Nursing (Pre-licensure, 4-year program)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program
- Applicants must demonstrate academic potential to be successful in the program.
- Admission is competitive and selective, and not all who apply can be accommodated.
- Student selection process is outlined below:
- The following criteria will be reviewed and scored on all applicants: prerequisite
courses GPA, cumulative GPA, TEAS exam score, and student resume.
- Applicants will then be selected based on their cumulative score to proceed to the
interview.
- Students will be admitted to the program twice a year (January and August) for full-time
study.
- Program applications for admission are due January 31 and July 31, on or before 5:00
PM CST.
- 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.
- Students who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university may be eligible
to complete nursing coursework in an intensive scheduling format.
- Acceptance into this intensive scheduling format will be once per year, with Fall
or Spring admission.
Application requirements and policies
- Admission to Missouri State University.
- Completion of an application in the NursingCAS system for the Pre-licensure BSN program.
- Submission of official transcripts of all college course work.
- 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.
- 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(4); BMS 308(4) or KIN 252(4); 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 220(3), PSY 200(3), MTH 340(3), QBA 237(3), AGR 330(3), PSY 527(3).
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all attempted college course work.
- Meet technical standards of the program.
- 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:
- 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).
- Completion of the online portion of the American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life
Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification.
- AHA course information and requirements may be accessed at the American Heart Association website.
- BLS skills check off demonstration will be scheduled during the first week of the
program.
- Documentation of health insurance, this is a requirement throughout the program.
Additional requirements of the program
Students are required to:
- 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.
- Provide their own transportation to clinical sites.
- Pay fees each semester (Fall and Spring).
- 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.
- 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.
Major requirements:
- 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).
- The following prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or better before beginning
the first nursing course: BMS 307(4) or KIN 250(4); BMS 308(4) or KIN 252(4); 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 220(3), PSY 200(3), MTH 340(3), QBA 237(3), AGR 330(3), PSY 527(3).
- Upper division Nursing courses must be completed with a grade of C or better (61 hours):
NUR 302(3), 303(5), 304(6), 312(6), 322(4), 323(4), 331(4), 342(4), 355(3), 360(3), 416(2), 442(4), 478(2), 482(6), 487(3), 490(2).
- Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of NUR 442(4).
University level requirements:
- General Education Program and Requirements
- General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
Retention, progression, and graduation policies
- After admission into the Nursing major, the students must:
- Achieve a grade of "C" or higher in all required courses.
- Receive a "pass" in all clinical evaluations.
- Maintain a university cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in nursing and supportive courses.
- Courses in the nursing major may not be taken more than twice.
- Demonstrate professionalism, evidenced by acceptable levels of maturity, integrity,
and insight regarding behaviors and attitudes expected of professional nurses (ANA
Nurse Code of Ethics).
- Maintain current CPR certification, immunizations required by our clinical partners,
annual PPD or appropriate medical follow-up for PPD positive results, and health insurance
requirements.
- Maintain the ability to meet technical standards of the program.
- Maintain continuous enrollment in nursing courses and progression through the program.
If continuous enrollment is not maintained, the student must apply for readmission
to the program.
- Graduation from the Pre-licensure BSN program does not guarantee a student's eligibility
to become licensed as a professional nurse. Eligibility requirements include passing
the NCLEX-RN exam and meeting RN licensure requirements for the state in which licensure
is sought by the individual. The Missouri State Board of Nursing reserves the right
to deny, revoke, or suspend a license. Refer to State of Missouri Revisor of Statutes website.
- Students that fail to meet the academic requirements listed above, will be required
to create a student plan for success and remediation will occur.
- If the student is unable to meet the academic and or clinical requirements despite
completion of their plan for success, this may result in dismissal from the nursing
program.
- Failure to meet the probationary restrictions could also result in dismissal from
the program.
- Failure of more than one course in two consecutive semesters will result in program
dismissal.
Academic probation: inability to maintain course exam average of 75% or higher.
Clinical probation: unsuccessful achievement of a “pass” grade in all nursing clinical courses.
Readmission policy
Students will be considered for re-admission to the nursing program based on the number
of seats available in the cohort.
Transfer policy
Transfer students with prior nursing courses will be reviewed on an individual basis
by evaluating course content and objectives.
If a student fails to meet the academic requirements listed above, he or she will
be placed on either academic or clinical probation in the nursing program or be dismissed.
Failure to meet the probationary restrictions could result in removal from the program.
Academic probation: requires a student to maintain a “B-” or higher in the next nine hours of nursing
or supporting courses.
Clinical probation: requires a “pass” grade in all nursing clinical courses.
Additional requirements
The nursing program has the following additional requirements related to successful
completion of the program:
- Students must maintain heath insurance throughout the nursing program. For more information
about the student health and accident insurance policy available through the University,
visit the student health insurance page
- To become a registered nurse, after graduation a student must pass the NCLEX-RN exam
and fulfill all state requirements for licensure. For further information, the School
of Nursing recommends that a student contact the state board of nursing for the state
in which the student plans to seek employment.