Admission to the Pre-licensure and RN to BSN Transfer Programs
For Major Specific Admissions Criteria go to http://www.calstatela.edu/admissions/major-specific-criteria
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 Cal State Apply 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 30 degree eligible units or they must select an alternative major. Students who select an alternate major after 45 30 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 to BSN Transfer Program Option
The RN to BSN Transfer 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 to 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 to BSN Program also requires a separate application with a copy of the CA RN license attached. The minimum GPA accepted from all transfer institutions is 2.75.
Required Prerequisites (28 units)
The following courses are prerequisites for admission to all Bachelor of Nursing programs:
Completion of one 3-unit course meeting the General Education requirement in Quantitative Reasoning with Statistics (B4)
Completion of one 3-unit course meeting the General Education requirement in Critical Thinking and Composition (A3)
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 co-requisite 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 4860 /NURS 4870 and one while enrolled in NURS 4860 /NURS 4870 .
Requirements for the Major (68 units)
The Pre-Licensure Nursing major requires a total of 120 units, including 39 units of lower division GE (which may include 18 units of prerequisites for the pre-licensure option) and 9 units of upper division General Education, 10 units of additional prerequisites, 17 units of Upper Division Common Core Nursing courses, 42 units in required courses in nursing, and 9 units in related fields (6 units of which may double count with GE).
The RN to BSN Option requires 120 units: including 39 units of lower division General Education courses (which may include 18 units of prerequisites for the RN BSN option); 9 units of upper division General Education; 10 units of additional prerequisites; 9 units of required coursework in related fields (of which 6 units may double count with lower division GE); 17 units of Common Core Upper Division Nursing courses; and 42 units in upper and lower division required courses in nursing. The following RN to BSN requirements can be met through transfer units from a community college: 39 units of lower division General Education courses (including the prerequisites), 9 units of nursing related courses; and 30 units of lower division nursing courses. The following courses are required to be completed at CSULA: 17 units of Common Core for all BSN majors; 10 units of upper division nursing courses in the RN BSN option; 9 units of upper division General Education; and any electives needed to achieve the 120 units required for graduation. See Undergraduate Studies: General Information for details about General Education and other requirements that constitute the units outside the major.
Common Core for all BSN Majors (17 units)
Required in Related Fields for all BSN Majors (9 units)
Human Nutrition - Select a 3-unit course (upper-division course is preferable) (3)
Pre-Licensure BSN Option (44 units)
Required Lower Division Courses (26 units)
Students in the Pre-Licensure BSN program are required to complete the 26 units of lower division coursework listed below.
Required Upper Division Courses (16 units)
LVN to RN Plan of Study
LVN’s wishing to become licensed as a RN must complete the following courses successfully in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX RN licensing exam. Completion of these courses can count towards a BSN degree. Students interested in the LVN to RN Plan of Study must make an appointment with the Primary Academic Advisor or Undergraduate Chair for the School of Nursing.
RN BSN Option (43-55)
The Chancellor’s Executive Order (EO) 1084 (1-30 units)
EO 1084 Section 5. Credit for Demonstration of Prior Learning of Pre-Licensure Nursing Content
As the California Board of Registered Nursing requires 36 units of the art and science of nursing in pre-licensure programs in preparation for the standardized external National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), in accordance with the stipulations of this policy a CSU campus may award academic credits using the NCLEX examination to demonstrate prior learning of the pre-licensure art and science of nursing required by the Board of Registered Nursing (Title 5 section 40408).
5.1 If a student has passed the NCLEX examination, a CSU campus may apply toward the baccalaureate nursing
degree one unit of academic credit for every unit of the required pre-licensure community college nursing
course credits that were not transferred to the CSU baccalaureate program, with a maximum of 30 semester
units (45 quarter units) to be awarded through the NCLEX provision.
5.2 Credit for passage of the NCLEX examination shall not be awarded when equivalent degree credit has been
granted for pre-licensure coursework, credit by evaluation, or other instructional processes.
5.3 Duplicate credit shall not be awarded because of overlapping tests, college-level courses, or both. Where there
is partial overlap, the amount of examination credit shall be reduced accordingly.
5.4 The awarding of NCLEX credit shall be accomplished without requiring students to enroll in FTES-generating
courses and without charging students a fee for the units awarded.
Required Lower Division Courses (30 units)
Students in the RN to BSN transfer program are awarded 30 units of lower division required courses after graduating from an accredited ADN or Diploma nursing program. In addition, up to 30 units of lower and/or upper division transfer credit may be awarded for passing the California State NCLEX exam as demonstration of prior learning.
Required Upper Division Courses (10 units)
ADN-BSN Collaborative Program Option
The ADN-BSN Collaborative Program utilizes a collaborative model for academic progression in nursing that links CSULA with designated CA Community College (CC) partners to facilitate seamless progression to CSULA for ADN collaborative program students. This collaboration enables the ADN RN to earn a BSN degree in approximately 12 months after graduating from the CC. Students accepted into this program will have completed all prerequisite courses at their respective community colleges and will have dual enrollment at their CC and CSULA. Students who are interested in applying for this program should meet with their CC academic advisor and must have successfully completed their first and second semesters and be GE certified at the CC. Selection for the program is based on academic achievement in the prerequisite courses and in the ADN program. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA. If there are more qualified students than there are available spaces, students may be selected via lottery for this program.
Required Lower Division Courses (30 units)
Students in the ADN to BSN Collaborative transfer program are awarded 30 units of lower division required courses after graduating from an accredited ADN or Diploma nursing program. In addition, up to 30 units of lower and/or upper division transfer credit may be awarded for passing the California State NCLEX exam as demonstration of prior learning.
Required Upper Division Courses (10 units)
Nursing, B.S., Accelerated Program Option
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 93 semester units: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university in another field, 28 units of prerequisite courses, 12 units in related fields and 53 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 (28 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:
Completion of one 3-unit course meeting the General Education requirement in Quantitative Reasoning with Statistics (B4)
Completion of one 3-unit course meeting the General Education requirement in Critical Thinking and Composition (A3)
Required in Related Fields (12 units)
Required Upper Division Courses for the Accelerated BSN (53 Units)
The following 53 units of basic nursing courses are required with a minimum 3.0 GPA and no less than a C in each course. These courses will be offered through special sessions via extended education.
