Explore UAB

Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:

• Evidence of an unencumbered and unrestricted licensed as a registered nurse.
• A master’s degree in nursing (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nursing administration, clinical nurse leader, nursing informatics, or nurse anesthetist) or a master’s degree in business or health administration with a health emphasis.
• Have at least 3 years of mid-level leadership with preference given to executive level leadership.
• Aim for future health-related executive roles.
• A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 overall (based on a 4.0 scale) or in the last 60 hours of earned credit.
• Submission of an official transcript from every college or university ever attended.
  • Transcripts may be mailed or emailed electronically by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School. Transcripts may be emailed to gradschool@uab.edu or mailed to UAB Graduate School, LHL G03, 1720 2nd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0013.
• Submission of two favorable evaluations by persons who have knowledge of the applicant’s potential for success in graduate nursing studies and executive leadership; these evaluations are to be completed using the evaluation form.
• Submission of a personal goal statement that is congruent with the Pathway for Nurse Executives goals (300 words or less).
• Submission of a letter of endorsement from a leader in a health organization supporting potential for high-level executive success.
• A scholarly writing sample.
• Resume/CV
• A personal interview either face-to-face or by phone.
• If admitted to the DNP program, students must show proof of completion of a descriptive statistics course, equivalent to UAB’s MA-180, before starting the program.
• Upon admission, a GAP analysis will be performed to determine if the didactic content (coursework) and the 500 clinical or administrative practicum hours according to your advance specialty track required for entry into the Post-MSN to DNP pathway have been met. If not, appropriate bridge coursework may be added to the program of study.

Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state’s regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state. Only those students who reside in Alabama or those states where the UAB School of Nursing programs are available will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.

More information is available at the State Approval Website for Online Degree Programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Students are expected to follow the program of study¹

¹Program of study is subject to change.

Upon completion of the DNP Program, students will be able to:

• Design care delivery models to guide entry level and advanced nursing practice based on the translation of scientific evidence.
• Translate scientific, theoretical, and ethical principles into healthcare for individuals, families, and populations.
• Assume complex leadership roles to advance clinical practice and healthcare delivery at the organizational and systems level and to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
• Disseminate evidence and outcomes to support high-quality healthcare delivery and ongoing scholarly nursing practice.
• Contribute to a culture of patient and provider quality and safety within the healthcare environment.
• Assume complex leadership roles including social and financial responsibilities within interprofessional teams to advance nursing practice and healthcare delivery.
• Demonstrate social and financial responsibilities within health related organizational systems.
• Appraise informatics and emerging technologies to improve healthcare delivery.
• Demonstrate an evolving professional identity that maximizes contributions to the advancement of the nursing profession and organizational systems.
• Develop continuous self-assessment behaviors that enhance personal and professional growth and capacity for leadership.

The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2025-2026 academic year. Tuition and fees and are subject to change annually based on approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and/or university.

The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis website.

Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.

University Scholarships and Financial Aid

Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships and other funding opportunities are available on UAB's Cost & Aid website.

UAB School of Nursing Scholarships

The UAB School of Nursing offers many scholarships, both need and merit based, to support nursing students across all programs. Scholarships are awarded twice a year, during the spring and fall semesters and requires just one application to be considered for all undergraduate or graduate scholarships. For more information or to start the scholarship application process, visit the SON Scholarship Application webpage.

Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships

There are a limited number of Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships that are awarded through the UAB School of Nursing that require students to meet specific requirements, and are only awarded when funds are available. When such funds are available in a particular program, students enrolled in the program will be notified and provided information on how to apply. Contact Katrina Staffney (email: KatrinaStaffney@uab.edu), for more information.

NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.

The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the DNP Program.

