Admission to Master’s Program
Students may gain admission to the MS in Nursing program through the traditional master’s program or through the Blended Master’s Program. The admission requirements for these programs are specified below.
Students who have completed the Accelerated Bachelor of Science program at CSULA and are pursuing admission to the MS in Nursing program will be conditionally admitted for a period of up to 2 years from completion of the degree.
Acceptance to the graduate program in Nursing occurs once each year in the Fall Quarter. Students first apply to the university and then separately, complete the school of Nursing MSN application. A personal interview and/or onsite written assignment may also be required as components of the application process.
Applicants must fulfill the following prerequisites and criteria:
• Equivalent of requirements for Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited program in effect at the time of admission as a graduate;
• Minimum B (3.0) grade point average in upper division nursing courses;
• 3.0 grade point average in the last 90 quarter units attempted;
• Completion of a second application to the School of Nursing including 3 references and an essay;
• Completion of a statistics course which is four quarter units or more and includes inferential statistics content;
• NURS 490 or equivalent undergraduate nursing research course;
• For NP students: Completion of a recent basic physical assessment course; Current licensure to practice nursing as an RN in California
and cleared background check.
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. Prior to entering the first clinical lab, students must have university liability insurance, current American Heart Association CPR card, a satisfactory annual physical examination, proof of immunity to specified infectious diseases, an initial 2 step Mantoux skin test and a chest x-ray if there is evidence of a positive TB skin test. Drug screening may be requested depending on agency requirements.
School Regulations
Per university policy MSN students are required to maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0. In addition, in the School of Nursing, students who on their graduate program of study receive, a C- or lower in the same course for the second time or receive a C- or lower in two separate courses will not be allowed to continue in the MSN program.
Admission to Blended Master’s Program
BLENDED PROGRAM SUSPENDED UNTIL 2014
The Blended Master’s Program combines undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework and may lead to the awarding of a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing in addition to the M.S. Degree in Nursing, provided that all requirements for the B.S. in Nursing are met. The School of Nursing offers two tracks in the Blended Master’s program. After completion of undergraduate requirements the students select one of the options in the MS in Nursing program.
Track I. Admission Requirements to the Blended Master’s Program for RNs with a Non-Nursing Baccalaureate
• A baccalaureate from an accredited institution with a major other than nursing;
• An A.A. or A.S. degree in nursing from an accredited college or an NLN-accredited diploma program;
• Completion of current B.S. Degree in Nursing course prerequisites;
• Eligibility for university admission in conditionally classified graduate standing;
• A minimum 2.75 grade point average in the last 90 quarter units attempted; and
• Current licensure to practice nursing in California and university liability insurance.
To continue in the blended program, students must:
• Complete one year of clinical employment as an RN before they enroll in NURS 470/471 and
• Maintain a minimum B (3.0) grade point average in and complete required upper division nursing courses to qualify for classified graduate standing.
Requirements for Second Baccalaureate
A bachelor’s degree is conferred in this accelerated master’s degree program only to students who fulfill current general education requirements for a second bachelor’s degree in addition to the nursing major undergraduate requirements
Track II. Admission Requirements for the Blended Master’s Program for RNs without a Baccalaureate
• An A.A. or A.S. degree in nursing from an accredited college or an NLN-accredited diploma program with a minimum 2.75 grade point average
• Completion of current B.S. degree in nursing course prerequisites
• Current licensure to practice nursing in California and university liability insurance
• To qualify for classified graduate standing, students pursuing this accelerated program must:
• Complete one year of clinical employment as an RN
• Complete all required baccalaureate nursing courses
• Maintain a minimum B (3.0) grade point average in required upper division nursing courses
Undergraduate Requirements for Track I and Track II:
RNs with a Non-Nursing Baccalaureate and RNs without a Baccalaureate
A total of 180 units is required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, which is conferred concurrently with the Master of Science Degree in Nursing*.
*If after completion of all general education, university and nursing major requirements, additional units are required for graduation, it is recommended that students complete up to six units in nursing elective courses. See the Undergraduate Studies: General Information chapter for details about general education and other requirements that constitute the units outside the major.
Prerequisites (33 units)
The following courses are prerequisites to the nursing major:
Note:
**Students entering with 4 or more semester units (6 or more quarter units) of credit from an accredited college for a course including laboratory satisfy this requirement by transfer credit.
Required in Related Fields (12 units)
Required in Nursing (77 units)
Lower Division Required Courses (44 units)
Lower division required courses are met by 44 nursing units of transfer credit granted by the School of Nursing for RN transfer students only.
Upper Division Required Courses (33 units)
Requirements for the Master’s Degree (45–75 units)
A total of 45-75 units are required with at least half of the units in 500-level courses. The options consist of a required common core, an advanced practice courses, required option courses and electives.
