Academic Catalog

Graduation

Graduation Information

It is the responsibility of students to verify eligibility for graduation with their academic support advisor. Degree conferral will occur on the official conferral date immediately following the completion of all coursework and other degree requirements.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation candidates must fulfill all financial obligations to Adtalem Global Education and complete loan exit counseling. Failure to complete loan exit counseling may result in a hold on students’ records (see Loan Exit Counseling).

Completion of a nursing program does not guarantee the graduate’s ability to take the NCLEX-RN®. Authorization to take the NCLEX-RN rests solely with the state Board of Nursing.

Students seeking licensure outside the U.S. should contact the country’s nursing regulatory body for requirements and information on practicing as a nurse in their country.

Graduation Honors

In order to be considered for honors at graduation, a graduate of the BSN program must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours in residence with a CGPA of 3.3. Summa Cum Laude, the highest honor, requires a CGPA of 3.8 or above. Students with a CGPA between 3.5 and 3.79 will graduate Magna Cum Laude, and those with a CGPA between 3.3 and 3.49 will graduate Cum Laude. President’s Honors will be awarded to BSN students who graduate with a CGPA of 3.5 or above and have fewer than 60 credit hours in residence. A student who has graduated from a doctorate or graduate degree program must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours in residence. Doctorate or graduate degree students with a CGPA of 4.0 will graduate with the designation “With High Distinction” and those with a CGPA from 3.85 to 3.99 will graduate with the designation “With Distinction.”

All coursework completed (including the last semester of study) will be included in the calculation of graduation honors. The official graduation honors will be notated on the student’s transcript.

Commencement

Students completing graduation requirements are invited to participate in the commencement exercises following completion of their program. For pre-licensure students, commencement exercises are held at least once during the academic year. Post-Licensure, graduate and public health commencement exercises are held twice a year virtually. In order to participate in the commencement exercises, a student must have fulfilled all financial obligations to Chamberlain. To order your Chamberlain graduation regalia, visit jostens.com/chamberlain.

Undergraduate Program Licensure Application Requirements

Completion of a nursing program does not guarantee the graduate’s eligibility to take NCLEX-RN®. Graduates must apply to take the NCLEX-RN by submitting all application materials to the state board of nursing in the state in which they wish to become licensed.

NCLEX-RN exam materials are available on site for the states in which Chamberlain is located. Graduates planning to take the NCLEX-RN exam in another state are responsible for contacting the appropriate state board of nursing to obtain application materials.

Upon request, official transcripts and/or certificates of completion can be issued by the registrar to the state board of nursing after degree conferral.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree – 1221 Curriculum

The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the degree program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of 122 credit hours, including 66 credits in nursing for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, 64 for the RN to BSN option and 56 for the Military to BSN Degree Option.1
  • Complete 25 percent2 or at least 39 credit hours in residence at Chamberlain for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, 30 for the RN to BSN option3 and 48 for the Military to BSN Degree Option.
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C” grade in each nursing and science4 course and a minimum 2.0 CGPA.
1

For the RN to BSN option, 123 credit hours, including 65 credits in nursing for Washington residents, and students residing in California or Minnesota seeking to obtain a certificate in public health nursing from the CA or MN Board of Nursing. See your academic support advisor for more information. 

2

Students enrolled in a degree and certificate program above the associate degree level at a Virginia location or who are located in Virginia and enrolled in the BSN Online program, are required to earn at least 30 percent of the program’s required credit hours through coursework completed at Chamberlain.

3

Students located in Virginia at the time of application are required to complete 30 percent of the program in residence, which is 37 credit hours.

4

Science elective courses follow the general education coursework grading scale.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree – 126 Curriculum (California Only)

The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the degree program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of 126 credit hours, including 70 credits in nursing.
  • Complete 25 percent or at least 42 credit hours in residence at Chamberlain.
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C” grade in each nursing and science1 course and a minimum 2.0 CGPA.
1

Science elective courses follow the general education coursework grading scale.

Master of Science in Nursing Degree & Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree

The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the degree program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of 36 credit hours in the MSN degree program, 30 credit hours in the Accelerated MSN option and 37 credit hours in the Accelerated MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership option, 45 credit hours in the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner and MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Tracks, 48 hours in the MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track, 47 credit hours in the MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track, or 40 credit hours in the DNP degree program.
  • Complete at least 30 credit hours in residence at Chamberlain in the MSN and DNP degree programs and 24 credit hours in the Accelerated MSN option, 31 credit hours in the Accelerated MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership option. MSN alumni who graduated from the Healthcare Policy, Nurse Educator, Nurse Executive, Nursing Informatics and Population Health Specialty Tracks may return and earn a second MSN in the Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty Tracks and must complete an additional 30 hours in residence1.
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C” grade in each graduate course and a minimum 3.0 CGPA.
1

Students located in Missouri at the time of application are required to complete 75 percent of the program in residence, which is outlined for the following programs: 
• MSN Family Nurse Practitioner and MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Tracks – 34 credit hours
• MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track and MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track – 36 credit hours

Accelerated RN to MSN Option and Accelerated RN to MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership Option

The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the degree program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of 45 credit hours in the Accelerated RN to MSN option and 52 credit hours in the Accelerated RN to MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership option.
  • Complete a minimum of 39 credit hours in residence at Chamberlain in the Accelerated RN to MSN option and 46 credit hours in the Accelerated RN to MSN with Clinical Nursing Leadership option.
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C” grade in each graduate course and a minimum 3.0 CGPA.

