Accreditation

The professional nursing curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing (B.S.N.). The B.S.N. 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).

Program Overview

The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing (PACSON) offers 4 options for attaining the B.S.N. degree that include:

1. The Basic Option (Pre-Licensure BSN)
2. The RN to BSN Option (RN to BSN  Transfer)
3. The ADN to BSN Option  (Associate Degree in Nursing to BSN Community College Collaborative)
4. The ABSN Option (BSN Accelerated)

Each option has specific admission requirements and application procedures. The corresponding admission and graduation requirements are listed below.

Admission Requirements

All students who wish to be accepted into the BS nursing major must submit an application to the School of Nursing between September and January of each academic year. Applicants to the Nursing major are screened competitively based on the following indicators:

1. Test of Essential Academic Skills exam score
2. Cumulative & Prerequisite GPA
3. Volunteer or work experience within the last 2 years (optional)

1. The Basic Option

The Basic Option is for students who do not have an RN license. There are two paths for entrance to this program:

• Cal State LA Freshmen 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 prescribed course plan and meet specific requirements to continue in the Pre-Nursing program. See Major-Specific Criteria 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 Criteria for Transfer Admission for details.

Note: 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.

2. The RN to BSN Option

This 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 or an NLNAC Accredited diploma.

Minimum requirements for admission consideration are indicated below.

• An application to Cal State LA (CSU Apply);
• A second application to PACSON (NursingCAS);
• Proof of a California R.N. License attached to the second application;
• Completion of the Major-Specific Criteria courses with required grades;
• The minimum cumulative GPA from all transfer institutions is 3.0;
• All LD GE courses are graded C or higher, and are certified at the community college;
• One year of experience as a Registered Nurse recommended

Refer to the RN to BSN FAQ for current application deadlines and more information.

3. The ADN to BSN Option

This option utilizes a collaborative model for academic progression in nursing that links Cal State LA with 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 B.S.N. degree in approximately 12 months after graduating from the CC.

Students who are interested in applying to this program should meet with their CC academic advisor. Students accepted into this option must

• Maintain dual enrollment at their CC and Cal State LA.
• Have successfully completed their first and second semesters at the CC,
• Completed all prerequisite courses at their respective CC,
• Have all lower-division GE courses certified at the CC.
• Have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Admission selection is based on academic achievement in the prerequisite courses and in the ADN program. If there are more qualified students than there are available spaces, students may be selected via lottery.

4. The ABSN Option

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) is for students who already possess a baccalaureate degree in another field, but do not possess an RN license, and are interested in a full-time intensive accelerated program to earn a B.S.N. degree as second baccalaureate. The courses are offered through special sessions via College of Professional and Global Education. Students in this option are required with a minimum 3.0 GPA and no less than a C in each course.

Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

• Submit an application to Cal State LA;
• Completion of a second application to PACSON;
• Completion of bachelor’s (or higher) degree in another field from an accredited institution;
• Minimum GPA 3.0 in last 60 semester / 90 quarter units;
• Completion of prerequisite science courses at grade of B or better;
• Completion of all other prerequisite courses at grade of C or better;  and
• Meet the supplementary admission criteria listed on https://www.calstatela.edu/page/accelerated-bachelor-science-nursing

A selected test of basic academic skills administered by PACSON 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.

Requirements for the Degree

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing is 120 units, of which 88-105 units are in the major.

General Education Requirements (48 units):

• 39 units of lower-division General Education (LD GE) courses
• 9 units of upper-division General Education (UD GE) courses

Major Requirements (88-105 units):

• 51-52 units of core courses, of which 21 units are double-counted to satisfy the GE requirement, 15 for LD GE, 6 for UD GE.
• 25-26 units of lower-division core courses
• 9 units of related field core courses
• 17 units of upper-division core courses in Nursing
• 37-53 units to meet the option requirements (see below)

Consult with an advisor from the Xu CHHS Advisement Center for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.

1.  The Basic Option: 42 units

2.  RN to BSN Option: 37 units

The following RN to BSN requirements can be met through transfer units from a community college:

• 30 units of lower-division nursing courses
• 26 or fewer units of lower and/or upper-division transfer credit may be awarded for passing the California State NCLEX exam as a demonstration of prior learning.

3. The ADN to BSN Option: 40 units

• 30 units of lower-division required courses after graduating from an accredited ADN or Diploma nursing program can be transferred.
• Up to 30 units of lower and/or upper-division transfer credit may be awarded for passing the California State NCLEX exam as a demonstration of prior learning.

4.   The ABSN Option: 53 units

Program General Information

1. 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 under Specific Requirements for Nursing Courses.
2. NCLEX Credits

(The Chancellor’s Executive Order (EO) 1084, Section 5)

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 up to 30 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).

3. Some courses are open to non-majors who may find one or more courses helpful in achieving their own professional or personal goals.
4. LVN to RN Plan of Study

LVNs wishing to become licensed as an RN must successfully complete 30 units of assigned courses in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX RN licensing exam. The credit of these courses can be counted towards a B.S.N. degree. Please must make an appointment with the Primary Academic Advisor or Undergraduate Chair for the School of Nursing for details and advisement.

Admission Criteria Learning Outcomes Roadmap (2021)