Nursing (BSN)
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 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 students pass the NCLEX, the national nursing licensure exam, at rates well above national average.
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.
The PACE Office is the Advising Center for the School of Nursing.
Career Opportunities
Graduates are expected to meet the program outcomes to function in entry-level nursing practice positions.
Program of Study
Click on the Program Map tab to view a term-by-term guide for completing the program requirements.
Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Area A Essential Skills | ||
| ENGL 1101 | English Composition I (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| ENGL 1102 | English Composition II (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Skills and Reasoning | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Modeling | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| Pre-Calculus | ||
| Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Area A Total | 9 | |
| Area B Institutional Options 1 | 3 | |
| B1: Select 3 hours of following courses: | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
Any Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002 | ||
| B2: Select 1 hour of the following courses: | 1 | |
| Scholarship Across the Disciplines | ||
| Introduction to Servant Leadership | ||
| Perspectives 1-hour | ||
| Perspectives 2-hour | ||
| Area B Total | 4 | |
| Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics | ||
| Select one of the following humanities courses: | 3 | |
| World Literature I | ||
| World Literature II | ||
| Comparative Arts 3 | ||
| The Western Intellectual Tradition | ||
| Historical Perspectives on the Philosophy of Science and Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Select one of the following fine arts courses: | 3 | |
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Comparative Arts 3 | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Theatre Appreciation | ||
| Introduction to the History of Art I– Prehistoric through Gothic | ||
| Introduction to the History of Art II– Renaissance through Modern | ||
| Area C Total | 6 | |
| Area D Science/Math/Technology 1 | ||
| D1: Take the following courses | 8 | |
| Survey of Chemistry I and Survey of Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Survey of Chemistry II and Survey of Chemistry II Lab | ||
| D2: Select 3 hours of the following: | 3 | |
| Human Origins (no lab) | ||
| Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System and Descriptive Astronomy Lab (lab optional) | ||
| Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies and Descriptive Astronomy Lab | ||
| Understanding the Weather and Understanding the Weather Lab | ||
| Principles of Biology (lab included) | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Biology Non-Lab (no lab) | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Biology with Lab (lab included) | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab | ||
| Introduction to Computing Principles and Technology | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Environmental Studies (no lab) | ||
| Introduction to the Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Natural Disasters: Our Hazardous Environment (no lab) | ||
| Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology (lab included) | ||
| Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology and Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology Lab | ||
| The Fossil Record (lab included) | ||
| Pre-Calculus | ||
| Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | ||
| Computer-Assisted Problem Solving | ||
| Introduction to Discrete Mathematics | ||
| Formal Logic | ||
| Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics I Lab | ||
| Introductory Physics II | ||
| Physics of Color and Sound | ||
| Area D Total | 11 | |
| Area E Social Sciences | ||
| HIST 2111 | U. S. History to 1865 | 3 |
| or HIST 2112 | U. S. History since 1865 | |
| POLS 1101 | American Government | 3 |
| Select one of the following behavioral science courses: | 3 | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Moral Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to General Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Select one of the following world culture courses: | 3 | |
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Discovering Archaeology | ||
| Ancient World Civilizations | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| World History to 1500 | ||
| World History since 1500 | ||
| Introduction to International Studies and Cross-Cultural Learning | ||
| Understanding Non-Western Cultures | ||
| Area E Total | 12 | |
| Wellness Requirement | ||
| PHED 1205 | Concepts of Fitness | 2 |
| Select one PEDS course | 1 | |
| Wellness Total | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
| 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.
