Graduate Admissions

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: No
• Resume Required: Yes

Applicants to the MCJ program must have:

• A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher.
• A background or interest in the field of criminal justice.

Applicants who lack one or more requirements may be admitted to the program on a provisional basis. Individuals with special needs or goals may be considered for admission to the program.

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: No
• Resume Required: Yes

Applicants to the MAHS program must have:

• A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher
• A background or interest in the field of criminal justice or homeland security.

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: Yes
• Resume Required: Yes

Applicants to the MBA program must have:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.  Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.
• A personal statement explaining why you want to pursue an MBA and what you feel you could bring to the classroom discussion/experience, etc.
• 2 professional references/recommendation letters may be required. No letters are required for certificate programs.
• An undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher. GPAs below a 3.0 are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Additional requirements for international student applicants:

• English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
• Transcript Evaluation Required: Yes
• Certificate of Finances Required: Yes

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: No
• Resume Required: Only for M.Ed. in Higher Education and related certificate programs. Resume is not required for M.Ed. in Teacher Education and related certificate programs.
• Meeting with Program Director: Required for M.Ed. in Higher Education.

Applicants to the M.Ed. Teacher Ed and M.Ed. Higher Ed program must have:

• A bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0.

Additional requirements for international student applicants:

• English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
• Transcript Evaluation Required: Yes
• Certificate of Finances Required: Yes

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: Yes
• Resume Required: No

Applicants to the MFA program must have:

• A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited American university.
• Personal statement that addresses three questions:

• • What writers or writing experiences have led you to this degree?
  • Why do you want to enroll in this MFA program?
  • What kind of book-length project do you think you want to write while in the program?
• Either a 20-page writing sample of prose (short story/stories/novel, chapter/essays/memoir) or a 10-page sample of poetry.

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: Yes
• Resume Required: Yes

Applicants to the MSBA program must have:

• A personal statement explaining why you want to pursue this degree and what you feel you could bring to the classroom discussion/experience, etc.
• 2 professional references/recommendation letters may be required. No letters are required for certificate programs.
• An undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution. GPAs below a 3.0 are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Additional requirements for international student applicants

• English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
• Transcript Evaluation Required: Yes
• Certificate of Finances Required: Yes

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: No
• Resume Required: Yes
• Meeting with Program Director: Yes 

Applicants to the Cyber Security program must have:

• A bachelor's degree in a computer related discipline from an accredited US institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B).  Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.
• Meeting with Program Director is required.

International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program. 

Applicants for dual degrees (MSIS+MSN) must also meet the admission requirements for the MSN program.

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: No
• Resume Required: Yes
• Meeting with Program Director: Yes

Applicants to the Data Analytics program must have:

• A bachelor's degree in a computer related discipline from an accredited US institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B).  Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.

International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program. 

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: No
• Resume Required: Yes
• Meeting with Program Director: Yes

Applicants to the MSIS program must have:

• A bachelor's degree in a computer related discipline from an accredited US institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B).  Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.

International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program. 

All admissions to an MSN/NP program will be at the discretion of the program director. The admission process and entrance requirements are rigorous; demonstrating minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the MSN program. 

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: Semester-Based Rolling Admission
  • Summer semester (July) deadline is June 1
  • Fall semester (August) deadline is July 1
  • Winter semester (January) deadline is December 1
  • Spring semester (April) deadline is March 1
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: Yes
• Resume Required: Yes

Applicants to the MSN/NP program must have:

• A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may submit an official copy of GRE or MAT scores from within two years of application to a DeSales program.
• A copy of a current RN license or eligibility for licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. New Jersey licensure as an RN is also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all MSN programs.
• Evidence of the equivalent of 12 months full-time nursing practice within the last three (3) years.
• A 500-700 word personal statement, written in narrative format, addressing each of the following:
  • Why you chose your intended MSN track.
  • How this academic program will help you meet your career goals.
  • Where you see your career 5 years post-graduation.
  • Additional relevant information that may assist the committee in the overall evaluation of your application.
• DeSales can provisionally accept students who are in their senior BSN year. These students receive full acceptance once they confer their degree and pass their boards.

Applicants to specific Nurse Practitioner programs

For the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track

• Minimum of one year RN experience prior to starting clinicals in an adult acute care/ICU specialty area (i.e. medical/surgical ICU, trauma ICU, neuro/neurosurgical ICU, cardiac ICU, open heart unit, burn unit, intermediate care unit, emergency department, etc.).
• You will be required to continue to work as an Acute Care/ICU registered nurse to fulfill the one year of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses.

