The Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing meets the standards for and has been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, leading to a California Registered Nurse (RN) license. Students who wish to practice in a state other than California may or may not have additional educational and/or non-educational requirements to complete prior to applying for the RN license. Prior to enrollment, prospective students must review the lists below to determine whether this program meets the educational requirements in a specific state. MSMU would like to help applicants and students navigate the licensure process. Contact absnprogram@msmu.edu for the Accelerated BSN program or tbsnprogram@msmu.edu for the Traditional BSN program for further information about obtaining an RN license in a state outside of California.
At the start of the nursing major, students are given departmental policy statements covering topics such as grading, mathematical competence, clinical progression, incomplete grades, probation, absences, dismissal, and readmission to the program. These policies are found in the BSN Student Handbook. Alongside these and other policies detailed in the BSN Student Handbook, students are also required to adhere to the following guidelines during clinical portions of the program:
For up to date polices and procedures enrolled students can refer, to the current MSMU BSN Student handbook.
At the completion of the baccalaureate nursing program, the graduate will have met the following objectives and will:
Upon the completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree: Major in Nursing, the student is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and is also qualified to apply for the Public Health Nursing Certificate issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
Other program-specific policies can be found in each program’s Student Handbook and course syllabi that are available after enrollment. MSMU nursing students are responsible for reading, understanding, and seeking clarification on all nursing program policies, regardless of where they are published—university catalog, student handbook, or syllabi.
The BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The faculty of the BSN program holds both the authority and responsibility to assess the quality of students' performance, evaluating their mastery of theoretical knowledge as well as their clinical competence. When necessary, measures such as mid-term warnings, probation, or dismissal may be implemented. The following academic policies are applicable:
Nursing classes are conducted at various locations. Students are responsible for arranging their own equipment and transportation for clinical courses. Those who drive must possess a valid driver’s license and carry auto insurance.
Multiple agencies are used for clinical practice and include private and public acute and sub-acute health care facilities, community health sites, and public and community health care agencies.
Schedules for clinical and class times are subject to change at any time and may include evenings, nights, or weekends. For more detailed information on nursing department policies and procedures concerning clinical scheduling, students should consult the BSN Student Handbook.
BSN Program
The Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing meets the standards for and has been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, leading to a California Registered Nurse (RN) license. Students who wish to practice in a state other than California may have additional educational and/or non-educational requirements to complete prior to applying for the RN license.
Prior to enrollment, prospective students are advised to review the educational requirements for RN licensure in any state other than California. The nursing department can help applicants and students navigate the out-of-state licensure process. Contact the program director to discuss the process of obtaining an out-of-state RN license.
TBSN Admission Requirements
To gain acceptance into the BSN Program, applicants must not only meet the general admission requirements but also undergo evaluation by the BSN Admission Committee. This evaluation focuses on the student’s academic performance. Students planning to major in nursing are encouraged to complete high school chemistry.
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must first secure admission to the University and fulfill all nursing admission prerequisites. Admission to sophomore nursing courses is available exclusively for the fall semester and is evaluated based on the following criteria:
Students may repeat a nursing major-required course only once. Failure in any two required science or prerequisite courses (earning a grade of C- or below) results in disqualification from admission.
LVN to BSN Admission Policy
LVNs that have been accepted by the University and have completed the general education requirements of the first two years may challenge sophomore level nursing courses and move directly into junior level nursing courses.
LVN to RN Non-Matriculation 26 unit Option
A non-degree R.N. option is available for applicants licensed as LVN’s in California. After completing 26 units of prescribed courses, the student is eligible to take the California examination for the R.N. Licensure. The student is not a graduate of MSMU or the BSN Program and does not receive a Degree. This option is available in any of the pre-licensure programs at Mount Saint Mary’s University. Practice as a Registered Nurse with a CA license outside the State of California may be limited.
