Nursing, B.S. Program (120 units)
Notice To Students re: Professional Licensure and Certification. See Graduation page for more information.
Program Description
The Department of Nursing offers an undergraduate program that leads to the Bachelor of Science degree with a major 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:
PLO #1: Integrate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines, such as but not limited to ethnic studies, humanities, behavioral sciences, and natural sciences, to provide safe, high quality, and person-centered nursing care across the lifespan and across the continuum of care
PLO #2: Develop effective partnerships with patients, families, communities, and healthcare professionals to establish mutual trust and shared clinical decision making
PLO #3: Apply clinical judgement, evidence-based practice, and ethical use of information and communication technologies to improve patient care and healthcare systems and practices
PLO #4: Engage in initiatives that dismantle structural racism and promote social justice, environmental justice, and equitable access to healthcare to improve individual and population health outcomes
PLO #5: Demonstrate a commitment to personal, professional, leadership development, and life-long learning
Program Roadmaps
These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.
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. Learners in the Post-Licensure concentration have already obtained their RN license and are looking to complete their baccalaureate degree in nursing. Graduates of the Post-Licensure concentration are eligible to apply for the California Public Health Nursing Certificate and have a broad range of career opportunities as a Bachelor’s prepared RN, as listed above.
Major Advising
Students who are preparing to apply to the nursing major should receive academic advising that includes lower-division general education requirements and guidance on the California state-wide nursing prerequisites. Once enrolled as a nursing major, students receive major advising from a professional staff advisor and their assigned faculty advisor. Advising may include guidance on course progression, discussions on balancing work, school and personal obligations, and counciling on career exploration and preparation.
Pre-Licensure Concentration
The B.S. in Nursing degree with a Pre-Licensure concentration requires a total of 120 units. The nursing major with a Pre-Licensure concentration is comprised of nursing prerequisites, general education requirements, and 59 units of nursing courses. Students complete approximately two years of prerequisite courses before admission to the Pre-Licensure concentration. The Pre-Licensure concentration consists of five semesters of nursing and upper-division (UD) general education courses. Most classroom-based nursing courses are paired with hands-on learning experiences. These include on-campus laboratory and simulation courses, as well as clinical placements in health care facilities and other community organizations. Expenses for clinical courses include, but are not limited to, the purchase of uniforms, stethoscopes, malpractice insurance, personal health insurance, other necessary personal supplies, parking, and transportation.
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 programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20001 (Tel: 202-887-6791).
Preparation
Students must complete eight prerequisite courses to be eligible for admission to the Pre-Licensure concentration. The prerequisite courses may be completed at Cal State East Bay or by taking equivalent courses at another college or university. Students who plan to use transfer courses to satisfy prerequisite requirements must have equivalencies determined by a pre-admissions advisor in the Department of Nursing. Students who will complete prerequisite courses by the end of fall semester are eligible to apply for the nursing program with admission to the Hayward Campus the following fall semester. Similarly, students completing prerequisite courses by the end of spring semester are eligible to apply for admission to the nursing program at the Concord Center the following spring semester.
Admission
The California State University Board of Trustees has designated Nursing as an impacted program; therefore, a special admission procedure has been instituted to ensure that all students have an opportunity to be considered for admission to the nursing major. General information about the program, admission criteria, and application procedures can be found on the nursing website. To be considered for admission to the nursing program, students must complete two separate application forms:
- University Application (Cal State Apply) and
- Nursing Supplemental Application (NursingCAS)
Applicants must follow the University timeline to apply for fall or spring admission. Please refer to the Admissions website or check the nursing website for specific dates each term. Students must also take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). To be eligible for admission, students 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. See the nursing website for details. Prerequisite courses are listed below.
Post-Licensure Concentration
The Post-Licensure concentration builds on previous education of the Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma programs 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; up to 70 of those units may be transferable from the student’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program. Students also receive 20 upper division (UD) units upon submission of proof of successful completion of the NCLEX-RN. The nursing major with a Post-Licensure concentration includes nursing prerequisites, 21 units of nursing courses, and 9 units of general education requirements.
Preparation
To be considered for admission to the Post-Licensure concentration, students must:
- Have an unencumbered, unrestricted California RN License by graduation from the Cal State East Bay Nursing Program
- Be a graduate of an ADN program or a Diploma Nursing program
- Meet all university admission requirements and nursing program deadlines
- Meet minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. See the nursing website for details.
Post-Licensure Admission
Applicants must follow the University timeline to apply for fall or spring admission. Please refer to the Admissions website or check the nursing website for specific dates each term.
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.
Degree Requirements Unit-Outline
- A baccalaureate of science degree requires a total of 120 units:
- The major requirements and Pre-Licensure concentration consists of 99-100* units;
- The major requirements and Post-Licensure concentration consists of 61* units;
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consist of 52 units;
- Free Electives consists of 0-7 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 advisors for information.
Nursing Major Requirements (61-100 units)
Note: All NURS-prefix courses for degree credit must be completed with a C- or better.
Prerequisite Courses
The following lower-division courses, or their equivalents, are prerequisites (28-29 units) that are included in major totals for both the Pre-Licensure and Post-Licensure Nursing Concentrations.
Note: To be eligible for admission, students must separately submit a Nursing application by strict deadlines, only available on the Nursing program website. Students must have a minimum 3.00 GPA and a C or above (C- is not acceptable) in the eight required prerequisite courses. The four science prerequisite courses, calculated separately, must also have a minimum of 3.00 GPA or above.
Core Requirements
The following interdisciplinary core courses for 21 units are required for both Pre-Licensure and Post-Licensure concentrations. These courses may also satisfy certain University requirements for graduation. In addition to the B.S. Nursing major requirements, every student must complete the University requirements for graduation which can be found online and elsewhere in this catalog. Students are advised to consult with their general education and major advisors to confirm they have met all of the University and major requirements for graduation.
Note: Students must successfully complete a course in Lifespan Human Development prior to entering semester 3 of the nursing program. Students can meet the Lifespan Human Development requirement in one of the following ways: 1) *Complete a Lifespan Human Development course at another institution. Such course must be approved by the Department of Nursing and be at least the equivalent of three semester units. If the student chooses this option, the student will need to complete an alternate Upper Division GE Area 4 course to meet the Cal State East Bay GE requirement, or 2) Complete HDEV 380 at Cal State East Bay.
Concentrations
B.S. Nursing students may only apply to one (1) concentration to complete the major. Note: Students who have an LVN license must take the Pre-Licensure concentration. Students seeking course credit for previous education or experience should contact an advisor in the Nursing Department Office.
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