For the Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track

• Minimum of one year RN experience prior to starting clinicals. If you are a currently practicing nurse who has only had pediatric, labor and delivery, or post-partum experience, you will be required to obtain employment as an RN in the care of the adult while completing the program.
• You will be required to continue to work as a registered nurse to fulfill the one year of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses.

For the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track

• Minimum of one year RN experience prior to starting clinicals as a psychiatric nurse.
• You will be required to continue to work as a psychiatric nurse to fulfill the one year of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses.

For the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) track

• If you have less than one year of full-time nursing practice, you will be required to continue working as a registered nurse to fulfill the one year of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses.

Applicants transferring from another program

• The MSN program will generally accept up to six (6) transfer credits or two (2) courses into the declared MSN track based upon the following criteria:
  • Course work must have been completed within five (5) years before admission to the MSN program.
  • Courses transferred must be similar in credits, scope and subject matter to the courses offered in the MSN program. The student must provide a course syllabus and topical outline for any courses requested for transfer for evaluation by the chair of graduate programs upon acceptance.
  • Only courses from an ACEN or CCNE accredited college or university will be accepted for transfer.
  • Grades for transfer courses must be a B or higher.

Additional requirements for international student applicants

• International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (, , or ) as part of their application.
• An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at 91黑料, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. 
• All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.

Applicants for dual degrees (MSN+MBA; MSN+MSIS) must also meet the admission requirements for the second program.

Upon matriculation, students will be required to maintain the following

• Current professional liability insurance.
• Current Healthcare Provider CPR or ACLS certification.
• Current criminal background check, child abuse clearance, FBI fingerprinting and drug screening.

The Physician Assistant Program at 91黑料 is a full-time academic program. Advanced placement is not possible. There is no credit awarded for experiential learning. The didactic courses are completed in sequence as listed in the curriculum.

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadline: December 1 (CASPA verification)
• Standardized Exam Required: Yes
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: Yes
• Resume Required: No

All applicants to the MSPAS program must have:

• Applications submitted to and verified by CASPA no later than December 1st. We do not require a separate supplemental application. 
• Bachelor's degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution, with a CASPA-verified minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and a mimimum science cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. All prerequisite coursework must be completed and passed with a grade of 2.0 or better before matriculation into the program.
• Our ten prerequisite courses must each be a minimum of 3 credits. These courses are: English Composition I, English Composition II, General Psychology, Statistics, General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, and Human Anatomy & Physiology II. 
  • Three of these courses must have been completed within five years of applying: Microbiology, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, and Human Anatomy & Physiology II. Exceptions may be considered if you have been actively working in the medical field since completing the courses or graduating. 
  • You may submit your application while completing prerequisite coursework; however, no more than two prerequisite courses should remain after the December 1 deadline.
  • Writing‑intensive courses may be accepted if English Composition was not required in your curriculum. AP courses will also satisfy the requirement.
• A minimum of three letters of recommendation, maximum of five. Appropriate references include instructors or professors, academic advisors, and supervisors, especially those supervising you during your direct patient care experiences. We highly recommend that you do not submit a reference from someone you have shadowed for only a brief time, or a family member or friend.
• The Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or MCAT score must be submitted to CASPA by the December 1 deadline. GRE scores should be reported using the 91黑料 Program Code: 0540. Applicants should achieve a PA-CAT score of 483 or higher, a GRE score of 290 or higher, or an MCAT score of 491 or higher.
• A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care experience (paid, volunteer, or shadowing). The experience must be completed within the United States due to the wide variety of global health care delivery systems. The most useful health care hours relate to direct patient contact such as an Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, Surgical Technician, Patient Care Technician/Associate, Dietician, Medical Scribe, Pharmacy Technician, Campus Health Center Volunteer, Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapy Assistant, Mental Health Worker. Usually, the more varied the experience, the better for incoming students. Shadowing of clinically active physician assistants is encouraged in order to gain an understanding of the role. We also accept up to 50 hours of virtual shadowing, provided there is contact information in CASPA.

Additional requirements for international applicants

• Applicants from a country where English is not the primary language must submit TOEFL scores with a minimum overall score of 90.
• Applicants with a degree or coursework outside of the U.S. should review the CASPA requirements for evaluated transcripts.

