Program Requirements

Nursing major

Once you start the program, you must stay enrolled in nursing courses and progress through the program with your cohort.

A minor is not required.

Nursing (Pre-licensure, 4-year program)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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.

Major requirements:

  1. 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).
  2. 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(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).
  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).
  4. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of NUR 442(4).

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Retention, progression, and graduation policies

  1. After admission into the Nursing major, the students must:
    1. Achieve a grade of "C" or higher in all required courses.
    2. Receive a "pass" in all clinical evaluations.
    3. Maintain a university cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
    4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in nursing and supportive courses.
    5. Courses in the nursing major may not be taken more than twice.
    6. Demonstrate professionalism, evidenced by acceptable levels of maturity, integrity, and insight regarding behaviors and attitudes expected of professional nurses (ANA Nurse Code of Ethics).
    7. 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.
    8. Maintain the ability to meet technical standards of the program.
    9. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Students that fail to meet the academic requirements listed above, will be required to create a student plan for success and remediation will occur.
    1. 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.
    2. Failure to meet the probationary restrictions could also result in dismissal from the program.
    3. 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.

Academic requirements

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.