Admission to Graduate Status
(Institutional Admission)
- The student must first meet admission standards as set by Winona State University. Application deadlines published in the catalog and department websites must be followed in order to allow complete processing prior to registration.
- Complete and submit the graduate online application form for graduate special status or a degree. The link for the form is located on the School of Graduate Studies website. There is a non-refundable $20 graduate application processing fee that may be paid online at the time of application or by check. Checks can be made payable to Winona State University and mailed to the School of Graduate Studies, Winona State University, PO Box 5838, Winona, MN 55987.
- Request one official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate college or university attended. All transcripts must be submitted directly by each institution to the School of Graduate Studies. Transcripts must show that the student has received a Bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an appropriate national accrediting body, a regional accrediting agency, or by the reporting state agency of the state in which the college or university is located. Transcripts from courses taken at WSU or other MN State schools do not need to be requested. All MN State schools have access to each other’s transcripts for their students.
Coursework must begin within two years after admission to a graduate degree program or the student must reapply and provide one copy of official transcripts. Refer to departmental requirements, as each department may require specific start dates.
Admission to a Graduate Degree Program
(Department Admission)
- After admission to Graduate Status, completed applications from students who have a minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a four (4) point scale from their baccalaureate degree granting institution will be forwarded to the appropriate department for admission review and recommendation for admission into a degree program. Check the departmental sections of the catalog to determine additional criteria such as a higher GPA requirement, additional departmental application, screening process, test scores, references, etc.
- Students with a cumulative grade point average from their baccalaureate degree granting institution, which is lower than required by their graduate department, may be granted provisional status by the department/program. Students admitted on a provisional basis may be required to achieve at least a 3.00 GPA in their first 12 semester hours of 600 level course work before being permitted to apply for a graduate degree program. In addition, provisionally admitted students will be required to satisfy any course work deficiencies or additional admission criteria indicated by the department/program. Upon completion of the 12 semester hours and/or other requirements, the student’s provisional admission will be reviewed for either termination or full admission. A registration hold will indicate when students have reached this level.
- Following receipt of the departmental recommendation, the School of Graduate Studies will notify the student of the action taken on the application.
- Students unable to satisfy the departmental or above stated requirements will be allowed to continue to enroll in graduate level course work as a Graduate Special Student, not as a degree seeking student.
Adding an Additional Major or Degree
Please contact the School of Graduate Studies for information on obtaining an additional major or degree:
School of Graduate Studies
210C Somsen Hall
175 W. Mark St.
Winona, MN 55987
Patricia Cichosz (Office Manager)
507.457.5038
Email: gradoffice@winona.edu
Test Requirements
Students seeking the MS, MA, or EdS degrees may be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Refer to the department policies for those situations.
Prerequisites
Refer to department policies for prerequisites required for admission to the specific graduate degree program.
International Students
International students must follow the same admission process as US students, but must also submit the paper International Application for Admission form (PDF).
Students will be admitted on the basis of certified credentials verifying completion of previous educational studies. An official course evaluation (ECE, WES or another recognized agency) must be sent to the School of Graduate Studies directly from that agency for each international institution attended.
All graduate students must also have an official TOEFL/IBT score of at least 90 or an IELTS score of at least 6.5. The official report must be sent directly from the testing agency to the School of Graduate Studies. Some departments or programs may require minimum scores within the tests as well.
In addition to official academic credentials and the official TOEFL/IELTS score, international students must present proof of financial responsibility for the full course of study, living, meal and expenses costs. The university requires that all financial obligations including tuition, fees, room and board be paid during the term of registration. International Student & Scholar Services emphasizes that the financial support statement is of extreme importance because very little financial aid exists for foreign students and immigration regulations prohibit employment outside the campus community. In view of the increasing cost of education and unstable conditions that arise around the world, Winona State is unable to assume responsibility for emergency situations that arise while a foreign student is in attendance at the university.
