Mar 28, 2024  
University Catalog 2014-2015 
    
University Catalog 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing, B.S.


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The professional nursing curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing. The undergraduate program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-2001. Some courses are open to non-majors who may find one or more courses helpful in achieving their own professional or personal goals.

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing is 180-192 units, of which 99-111 units are in the major. Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.

Admission to the Program


The Nursing major is an impacted program that requires students to meet supplemental admission criteria in order to be accepted into the major. Applicants to the Nursing major are screened competitively based on a variety of indicators. All students who wish to be accepted into the BS nursing major must submit an application to the School of Nursing between Sept 1 and January 1 of each academic year. The two BS options are the Pre-Licensure option and the RN BSN option. For both options, in addition to being admitted to CSULA, students must submit an application to the School of Nursing in order to be accepted into the major. Contact the School of Nursing for further details or look on the School of Nursing website: http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/nursing/index.htm

Basic Pre-Licensure BSN Program Option

The Pre-Licensure BSN option is for students who do not have an RN license. Entering freshman may be admitted as Undeclared with an Interest in Nursing through the admissions process if they designate Nursing as their intended major on CSU Mentor and meet the eligibility requirements. The requirements for admission as Undeclared with an Interest in Nursing for entering freshmen are a 3.0 high school GPA and an SAT score of 900 on the math and verbal portions of the exam. Students who are admitted as Undeclared with an Interest in Nursing must complete the prerequisites for admission to the program and be admitted to the program within 45 degree eligible units or they must select an alternative major. Students who select an alternate major after 45 units may still apply to the Nursing major. Continuing or transfer students must have a minimum of a 2.75 GPA in order to be admitted as Undeclared with an Interest in Nursing. In order to be admitted to the Pre-Licensure BSN option, students must meet the supplementary admission criteria, including completion of all the prerequisites for admission to the Nursing major specified on the School website, prior to submitting their application to the major.

RN BSN Transfer Program

The RN BSN Option is for students who possess a California R.N. License and an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Nursing or an NLNAC Accredited diploma. In order to be admitted to the RN BSN Option, students must meet the supplementary admission criteria, including completion of all the prerequisites for admission to the Nursing major specified below (and found on the School website) prior to acceptance into the major. Admission to the RN-BSN Program also requires a separate application with a copy of the CA RN license attached. The minimum GPA accepted from the transfer institution is 2.75.

Required Prerequisites (37 units)


The following courses are prerequisites for admission to The Bachelor of Nursing program: For both the Basic Pre-Licensure BSN student and the RN BSN transfer student:

General Information


 Students in the nursing program must carry university liability insurance, personal health insurance, and workers’ compensation when required by a clinical agency. Nursing students must have a valid California driver’s license and access to an automobile covered by appropriate automobile insurance. Prior to entering the first clinical lab, students must have a current CPR card, a physical examination, proof of immunity to rubella and hepatitis B and other specified infectious diseases, a two-step Mantoux skin test and a chest X-ray, if there is proof of a positive TB skin test.

Additional immunizations may be necessary if required by clinical agencies. Annual renewal of CPR certification, an annual physical examination and a two step Mantoux skin test or chest x-ray, if indicated, will be required. Information about professional behavior, clinical attire and picture identification regulations can be found in the undergraduate student handbook. All nursing students are required to complete a background check upon admission to the program.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully assess any personal criminal background before applying to the School of Nursing. Nursing students must have a cleared background check that is acceptable to clinical agencies after acceptance to the School of Nursing. Since the California State Board of Nursing makes the final determination on eligibility for licensure, a positive background check may be a barrier to licensure, certification and employment.

