WGU RN to MSN if the ultimate goal is a PhD in nursing research?

[Raviepoo]

I have a degree in another subject and I am finishing my ASN after working as an LPN for a few years. I would ultimately like to earn a PhD in nursing research. For now, I want to finish a BSN. One of my instructors said that anyone who already has a Bachelors degree in another field should go into a RN to MSN program. I was thinking about the WGU RN to MSN program. I was once a classroom instructor and a danged good one.My only worry is that I won't get into a PhD program with a degree from WGU because there are no grades given.

Can anyone tell me anything about this? Has anyone gone on to higher education after getting a degree at WGU?

[777RN, BSN, RN]

Hi Raviepoo!

I have similar goals and did a bit of research on this. For what it's worth, here's a short list of the minimum GPA requirements for some upper-tier PhD nursing programs:

New York University, 3.0

Yale, none specified

Duke, none specified

University of Michigan, 3.0

UCLA, 3.5

UC Irvine, 3.5

University of Pennsylvania, none specified

So, while it seems that some do have specific requirements above the WGU 3.0 threshold, many do not.

I will be curious to learn what you decide.

[Valens]

Not specific to PhD, but I'm starting the pre-licensure BSN with WGU in Oct. This will be my second Bachelor's degree. My concern was moving on to an MSN at a different institution. I'd recommend what was recommended to me: contact the schools you think you might be interested in pursuing your PhD with now, and ask them about their acceptance policy/ history with WGU. My school of choice has already worked with and accepted WGU graduates (the "Pass" from WGU equates to a B-average, so a 3.0). That was my concern, it was alleviated, so I'm moving forward with their program.