Admission to the Pre-licensure and RN to BSN Transfer Programs
Basic Pre-Licensure BSN Program Option
The Pre-Licensure BSN Option is for students who do not have an RN license. Cal State LA Nursing programs are in very high demand and have specific admission requirements and application procedures. There are two paths for entrance to this program:
Cal State LA Students: Must have been admitted to the Pre-Nursing program as an entering freshmen. See Freshmen Admission for details of the current requirements. Pre-nursing students must then follow a very prescribed course plan and meet specific requirements to continue in the Pre-Nursing program. See Major Specific Declaration Requirements for Cal State LA Students for details of these requirements.
New Transfer Students: Must meet specific minimum application requirements to be considered. See Major Specific Admission Criteria for Transfer Admission for details.
Be Aware: Students can only apply once to the Cal State LA nursing program and must either be a Cal State LA Pre-nursing student or a new transfer applicant. Students admitted to a major other than Nursing, will not be able to change their major to Nursing during their tenure at Cal State LA.
RN to BSN 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 from an accredited program. In order to be admitted to the RN to BSN Option, students must have completed all the prerequisites for admission to the Nursing major specified below prior to acceptance into the major. Admission to the RN to BSN Program requires an application to Cal State LA and PACSON with proof of a CA RN license attached. The minimum GPA accepted from all transfer institutions is 3.0. See http://www.calstatela.edu/hhs/nursing/undergraduate-programs with link to RN to BSN option for more information.
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 have specific requirements necessary for nursing courses and clinical placement. These requirements can be found in the Undergraduate Student Handbook at www.calstatela.edu/hhs/nursing/student-handbooks under Specific Requirements for Nursing Courses.
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)
Pre-Licensure BSN Option (42 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 (30 units)
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 to BSN Option
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).
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 Cal State LAwith designated CA Community College (CC) partners to facilitate seamless progression to Cal State LA 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 Cal State LA. Students who are interested in applying to this program should meet with their CC academic advisor and must have successfully completed their first and second semesters at the CC. Students must be GE certified at from 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.
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.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 an application to Cal State LA and PACSON. Students must meet the supplementary admission criteria listed on the school website: www.calstatela.edu/hhs/nursing/undergraduate-programs. Go to ABSN Program and then to the College of Professional and Global Education link, followed by the pre-requites link. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview and on-site writing sample
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 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.