School Regulations


  • Students in the Nursing major must maintain good academic standing and attain grades of C or better in all nursing courses and in all natural and social science courses prerequisite or corequisite to the major. Nursing courses and prerequisite science courses for which the student earns less than a grade of C may be repeated only once, and then with instructor consent. Students who receive a C- or lower in the same course for the second time or receive a C- or lower in three separate courses will not be allowed to continue in the BSN program. To meet the requirement of continuing satisfactory performance, students on academic probation are not permitted to enroll in a nursing course until the probation has been removed.
  • Students may not enroll in any course that requires other nursing prerequisites unless the prerequisite courses are completed with grades of C or better.
  • Basic nursing students must take at least two diagnostic readiness tests for the R.N. Licensure Examination (NCLEX) at their own expense, one prior to NURS 486 and one while enrolled in NURS 486.

Requirements for the Major (99-111 units)


The Pre-Licensure Nursing major requires a total of 192 units, including 60 units of lower division GE (which may include 28 units of prerequisites for the pre-licensure option) and 12 units of upper division General Education, 4 units of other University requirements (English 102), 13 units of additional prerequisites, 26 units of Upper Division Common Core Nursing courses, 69 units in required courses in nursing, and 16 units in related fields (8 units of which may double count with GE).

The RN BSN Option requires 180 units: including 60 units of lower division General Education courses (which may include 24 units of prerequisites for the RN BSN option); 12 units of upper division General Education; 4 units of English 102; 2 units of HHS 301; 9 units of additional prerequisites; 12 units of required coursework in related fields (8 units of which may double count with lower division GE); 26 units of Common Core Upper Division Nursing courses; and 62 units in upper and lower division required courses in nursing. The following RN BSN requirements can be met through transfer units from a community college: 60 units of lower division General Education courses (including the prerequisites), 12 units of nursing related courses; 45 units of lower division nursing courses; and 4 units of English 102. The following courses are required to be completed at CSULA: Twenty-six units of Common Core for all BSN majors; seventeen units of upper division nursing courses in the RN BSN option; twelve units of upper division General Education; two units of HHS 301 and any electives needed to achieve the 180 units for graduation. See Undergraduate Studies: General Information for details about General Education and other requirements that constitute the units outside the major.

Pre-Licensure BSN (85 units)


RN BSN Option (74 units)


Required Lower Division Courses (45 units)


Students in the RN BSN Transfer program meet their lower division required courses by passing the NCLEX exam for which they receive 45 nursing units of transfer credit.

Nursing, B.S., Accelerated


The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) is for applicants who already possess a baccalaureate degree in another field, but do not possess an RN license.  This program is for students who are interested in a full-time intensive accelerated program to earn a second baccalaureate, the BSN degree.

In order to be admitted to the ABSN Program, students must submit a separate application to the School of Nursing and meet the supplementary admission criteria listed below, including completion of all the prerequisites for admission to the nursing major specified below (and found on the School website http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/nursing/ELM_adm.php).

Application to the ABSN Program will require an interview and on-site writing sample for those who meet the eligibility criteria.  Required upper division courses for the ABSN will be offered through special sessions via extended education.  

The ABSN Program requires 129 quarter units: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university in another field, 37 units of prerequisite courses, 16 units in related fields and 76 units of nursing upper division major courses.  Students will complete the requirements for the BSN degree after successful completion of the prerequisites and nursing major and related courses for the ASBN listed below. 

Students wanting to pursue a graduate degree will be conditionally accepted into the traditional MS degree program if the admission requirements are met: Completion of the ABSN with a 3.0 GPA, success in passing the R.N. Licensure Examination, and an application to the university MS program. 

Admission Requirements for the ABSN


Applicants who possess a baccalaureate (or higher) degree in another field but who do not possess an RN must meet the following admission
requirements:

•           Completion of bachelor’s (or higher) degree in another field

•           Completion of supplementary application form to the SON

•           Minimum GPA 3.0 in last 90 units

•           Completion of prerequisite science courses at 3.0 level

Completion of all other prerequisite courses at C level

•           A selected test of basic academic skills administered by the School of Nursing will be required prior to consideration for admission
            into the program.

•           Top ranking applicants will be invited for an interview and on-site writing sample. Admission decisions will be made after this process.

Prerequisite Courses (37 units)


Prior to beginning the Accelerated BSN program students must have completed the following courses or their equivalents as approved by the School of Nursing:

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