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:

Required Courses
BIOL 101General Biology4
or BIOL 121 Cell Biology
BIOL 207Fundamental Microbiology4
BIOL 306Human Anatomy and Physiology4
FND 321Nutrition 14
MATH course with a "K" designation4
PSYC 111Introductory Psychology4
PSYC 206Developmental Psychology4
Any sociology courses with an "S" course designation4
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 220Evidence-Based Practice in Professional Nursing2
NURS 249Introduction to Professional Nursing2
NURS 251Nursing Fundamentals I4
NURS 261Health Assessment across the Lifespan4
NURS 341Nursing Fundamentals II4
NURS 342Nursing Care of Adults I4
NURS 352Maternal and Newborn Nursing4
NURS 363Childhood and Adolescent Health Nursing4
NURS 372Nursing Care of Adults II4
NURS 375Pharmacology for Nursing Care4
NURS 401Population Health in a Global Society4
NURS 403Nursing Care of Adults III4
NURS 405Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing4
NURS 423Transition to Professional Nursing3
NURS 424Synthesis of Patient Care in Nursing Practice3
Total Hours90-94
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):

NURS 380Special Topics0-4
NURS 382Clinical Internship0-1
NURS 390Cooperative Education Program in Nursing1-8
NURS 480Independent Study1-4
NURS 487Directed Research1-4

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*

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
FYS 110 Engaged Citizenship Seminar 4
COM 110
Communicating to Engage
or Writing to Engage
4
BIOL 121
Cell Biology (preferred) 1,3
or General Biology
4
WELL 110 Engaging in Lifelong Wellness 1
Language 111First semester language course 4
 Hours17
Spring
ENG 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 112Second semester language course 4
 Hours17
 Total Hours34

*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

Plan of Study Grid
Second Year
FallHours
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours14
 Total Hours94

Biology/Chemistry (Pre-Med) with Consideration for Nursing Option (First-Year Only)

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
FYS 110 Engaged Citizenship Seminar 4
COM 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
 Hours17
Spring
COM 110
Communicating to Engage
or Writing to Engage
4
PSYC 111 Introductory Psychology 1 4
CHEM 128
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
 Hours17
 Total Hours34
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.