International students must apply well in advance of the time they wish to enroll. This is necessary due to the complexity of the admission process and allows for the proper planning of mandatory orientation programs for International students. To learn more about financial requirements to issue an I-20, students can contact the International Student & Scholar Services Office by calling 507.457.5303, emailing is@winona.edu or requesting information by mail:
International Student & Scholar Services
233 Kryzsko Commons
Winona State University
Winona, MN 55987
Veteran’s Assistance
Veterans Affairs Office
110A Maxwell Hall (507.457.5109)
WSU is approved by the State Approving Agency for Veterans Training. Students should present their eligibility certificates to the Veterans Affairs Office when they enroll.
Policies and Procedures
- A student’s application for veterans’ benefits can be submitted through the county Veterans Service Office or through WSU. Along with the application, students must submit a certified copy of their DD-214 form or a Notice of Basic Eligibility.
- Students should submit both copies of their Certificate of Eligibility for WSU when they apply for admission.
- Enrollment is certified only after students present their DD-214 forms to the Veterans Affairs Office (after they have been admitted to the University). Enrollment for full-time students is usually for the academic year. Summer sessions and/or workshops are separate enrollment periods. The date of students’ enrollment is based on the school calendar, workshop dates, or contract periods. Note: A mixture of graduate and undergraduate credits is allowed only under special arrangements.
- Students must report each change in academic load to the Veterans Affairs Office.
- Payments of benefits: Allowances are paid on a monthly basis, conditional on students’ satisfactory progress in an approved course and their conduct. Payments are released upon certification furnished by the school. Students must notify the Registrar’s Office and the Veterans Affairs Office when they complete a course, drop a course, or have an interruption in their course of training.
- Veterans with Dependents: The Veterans Administration (VA) requires students to submit certified copies of marriage certificates, birth certificates, and/or adoption papers for their dependents before they can receive payments based on their marriage and dependents. They are paid a single rate until these documents are on file with the VA. The WSU Veterans Affairs Office and the county Veterans Services Officer can help expedite this procedure.
- Re-enrollment: Students can re-enroll without a new Certificate of Eligibility. They must notify the WSU Veterans Affairs Office.
- Academic Load: Full-time training requires 12 semester hours (S.H.) of undergraduate credit or 9 S.H. of graduate credit. Three-fourths time training requires 9 S.H. of undergraduate credit or 7-8 S.H. of graduate credit. Half-time training requires 6-8 S.H. undergraduate credit or 6 S.H. of graduate credit.
- Tutorial assistance: This program provides tutors to help students overcome a deficiency in any subject required for the satisfactory pursuit of an educational objective. It is available to Vietnam-era veterans. Contact the WSU Veterans Affairs Office for detailed information.
- Credit for military schools: Service schools and training are evaluated according to the recommendations of the American Council on Education’s Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services when students present an official Joint Service Transcript (JST) to the Office of Admissions.
- Waiver of physical education activity requirements: This requirement is waived if students have been on active duty for more than one year.
Application for Admission to Candidacy
(Program Planning form)
Before the student has completed 16 graduate semester credits with a grade point average of at least 3.0, the student, in consultation with the advisor, must submit a completed Application for Admission to Candidacy form or online Program Plan to the School of Graduate Studies. Graduate students who do not have at least a 3.0 GPA will not be allowed to make further progress in their program until the GPA is improved. To improve the GPA, students may retake courses for which they received a grade below B. However, below B grade courses may be retaken only once. Any courses taken beyond 16 credits will not apply to the degree program unless the Dean for School of Graduate Studies approves a petition for waiver of the 16 credit requirement. The Application for Admission to Candidacy form or Program Plan must include a detailed proposed program of completed and needed coursework for degree completion, must indicate a thesis plan or other capstone writing experience, and must include any courses/credits accepted in transfer toward the degree program (one official copy of transcripts for transfer credit must be on file in the School of Graduate Studies.) The form must be approved by the advisor and the chairperson/program director of the major department. Any proposed changes to the approved candidacy/program must be requested in advance on the Supplement to the Application for Admission to Candidacy and be approved by the advisor and the department chairperson/program director.
