CON Change of Specialty or Degree for Professional Graduate Nursing Students

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE OF NURSING
Change of Specialty or Degree for Professional Graduate Nursing Students	Subsection: 5.3.8
Section 5.0 - Student Policies	Originating Date: February 2010
Responsible Reviewing Agency: Professional Graduate Nursing Affairs Committee	Revised: May 2010 Revised: April 2012 Revised: February 2015 Revised: March 2016 Revised: May 2016

College of Nursing professional graduate nursing students currently in the MSN, post-master’s certificate and DNP programs may request to change specialty areas or their professional graduate nursing degree.

Change of Specialty area

A written request submitted to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator indicating the preferred specialty area is required, and the student’s request will be considered at the same time as and in the same manner as all other applicants to that specialty. All normal application deadline dates apply. The student does not forfeit his/her spot in the original specialty area due to re-application to a different specialty area.

The student must notify his/her advisor which specialty he/she will submit a request.

1. The student is required to submit a new narrative of educational/career goals and three new letters of recommendation. These materials must be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator.
2. The student’s UNMC transcripts will not have to be requested. Transcripts from the original application can be retrieved from the student’s current file in the College of Nursing Student Services Office.

If the student is accepted to the new specialty, he/she must complete the Change of Area form, obtaining signatures from the coordinators of both the new and original specialty areas. If the student is declined admission to the new specialty area, he/she may choose to remain in the original specialty or withdraw from the professional graduate nursing program completely.

Change of Professional Graduate Nursing Degree

A written request indicating the preferred degree is required to be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator. The student’s request will be considered at the same time and in the same manner as other applicants to the degree program. All normal application deadline dates may apply. The student does not forfeit his/her spot in the original degree program due to re-application to a different degree program.

The student must notify his/her advisor of his/her intent to apply to a different degree program.

1. The student is required to submit a Change of Professional Graduate Nursing Degree application, which includes:
   1. A personal statement that responds to specific questions addressing educational and professional goals including the applicant’s area of practice interest.
   2. Curricula vitae or professional resume

   These materials must be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator.

2. The student’s UNMC transcripts will not be requested. Transcripts from the original application can be retrieved from the student’s current file in the College of Nursing Student Services Office.

If the student is declined admission to a different degree program, he/she may choose to remain in the original degree program or withdraw from the professional graduate nursing program completely.

Interest in the PhD in nursing degree will require discussion regarding the process with the Director of the PhD program and completion of the materials required by UNMC Graduate Studies.