|
| 2 | ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once. |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Complete the core requirements for this program | 45 | |
| Area F Courses Related to Major | ||
| BIOL 2221K | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 2222K | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOL 2225K | Microbiology for the Health Sciences | 4 |
| PSYC 1101 | Introduction to General Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 1401 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Area F Total | 18 | |
| Area G Program Requirements | ||
| NURS 3111 | Professional Development Perspectives I | 1 |
| NURS 3112 | Professional Development Perspectives II | 2 |
| NURS 3175 | Pharmacology in Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 3275 | Professional Clinical Nursing I | 7 |
| NURS 3277 | Professional Clinical Nursing II | 10 |
| NURS 3276 | Introduction to Health Assessment and Wellness | 3 |
| NURS 3279 | Applied Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 4111 | Professional Development Perspectives III | 2 |
| NURS 4112 | Professional Development Perspectives IV | 2 |
| NURS 4175 | Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 4279 | Professional Clinical Nursing IV | 10 |
| NURS 4280 | Professional Clinical Nursing III | 10 |
| NURS 4377 | Senior Preceptorship | 3 |
| Area G Total | 60 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
Program Map
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1101 | English Composition I (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| MATH 1001 or MATH 1101 |
Quantitative Skills and Reasoning (or higher) (minimum grade of C) or Introduction to Mathematical Modeling |
3 |
| Area B2 | ITDS 1779 (2), LEAD 1705 (2), PERS 1506 (1; may be repeated with different topic), PERS 1507 (2) | 1 |
| AREA C | Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| CHEM 1151 | Survey of Chemistry I (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| CHEM 1151L | Survey of Chemistry I Lab (minimum grade of C) | 1 |
| PHED 1205 | Concepts of Fitness | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1102 | English Composition II (minimum grade of C) 1 | 3 |
| Area B1 | COMM 1110 Public Speaking or foreign language 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002 | 3 |
| AREA C | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| CHEM 1152 | Survey of Chemistry II (minimum grade of C) 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 1152L | Survey of Chemistry II Lab (minimum grade of C) 1 | 1 |
| HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 |
U. S. History to 1865 or U. S. History since 1865 |
3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AREA D | Math/Science/Tech Elective | 3 |
| POLS 1101 | American Government | 3 |
| AREA E | World Culture Elective | 3 |
| BIOL 2221K | Human Anatomy and Physiology I (minimum grade of C) | 4 |
| STAT 1401 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| AREA E | Behavioral Science Elective 3 | 3 |
| BIOL 2222K | Human Anatomy and Physiology II (minimum grade of C) | 4 |
| PSYC 1101 | Introduction to General Psychology (minimum grade of C) 3 | 3 |
| BIOL 2225K | Microbiology for the Health Sciences (minimum grade of C) | 4 |
| PEDS 1000 level course | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 3111 | Professional Development Perspectives I (minimum grade of C) | 1 |
| NURS 3279 | Applied Pathophysiology (minimum grade of C) 4 | 3 |
| NURS 3275 | Professional Clinical Nursing I (minimum grade of C) | 7 |
| NURS 3276 | Introduction to Health Assessment and Wellness (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 3112 | Professional Development Perspectives II (minimum grade of C) | 2 |
| NURS 3277 | Professional Clinical Nursing II (minimum grade of C) | 10 |
| NURS 3175 | Pharmacology in Nursing (minimum grade of C) | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 4111 | Professional Development Perspectives III (minimum grade of C) | 2 |
| NURS 4175 | Evidence-Based Practice (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| NURS 4280 or NURS 4279 |
Professional Clinical Nursing III (minimum grade of C) 5 or Professional Clinical Nursing IV |
10 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 4112 | Professional Development Perspectives IV (minimum grade of C) | 2 |
| NURS 4279 or NURS 4280 |
Professional Clinical Nursing IV (minimum grade of C) 5 or Professional Clinical Nursing III |
10 |
| NURS 4377 | Senior Preceptorship (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
| 1 | Courses are offered as part of an FRLC. |
| 2 | Area B Elective in FRLC will be ITDS 2735 Life and Career Planning. |
| 3 | Behavioral Science Elective and PSYC 1101 Introduction to General Psychology can be taken at any time in the nursing program. |
| 4 | NURS 3279 Applied Pathophysiology must be taken first upon admission to the nursing program which will occur in spring 2020. |
| 5 | 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 1***) prior to reaching 30 hours and earn a "C" or higher in all three courses.
- As of Fall 2013, all undergraduate students are required each semester to meet the 2.0 institutional GPA standard for satisfactory academic progress.
Summer 2021 - NURS 3276 Introduction to Health Assessment and Wellness (Health Assessment) and NURS 3279 Applied Pathophysiology (Pathophysiology) will be offered in the summer term. Eligible students are required to complete BIOL 2222K Human Anatomy and Physiology II by spring 2021 in order to take NURS 3279 Applied Pathophysiology (Pathophysiology) in summer 2021. Eligible students will work with an advisor from the School of Nursing in determining if summer 2021 nursing courses can be taken. Please note that summer 2021 nursing courses are not required, and taking summer 2021 nursing does alter the program map for fall 2021 and spring 2022. Additional information will be provided during the advising process as applicable.
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
- Maintaining a 3.00 or higher overall GPA
- Pass the "A2 Assessment" test with 70% or greater on the three (3) sections (math, grammar and reading) with 75% average or better
- 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.