Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Admission

Admission Requirements

BSN applicants for the DNP at Fairfield must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher preferred. RN applicants who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree will be considered on an individual basis and may be required to complete select prerequisites to be eligible for admission to the DNP program; however, RN applicants who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree are not eligible for the Nurse Anesthesia track.

Please note: the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track is currently full, and we are no longer accepting applications for fall 2013 entry. The next entry term for FNP will be fall 2014.

MSN applicants for the DNP must hold a master's degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent) with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher required and be eligible for APRN licensure in the state of Connecticut.

Formal Admission Process

Students seeking admission must submit:

  • A Completed Application (apply online).
  • A Non-refundable $60 Application Fee made payable to Fairfield University (paid by credit card if applying online).
  • A Professional Resume. Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes employment and educational history.
  • A Personal Statement
    • Discuss a practice problem in your field that, in your experience, has a broad impact on patient care outcomes
    • State professional goals for the next 5-10 years
    • Explain how a DNP degree will aid you in reaching your goals
  • Official transcripts verifying completion of an undergraduate degree (BSN entry) and Master's degree (MSN entry). All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.
  • Two Recommendation Forms and Letters, one of which must be from a current supervisor or professor who can assess one's clinical expertise and potential.
  • Copy of current RN License to practice in the state of Connecticut will be required upon admission.
  • Copy of APRN License and proof of national certification in an advanced practice nursing specialty (for MSN-DNP applicants only)
  • Documentation from the master's degree granting institution on their university's letterhead, stating the number of supervised clinical hours completed in previous MSN program (for MSN-DNP applicants only)

Nurse Anesthesia Applicants Only
Applicants must demonstrate the following:

  • A bachelor's degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent).
  • A minimum undergraduate quality point average of 3.0 or higher with a science GPA of 3.0.
  • Two semesters of biology, one semester of chemistry, one semester of microbiology, and one semester of college math. Physics is strongly recommended.
  • Registered Nurse license to practice in the United States at the time of application. A Connecticut RN license will be required upon admission.
  • A minimum of one year's experience as a RN in a critical care setting (ER does not fulfill this criteria).
  • Current BCLS, ACLS, & PALS certification (must be maintained while in the program).
  • GRE Analytical writing score of 4 or better. Composite scores will be reviewed in relation to the overall application.

Admission Procedure for Nurse Anesthesia Applicants

  • A completed Bridgeport Hospital Nurse Anesthesia application available at www.bhnap.org
  • A non-refundable $60 application fee to the Bridgeport Hospital Nurse Anesthesia Program- please make checks payable to BHNAP.
  • Copy of current RN license
  • Official transcripts from all universities/colleges and/or nursing program(s) attended
  • Three professional performance evaluations including one from your current supervisor and two others from individuals who can assess your clinical expertise in an acute care setting. (Performance evaluation forms included in the application packet must be used).
  • A three page, double-spaced, typed paper stating your career goals and future contributions to the profession of nurse anesthesia
  • A current professional resume
  • Official report of GRE scores
  • Copy of current immunization record, including evidence of a PPD

Applicants who have been advised that they meet the minimum requirements for admission by the Bridgeport Hospital Nurse Anesthesia program administration will then be required to submit:

  • A completed Fairfield University graduate application directly to Fairfield University office of Graduate Admissions (www.fairfield.edu/sonapp)
  • A non-refundable $60 application fee (payable to Fairfield University)
  • The application and fee must be received by the Office of Graduate & Continuing Studies Admission prior to the interview process.

International Students

Students from non-English speaking countries are required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report. A TOEFL composite score of 550 for the paper test, 213 for the computer-based, or 80 on the Internet-based test (IBT) is strongly recommended for admission. Fairfield's ETS code is 3390.

Interview Process

Applicants who meet the above criteria will be invited in for an Admission interview.

Admission Review

Upon completing the interview process, Admission files are reviewed on a rolling basis by an Admission Committee. Applicants will be notified of the committee's decision as soon as possible.

All application materials should be sent to:

Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies Admission
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
Phone: (203) 254-4184
Fax: (203) 254-4073
gradadmis@fairfield.edu

Measles and Rubella Immunization

  • Connecticut Law requires that students born after December 31, 1956 provide proof of immunization or titre for measles and rubella. This proof must be provided prior to course registration to the University Health Center (www.fairfield.edu/immunization)