Graduate Program Essay Requirements

DNP Applicants

The purpose of this three to five double-spaced page essay (MINIMUM 5000 characters – not counting spaces and MAXIMUM 18,000 characters – not counting spaces) is to provide the Admission Committee insight into your professional goals and expectations and to evaluate your written communication skills. Please address the following prompts:

  1. There are two terminal degrees in the nursing profession. Explain the difference between the PhD and DNP-prepared nurse, and discuss why you chose the DNP degree? (1-2 pages)
  2. The College of Nursing values a diverse and inclusive environment. All students can contribute to the creation of this environment when diversity is defined most broadly. Whether by a personal attribute, characteristic, culture, experience, or behavior please tell us how you believe you will contribute to the diversity of the College of Nursing and the nursing profession. (1-2 pages). Refer to the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s access, engagement, and belonging website https://dae.utk.edu/.

FNP, PNP, PMHNP Graduate Certificates

Post Grad Cert: Essay Questions (5 questions – Limit answer to 5 pages or less):

  1. Describe the role of an advanced practice nurse in your chosen concentration (Family, PNP-Primary Care/Acute, PMHNP). How will obtaining this certificate help you meet your career goals?
  2. The College of Nursing values a diverse and inclusive environment. All students can contribute to the creation of this environment when diversity is defined most broadly. Whether by a personal attribute, characteristic, culture, experience, or behavior please tell us how you believe you will contribute to the diversity of the College of Nursing and the nursing profession. (1-2 pages). Refer to the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s access, engagement, and belonging website https://dae.utk.edu/.
  3. Explain the academic challenges, successes, or obstacles in your life that impacted your ability to achieve your goals.
  4. As an APRN or nurse leader you will be expected to engage in self-reflection and receive professional critique. How would you respond to a critique with which you do not agree?
  5. Describe how your personal strengths, experiences, & aptitude will contribute to your success in nursing school and career in nursing (community service, leadership experience, healthcare experience).

The following criteria are used to evaluate your essay:

  1. Ability to clearly and succinctly articulate career goals
  2. Ability to conceptualize how graduate education will assist you to meet your career goals
  3. Compatibility of your career goals with the College of Nursing mission, objectives, and priorities
  4. Ability to demonstrate writing competence
  5. How will the degree program and chosen concentration enhance your future professional roles and activities?
  6. Describe the ways that graduate education will help you achieve your career goals.

Healthcare Informatics Graduate Certificate

Essay Questions (5 questions – Limit answer to 5 pages or less):

  1. Describe how you believe Health Informatics might help with your career goals?
  2. The College of Nursing values a diverse and inclusive environment. All students can contribute to the creation of this environment when diversity is defined most broadly. Whether by a personal attribute, characteristic, culture, experience, or behavior please tell us how you believe you will contribute to the diversity of the College of Nursing and the nursing profession. (1-2 pages). Refer to the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s access, engagement, and belonging website https://dae.utk.edu/.
  3. Explain the academic challenges, successes, or obstacles in your life that impacted your ability to achieve your goals.
  4. As a Health Informatics leader, you will be expected to engage in self-reflection and receive professional critique. How would you respond to a critique with which you do not agree?
  5. Describe how your personal strengths, experiences, & aptitude will contribute to your success in Health Informatics (community service, leadership experience, healthcare experience, work experience, personal interests).

Note: You can upload this document before or after submission of the application.

Health Policy Graduate Certificate

Essay Questions (5 questions – Limit answer to 5 pages or less):

  1. Describe how you believe Health Policy might help with your career goals?
  2. The College of Nursing values a diverse and inclusive environment. All students can contribute to the creation of this environment when diversity is defined most broadly. Whether by a personal attribute, characteristic, culture, experience, or behavior please tell us how you believe you will contribute to the diversity of the College of Nursing and the nursing profession. (1-2 pages). Refer to the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s access, engagement, and belonging website https://dae.utk.edu/.
  3. Explain the academic challenges, successes, or obstacles in your life that impacted your ability to achieve your goals.
  4. As a Health Policy leader, you will be expected to engage in self-reflection and receive professional critique. How would you respond to a critique with which you do not agree?
  5. Describe how your personal strengths, experiences, & aptitude will contribute to your success in Health Policy (community service, leadership experience, healthcare experience, work experience, personal interests).

Note: You can upload this document before or after submission of the application.

Nursing Education Graduate Certificate

Essay Questions (5 questions – Limit answer to 5 pages or less):

  1. Describe how you believe Nursing Education might help with your career goals?
  2. The College of Nursing values a diverse and inclusive environment. All students can contribute to the creation of this environment when diversity is defined most broadly. Whether by a personal attribute, characteristic, culture, experience, or behavior please tell us how you believe you will contribute to the diversity of the College of Nursing and the nursing profession. (1-2 pages). Refer to the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s access, engagement, and belonging website https://dae.utk.edu/.
  3. Explain the academic challenges, successes, or obstacles in your life that impacted your ability to achieve your goals.
  4. As a Nursing Education leader, you will be expected to engage in self-reflection and receive professional critique. How would you respond to a critique with which you do not agree?
  5. Describe how your personal strengths, experiences, & aptitude will contribute to your success in Nursing Education (community service, leadership experience, healthcare experience, work experience, personal interests).

Note: You can upload this document before or after submission of the application.