Program Specific Admissions Requirements

In addition to the admissions requirements, the following programs have supplemental requirements:

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership, Culture and Change

Students are eligible for degree program admission and course enrollment using the following admissions criteria:

Master’s degree in management, education, human resource management, training and development and organizational development, and/or closely related fields earned from a regionally accredited college or university
Graduate GPA of 3.0 or above
Assessment of prior academic coursework
Minimum three years of leadership, management, corporate, higher education and consulting or equivalent professional experience
Evaluation of graduate school application including undergraduate and graduate academic transcripts, essay and resume
Applicant interview
Official Transcripts should be sent to the Office of the Registrar. Upload essays and/or resumes here

Ed.D. Entry Terms:

Students start in either the January or July term.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Professional Studies

For admission to our Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Professional Studies program, you must have:

21–30 transferable doctoral credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Alignment with one of TESU’s approved disciplines, such as:
- Education Administration: School, district, or higher ed leadership.
- Human Resources and Training: Workforce development, training, employee engagement.
- Management and Leadership: Strategic leadership, executive management.
- Information Technology and Systems: Cybersecurity, systems management, digital transformation.
- Emergency Management: Disaster preparedness, public safety leadership.
- Industrial Production and Operations: Logistics, quality improvement, supply chain.
- Social and Community Services: Nonprofit and public service leadership.
- Business Operations and Consulting: Policy analysis, project management, human resource systems.

Required documents: official doctoral transcripts, résumé/CV, and alignment statements.

Admissions interview: conducted to confirm program alignment.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

MSN degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution and a nationally accredited school of nursing. (CCNE, CNEA or ACEN) OR BSN degree from a nationally accredited school of nursing and Master’s degree in a related discipline from a regionally accredited higher education institution
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the Master’s program
Names and contact information for two (2) academic and/or professional references
Well-written statement of background and goals – (instructions)
Well-written scholarly essay – (instructions)
Relevant professional work experience recommended
Applicants must have an active RN license from the United States
Current résumé
After you have completed your application, please upload your statement of background and goals, essay, and resume
Interview with Admissions Committee

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA):

Students are eligible for degree program admission and course enrollment using the following admissions criteria:

Master’s degree in business, management, organizational-related studies, or closely related field earned from an institutionally accredited college or university recognized under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy and Guidelines

Graduate GPA of 3.0 or above
Assessment of prior academic course work and research methods
Minimum of three years of organizational leadership, management, or equivalent professional experience
Evaluation of graduate school application including undergraduate and master's academic transcripts, essay, and resume
Transcripts should be sent to the Office of the Registrar; upload essays and/or resumes here.
Applicant interview
Applicants must complete three essays.

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MA): General Requirements

A GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into this program. Students who do not meet the 3.0 threshold may be considered for restricted admission by submitting a resume and personal statement for the consideration of the Admissions Committee. Students admitted in a restricted status will be evaluated upon successful completion of 6 credit hours of graduate coursework in program with a 3.0 GPA.
Applicants should submit a Site Supervisor Form with their application.
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MA): Building Leadership Program: All applicants must have three years of successful educational experience in a public or nonpublic school/district, or an institutionally accredited higher educational setting.
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MA): District Leadership Program: All applicants must have three years of successful educational experience under a valid New Jersey (or equivalent out-of-state) certificate.

Master of Business Administration (MBA):

Master of Business Administration (MBA) with area of study in Accounting:
For the MBA in Accounting, 12 credit hours in undergraduate accounting are required with an equivalent to Intermediate Accounting I and II.

Master of Science in Accounting (MS):

Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting must have competed 24 credit hours in accounting in the following classes (a minimum of 3 credit hours per class):

Financial Accounting
Intermediate Accounting I
Intermediate Accounting II
Auditing I
Cost Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Federal Taxation I
Accounting for Municipals and not for profit organizations/ or Accounting information system.

Master of Science in Management, with a Concentration in Accounting (MS):

A minimum of 12 credit hours in accounting.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN):

Bachelor’s degree must be a BSN.
Applicants must possess a valid unencumbered U.S. RN License.
A minimum of two years of nursing experience is recommended.

MSN, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP):

Applications for the PMHNP program can be submitted at any time but are only reviewed during application cycles. Applications expire after one year.

Application Cycle Program Start
September – November January
November – January March
March – May July
May – July September

The PMHNP program is not part of the RN-BSN/MSN program. Students must apply to the PMHNP program and submit all required documents to be considered for admission.

Active, unencumbered RN license valid in the United States
Official transcript showing conferred BSN degree (must be from a regionally accredited institution or recognized foreign transcript evaluation service)
Current professional resume

Personal statement (describing background and goals)

Approximately 750 words using APA format and citations where applicable
Your professional and personal goals as a provider of psychiatric mental health care
Your reasons for selecting the PMHNP program at Thomas Edison State University
How you expect the PMHNP program will help you achieve your goals
Briefly discuss your position on the current state of access to mental health care services
This statement is an important part of your application for admission. It allows the PMHNP admissions committee to evaluate the clarity of your goals and your suitability for the program. In this context, you may wish to briefly summarize any employment, community involvement, personal history, and accomplishments that helped shape your decision. Explain as precisely as possible what you hope to do when you complete the PMNHP degree.

Personal interview
TOEFL scores (if applicable)

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) should be added here

The FNP program offers three start terms each year: January, May, and September. Applications for the FNP program can be submitted at any time, but they are only reviewed during specific application cycles. Applications expire after one year. Admission to NP programs is competitive, and meeting the admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the programs.

The FNP program is not part of the RN-BSN/MSN program. Students must apply to the FNP program and submit all required documents to be considered for admission.

Active, unencumbered RN license valid in the United States
Official transcript showing conferred BSN degree (must be from a nationally accredited institution or recognized foreign transcript evaluation service)
Current professional resume

The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions accepts and upholds the mission of the University in providing distinctive undergraduate and graduate education for self-directed adults through flexible, high-quality collegiate learning and assessment opportunities.

In a 500–750-word essay, respond to the following questions. Please cite your work where applicable.

Explain how you have demonstrated self-directed learning in your academic or professional experiences.
Discuss your commitment to making a positive impact on your community as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Describe how you plan to utilize your professional network to build relationships with healthcare professionals in your desired practice setting and community to achieve your professional goals.