Beginning May 11, 2015, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing is moving to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) NursingCAS centralized application service for those applying to the Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs for Summer 2016 and beyond.NursingCAS partners with numerous nationally ranked colleges and schools of nursing to provide an online application to students, collect and process application documents, and verify transcripts on the school's behalf. It is designed to streamline the application process for students, allowing applicants to use a single online application and one set of materials, including official transcripts, to apply to multiple nursing programs at participating schools. The school receives complete and verified information from NursingCAS and is solely responsible for all admission decisions.
There are similar systems in place across the country for other health professions. Students can access the status of their application in real time from any computer with Internet access. Applicants also have one point of contact for customer service and technical support needs.
The School piloted an earlier version of NursingCAS with its Nurse Anesthesia master's specialty track in 2014. Its success and positive feedback from students were factors in the decision to implement the service for the entire master's in nursing and doctor of nursing practice programs.
"Ranked 13th in the nation for Best Graduate Nursing Schools by U.S. News & World Report, we will be able to access a more diverse student applicant pool through a national platform that promotes our School, as we continue to grow our master's and DNP programs," said Dean and Fay B. Ireland Chair in Nursing, Doreen C. Harper, PhD, RN, FAAN.
Potential students applying to MSN and DNP programs for the Summer 2016 application cycles should apply online using the NursingCAS application beginning Monday, May 11. The Fall 2016 semester will begin accepting applications mid-Summer 2015.
The Nurse Anesthesia Specialty Track began collecting applications through NursingCAS for the Fall 2016 semester in April 2015.
For more information on the MSN and DNP programs, as well as the Nurse Anesthesia Specialty Track, in the UAB School of Nursing click here.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about applying to the UAB School of Nursing using NursingCAS click here. For more information, contact the UAB School of Nursing Office of Student Affairs, 205.975.7529.
