OU Health and College of Nursing Degree Accelerator Program

Research indicates that a higher level of nurses' education improves patient care and leads to better health outcomes. Advanced education is also an influencing factor in career, personal and professional satisfaction as well as clinical excellence.

One way OU Health and the College of Nursing are advancing healthcare is by establishing seamless academic progression pathways for OU Health nurses.  By completing a degree through the Degree Accelerator Program, working RNs at OU Health are able to advance their education and career with financial support from OU Health.

Cost

If accepted into the Degree Accelerator Program, the cost of tuition, fees, and books will be covered by OU Health. 

Eligibility

  • Must hold an active RN license.
  • Must have minimum of 1 year of work experience as an RN.
  • Must have minimum of 6 months of continuous employment at OU Health.
  • Must apply and be admitted to the College of Nursing for one of the following degree programs:
    • RN to BSN Completion
    • MSN- Clinical Nurse Specialist
    • BSN to DNP Clinical Nurse Specialist
    • BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Post-Graduate DNP Completion
    • Post-Graduate Certificate Clinical Nurse Specialist-Gerontology 
    • PhD
  • Must be accepted into the Degree Accelerator Program after receiving admission to the College of Nursing.

 

College of Nursing Application Process

Two-Step Application Process for all programs.  Please note that application fees are not waived for the degree accelerator program. 

Additional details about each application can be found at the bottom of this page.

Step 1 – NursingCAS application 

($55 application fee for BSN; $75 application fee for all Graduate programs.)

Step 2 - OUHSC Supplemental application 

($75 application fee)

  • Admission requirements are subject to change. It is the applicant’s responsibility to stay informed regarding current applicable requirements. Please check the College of Nursing website for updates.  
  • Applicants are advised to have a copy of their transcript from every college or university attended available as reference when completing the application process.  

Admission Requirements

*RN to BSN applicants are encouraged to submit a copy of all post-secondary transcripts for review prior to applying so our Student Affairs staff can determine if you’ve met all admission pre-requisites. To request a review, e-mail nursing@ouhsc.edu with the Subject Line: Degree Accelerator Program Transcript Evaluation.

Registered Nursing (RN) to BSN*

  • Valid/current Oklahoma RN license 
  • Completion of 67 hours of prerequisite coursework 
    • 30 hours must be completed prior to application 
    • All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. 
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, 
  • Minimum last sixty hours grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and 
  • Minimum science grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the three required sciences. 
    • Required sciences: 
      • Human Anatomy 
      • Human Physiology 
      • Microbiology 
    • At least one of the three sciences must be completed prior to application. 
    • All sciences must contain a laboratory component. 
    • All attempts of the three sciences will be used to calculate the science GPA. 

Master of Science in Nursing programs

  • Completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited institution 
  • Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse 
    • Clinical Nurse Specialist applicants must be licensed in Oklahoma 
  • Prerequisite courses to be completed with a grade of “C” or better 
    • Research Methodology 
    • Statistics – either undergraduate or graduate 
  • Encouraged last sixty hours grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale 
  • Submission of three letters of reference 
  • Resume’/Vitae 
  • Personal Statement based on responses to provided questions 


Post-Graduate Certificate Programs

  • Completion of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a regionally accredited institution 
    • Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse 
  • Family Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist applicants must be licensed in Oklahoma. 
  • Administration and Education applicants must hold a US license.  
  • Prerequisite courses to be completed with a grade of “C” or better 
    • Research Methodology 
    • Statistics – either undergraduate or graduate 
  • Encouraged last sixty hours grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale 
  • Submission of three letters of reference 
  • Resume’/Vitae 
  • Personal Statement based on responses to provided questions 