Candidates given additional consideration

• Applicants who have served or are serving in the U.S. military.
• Approximately half of our incoming cohort is reserved for the 5-Year Accelerated students. For the 2026-2027 Admissions Cycle, we anticipate accepting between 45 -50 graduate students.
• 91黑料 students and alumni will be granted an interview upon meeting minimum requirements. 
  • Two seats are reserved for 91黑料 students and alumni in each incoming class.
• Applicants who have demonstrated experience working with or providing services to vulnerable or historically underserved populations.

Evaluation methods

Potentially qualified applicants will be granted a personal interview by invitation only. While the program prefers a stronger GPA, direct patient care hours, standardized test scores, and service experience, we conduct a completely holistic review of each application that meets the minimum admission requirements.  All components are considered, including coursework completed, GPAs (including trajectories), personal statement, the strength of the letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and the breadth and depth of experiences.

Applicants will be evaluated on:

• Academic credentials
• Accountability
• Communication Skills
• Preparedness
• Professionalism
• Respectfulness
• Self-Confidence
• Understanding the role of the PA/Healthcare
• On-site Interview

Quick Admission Points

• Application Deadlines
  • Early application: December 1
  • Final deadline: February 1
  • Rolling admissions after February 1
• Standardized Exam Required: No
• Official Transcripts Required: Yes
• Personal Statement Required: Yes
• Resume Required: Yes

Applicants to the MS in SLP program must have:

• A minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or, for international students, the equivalent degree from a foreign institution.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation.
• Recommended minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) overall and in the sciences.
• 25 observation hours with an ASHA certified, licensed provider.

Additional requirements for international student applicants

• English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)

Pre-requisite Coursework 

• Introduction to Biology or Biology I
• Statistics
• Introduction to Psychology
• A Chemistry or Physics course
• Phonetics
• Audiology
• Speech and Hearing Science
• Introduction to Communication Sciences & Disorders
• Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
• Language Development

Quick Admission Points

• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation (must be from a Physician or PA)
• Proof of current board certification (e.g. NCCPA)
• Current professional license(s)
• Completed application form

All applicants to the DMSc program must:

• hold a master's degree or higher from an accredited institution.
• be a certified Physician Assistant (NCCPA equivalent) with a current license in good standing.
• have a minimum of one year of clinical experience (preferred).
• Submit a completed application and all required documents by the program deadline.
• If accepted, submit a $200 non-refundable deposit to secure a seat in the program.

To apply to the DNP program, you must have:

• a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN-CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE accredited institution
• a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree from an NLN-CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• completion of a master's level statistics course with a grade of "B" or better within the last 5 years
• current licensure as a registered nurse in the United States
• national certification as an advanced practice nurse (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA)
• evidence of a minimum of 500 precepted/supervised clinical practicum hours during the applicant’s advanced practice program
• evidence of the equivalent of 12 months of full-time nursing practice within the last three years

New graduates are expected to obtain APN certification and an APN position within the first six months of program matriculation.

Requirements to apply to a BSN-DNP track:

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN-CNEA, ACEN, or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Students admitted to BSN-DNP programs shall be currently licensed as a registered nurse (RN) or, if enrolled in an RN to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or RN to Nursing Doctorate (ND) program, shall complete all competencies for undergraduate requirements prior to taking graduate courses.
  • New graduates are expected to obtain RN licensure within the first semester of program matriculation.
  • New graduates are expected to obtain a RN position within the first semester of program matriculation-specific to track option selected.
  • Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware RN licensures are also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all BSN-DNP track specialty curriculum.
• Completion of an undergraduate health assessment course with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Current Healthcare Provider CPR or ACLS certification.
• For the BSN-DNP Family/Individual Across the Lifespan NP track
  • 24 months of care in the adult population prior to entering the clinical sequence.
• For the BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP track
  • evidence of 24 months of adult acute care / ICU specialty area (i.e. medical/surgical ICU, trauma ICU, neuro/neurosurgical ICU, cardiac ICU, open heart unit, burn unit) experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.
• For the BSN-DNP Psychiatric/Mental Health NP track
  • evidence of 24 months of psych mental health experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.
• For the BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track
  • evidence of 24 months of adult gerontology RN experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.

Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at 91黑料, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.

International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements.

One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall (August) start. The deadline to apply for the CRNA track is December 1 of the year prior. Interviews will begin January 1 and continue until all invited/qualified candidates are interviewed. Decisions will be released shortly after.