Research and Writing Requirements
All graduate degree programs must contain at least three (3) credits of research methodology, statistics, or the equivalent. All graduate degree programs must also contain a capstone writing experience; for example, thesis, professional paper, written report of a project, written review of a simulation, or portfolio. The selected experience must be indicated on the Application for Candidacy/Program Form and the final product(s) must be submitted to the Department responsible for maintaining the materials.
MS and MA Degree Requirements
In addition to the provisions listed above, the following requirements must be met by all Master of Science and Master of Arts students:
- The student must meet all academic prerequisites and requirements.
- The student must complete at least 30 semester hours (WSU and transfer credits) with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. No course will be counted if the grade is below C. These are minimum standards; departments may require higher standards and additional credits. At least fifty percent of the credits required for the master’s degree must be in courses numbered at the 600 level or above.
- All degree candidates may be required to pass a final comprehensive examination to be prepared by the major department. Please verify requirements with your program. A Notification of Intent to Take the Comprehensive Exam form must be received in the School of Graduate Studies by midterm day of the semester preceding the semester the exam will be taken. Students must have completed all coursework or be enrolled in their last course(s) to be eligible for the comprehensive examination. Students who choose the thesis option may take the examination before enrolling in the thesis course.
- Each candidate in a thesis option must pass a final oral examination by a committee of three graduate faculty members at least two weeks before graduation. The advisor will be the chairperson of this committee. Candidates for the Master of Science degree without thesis may also be required by their major department to pass a final oral examination.
- If the student has elected a plan that requires a thesis, the thesis must be completed and approved by the advisor no later than two weeks prior to graduation. Unbound copies of the thesis must be made available to the oral examination committee. After this committee has approved the thesis, three bound copies must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for distribution. A bindery signoff form must be received by the School of Graduate Studies before a degree can be granted.
- Each candidate must have a form signed by the advisor or by the chairperson/program director of the major department certifying that he/she has completed all departmental requirements for the master’s degree. This form must be submitted by the program chairperson to the School of Graduate Studies at least 10 days prior to the last day of the semester. The requirements listed above in 1 through 6 are general, all-university regulations. Students should consult their advisors to determine whether there are additional departmental requirements.
Specialist Degree
The Specialist Degree (EdS) is an advanced terminal degree. This degree recognizes the special requirements for school administrative licensure in MN and adds to it an academic/university supervised research project. Licensure requirements are set by the Board of School Administrators (BOSA) and accepted by the Minnesota Department of Education. Licensure requirements include: a minimum of 30 post-master’s credits, 320 hours of licensure-specific internship, and documented experience in 84 core competencies plus15 competencies specific to the K-12 Principal license and 10 competencies specific to the Superintendent license. The EdS degree is awarded by the university (WSU) and requires the same course work as licensure with the additional scholarly experience of doing and writing about research. The product of this research, called a field study, is a formal research paper, in rigor about half way between a master’s thesis and a doctoral dissertation.
For degree requirements, see College of Education, Education Leadership Department.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Application Deadlines
The Graduate Programs in Nursing admits once per year for the following Fall term. Applications must be post-marked by the deadline date listed (view Graduate Nursing website for details).
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate DNP Programs:
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a Nationally accredited program in nursing
- Undergraduate coursework in physical assessment
- Undergraduate courses in nursing research and statistics required
- Computer literacy with knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and data base programs
- Transcripts of past education with GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale (1 official transcript from each institution attended)
- Applicants with GPA less than 3.0 will be considered for provisional admission on an individual basis
- Applicants whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Minimum of one year clinical nursing experience (recommended)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) applicants need to meet additional requirements:
- One year critical care experience strongly preferred (e.g., ICU, ER, ICU/CUU, unit providing high acuity care with fast-paced decision making and complex procedures)
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification
- ECG interpretation course required prior to beginning clinical courses
- Evidence of current, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse. Minnesota licensure typically required for all clinical courses. Other state license may also be required for clinical experiences in those states according to state statute.
