Applicants seeking admission to the PhD degree program at East Tennessee State University must fulfill all the requirements for admission to both the School of Graduate Studies and the College of Nursing. The School of Graduate Studies requires that all students submit the following materials:

• A completed application form with payment of a nonrefundable application fee.
• Two official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
• A written essay.

In addition, the College of Nursing requirements for admission to the PhD degree program include:

• A master's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4 point scale. *
• Submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores;
• Licensure in the United States as a registered nurse and eligibility for licensure in the state of Tennessee. *
• At least two years of full-time work experience in nursing as a registered nurse (or the equivalent).
• Three letters of recommendation, one from the applicant's current (or most recent) supervisor, one from a faculty member who worked directly with the applicant during previous graduate study, and one from an individual selected by the applicant.
• Completion of an interview.
• Completion of a writing sample on a selected topic, at the time of interview.
• A cover letter expressing the applicant's personal goals for doctoral study (unless clearly articulated in the written essay requested by the university).
• A resume or vita, as appropriate

*Or equivalency for international students

The completed application form and fee, official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work, essay, and additional documentation required of international students (if applicable), documentation of nursing licensure in the U.S., letters of recommendation, and resume/vita must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. The personal interview and time for preparing the writing sample will be scheduled by the College of Nursing PhD Admissions Committee.

Factors given consideration in the admission decision include: previous graduate grade point average, level of GRE performance, clarity of goals for doctoral study as stated in writing and during the interview, writing ability, professional work experience and achievements, professional honors and awards, interest in rural and underserved population groups, and quality of references/recommendations. The PhD Admissions Committee may admit a promising applicant, who has not met all the admission requirements, on a conditional basis.