Program Requirements

Hours: 98

Admission Requirements

The first step in the admission process is to be accepted into the College of Mount St. Joseph. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission into the pre-nursing or clinical nursing programs. Once a student has been accepted to the College their scholastic records will be reviewed by the Health Sciences Division. It is important to realize that limited spaces are available in the pre-nursing and clinical nursing programs. Requirements for admission to the Pre-Nursing Program vary slightly depending on the status of the student.

Traditional Students (out of high school less than four years) must meet the following criteria to enter the Pre-Nursing Program:

• high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher
• 20 or higher composite on the ACT or 950 or higher on the SAT
• passed high school Algebra I and II with a "C" or higher
• passed high school Chemistry with a "C" or higher
• placed on the COMPASS Math Placement test above MTH 098, Intermediate Algebra

Traditional Transfer Students (out of high school less than four years) must have:

• submitted "official" college transcripts for all previous college/university coursework
• College cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher
• passed high school Algebra I and II with a "C" or higher
• passed high school Chemistry with a "C" or higher
• placed on the COMPASS Math Placement test above MTH 098, Intermediate Algebra

(All previous college/university coursework will be considered for failures in Category I, Category II and Category III nursing courses for acceptance to the pre-nursing program.)

Adult, First-time College Students:

• have earned a "C" or higher in high school Chemistry
  • If the student has no high school chemistry, the student must take a high school chemistry equivalent course.
• take the COMPASS test
  • test and place ready to take: Written Word (ENG 101)
  • obtain a passing score on reading
  • place above MTH 098, Intermediate Algebra

Adult Transfer Students:

• submitted "official" college transcripts for all previous college/university coursework
• have a cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher
• earned a "C" or higher in high school Chemistry
  • If the student has no high school chemistry, the student must take a high school chemistry equivalent course.
• take the COMPASS test
  • test and place ready to take: Written Word (ENG 101)
  • obtain a passing score on reading
  • place above MTH 098, Intermediate Algebra

(All previous college/university coursework will be considered for failures in Category I, Category II and Category III nursing courses for acceptance to the pre-nursing program.)

Change of Major Students:

A student at the College of Mount St. Joseph who wants to change his/her major may transfer into the Pre-Nursing Program by meeting the following criteria:

• have met requirements to take Written Word (ENG 101) and Chemistry (CHE 104/104A)
• have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
• have a "C" or higher in Category I pre-nursing courses that have been taken

Traditional/Adult Students Transferring in Courses with less than a "C"

• If the transfer student earned less than a "C" in a Category I pre-nursing course at the College of Mount St. Joseph or at another college/university, the course must be repeated. The course can be repeated one time.
  • Category I pre-nursing courses are: Introduction to Psychology (PSY 103), Our Social World (SOC 103), Inorganic/Organic Chemistry with Lab (CHE 104/104A), Anatomy and Physiology I and II with Lab (BIO 197/197A and BIO 198/198A), and Biochemistry/Nutrition (IDS 206).
• If the transfer student earned less than a "C" in two Category I pre-nursing or Category II and Category III courses at the College of Mount St. Joseph or at another college/university, the student is denied admission to the pre-nursing program.
• If the transfer student earned less than a "C" twice in the same Category I pre-nursing or Category II or Category III course at the College of Mount St. Joseph or at another college/university, the student is denied admission to the pre-nursing program.

Requirements for Continuing Enrollment in the Pre-Nursing Program

The requirements for remaining in the pre-nursing program are as follows:

• Complete the six Category I courses with a "C" or higher: Introduction to Psychology (PSY 103); Our Social World (SOC 103); Inorganic/Organic Chemistry with Lab (CHE 104/104A); Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (BIO 197/197A), Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (BIO 198/198A), and Biochemistry/Nutrition (IDS 206).
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher.
• Cannot earn less than "C" in two required pre-nursing Category I courses or less than a "C" twice in the same required pre-nursing Category I course.

Requirements for Admission into the Clinical BSN Program

The student must have:

• been admitted to the College of Mount St. Joseph
• a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
• completed 28 semester credit hours
• completed the required pre-nursing Category I courses with a "C" or above: Introduction to Psychology (PSY 103); Our Social World (SOC 103); Inorganic/Organic Chemistry (CHE 104/104A); Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 197/197A), Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 198/198A), and Biochemistry/Nutrition (IDS 206)
• submit a completed "Application to the Nursing Major" to the Nursing Program secretary by February 1^st
• successfully complete a criminal background check

Applications for admission to the Nursing Program will be evaluated by faculty/staff members of the Student Affairs Committee. The applicants will be notified in writing of the committee's decision.

