DNP/MBA and MSN/MBA

Nursing Information Session:  
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How the program works

To qualify for the dual-degree program, students must be accepted into both the School of Business and School of Nursing. Typically, students focus on completing classes from one degree at a time, though overlap is acceptable if scheduling allows. 

• Graduate nursing classes meet on Tuesdays and many MSN core courses are available online. 
• MBA classes are offered online, in eight-week terms. 

• Full-time and part-time enrollment options can be customized to fit your life. 
• The MSN/MBA is available totally online. 

Any student wishing to complete clinical experiences outside the State of TN must verify that State is a member of NC-SARA and seek permission from that State Board of Nursing. Clinical placements in some States may not be able to be accommodated due to specific State Board of Nursing regulations.

To get an inside look at Southern’s nursing programs, download The Complete Guide to Advanced Nursing Degrees at Southern Adventist University.

Eligibility and prerequisites

This list includes requirements for both the School of Business and the School of Nursing:

• Bachelor's degree:  A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program
• GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Course in statistics: An undergraduate or graduate course in statistics (3 credit hours)
• Current licensure:  Current RN licensure in the state or country of practice
• Work experience:  A minimum of two years (4,000 hours) of current nursing experience

Application deadlines

All application steps are to be fully completed by the dates listed.

Term	U.S. Residents	International
Fall	April 1	March 1
Winter	October 1	August 1
Summer	April 1 (MBA program only)	February 1 (MBA program only)

Admission process

1. Graduate application:  Submit a graduate application (with non-refundable fee of $40). Apply now
2. Transcripts:  Submit official college and university transcripts. Many institutions subscribe to the convenient transcript-request service at National Student Clearinghouse, or you may also contact your institution directly. Have your transcripts sent to the Graduate Studies office (gradtranscripts@southern.edu). If you earned your prerequisite degree at Southern, you do not need to complete this step.
3. Recommendations:  Submit three recommendation forms (completed by work supervisors or professors). This should be done as part of the online application process.
4. Written statement:  Submit a statement describing your purpose and goals for pursuing this degree. Your statement should be thoughtfully written to demonstrate your writing skills. It should be submitted through your Application Status Page.
5. Resumé:  Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page.
6. Interview:  Schedule a faculty interview after completing your Graduate application from your Application Status Page.

7. GMAT requirement:  Submit scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test taken within the past five years. Applicants meeting either of the following criteria may be admitted without the GMAT score:
   • An undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, and minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA degree of 3.25.
   • A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 with five years or more of full-time business-related management experience.

Once you are accepted

Before enrolling, we will need acceptable documentation of these items. Upload them through your Application Status Page.

• Personal Health Assessment and Physical Exam Download form
• Criminal background check Download Form
• Medical-information disclosure consent Download Form
• Drug-Screen
• Current health information and immunizations Download Form
• CPR/BLS certification from the American Heart Association
  
• Current Nursing License

International students

Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are considered international students and must meet additional requirements for admission.

• View international-student admission requirements »

  1. All non-U.S. transcripts must be submitted through one of the following approved credential evaluation agencies:
     • SpanTran: use this link to send to Southern
     • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE): www.ece.org
     • World Education Services: www.wes.org
     Evaluations are to be sent directly to Southern, Graduate Studies, by the service. All evaluation reports are considered to be advisory. Southern reserves the right to make final equivalency decisions.
  2. Certification of English proficiency.
     See School specific requirements in the Graduate Catalog. Scores are valid for two years from the test date. Learn more at:
     • ets.org/toefl »
     • englishtest.duolingo.com/en »
  3. Submit Declaration of Finances.
     International students must have financial resources sufficient to support themselves for the calendar year, in addition to an international-student deposit of $3,000 (USD). Download Form

  • • To be issued an I-20 Form, students must also provide a letter from financial sponsors (including their name and address), as well as copies of bank statements for the last three months showing the balance history for the student's account or the financial sponsor's account.

Online programs
Since international students enrolling in programs offered completely online do not travel to the United States, they are not required to obtain the Form I-20 or F-1 Student Visa, and they do not have to submit the Declaration of Finances.

On-campus programs
International students who will be coming to Southern's campus need some additional information about travel documents and living on campus.

More Information

Graduate assistantships

For more information about becoming a graduate assistant, please contact the appropriate graduate enrollment counselor.

• School of Business—Graduate Assistant Verification  Download PDF
• School of Nursing—Clinical Lab Assistant  Download PDF
• School of Nursing—Graduate Teaching Assistant  Download PDF

Faculty