Application Requirements

• Prospective students must have a master’s degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
• For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
• International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course by course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials. Students may use one of the following firms for transcript evaluation; a report of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UAB School of Nursing prior to admission decisions.
  • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
    P.O. Box 514070
    Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
    Website: www.ece.org
  • World Education Services
    Bowling Green Station
    P.O. Box 5087
    New York, NY 10274-5087 USA
    Website: www.wes.org
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
• Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process. If the GRE was completed prior to application, only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
• Completion of a formal admission interview.
• Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores:
  • TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
  • IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.

The Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) with full continued accreditation through May 2031.

Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
Phone: 224-275-9130

The Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia also received IFNA Accreditation in August 2021 having completed all requirements of the Anesthesia Program Approval Process established by the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (Date of next review: July 2026).

We are dedicated to advancing and diversifying the nursing workforce, and as part of this mission, the UAB School of Nursing has partnered with five other leading colleges and universities in the Leadership Excel and Achievement Program (LEAP) -a pilot program designed to optimize the nurse anesthesia workforce.

Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent (e.g., entry level masters in nursing degree such as the UABSON Accelerated Master's in Nursing Pathway for individuals with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field) must be completed by the application deadline.
• Active, unencumbered/unrestricted registered nurse license in the state where you will be completing your coursework (didactic and clinical) is required to apply. If admitted, a multi-state compact license will be required before matriculation into the Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia.
• Both UAB and the School of Nursing must have current authorization to operate in the state.
• An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Post-BSN to DNP for Nurse Anesthesia applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in their prerequisite courses and a grade of ‘B’ or higher in all prerequisite courses.

• At least 11 months experience as an RN in a critical care setting by the July application interview, and continued employment in the critical care setting until pathway matriculation the following May. It is recommended that critical care experience fall within the past 4 years.
• Critical care experience - Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a US military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques.
• A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care, neonatal intensive care and neuro intensive care. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology. (COA Standards for Accreditation 2020)
• Three (3) letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant’s potential for graduate study.
• Standardized test score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)*.
  • There is no minimum score, however all sections of the GRE must be completed prior to application (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing).
  • Scores completed within the previous 5 years will be accepted and must be submitted to UAB (code 1856).
  • There is no Waiver Process for the Nurse Anesthesia DNP pathway, a GRE exam is required.
• Submission of evidence of ACLS and BLS certification within the application and certification must remain active during enrollment. PALS certification will be required at matriculation, if admitted.
• A personal interview with the selection committee.
• If admitted, a non-refundable $2000 deposit will be required to reserve a seat in the pathway.
• If admitted to the BSN-DNP NA program, students must show proof of completion of a descriptive statistics course with a “C” or better, equivalent to UAB’s MA-180, before starting the program.

Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state’s regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state. Only those students who reside in Alabama or those states where the UAB School of Nursing programs are available will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.

More information is available at the State Approval Website for Online Degree Programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Sample Program of Study^1,2,3

¹Program of Study is subject to change.
²All students are required to attend an annual On-Campus Intensive.
³Students will be expected to come on-campus for monthly program assessments, advisement, high fidelity simulation and team meetings during semesters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Upon completion of the DNP Program, students will be able to:

• Design care delivery models to guide entry level and advanced nursing practice based on the translation of scientific evidence.
• Translate scientific, theoretical, and ethical principles into healthcare for individuals, families, and populations.
• Assume complex leadership roles to advance clinical practice and healthcare delivery at the organizational and systems level and to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
• Disseminate evidence and outcomes to support high-quality healthcare delivery and ongoing scholarly nursing practice.
• Contribute to a culture of patient and provider quality and safety within the healthcare environment.
• Assume complex leadership roles including social and financial responsibilities within interprofessional teams to advance nursing practice and healthcare delivery.
• Demonstrate social and financial responsibilities within health related organizational systems.
• Appraise informatics and emerging technologies to improve healthcare delivery.
• Demonstrate an evolving professional identity that maximizes contributions to the advancement of the nursing profession and organizational systems.
• Develop continuous self-assessment behaviors that enhance personal and professional growth and capacity for leadership.

