Graduate FAQ

No! Our programs do not require nursing experience prior to enrolling; however; our BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program requires previous experience. You can learn more about that program’s requirements on its concentration page. 

Yes, but you must complete your BSN program and pass your NCLEX prior to starting our programs.  

Yes. All of our programs, except the Health Policy and Health Care Informatics graduate certificates, require a BSN.  

At this time, we are not accepting international applications. Students cannot qualify for a student visa (F-1 or J-1) if their academic program is fully online, or in our case DE. Enrollment in a DE program cannot be the basis for qualifying for a student visa (F-1 or J-1). Students do not need a visa if they will enroll online from their home country, since a visa is only needed to enter the US. Students could enroll in our DE programs if they can secure a visa to return twice a semester for our on-campus intensives. A spouse or child of someone who is in the US on an H-1B work visa would have an H-4 visa.  A person with an H-4 visa would be allowed to enroll in a fully online program and if they are already in this country would be able to attend on-campus intensives. The biggest concern for international students is obtaining an RN license which is a requirement to apply for our programs. 

We currently do not accept applicants from California. Each state is required to sign an agreement for distanced education; California has not signed this agreement. If you become a resident of another state, it’s possible to do the program and then return to California, but as of right now, we are not accepting any students who reside in California.

Due to clinical requirements, we are unable to admit some students who reside in certain states. If you are unsure whether your state is eligible, please contact [email protected] for clarification and assistance.  

No. All Graduate Certificate applicants must be admitted to a UT Knoxville graduate program and in good academic standing or hold a master’s degree or higher in order to be eligible to enroll in the program. 

Yes. Even if you are actively practicing, you are required to complete the prerequisite courses (advanced pathophysiology, advanced physical assessment, and advanced pharmacology) within the past five years. 

Learn more about the Prerequisite courses

No. When you apply through the graduate school, you will be applying to the College of Nursing.  

You will apply through the link on the graduate school website. You will select the student type (New Graduate Student, Returning Graduate Student) and the following selections: 

• Degree Seeking (Degrees & Certificates) 
• Distance Education (Applicants for add-on graduate certificates currently enrolled in an on campus program will select “On Campus”) 
• Health, Wellness, & Human Sciences 

Then you will select your anticipated degree (Doctoral or Graduate Certificate) and program you would like to apply to.  

You can reach out to [email protected] and we will send a reminder email to your reference on your behalf!  

To prepare for your interview, start by reviewing the College of Nursing website and familiarizing yourself with our program, mission, and vision. Carefully read through the content and associated links provided in your interview email to ensure you understand all relevant details. 

Your interview is also an opportunity for you to ask questions. Come prepared with thoughtful questions about our program and requirements to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.

Courses are not officially transferred, but they can be used to meet degree requirements. You may transfer up to 12 hours of doctoral-level credits if approved by the College of Nursing. However, this is not guaranteed, as the courses must align with our curriculum. To request a transfer evaluation, you will need to submit the syllabus of the course to [email protected] for review and approval. 

You will send your transcripts to The Graduate School. Learn more about the process by visiting this link.

The seat fee payment holds your spot in the program. All degree-seeking applicants must pay the seat fee by the deadline listed in your admission letter to confirm your attendance. If this seat fee is not paid by the deadline, your spot may be given to another applicant.  

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused degree that prepares nurses for advanced clinical roles, emphasizing the application of research and evidence-based practices to improve patient care and health care systems. DNP graduates often work as Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, or health care leaders focusing on quality improvement, health care policy, and system-level change. 

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in nursing is a research-focused degree designed to prepare nurse scientists to conduct original research that advances nursing science and health care. PhD graduates typically pursue careers as researchers, educators, or academic leaders in universities, research institutions, or organizations dedicated to nursing scholarship. 

In short, the DNP focuses on clinical practice and improving health care delivery, while the PhD focuses on research and generating new knowledge in nursing science.

DNP students are required to come to campus once a semester for their first year and a half for Doctoral Intensives. In their second spring semester, they will be required to come to campus for clinical intensives two to three times per semester.  

PhD students are required to come to campus once a semester until they are in their dissertation hours.  

Clinical Graduate Certificates are required to come to campus for clinical intensives two to three times per semester while taking clinical courses and non-clinical graduate certificates are not required to come to campus.

Class sessions meet online in a synchronous (live, real-time virtual learning) format and are scheduled at least three weeks prior to the start of the term. While synchronous Zoom sessions for DNP core courses are typically scheduled on Tuesday evenings and PhD core courses on Thursday evenings, the frequency and timing of these sessions are determined by the needs identified by the course faculty. Most PhD core courses, for example, may only require two to three synchronous Zoom sessions per semester. 

Many DNP, PhD, and Graduate Certificate students are able to work while completing their core courses. However, once DNP students begin their clinical courses, working full-time is not encouraged due to the demanding nature of clinical requirements and coursework. 

Despite being a distance program, we pride ourselves on having faculty who are accessible and want to engage with and support students. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has a wealth of resources to support students holistically, including library and writing support, academic coaching, technology assistance, disability services, mental health resources, and more. 

Yes! The College of Nursing offers scholarship opportunities and financial aid to support graduate students. For more information, visit the financial aid page on our website to explore available options and resources. 

As practicing APRNs, post-master’s students do not complete traditional clinical hours, precepted hours, or have direct patient care requirements. However, post-master’s students are required to complete 300 clock hours of enhanced professional practice immersion over three semesters.  Professional practice immersion hours are individualized to meet each student’s interests and needs in conjunction with program faculty.  This may include mentoring with a member of the interdisciplinary health care team or pursuing additional learning activities or experiences tailored to the student’s interests and population focus.