Nursing Major Leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
Admission to the Nursing Major
The baccalaureate nursing program is a nationally accredited four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a major in nursing. The pre-nursing program is open to all high school graduates and college students who wish to pursue a nursing major. To enter the pre-nursing program, students must be admitted to Concordia; however, applicants should note that admission to the college does not grant admission to the professional nursing major.
The professional nursing major begins the fall semester of your second year at Concordia. Incoming freshmen who qualify for select academic scholarships through the Admission Office of the college may apply for early admission to the nursing major. Early admission to the nursing major is offered to select high school graduates at the time of admission to Concordia College. The criteria for early admission are available from the Concordia College Admission Office. Students who are not awarded early admission to the major must submit an application to the nursing department by the March deadline, as posted in the nursing department, during the student’s freshman year to be considered for admission within a four-year college plan. Students must be eligible for sophomore standing by the end of the semester of application to the nursing major. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 is required in all post high school work through the semester of application and a minimum selective GPA of 3.0 is required to be eligible for consideration for admission to the major. (Refer to selective GPA courses in the admission criteria identified later in this section.) Pre-nursing students are encouraged to consult with a nursing faculty member or their nursing advisor about admission criteria prior to the application deadline, and criteria specific to early admission status. Application forms may be obtained in the nursing department. Applicants are notified of their admission status in May. Students may only apply twice for consideration of admission to the nursing major. Students who are currently enrolled at Concordia should consult with a nursing faculty member or advisor prior to the application deadline.
Policies specific to students accepted into the nursing major are published in the Baccalaureate Nursing Program Student Handbook. The handbook is provided to students in the first semester of the major.
Because state regulations require a specific student-faculty ratio in the clinical practicum, enrollment in the professional nursing program is limited and based on resource and clinical placement availability. Consideration will be given to students who have attended Concordia College and meet all other criteria. Admission is competitive and based on all of the following:
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 through the date of application in all post high school coursework
- a minimum selective GPA of 3.0 through the date of application based on completion of all of the following prerequisite courses or Registrar approved course equivalents:
- eligibility for sophomore standing with the ability to complete the remaining prerequisite coursework prior to the second semester of the nursing major
- admission to Concordia College
- a completed application to the major
- two personal references
- an impromptu essay and/or interview
- a one-page résumé
Major Requirements
Prerequisite and corequisite courses must be completed with a minimum passing letter grade of C- or higher. Prerequisite and corequisite nursing courses cannot be taken on a pass-fail or S-U basis. The prerequisite and corequisite coursework requirements for a major in nursing leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are 90-94 credits and include the following courses or Registrar approved course equivalents:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
BIOL 101 | General Biology | 4 |
or BIOL 121 | Cell Biology | |
BIOL 207 | Fundamental Microbiology | 4 |
BIOL 306 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
FND 321 | Nutrition 1 | 4 |
MATH course with a "K" designation | 4 | |
PSYC 111 | Introductory Psychology | 4 |
PSYC 206 | Developmental Psychology | 4 |
Any sociology courses with an "S" course designation | 4 | |
Select one of the following: | 4-8 | |
Survey of Organic and Biochemistry 2 | ||
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
Nursing Majors | ||
Students must be accepted into the nursing major to enroll in the following courses: | ||
NURS 220 | Evidence-Based Practice in Professional Nursing | 2 |
NURS 249 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 2 |
NURS 251 | Nursing Fundamentals I | 4 |
NURS 261 | Health Assessment across the Lifespan | 4 |
NURS 341 | Nursing Fundamentals II | 4 |
NURS 342 | Nursing Care of Adults I | 4 |
NURS 352 | Maternal and Newborn Nursing | 4 |
NURS 363 | Childhood and Adolescent Health Nursing | 4 |
NURS 372 | Nursing Care of Adults II | 4 |
NURS 375 | Pharmacology for Nursing Care | 4 |
NURS 401 | Population Health in a Global Society | 4 |
NURS 403 | Nursing Care of Adults III | 4 |
NURS 405 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 4 |
NURS 423 | Transition to Professional Nursing | 3 |
NURS 424 | Synthesis of Patient Care in Nursing Practice | 3 |
Total Hours | 90-94 |
- 1
Must be completed with a minimum passing letter grade of C-.
- 2
CHEM 117 Principles of Chemistry is a required prerequisite if no high school chemistry has been completed.
Optional Courses
Optional courses in the major (not required):
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
NURS 380 | Special Topics | 0-4 |
NURS 382 | Clinical Internship | 0-1 |
NURS 390 | Cooperative Education Program in Nursing | 1-8 |
NURS 480 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
NURS 487 | Directed Research | 1-4 |
Progression in the Major
Progression in the major requires a minimum GPA of 2.8 through the first semester of the major with passing letter grades of C- or higher for all prerequisite and corequisite courses required for the major. Progression in the major also requires that all nursing courses are completed with a minimum passing letter grade of C-. These courses cannot be taken as pass/fail. The degree must be completed in the same semester as completion of the nursing major. International students must have a valid/unexpired visa through the duration of the program to participate in clinical activities.
