Program Overview

The BSN degree prepares a nurse generalist with a liberal arts background who focuses upon treating human responses to actual or potential health programs. Graduates are expected to meet the program outcomes to function in entry-level nursing practice positions. After successful completion of required core coursework, students enter nursing courses in the fall of their junior year.  

CSU Nursing Facts:

There are more than 1,000 health science majors focusing on nursing and nursing majors and the numbers continue to increase.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing is conditionally approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing is accredited by:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202-887-6791

Our faculty provides hands-on experiences to our students. All of our professors are clinical experts in the area in which they teach.

Students get relevant, hands-on experience, in the classroom and in clinical settings.

Low instructor-to-student ratio.

The clinical nursing curriculum is offered over four semesters beginning in the junior year and is preceded by two years of pre-nursing (core) courses.

RN to BSN - Online

Career Opportunities

Graduates are able to obtain entry-level nursing practice positions in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, clinics and other healthcare facilities once completing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Exam) requirement.

Program of Study

Click on the Program Map tab to view a term-by-term guide for completing the program requirements.

Core Requirements

¹

Note: Students whose majors require 2 lab science courses in Area D complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

• Area B1, 3 hours;
• Area B2, 1 hour; 
• Area D1, 8 hours;
• Area D2, 3 hours. 

²

ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Major Requirements

Program Map

¹

Behavioral Science Elective and PSYC 1101 Introduction to General Psychology can be taken at any time in the nursing program.

²

PCN III/PCN IV or PCN IV/PCN III sequence.

Additional Notes

This program map illustrates appropriate coursework for completing a degree within four years, provided that course grades allow for earned credit. Please consult with your advisor to determine when courses can be switched out with others and taken in a different semester or sequence than illustrated since not all courses are taught every semester.

• This map is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract on the part of CSU since degree requirements or course offerings could change. As always, check with your advisor.
•  Students must complete "Area A " (ENGL 1101 English Composition I, ENGL 1102 English Composition II, and MATH 1001 Quantitative Skills and Reasoning or higher) prior to reaching 30 hours and earn a "C" or higher in ENGL 1101 and 1102.
• As of Fall 2013, all undergraduate students are required each semester to meet the 2.0 institutional GPA standard for satisfactory academic progress.

Summer Classes - NURS 3276 Introduction to Health Assessment and Wellness (Health Assessment) and NURS 3279 Applied Pathophysiology (Pathophysiology) may be offered in the summer term. Eligible students are required to complete BIOL 2252K Anatomy & Physiology II by Spring semester in order to take NURS 3279 Applied Pathophysiology (Pathophysiology) in Summer semester. Eligible students will work with an advisor from the School of Nursing in determining if Summer nursing courses can be taken. Please note that Summer nursing courses are not required, and taking Summer nursing courses does alter the program map for the following academic year. Additional information will be provided during the advising process as applicable.

Fall Semester- NURS 3175 Pharmacology will be offered for those nursing students who have successfully completed Pathophysiology.

Admission Requirements

The School of Nursing accepts one class of nursing students to its program to start each fall term. Admittance to the upper level clinical course sequence each fall is competitive. Acceptance to the nursing program is conducted through a rolling admissions process. Eligible nursing majors are evaluated at the beginning of each semester for possible early acceptance through rolling admission for the upcoming fall cohort.

Students can apply for the Nursing program once they have met the following requirements:

• Completed AREA A, AREA D required sciences (CHEM 1151 Survey of Chemistry I/CHEM 1151L Survey of Chemistry I Lab and CHEM 1152 Survey of Chemistry II/CHEM 1152L Survey of Chemistry II Lab), Area F, and have fewer than nine (9) remaining hours of Core left to complete. Students must meet the terms of the School of Nursing Science Policy

• Students must meet the terms of the School of Nursing Science Policy:

  • Students may only FAIL (D or F) or WITHDRAW FAILING (WF) from one Area D/F science course and be allowed to repeat it within five years of acceptance into the Nursing Program. The grade of the AREA D/F science course failure and the grade of the second attempt of the AREA D/F science course will be averaged and utilized in the program GPA. Failing two science courses (D, F, or WF) will make a student ineligible to apply for five years.

  • A science course that was taken more than seven years prior to acceptance into the Nursing Program MUST be repeated and ONLY the grade earned for the repeated course will be used in the nursing GPA.

  • Science courses: CHEM 1151/1151L (Survey of Chemistry I), CHEM 1152/1152L (Survey of Chemistry II), BIOL 2251K (Human and Physiology I), BIOL 2252K (Human and Physiology II), BIOL 2260K (Microbiology)

• Maintaining a 3.00 or higher overall GPA
• Pass the "A2 Assessment" test with 75% or greater on each of the three (3) sections (math, grammar and reading).
• During the application process, students will also be asked to provide three (3) professional recommendations

The application process begins in January each year for the upcoming fall nursing class.
Application deadlines are provided at http://nursing.columbusstate.edu/bsn/index.php

Additional Program Requirements

Requirements for students to progress in clinical nursing course sequence include:

• maintaining 3.00 overall GPA
• successful completion of prerequisites not met before entry into program
• successful completion of required nursing achievement exams
• annual evidence of required immunizations, TB screening, BLS certification, and current professional liability insurance
• eligibility to enter clinical agencies for clinical experiences

Requirements for students to graduate from BSN Program:

• maintaining a 3.00 or higher overall GPA
• successful completion of all university requirements
• successful completion of all BSN program requirements
• students who fail to meet graduation requirements within seven years of their first admission to the nursing program are subject to having all credits reevaluated

Program Learning Outcomes

• Graduates will provide safe, patient-centered care in a variety of settings.
• Graduates will function as a leader within the nursing roles provider of care, manager of care, and member of the profession.
• Graduates will use sound evidence to make appropriate clinical decisions about health care.
• Graduates will integrate informatics into nursing practice in a variety of settings.
• Graduates will apply the quality improvement process to ensure patient safety and to meet desired clinical outcomes.
• Graduates will communicate and collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary health care team in a professional and effective manner, through verbal, non-verbal, written and electronic means to improve patient outcomes and teamwork.
• Graduates will apply concepts of safe practice to ensure optimal patient clinical outcomes.