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:
  • BIOL 101 General Biology or BIOL 121 Cell Biology
  • CHEM 142 Survey of Organic and Biochemistry
  • ENG 110 Writing to Engage 
  • FYS 110 Engaged Citizenship Seminar 
  • PSYC 111 Introductory Psychology
  • COM 110 Communicating to Engage 
• 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:

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):

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*

*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

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

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.