Certificate Programs – Post-Baccalaureate and Graduate

The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the certificate program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of: 18 credit hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership Foundations; 33 credit hours in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate program; 35 credit hours in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate program; 36 credit hours in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Certificate program; 36 credit hours in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certificate program; 12 credit hours in the Healthcare Policy Certificate program without Practicum; 18 credit hours in the Healthcare Policy Certificate program with Practicum; 12 credit hours in the MSN Nursing Education Certificate program; 181 credit hours in the Nursing Education with Practicum and the Nursing Informatics with Practicum Certificate programs; 9 credit hours in the Nursing Informatics Certificate program; 12 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership program without Practicum; 18 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership program with Practicum; 12 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Population Health program without Practicum; 18 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Population Health program with Practicum.
  • Complete a minimum of: 12 credit hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership Foundations; 18 credit hours in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate program; 20 credit hours in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate program; 21 credit hours in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Certificate program; 18 credit hours in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certificate program; 6 credit hours in the Healthcare Policy Certificate program without Practicum; 12 credit hours in the Healthcare Policy Certificate program with Practicum; 6 credit hours in the MSN Nursing Education Certificate program; 121 credit hours in the Nursing Education with Practicum and the Nursing Informatics with Practicum Certificate programs; 6 credit hours in the Nursing Informatics Certificate program; 6 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership program without Practicum; 12 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership program with Practicum; 6 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Population Health program without Practicum; 12 credit hours in the Graduate Certificate in Population Health program with Practicum in residence at Chamberlain2.
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C” grade in each graduate course and a minimum 3.0 CGPA.
1

15 credit hours for students enrolled prior to March 2017

2

Students located in Missouri at the time of application are required to complete 75 percent of the program in residence, which is outlined for the following programs: 

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership Foundations – 14 credit hours
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate program – 23 credit hours
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate program – 
24 credit hours
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Certificate and 
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Certificate 
programs – 25 credit hours
• Healthcare Policy Certificate program without Practicum – 9 credit hours
• Healthcare Policy Certificate program with Practicum – 14 credit hours
• MSN Nursing Education Certificate program – 9 credit hours
• Nursing Education with Practicum and the Nursing Informatics with Practicum Certificate programs – 14 credit hours
• Nursing Informatics Certificate program – 7 credit hours
• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership program without Practicum – 9 credit hours
• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership program with Practicum – 14 credit hours
• Graduate Certificate in Population Health program without Practicum – 9 credit hours
• Graduate Certificate in Population Health program with Practicum – 14 credit hours.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies Degree

Graduation requirements are as follows:
The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the degree program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of 109 credit hours for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program.
  • Complete at least 85 credit hours in residence at Chamberlain.
  • Achieve a minimum 3.0 CGPA.

Master of Public Health Degree

The minimum requirements for graduation from the MPH program are as follows. The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the degree program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of 43 credit hours in the MPH degree program1.
  • Complete at least 36 credit hours in residence at Chamberlain in the Master of Public Health degree program.
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C-” grade in each graduate course and a minimum 3.0 CGPA.
1

44 credit hours if the student was provisionally accepted. 42 credit hours for students enrolled prior to May 2021.

Certificate Programs – Post-Baccalaureate - Public Health

The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework within the certificate program of study.
  • Complete a minimum of 16 credit hours of coursework in the Public Health Generalist certificate (17 credit hours if admitted provisionally).1
  • Complete a minimum of 13 credit hours of coursework in the Public Health Generalist certificate (14 credit hours if admitted provisionally).
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C-” grade in each certificate course and a minimum 3.0 CGPA.

Research Requirement
The Master of Public Health program does not require completion of a formal research product (thesis, dissertation or research project). However, an integrative learning experience requirement is part of the final coursework deliverables and is conducted concurrently with the applied practice experience.

Qualifying or Comprehensive Examination
The Master of Public Health program does not require demonstration of a formal qualifying or comprehensive examination. However, multiple course examinations and evidence-based research papers are threaded throughout the Master of Public Health curriculum, and a culminating experience and final e-portfolio are course requirements and deliverables at the end of the program

1

15 credit hours for students enrolled prior to May 2021.

Master of Social Work Degree

The student must:

  • Complete all required coursework in the program of study.
  • Complete the minimum required credit hours in the MSW degree program (60 credit hours for Traditional Option or 36 credit hours for the Advanced Standing Option).
  • Complete a minimum of 45 credit hours in the Traditional Option and 30 credit hours in the Advanced Standing Option in residence at Chamberlain in the MSW degree program.
  • Complete all required fieldwork/practicum experiences.
  • Achieve a minimum of a “C” grade in each graduate course and a minimum 3.0 CGPA.