Graduate Information About the Curriculum

Graduate Degree Requirements

All candidates for graduate degrees must complete the following requirements:

• A minimum of 30 credit hours, of which at least 21 hours must be completed at Nebraska Wesleyan.
• Completion of degree program course requirements, as specified by the pertinent program.
• Completion of a Master's Capstone, which must be taken through Nebraska Wesleyan.
• A minimum GPA of 2.67 with a minimum grade of “B-” for courses meeting graduate program requirements.

Residency Requirement

Students earning a graduate degree must complete at least 21 hours of graduate work toward the degree at Nebraska Wesleyan. The Master's Capstone must be taken as part of the minimum 21 hours at NWU.

Time Limit/Catalog Determination of Degree Requirements

Students must complete all coursework in their master’s degree plan within 10 years from the time of matriculation in the degree program. The catalog for students following the 2023-2024 catalog requirements will expire the last day of the summer term 2033.

Note: Any degree completion limits for the master’s degrees can be extended for the length of documented military deployment.

Students must meet graduation requirements stipulated in the catalog under which they first matriculate in their master’s degree program. However, students may select requirements announced in a subsequent catalog instead of those in effect when they first matriculated. If a course listed under a student’s degree requirements is no longer offered, it will be replaced with a course determined by the program.

Any modifications to degree requirements must be submitted by the student on a Modification of Program Requirements form. These requests must include a rationale detailing the need for the program modification and then be approved by both the Graduate Program Director and Dean of Graduate Programs.

Academic Degree & Certificate Programs

Nebraska Wesleyan also offers two additional degree options for graduate students. 

1. For those who wish to concurrently earn a Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration there is a 55-credit-hour online program that equips students to respond to increasing responsibilities for business operations in the health care industry.
2. Students with a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in management or leadership can earn an MBA much faster with Nebraska Wesleyan’s 24-credit-hour MSN to MBA Bridge.

Graduate Certificates Requirements

The following requirements apply to students who are seeking a graduate certificate from Nebraska Wesleyan University:

• To begin a certificate program, any program admission requirements must be met. For all certificates, an official transcript is required verifying completion of a bachelor's degree with a 2.00 GPA (or master's degree with 2.67 GPA for post-master's certificates).
• All certificates require a minimum of 12 credit hours (refer to requirements of the specific certificate, as some certificates require more credit hours).  All requirements must be met, unless specific credits are waived or substituted by the program director.
• A maximum of 3 credit hours may be transferred to Nebraska Wesleyan to apply toward the certificate. Transfer of credit must be approved by program coordinator, and requires a grade of "B-" or better.
• A minimum GPA of 2.67 with a minimum grade of "B-" in courses meeting the certificate is required.
• A certificate must be completed within 10 years of the time of starting in the program. However, NWU reserves the right to discontinue or change certificate programs if students do not have continuous enrollment.
• Six credits of a graduate or post-master's certificate may also be applied toward the student's master degree at Nebraska Wesleyan.

Certificate Completion Verification

Nebraska Wesleyan transcripts certify completion of certificates and a certificate document is distributed to students. Certificate completion is not recognized at NWU commencement or hooding ceremonies; students earning a certificate are not eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies, unless also earning a degree.

Earning a Second Master’s Degree

Second Master’s Degree for Nebraska Wesleyan Master’s Graduates
A Nebraska Wesleyan master’s graduate wishing to earn a second master’s degree must meet all requirements for the second master’s degree. A maximum of 12 hours of program-approved credit from the first master’s degree may be used toward the second master’s degree. The culminating research/internship/major project of the two degrees must be distinct.

Master’s Degree at Nebraska Wesleyan for Master’s Graduates from Another Institution
A person wishing to earn a master’s degree at Nebraska Wesleyan who has already received a master’s degree from another regionally accredited institution must complete at least 21 hours of graduate work at Nebraska Wesleyan. The degree shall not be in the same discipline as the degree the student has previously earned. Fulfillment of all program requirements is required. The culminating research/internship/major project must be earned through Nebraska Wesleyan.

Graduate Common Institutional Learning Outcomes (gCILOs)

There are four Graduate Common Institutional Learning Outcomes (gCILOs) that define what all Wesleyan graduate students will know and be able to do when they graduate.

Advanced Knowledge
NWU graduate students will demonstrate appropriate mastery of knowledge in the degree field.

Applied Learning
NWU graduate students will demonstrate the appropriate disciplinary skills in the field by integrating knowledge with practice.

Critical Inquiry and Reflective Practice
NWU graduate students will demonstrate critical inquiry and/or reflective practice at an advanced level.

Ethical and Professional Conduct
NWU graduate students will demonstrate ethical and responsible professional conduct in their discipline.

Graduation

Each student is responsible for making certain he or she has met all degree requirements. Faculty advising and a check system by the Registrar’s Office help students monitor their progress toward graduation.

Graduation Application

Students apply for graduation through Self Service online graduation application  (both undergraduate and graduate). The graduation application is available for undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 90 credit hours; graduate students have no minimum credit hour requirements to apply for graduation. A student should apply for the graduation date they plan to have degree requirements finished. The graduation application deadlines are:

• November 15 for May graduation
• May 15 for December graduation (eligible to walk during the following May commencement ceremony)

Students will be required to complete a Petition for a Late Graduation Application if they do not meet the deadline for the semester they are submitting an application for. The form will be routed to their Advisor for approval.

Students should check their progress toward completing degree requirements using Self Service>Student Planning>My Progress. It is the student’s ultimate responsibility to verify and complete all NWU degree requirements set forth in the university course catalog which they matriculated under.

Graduation will be certified when all academic requirements are complete. May graduation requirements must be completed by September 1. December graduation requirements must be completed by February 1.

Candidacy for Graduation

In order to be a candidate for graduation, a student must file his or her graduation application in the Registrar’s Office. Graduation applications are due on November 15 of the previous year for students graduating in May and May 15 of the year students intend to graduate in December.

The faculty recommends graduation candidates to the Nebraska Wesleyan Board of Governors for approval.

Nebraska Wesleyan confers degrees twice per year, in December and May; however, graduation ceremonies are held only once a year, in May. All candidates are encouraged to participate in the commencement ceremony; however, students have the option of graduating in absentia.

No student is allowed to participate as a graduation candidate in more than one commencement ceremony unless returning for a second degree. If a student was published in the commencement ceremony program, but did not attend the commencement, they are not allowed to participate in a later ceremony (unless returning for a second degree). Students will receive their diploma when all graduation requirements are met, but the student will not be allowed to be published in or walk in more than one commencement ceremony.

Graduation Policy

 A commencement ceremony is held once a year, in May.  Students are eligible to walk in the ceremony if they completed their degree in the previous December, will complete all degree requirements in the spring semester, or have 9 credit hours or less to complete remaining degree requirements (these remaining degree requirements must be completed in the summer semester following the May ceremony). 

To be eligible to walk in the commencement ceremony with outstanding (remaining) degree requirements, a student can have no more than 9 credit hours of degree requirements to be completed during the summer semester following the ceremony.  

A student is not allowed to participate in the May ceremony if they have more than 9 credit hours of degree requirements remaining at the time of commencement.  Students with more than 9 credit hours of degree requirements remaining at the time of the May ceremony will be considered December graduates, and the student is eligible to walk in the following May commencement after the remaining requirements are completed.

Student Right-to-Know Act

In accordance with the Student Right-to-Know Act of 1993, Nebraska Wesleyan’s student persistence/graduation rates are available for disclosure to current and prospective students, employees, and interested community members. Students can find more information about the Student Right-to-Know Act here or at the Registrar’s Office for this information.