The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2025-2026 academic year. Tuition and fees and are subject to change annually based on approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and/or university.

The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis website.

Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.

University Scholarships and Financial Aid

Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships and other funding opportunities are available on UAB's Cost & Aid website.

UAB School of Nursing Scholarships

The UAB School of Nursing offers many scholarships, both need and merit based, to support nursing students across all programs. Scholarships are awarded twice a year, during the spring and fall semesters and requires just one application to be considered for all undergraduate or graduate scholarships. For more information or to start the scholarship application process, visit the SON Scholarship Application webpage.

Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships

There are a limited number of Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships that are awarded through the UAB School of Nursing that require students to meet specific requirements, and are only awarded when funds are available. When such funds are available in a particular program, students enrolled in the program will be notified and provided information on how to apply. Contact Katrina Staffney (email: KatrinaStaffney@uab.edu), for more information.

NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.

The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the DNP Program.

Application Requirements

• Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
• For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
• International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course by course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials. Students may use one of the following firms for transcript evaluation; a report of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UAB School of Nursing prior to admission decisions.
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  P.O. Box 514070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
  Website: www.ece.org
• World Education Services
  Bowling Green Station
  P.O. Box 5087
  New York, NY 10274-5087 USA
  Website: www.wes.org
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
• Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process. If the GRE was completed prior to application, only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
• Completion of a formal admission interview.
• Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores:
• TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
• IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.

Prospective students must:

• Prospective students should have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in nursing or its equivalent (e.g. Master’s Entry to Nursing) from a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution or an international equivalent. Applicants holding a degree in a non-nursing health-related discipline with a comparable level of education and professional certification will be considered on an individual basis.
• Prospective international students must demonstrate English language proficiency.
• Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Complete and submit a formal application to the PhD Program to include*:
  • Applicants should submit an official transcript from every college or university they have ever attended (even if for only one semester). Transcripts may be emailed electronically by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School at gradschool@uab.edu or mailed to:
    • UAB Graduate School
      LHL G03
      1720 2nd Ave. S.
      Birmingham, AL 35294-0013
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation: Letters should be from previous faculty (preferably within the past 5 years), supervisors, or healthcare professionals (excluding family members). It is highly preferred that at least one letter is from an individual with a research-focused doctoral degree.
  • A current Curriculum Vitae (CV/Resume).
  • A written personal statement/essay and/or completed essay questions as directed in the application process.
• Applicants will be invited to an interview if chosen by the admissions committee.

* Previous UABSON students that completed in the BSN Honors program within the last 3 years may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Please contact the UAB Office of Student Success at sonadmissions@uab.edu.

Application Deadline

Entry Date: Fall 2026

Application Opens: Mid-August 2025

Priority Admission Deadline: December 1, 2025

(Domestic and International Applicants)

International applicants must apply by the priority deadline of December 1, 2025.
Domestic applications submitted after the priority deadline will be considered on a space available basis up to February 1, 2026.

To be considered at each respective application deadline, all application materials must be received including those uploaded by external sources (e.g., letters of reference, transcripts).

Application Process

Click here to apply for admission to the PhD Program.

Click here for detailed application instructions.

Previous UABSON students that completed in the BSN Honors program within the last 3 years may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Please contact the UAB Office of Student Success at sonadmissions@uab.edu.

Upon completion of the PhD program, students will be able to:

Develop nursing science:

1. Mastery of a body of knowledge and the nursing discipline.
2. Critiquing and integrating difference science perspective and generating new ideas.
3. Conducting culturally competent, ethical, and original research.
4. Disseminating research findings to drive policy and nursing practice.

Steward the Discipline:

5. Disseminate science via publications and presentations.
6. Weave theoretical/scientific underpinnings into all efforts to integrate research, teaching and service.
7. Practice knowledge and culture of nursing.

