Application and Admission Requirements

Your first steps

Before you can start the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, complete these steps:

  1. Become a Bear: Apply to Missouri State as a pre-nursing major.
  2. Complete a pre-nursing program.

Apply to BSN

Then, apply to the BSN program once you're admitted to Missouri State and have completed a pre-nursing program.

Full-time students will apply to the BSN program during their sophomore year.

Apply through NursingCAS

The BSN has competitive admission. Applying does not guarantee your admission.

If you're already a registered nurse, you need the BSN-completion program. 

When should you apply?

You can start the BSN program in the fall or spring semester. 

Decide the semester you want to start and apply by one of the following dates.

Application deadlines
Starting semester Application opens Deadline to apply
Fall December 1 January 31
Spring June 1 July 31

Application resource

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Requirements

Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program

  1. Applicants must demonstrate academic potential to be successful in the program.
  2. Admission is competitive and selective, and not all who apply can be accommodated.
  3. Student selection process is outlined below:
    1. The following criteria will be reviewed and scored on all applicants: prerequisite courses GPA, cumulative GPA, TEAS exam score, and student resume.
    2. Applicants will then be selected based on their cumulative score to proceed to the interview.
  4. Students will be admitted to the program twice a year (January and August) for full-time study.
    1. Program applications for admission are due January 31 and July 31, on or before 5:00 PM CST.
  5. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor in the McQueary College of Health and Human Services Student Success and Academic Advisement Center prior to or upon entering the University to ensure the proper selection and sequencing of prerequisites for the BSN program.

Application requirements and policies

  1. Admission to Missouri State University.
  2. Completion of an application in the NursingCAS system for the Pre-licensure BSN program.
  3. Submission of official transcripts of all college course work.
  4. Specific General Education requirements that must be passed by the time of application submission with a grade of C- or better: ENG 110(3); CHM 116(4) or CHM 160(4); COM 115(3); PSY 121(3); SOC 150(3); MTH 134(3) or a higher numbered mathematics course listed in the General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement*; at least one Civics course must be completed by the time of application submission: HST 121 (3), HST 122(3), or PLS 101(3).

    *Transfer students who complete the CORE 42 curriculum and have not completed an approved algebra course will be required to do so before beginning the nursing program.
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  5. The following prerequisites must be completed with a grade of a C or better before beginning the first nursing course: BMS 307(4) or KIN 250(3); BMS 308(4) or KIN 252(3); BIO 212(2) and 213(1); DTN 240(3); one course in statistics must be completed with a grade of C or better: IPE 381(3), SOC 302(3), PSY 200(3), MTH 340(3), QBA 237(3), AGR 330(3), PSY 527(3).
  6. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all attempted college course work.
  7. Meet technical standards of the program.
  8. Applicants who have previously attended a nursing school or another school of a health-related profession must have a letter submitted from the Dean or School Director indicating that the student was in good standing. Applicants previously dismissed from a program or not in good standing at the time of dismissal, will not be considered for admission.

Admission policy

Students selected for admission will receive an acceptance letter in their MSU email account. The letter will designate a required response date and additional documentation required to complete the admission process. All documentation must be submitted by the required deadline, or the student will not be allowed to continue the admission process.

Additional documentation includes:

  1. Evidence of current immunizations required by our clinical partners, including but not limited to MMR, Tetanus, Varicella, complete Hepatitis B series, and a PPD (or evidence of appropriate medical follow-up for PPD positive result).
  2. Completion of the online portion of the American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification.
    1. AHA course information and requirements may be accessed at the American Heart Association website.
    2. BLS skills check off demonstration will be scheduled during the first week of the program.
  3. Documentation of health insurance, this is a requirement throughout the program.

Additional requirements of the program

Students are required to:

  1. Purchase uniforms and initial equipment before beginning nursing courses. A list of the items and web-links will be provided by the School of Nursing.
  2. Provide their own transportation to clinical sites.
  3. Pay fees each semester (Fall and Spring).
  4. Initiate and pay for any security checks and drug screenings required for clinical agencies, for application to take the NCLEX-RN, and when applying for licensure with a State Board of Nursing.
  5. Apply for criminal record check and receive response that the applicant has not been convicted of any crime pursuant to Section 660.317 RSMo or other disqualification that would prohibit licensure as a registered nurse.