Basic Nursing Program
Degree Requirements
The Department of Nursing offers an interdisciplinary major of which a minimum of 67 credits are from nursing courses (NURS). The credits of the major contribute to the minimum of 124 credits the university requires for graduation. The remaining credits consist of courses from general education requirements, natural and behavioral sciences and electives.
Transfer credit for nursing courses and/or waiver of nursing major requirements are considered on an individual basis by the department of nursing.
Admission Process for Basic Students
Students should apply to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program when they anticipate completion of required nursing prerequisite courses prior to the fall or winter nursing application due date. All required nursing prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better; students may repeat three required prerequisite courses and two of those courses can be from the required science prerequisites. No required prerequisite course can be repeated more than once. All required nursing prerequisite courses must be completed or in progress during the nursing application process. All required nursing prerequisite courses in progress during the application process must be completed with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better, and all other nursing program selection criteria prior to enrollment in nursing courses. Applications must be submitted in their entirety, and are due the third Monday in October for winter selection or the third Monday in April for fall selection. Only complete applications, submitted by the deadline, will be considered. Students admitted to the BSN Nursing Program will be chosen by a selection committee using current selection criteria.
Eligibility and Selection
Eligibility for applying to the nursing program will be based upon grade point average. To be eligible for consideration, a student must have a minimum 2.80 cumulative GPA and a 2.80 GPA in required math/science nursing prerequisite courses. In computation of the cumulative GPA, all retake grades will be calculated. In computation of the GPA for nursing required prerequisite courses, only one retake grade will be calculated. Eligible students may be required to complete a writing sample. Scores from the writing sample will be calculated as part of the ranking for selection. In addition, the number of SVSU credits successfully completed will be considered.
Freshman Admission to the Nursing Program
A limited number of first semester freshman students will be accepted into the nursing program. To be eligible for consideration as a freshman admit, students must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5 or better, an ACT score of 26 or better, SAT score of 1240 or better, and be recommended based on an interview and timed essay. If selected, these students will automatically begin the nursing courses upon completion of prerequisite courses if they maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA. Students will be considered with the regular applicant pool if they do not maintain the required GPA.
Standardized Testing
Standardized testing is used as part of the overall education and evaluation of students in the BSN program. The tests and materials are supported by student fees assigned to specific courses and are incorporated into the learning and testing experience. To practice as a registered nurse in any state, graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. SVSU’s program assists students to prepare for the NCLEX-RN examination through a variety of teaching-learning methods, including standardized testing.
Eligibility for Nursing Licensure
Students should be aware that the State Board of Nursing reviews the records of all graduates who have completed a nursing program to determine eligibility to write the State Board of Nursing Licensure Examinations for Registered Nurses. The State Board of Nursing retains the right to deny a graduate permission to write the licensure examinations based on fingerprints and criminal background checks.