- Applicants submit three (3) references from persons who can comment competently on the applicant’s background and suitability for nursing masters/doctoral study. At least one professional reference from a professional who occupies the student’s chosen advanced practice nursing role (e.g. nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse educator, nurse administrator/leader); one professional reference; and one academic or professional reference.
- Statement of professional goals
- Clinical paperwork including a background check required after admission (clinical requirement, fees assessed)
- Applicants seeking admission to the Graduate Programs in Nursing may be required to have a personal interview with program faculty
- Graduate Programs in Nursing tuition rates apply
- BSN-DNP applicants only:
- Professional Resume
- Applicants asked to provide clinical practice question that you are most interested in studying in your clinical scholarship courses. Applicants should provide background for why this clinical question is important for clinical nurse scholars to answer and be formatted in the PICO or PICOT style. In addition, the applicant may provide ideas for the most appropriate clinical setting within which this question can be answered.
*A recommended resource book for those considering the DNP is: The Doctor of Nursing Practice: A Guidebook for Role Development and Professional Issues by Lisa Astalos Chism (2015). It offers a background for why the DNP is important for practice; differences between the DNP and Ph.D.; expectations for possible coursework in a DNP program; and hints for transitioning into one’s role with a DNP degree. It may answer questions for anyone pondering a DNP program. (Jones and Bartlett Publishers; ISBN# 978-1284066258).
Admission Requirement for the Post-Master’s DNP Programs:
- Master’s degree from a nationally accredited graduate program in nursing
- Master’s coursework in organizational and systems leadership and nursing information management and decision-making
- Master’s courses in nursing research and statistics required
- Computer literacy with knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and data base programs
- Transcripts of past education with GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale (1 official transcript from each institution attended)
- Applicants with GPA less than 3.0 will be considered for provisional admission on an individual basis
- Applicants whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Minimum one year clinical nursing experience in functional master’s level role (recommended)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) applicants need to meet additional requirements:
- One year critical care experience strongly preferred (e.g., ICU, ER, ICU/CCU, unit providing high acuity care with fast-paced decision making and complex procedures)
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification
- ECG interpretation course required prior to beginning clinical courses
- Evidence of current, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse. Minnesota licensure typically required for all clinical courses. Other state license may also be required for clinical experiences in those states according to state statute.
- Evidence of national certification as an APRN for NP and AGCNS applicants. Applicants for the NOL/PLI program must have completed a master’s in nursing with a focus in administration/ leadership.
- Applicants submit three (3) references from persons who can comment competently on the applicant’s background and suitability for doctoral study. At least one professional reference from a professional who occupies the student’s chosen advanced practice nursing role (e.g. nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse administrator/leader); one professional reference; and one academic or professional reference.
- Professional resume
- Statement of professional goals
- Clinical paperwork including a background check required after admission (clinical requirement, fees assessed)
- Applicants seeking admission to the Graduate Programs in Nursing may be required to have a personal interview with Program faculty
- Graduate Programs in Nursing tuition rates apply
- Applicants asked to provide clinical practice question that you are most interested in studying in your clinical scholarship courses. Applicants should provide background for why this clinical question is important for clinical nurse scholars to answer and be formatted in the PICO or PICOT style. In addition, the applicant may provide ideas for the most appropriate clinical setting within which this question can be answered.
- An evaluation of newly admitted student clinical hours will be conducted to determine whether the student meets the credit/clinical hours requirements for the program and whether additional credit/clinical hours are necessary to meet graduation requirements.
*A recommended resource book for those considering the DNP is: The Doctor of Nursing Practice: A Guidebook for Role Development and Professional Issues by Lisa Astalos Chism (2015). It offers a background for why the DNP is important for practice; differences between the DNP and Ph.D.; expectations for possible coursework in a DNP program; and hints for transitioning into one’s role with a DNP degree. It may answer questions for anyone pondering a DNP program. (Jones and Bartlett Publishers; ISBN# 978-1284066258).
For degree requirements, please visit the Department of Nursing.
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