Doctor of Nursing Practice 

  • Completion of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution. 
  • Current US license to practice as an RN in the state where clinical rotations are completed. 
    • CNS and FNP applicants are advised that their clinical rotations must be completed in the State of Oklahoma and must hold an Oklahoma RN license.  
  • Prerequisite courses to be completed with a grade of “C” or better 
    • Research Methodology 
    • Statistics – either undergraduate or graduate 
  • Encouraged last sixty hours grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale 
  • Submission of three letters of reference 
  • Resume’/Vitae 
  • Personal Statement based on responses to provided questions 

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Completion of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution. 
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores taken for Verbal, Quantitative and Writing 
    • Desired scores are at the 50th percentile for Verbal and Quantitative exams 
    • 4 or above for the Writing 
    • Test scores more than five years old will not be accepted. 
  • Prerequisite course to be completed with a grade of “C” or better 
    • Statistics – either undergraduate or graduate 
  • Submission of three letters of reference 
  • Curriculum Vitae.
  • Evidence of entry level graduate writing.
  • Interview with PhD faculty 

Application Deadlines

Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions no later than four weeks after the application deadlines noted below.

Program

Application Deadlines

Spring Start

Fall Start

RN to BSN 

October 15 

April 1 

Post-Graduate Certificate

 

January 15 

BSN to DNP - all tracks 

 

January 15 

Post-Graduate DNP 

 

January 15 

PhD 

 

  April 1 

NursingCAS

Applicants are encouraged to request copies of official transcripts from each college or university attended in advance of beginning the application to be used by the applicant for the transcript entry section.   
 
NursingCAS provides for an additional fee a service called Professional Transcript Entry.  
If you plan to use this service, you are encouraged to begin the application process at least six weeks prior to the application deadlineCAS will not begin entry of your transcripts until ALL transcripts have been received. Entry of in progress or planned courses can delay transcript entry. Your application will not be reviewed until all transcripts have been entered. 

  • Create an application account at: https://nursingcas.liaisoncas.org/apply/ . By selecting the term to which you are applying, you will be directed to the correct application. 
  • The CAS Dashboard provides details specific to your application. 
    • Messages from NursingCAS regarding your application  
    • Application Status – check regularly 
  • Four application sections are: 
    • Personal Information
    • Academic History - including Transcript Entry section 
    • Supporting Information
    • Program Materials – prerequisite matching and program information
  • Pay appropriate application fees 
  • Official Transcripts 
    • NursingCAS must be sent official transcripts from each college or university attended.  
    • Transcripts may be mailed before or after the application has been submitted. 
    • Official transcript  MUST be received by the application deadline. 
    • Two options for sending transcripts to NursingCAS: 
      • Electronically by using one of the electronic transcript services. See instructions in NursingCAS for each service.  
      • By mail to: 

NursingCAS Transcript Department   
PO Box 9201 
Watertown, MA 02471 

  • Routinely check the application by clicking the Application Status on the Check Status tab of the NursingCAS dashboard.  
  • Questions regarding the NursingCAS application should be sent to  NursingCAS@liaisoncas.com or by calling (617) 612-2880. 
  • NursingCAS must be sent official transcripts from each college or university attended.  

OUHSC Supplemental Application

Please make sure to complete the NursingCAS application prior to starting the OUHSC Supplemental. 

  • Complete the OUHSC Supplemental application at: https://apps.ouhsc.edu/admissions/
  • Enter the NursingCAS ID number from the previous application 
  • Any transcripts sent to NursingCAS will be uploaded to OUHSC files. 
  • Items below should be mailed to OUHSC Office of Admissions and Records if required. 
    • High school transcripts (if needed to waive General Education requirements) 
    • Residency documentation 
    • Official test score reports (if needed)  
    • TOEFL exam results or petitions 
    • World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) evaluations for all international coursework 
    • Immigration documentation 
    • Mailing Address: 

OUHSC Office of Admissions and Records 
PO Box 26901, LIB 121 
Oklahoma City, OK 73126 

  • Routinely check the application status 
  • Questions regarding the OUHSC Supplemental Application should be directed to: 

Debbie-Shell@ouhsc.edu | (405) 271-2359 

Future Students

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