Nursing, B.S. Program (120 units)
Program Description
The Department of Nursing offers an undergraduate program that leads to the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing. The program is designed to prepare a nurse generalist. Graduates of the program are prepared to work as professional nurses and/or pursue graduate education in nursing. There are two concentrations within the major: the Pre-Licensure concentration and the Post-Licensure concentration.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a B.S. in Nursing will be able to:
- Synthesize knowledge from the natural sciences, behavioral sciences and the humanities with current nursing knowledge and theory to deliver nursing care;
- Provide safe, compassionate nursing care to diverse populations;
- Use critical thinking and communication skills to develop partnerships with clients and other healthcare professionals;
- Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for design, delivery, and evaluation of client care;
- Demonstrate professional behaviors in interactions with individuals, families, colleagues, and the community.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Nursing Pre-Licensure concentration will be qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for the California Public Health Nursing Certificate. Upon completion of the RN licensure process, the graduate will be able to work as a Registered Nurse with career opportunities in a wide range of settings including in hospitals, extended care facilities, public health organizations, schools and in other community settings. Graduates of the Post-Licensure concentration are also eligible to apply for the California Public Health Nursing Certificate and have career opportunities as a Bachelor’s prepared RN as listed above.
Major Advising
Because requirements are subject to change, consult an adviser in your major department for clarification and interpretation of your major requirements. Additionally, students are encouraged to consult a G.E. advisor in the College of Science for clarification of general education and other University graduation requirements.
Pre-Licensure Concentration
The B.S. in Nursing degree requires a total of 120 units. The Nursing major with a Pre-Licensure concentration is comprised of nursing prerequisites, 14 units of core courses and electives, and 57 units in the concentration. The remainder of the units in the degree consist of general education and graduation requirements. Students complete two years of prerequisite courses before admission to the Pre-Licensure concentration, which consists of five semesters of nursing courses. Nursing courses have concurrent laboratories on campus and clinical practicum courses in local hospitals and community settings. Expenses for clinical courses include the purchase of uniforms, stethoscopes, malpractice insurance, personal health insurance, and other necessary personal supplies.
The Pre-Licensure concentration program is approved by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing (Tel: 916 322-3350) and both the Pre-Licensure and the Post-Licensure Concentration are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036 (Tel: 202 887-6791).
Preparation
Students must take eight specific prerequisite courses to be eligible for admission to the Pre-Licensure concentration. The prerequisite courses may be completed at California State University, East Bay or by taking equivalent courses at another college or university. Students who will complete prerequisite courses by the end of Fall semester are eligible to apply for the nursing program with an admission the following Fall semester. Students who will complete prerequisite courses by the end of Spring semester are eligible to apply to the nursing program with an admission the following Spring semester. Students who plan to use transfer courses to satisfy prerequisite requirements must have equivalencies determined by an admissions counselor in the Department of Nursing.
Admission
The Board of Trustees has designated Nursing as an impacted program; therefore a special admission procedure has been instituted to assure that all students have an opportunity to be considered for admission to the Nursing major for Fall semester or Spring semester. General information on the program, admission criteria and application procedures may be obtained from the Department of Nursing. To be considered for admission to the nursing program, students must complete two application forms:
- The “CSU Application for Admission” and
- The “Nursing Supplemental Application”
Both applications must be filed in November for admission in the Fall semester of the following academic year and in August for admission in the Spring semester of the following academic year. Students must also take the “Test of Essential Academic Skills.” To be eligible for admission, the student must have a minimum 3.00 GPA and a C or above (C- is not acceptable) in the eight prerequisite courses. The four science prerequisite courses calculated separately must also have a minimum of 3.00 GPA or above. Prerequisite courses are listed below.
Note: Licensed Vocational Nurses, Medical Corps members, other healthcare personnel, and others who have completed prior nursing coursework must seek advisement from the Department of Nursing prior to applying to the program.
Post-Licensure Concentration
The Post-Licensure concentration is open only to students who hold a California license as a Registered Nurse. This program builds on the previous education of the Associate Degree in Nursing to provide students with the theoretical perspectives, concepts and skills required for a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
The B.S. in Nursing degree with a Post-Licensure concentration requires 120 semester units, many of which are transferable from the student’s Associate Degree nursing program. Units may also be earned through credit by examination, which is given for successful completion of the NCLEX-RN. The Nursing major with a Post-Licensure concentration includes nursing prerequisites, 14 units of core courses and electives, and an additional 23 semester units in the concentration, and can be completed in one year, (2 semesters and summer session).
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Post-Licensure concentration, a student must:
- Have an unencumbered, unrestricted California RN License by time of entry into the program.
- Be a graduate of an ADN program or Diploma Nursing program (within the last twelve months); or have six months or equivalent full-time nursing practice within the United States in the past two years.
- Meet all university admission requirements and nursing program deadlines.
- Meet minimum prerequisite GPA requirements. See website for details.
Admissions
General information on the program, admission criteria and application procedures may be obtained from the Department of Nursing. To be considered for admission, students must complete two application forms:
- The “CSU Application for Admission” and
- The “Nursing Supplemental Application”
Both applications must be filed approximately one year ahead of time. See Nursing website for details.
Concentration Plan of Study
A concentration plan of study for this degree can be found at the department website.
LVN to BSN Information
Students who have completed an LVN program and are licensed as an LVN in California are eligible to apply to the Pre-Licensure B.S. in Nursing Program. LVNs interested in the Pre-Licensure B.S. in Nursing should seek advisement from the Department of Nursing. Information for LVNs can be found on the department website.
Nursing Course Progression Policy
For information on the Nursing Course Progression Policy, please see the online Nursing Student Handbook on the Department of Nursing website. Enrolled Nursing Students are required to review the Nursing Student Handbook including the Nursing Course Progression Policy.
Degree Requirements Unit-Outline
- A baccalaureate of science degree requires a total of 120 units:
- The major requirements and pre-licensure concentration consists of 99* units;
- The major requirements and post-licensure concentration consists of 66* units;
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
- Free Electives consists of 0 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units.)
*Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.
