching | 2.75 | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes* |
| Post-Master's Programs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program | GPA | Test | Recommendation Letter |
Letter of Introduction/ Purpose |
Essay | Resume | Additional Requirements |
| Education Specialist - Educational Leadership |
3.00 | No | 3 (on form) |
No | Yes (on form) |
No | Yes* |
| Education Specialist - Teaching & Leading | 3.00 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes* |
| Nurse Practitioner Advancement Certificate |
3.00 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes* |
| Post-MSN Certificate |
3.00 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes* |
| Rank 1 Teaching | 3.00 | No | 3 | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Special Education | 3.00 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Superintendent Certification |
3.00 | No | 3 |
No | Yes (on form) |
No | Yes* |
| Doctoral Programs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program | GPA | Test | Recommendation Letter |
Letter of Introduction/ Purpose |
Essay | Resume | Additional Requirements |
| Doctor of Education |
3.25 | No | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post-Master's |
3.00 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post- Master's CRNA to DNP | 3.00 | No | 1 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes* |
| Doctor of Occupational Therapy | 3.00 | Yes | 3 | Yes | No | No | Yes* |
| Program | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|
| Accountancy | Expedited program - only statement of purpose and resume required; to enter the MAcc Expedited Track, undergraduate BSBA students at NKU 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 NKU. |
| Athletic Training | 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 NKU (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. |
| Cardiovascular Perfusion | Cardiovascular Perfusion Shadowing Form and successful interview. |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
Supplemental application, writing sample, and successful interview. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.0 must submit official GRE scores. |
| Cybersecurity | Applications for the MS Cybersecurity program are accepted for all terms. Students must fullfill the requirements of the NKU 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. |
| Education: Teacher as Leader |
Supplemental Application, teaching certificate, Teacher as Leader admission agreement (available here; print, sign, and submit to Office of Graduate Education). |
| English |
Writing sample. |
| Exercise Science | Evidence of successful completion of the following undergraduate courses: Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Research Methods in a Kinesiology related course. |
| Health Administration |
Applicants must have a course in statistical methods with a C grade or better (equivalent to STA 205 at NKU). |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychology |
Nine semester hours in psychology, statistics class with a B or better. |
| Legal Studies |
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 critical care verification form. 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: https://candidate.precheck.com/StudentCheck?schoold=16070. Any cost associated with the background checks are the responsibility of the applicant. |
| School Counseling |
Criminal background check, supplemental application, successful interview, prior statistics class. |
| Social Work |
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. |
| Programs | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|
| Education Specialist: Educational Leadership |
Teaching certificate, professional folio, successful interview. |
| Education Specialist: Teaching & Leading |
Teaching certificate showing Rank II status, Master's degree in Education, Supplemental Application |
| Rank 1 Teaching | Kentucky teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent at Rank II. |
| Special Education | Teaching certificate at the Rank II level or out-of-state equivalent. New teachers in Kentucky may submit a Kentucky Statement of Eligibility. |
| Superintendent Certification |
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). |
| Post-MSN Certificate |
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. |
| Nurse Practitioner Advancement | 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. |
| Programs | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Education |
Admission interview. |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post-Master's Specialization | 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. |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post-Master's CRNA to DNP | 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 NKU STA 205 or above with B or better and research equivalent to NKU NRS 320 or above with B or better, admissions interview. |
| Doctor of Occupational Therapy | Admission interview and 20 hours observation. |