Admissions Requirements

• Completed application to 91黑料.
• Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN, CCNE, or NLN-CNEA accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• A minimum of 2-years full-time ICU/critical care experience completed post-orientation.
  Applicants must currently be working in an ICU setting at time of applying. NICU or ED will not be considered as an acceptable/comparable form of ICU experience. 
• ACLS/BLS/PALS certification by start of program. 

Application Requirements

To apply to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia program, you must have:

1. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (when applicable)
   • Electronic official transcripts can be sent to: gradadmissions@desales.edu
   • Paper official transcripts can be mailed to:
     91黑料 Admissions Office
     ATTN: Graduate Programs
     2755 Station Ave.
     Center Valley, PA 18034
   • All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Inc., with the resulting report submitted directly to the School of Nursing. Visit for more information. 91黑料’s institutional reporting code is 002021.
2. Unencumbered RN licensure in the state in which they practice
   PA RN single state licensure or multi state license is needed by the start of program.
3. Résumé or curriculum vitae
4. CCRN certification and submission of Score Report
5. Documentation of 15 hours of shadowing and submission of CRNA Shadow Form - provided by 91黑料 after application submittal.
6. Letters of recommendation (Three total)
   • Nurse Manager, Nursing Supervisor, or Unit Charge Nurse
   • Physician
   • Secondary Supervisor
7. DNP Vision Statement
   The DNP Vision Statement is a 250 – 500 word description of the applicant’s future intentions and goals upon completion of a particular BSN-DNP track as a DNP graduate. The Statement should clearly express the applicant’s reasons for applying to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia track and future professional and leadership goals as a doctorally-prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

All required documents must be in by 5:00pm EST December 1. Applications that are not marked as complete at that time may defer to the following cohort consideration or withdraw.

*International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to 91黑料, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.

A $2000.00 non-refundable deposit is due 2-weeks from date of acceptance to maintain the student’s offer of admission to that cohort. Students who have not deposited within that timeframe will be considered to have withdrawn their application, and a student from the waiting list will be offered their seat. All waitlisted students will receive communication 1-month from decision and leading up until start of program as to whether or not a seat is available.

Aligned with the mission of St. Luke’s and 91黑料, our program gives special consideration to applicants who intend to serve our regional communities after training.

The admission process and requirements are rigorous; demonstrating minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the DNP Program. Applicants selected for potential admission are required to have an interview before a final admission decision is rendered. Interviews will be conducted in person and will only be scheduled once all application materials have been received. Virtual interview options may be implemented for inclement weather or special circumstances.

For the DPT Program: 

Unless otherwise indicated, all items must be submitted to PTCAS by the final deadline date for the application to be considered eligible for review:

• Submission of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, with evidence of completion of all required prerequisite courses, or plan for completion no later than June 30 prior to the start of the session to which the applicant has applied.
• Submission of completed Prerequisite Coursework form. Suggested minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a suggested minimum 3.2 GPA in mathematics and science prerequisite courses at time of application. No grade below C and no more than one re-take on any prerequisite course will be accepted. Prerequisite coursework GPA will be calculated to include all occurrences, including retakes, of all required prerequisite courses.
• Optional GRE submission for those with suggested combined verbal and analytic scores of 300 and/or verbal score of 150. Visit  for additional information. 91黑料’s institutional reporting code is 4460.
• Demonstrate understanding of and ability to meet all Technical Standards and Essential Functions required of physical therapy practice.
• Answer all required program questions detailing your interest in the field of physical therapy, and including a description of academic, employment and volunteer preparation and experiences to support the application.
• Complete 40 hours of observation/volunteer/internship/employment hours in a single physical therapy facility. Additional observation hours in a variety of physical therapy practice settings is highly recommended, i.e., outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, pediatrics, acute care/hospital, extended care facility, geriatrics, home health, sports medicine, etc. Referring PTs should submit their evaluation directly to PTCAS.
• Submission of a minimum of three references is required. One reference must be completed by the licensed physical therapist with whom the 40 hours of required physical therapy observation was performed. The remaining two references must be completed by non-relative, professional individuals, including, but not limited to, professors, employers, coaches, and licensed physical therapists with whom additional clinical observation was performed.  All completed references should be submitted directly to PTCAS by the individuals that complete them—not by the applicant.
• If selected for application review, qualified candidates must complete an on-campus interview with DPT program faculty for final determination of admission.  
• All international applicants from a country where the official language is other than English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and present documentation of scores with the minimum requirement of 104 for the Internet-based test.  Please visit  for additional information.
• All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES approved evaluation service with the resulting report submitted with the DPT program application to PTCAS.  Please visit  for additional information.