If a student earns less than a "C" in a required pre-nursing Category I course, the course may be repeated one time.

If a student earns less than a "C" in two required pre-nursing Category I courses or earns less than a "C" twice in the same required pre-nursing Category I course, the student is denied admission to the clinical nursing program.

College of Mount St. Joseph students in the pre-nursing program who meet the admission criteria by the end of spring semester will be assured admission into the clinical nursing program. Transfer students are considered for admission to the nursing clinical program if space is available. Cumulative GPA will be a factor in order of admission if space permits.

Requirements for Transferring into the Pre-Nursing Program

• Have met requirements to take Written Word (ENG 101) and Chemistry (CHE 104/104A)
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Have a "C" or higher in all Category I required pre-nursing courses taken: Introduction to Psychology (PSY 103); Our Social World (SOC 103); Inorganic/Organic Chemistry(CHE 104/104A); Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 197/197A); Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 198/198A), and Biochemistry/Nutrition (IDS 206)
• If the transfer student earned less than a "C" in two required pre-nursing Category I courses or earns less than a "C" twice in the same required pre-nursing Category I course, the student is denied admission to the pre-nursing program.
• Meet with the nursing advisor
• Completed an application to the nursing program
• Completed a satisfactory criminal background check

Order of Admission to the Nursing Program

Consistent with the mission of the College, the nursing program limits enrollment in the clinical program to provide individual student attention. Due to the high number of applications to the nursing program, an order of priority for acceptance has been established.

Students will be admitted in the following order until the maximum number is accepted and the remaining applicants will be put on a waitlist.

• College of Mount St. Joseph students in the pre-nursing program who meet these criteria and requirements by the end of spring semester will be assured admission into the clinical nursing program the following fall semester.
• College of Mount St. Joseph students who meet criteria by July 1.
• Transfer students who meet the criteria by the end of May.
• College of Mount St. Joseph students who filed a petition to be admitted.
• Transfer students who filed a petition to be admitted.

College of Mount St. Joseph/transfer students who are waitlisted will be prioritized for admission according to GPA.

Requirements for Continuing Enrollment in the Nursing Program

To continue enrollment in the Nursing Program, the admitted student must complete each Category II Support course and Category III nursing course with a grade of "C" or higher and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0/4/0.

Category II Support Course and Category III Nursing Course Requirements

Category II

BIO 215, 215A
BIO 301
ETH:REL 252/PHI 250
NUR 205, NUR 207
NUR 315, NUR 317/317A
NUR 430, NUR 470
MTH 174/176
PSY 204

Category III

NUR 210
NUR 220
NUR 310, 360
NUR 320, 370
NUR 410, 460
NUR 420, 421
NUR 422, 423, 424, 425

The student who fails to achieve a "C" or higher in a Category II or Category III course must, prior to enrollment:

1. meet with the course faculty to discuss factors that contributed to the course failure;
2. meet with their advisor.
3. If the course is a Category III course the student must meet with the Director of the Nursing Program and submit a letter of petition that includes a description of factors contributing to the course failure, reasons for desiring permission to repeat the course, and plans for achieving success in subsequent repeated courses.

The student who fails to achieve a “C" or higher in two Category II or Category III courses shall be dismissed from the Nursing Program.

The student must successfully complete the repeated Course Category III nursing course(s) before enrolling in any subsequent Category III nursing course. A course can be repeated one time only.

Students must meet all stated pre-requisite and co-requisite course requirements to register for each Category III nursing course.

Program Outcomes

The graduate of the baccalaureate nursing program will be able to:

• implement safe, effective and culturally sensitive therapeutic interventions, based on assessment data.
• communicate effectively with individuals, families, groups, and populations.
• employ critical thinking to make competent decisions.
• develop caring relationships with clients from diverse populations.
• apply principles of leadership and management while working in interdisciplinary teams.
• exercise professional, legal, ethical, social, and political responsibilities.
• use information literacy to provide evidence-based care.