Degree and Graduation Requirements
In addition to the program-specific requirements listed above, all students must complete the graduation requirements specified for their degree. See the Degree and Graduation Requirements section for more information.
Suggested Four-Year Plan
The four-year plan detailed below is a suggested coursework sequence. This plan may need to be adapted based on course offerings as well as individual student circumstances, such as transfer credit and study away experiences.
Pre-Nursing Course Requirements*
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
FYS 110 | Engaged Citizenship Seminar | 4 |
COM 110 or ENG 110 |
Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage |
4 |
BIOL 121 or BIOL 101 |
Cell Biology (preferred) 1,3 or General Biology |
4 |
WELL 110 | Engaging in Lifelong Wellness | 1 |
Language 111 | First semester language course | 4 |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
ENG 110 or COM 110 |
Writing to Engage or Communicating to Engage |
4 |
CHEM 142 | Survey of Organic and Biochemistry (Alternatively, students may take CHEM 127 and 128 or CHEM 127 and 142 to fulfill this requirement.) 1,3 | 4 |
PSYC 111 | Introductory Psychology 1 | 4 |
WELL 111 | Engaging in a Balanced Life | 1 |
Language 112 | Second semester language course | 4 |
Hours | 17 | |
Total Hours | 34 |
*See the table below titled "Biology/Chemistry (Pre-Med) with Consideration for Nursing Option" for the courses recommended to students interested in nursing and the pre-medicine pre-professional program.
Course Progression for Students Admitted to the Nursing Major
Second Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
NURS 220 | Evidence-Based Practice in Professional Nursing | 2 |
NURS 249 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 2 |
REL 200 | Christianity and Religious Diversity | 4 |
BIOL 207 | Fundamental Microbiology 2 | 4 |
Math Exploration Course 2,3 | 4 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
NURS 251 | Nursing Fundamentals I | 4 |
NURS 261 | Health Assessment across the Lifespan | 4 |
BIOL 306 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 4 |
PSYC 206 | Developmental Psychology 2 | 4 |
Hours | 16 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
NURS 341 | Nursing Fundamentals II | 4 |
NURS 342 | Nursing Care of Adults I | 4 |
NURS 375 | Pharmacology for Nursing Care | 4 |
FND 321 | Nutrition | 4 |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
NURS 352 | Maternal and Newborn Nursing | 4 |
NURS 363 | Childhood and Adolescent Health Nursing | 4 |
NURS 372 | Nursing Care of Adults II | 4 |
Sociology course that fulfills the social science exploration requirement | 4 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
NURS 403 | Nursing Care of Adults III | 4 |
NURS 405 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 4 |
Arts/Humanities/REL 300J Core Curriculum course | 4 | |
Arts/Humanities/REL 300J Core Curriculum course | 4 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
NURS 401 | Population Health in a Global Society | 4 |
NURS 423 | Transition to Professional Nursing | 3 |
NURS 424 | Synthesis of Patient Care in Nursing Practice | 3 |
Arts/Humanities/REL 300J Core Curriculum course | 4 | |
Hours | 14 | |
Total Hours | 94 |
Biology/Chemistry (Pre-Med) with Consideration for Nursing Option (First-Year Only)
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
FYS 110 | Engaged Citizenship Seminar | 4 |
COM 110 or ENG 110 |
Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage |
4 |
BIOL 121 | Cell Biology 1,3 | 4 |
CHEM 127 | General Chemistry I 1,3 | 4 |
WELL 110 | Engaging in Lifelong Wellness | 1 |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
COM 110 or ENG 110 |
Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage |
4 |
PSYC 111 | Introductory Psychology 1 | 4 |
CHEM 128 or CHEM 142 |
General Chemistry II 1,3 or Survey of Organic and Biochemistry |
4 |
WELL 111 | Engaging in a Balanced Life | 1 |
Sociology course that fulfills the social science exploration requirement 2 | 4 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Total Hours | 34 |
- 1
These courses (or Registrar approved equivalents) under "First-Year" must be completed in the selective GPA requirement by the end of the semester of the year of application to the major to be eligible for consideration.
- 2
All other prerequisite designated courses (or Registrar approved equivalents) must be completed prior to the second semester of the nursing major.
- 3
Students who are either considering a nursing, biology, or chemistry major are encouraged to take MATH 121 Calculus I to fulfill the math requirement for all three majors and BIOL 121 Cell Biology for nursing and biology. CHEM 127 General Chemistry I and CHEM 128 General Chemistry II are in sequence.