Educate the Next Generation:

8. Participate in the global scholars’ community.
9. Participate in team science.
10. Provide mentorship and education to others.

Full-time students are required to be registered for a minimum of 9 hours each semester.

* All students are required to attend an annual Summer Intensive.

** The Program of Study is subject to change.

Part-time students must be registered for at least six hours each semester.

* All students are required to attend an annual Summer Intensive.

** The Program of Study is subject to change.

The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2025-2026 academic year. Tuition and fees and are subject to change annually based on approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and/or university.

The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis website.

Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.

University Scholarships and Financial Aid

Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships and other funding opportunities are available on UAB's Cost & Aid website.

UAB School of Nursing Scholarships

The UAB School of Nursing offers many scholarships, both need and merit based, to support nursing students across all programs. Scholarships are awarded twice a year, during the spring and fall semesters and requires just one application to be considered for all undergraduate or graduate scholarships. For more information or to start the scholarship application process, visit the SON Scholarship Application webpage.

Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships

There are a limited number of Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships that are awarded through the UAB School of Nursing that require students to meet specific requirements, and are only awarded when funds are available. When such funds are available in a particular program, students enrolled in the program will be notified and provided information on how to apply.

NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.

The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the PhD Program.

The School of Nursing PhD Program works closely with INTO UAB to provide international applicants with admissions support, academic preparation, English language training, and other supportive services designed to facilitate student success.

All applicants must meet the PhD Program Admission Requirements. The following are additional requirements for International applicants.

International Application Requirements

• Prospective students should have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in nursing or its equivalent (e.g. Master’s Entry to Nursing) from a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution or an international equivalent. Applicants holding a degree in a non-nursing health-related discipline with a comparable level of education and professional certification will be considered on an individual basis.
• Official foreign transcripts must be submitted directly from the higher education institution to UAB International Admissions for evaluation and equivalency of educational credentials. If you already have a WES or ECE we will accept it in lieu of sending your official transcript to UAB International Admissions. Please have WES or ECE send directly to UAB International Admissions.
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
• Completion of a formal admission interview, if selected.
• Meet English language requirements. Scores on Tests of English Language must be submitted and are used to determine direct entry into the PhD program or student placement in a one or two-semester pathway that includes English language coursework. The Nursing PhD program prefers the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo for English Proficiency consideration. A English Proficiency Exam waiver is available for eligible applicants. For more information about the English Proficiency Exam waiver click here and then make sure to click on the English Proficiency Exams section.
  • Requirements for Direct Admission:
    • TOEFL iBT 90 and minimum of 20 in each of the 4 test sections, or
    • IELTS 7.0 and minimum of 7.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections, or
    • Duolingo 140 overall score and 120 minimum in at least two of the four test sections.
  • Requirements for 1-Semester Pathway:
    • TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
    • IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections, or
    • Duolingo 120 overall score and 100 minimum in at least two of the four test sections.
  • Requirements for 2-Semester Pathway:
    • TOEFL iBT 70 and minimum of 16 in each of the 4 test sections, or
    • IELTS 6.0 and minimum of 5.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sessions, or
    • Duolingo 100 overall score and 80 minimum in at least two of the four test sections.

The Applications of Mixed Methods Research Certificate is designed to equip students with applied knowledge and skills necessary to plan, conduct, and evaluate mixed methods research within the context of a research topic of interest. The certificate may be completed post-doctorally as a non-degree student, or the certificate may be completed by students enrolled in the PhD program in nursing.

To achieve the graduate certificate, students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of coursework that includes: 1) the four required mixed methods courses; and 2) one elective courses.

Click here for more program information and instructions on how to apply to the Mixed Methods Research Certificate. The Certificate is awarded through the School of Health Professions.

Mixed Methods Certificate Courses and Offerings

For more information, contact:

Nataliya Ivankova, PhD

Mixed Methods Research  
Certificate Coordinator

nivankov@uab.edu205.996.2422