RN to BSN Admission Policy
Registered Nurses who apply to the BSN program may be given transfer credit for previous nursing courses equivalent to the sophomore and junior level nursing courses. Validation of clinical competence is required prior to entry into the program. In addition, applicants need to meet university admission requirements and BSN program admission policies for RN to BSN applicants.
Criteria for High School Student Direct Entry Admission
High school students seeking admission to Mount Saint Mary’s University Baccalaureate Nursing Program may be eligible for direct entry consideration if they meet specific requirements. However, fulfilling these requirements does not guarantee a direct admission spot. To be eligible for direct entry, prospective high school students must
- Complete
- Two science advanced placement courses with AP or IB test scores of four or five or
- Three years of science in high school with a GPA of 3.5 or greater on a four point scale or 4.25 or greater on a five point scale.
- Of these three years, the student must complete at least one year of chemistry and one year of biology.
- Achieve an overall high school GPA of 3.8 or greater on a four point scale or 4.25 or greater on a five point scale.
- Complete three years of math that include either per-calculus or stats.
After being accepted into the University through the direct entry admission program, students will declare nursing as their baccalaureate major and officially join the Department of Nursing. To advance to nursing courses, they must fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Complete and pass (C or higher) all nursing prerequisite courses at the University during the first (freshman) year.
- Maintain an overall Science GPA of 2.7 and Cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Obtain a minimum score of 70 or above on the Kaplan evaluation taken during the freshman year.
Once a direct entry admission student successfully completes the nursing prerequisites and meets the stated requirements, they will advance to the sophomore nursing courses.
If a direct entry admission student does not meet the minimum requirements during their freshman year, they will not progress to the sophomore nursing courses. Instead, they may be considered for inclusion in the general pool of pre-nursing admission candidates for that academic year, provided they fulfill the BSN admission criteria.
Should a student fail to meet the BSN admission requirements, they have the option to remain as a pre-nursing major for a second year and reapply to the program in the following spring.
BSN Curriculum Requirements
Pre-requisite Courses for Nursing Programs
FYS 1 and FYS 2
| First Year Seminar | 2,2 |
ENG 1A and ENG 1B
| Freshman English | 3,3 |
| or | |
| ENG 5H | Freshman Honors English | 3 |
| SOC 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| PSY 1 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| MTH 10 | Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Ideas | 3 |
| SPE 10 | Introduction to Communication | 2 |
| PHS 1 | Scientific Concepts | 3 |
| or | |
| CHE 3 | Foundations of Chemistry | 3 |
| BIO 50A | Human Anatomy | 3 |
| BIO 50AL | Human Anatomy Laboratory | 1 |
| BIO 50B | Human Physiology | 3 |
| BIO 50BL | Human Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIO 3 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 3L | General Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| PSY 12 | Lifespan/Human Development | 3 |
| or | |
| PSY 15 | Global Lifespan Development | 3 |
*PHS 1/CHE 3, BIO 50A, BIO 50AL, BIO 50B, BIO 50BL, BIO 3, and BIO 3L: must have been completed within 5 years prior to admission.
*FYS 1 & FYS 2: not required for students entering MSMU with over 24 transferable units.
*PSY 12 or PSY 15: taken during the First Year of BSN.
First Year of Nursing
| NUR 12T | Nutrition and Health | 2 |
| NUR 13T | Pharmacology I | 1 |
| NUR 14T | Pharmacology II | 2 |
| NUR 55T | Adaptation Nursing: Foundations of Nursing and Roy Adaptation Model | 7 |
| NUR 55TP | Adaptation Nursing: Foundations of Nursing and Roy Adaptation Model | 0 |
| NUR 56T | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 57T | Adaptation Nursing: Fundamental Nursing Skills Lab | 1 |
| NUR 62T | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical Nursing I | 7.5 |
| NUR 62TP | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical Nursing I | 0 |
| | |
LACE
| Central Core Course | 3 |
| | |
| RST 41 | Sacred Ethics - Introduction to 21st Century Ethics in a Dystopian World | 3 |
| or | |
| PHI 21 | Moral Values and Ethical Decisions | 3 |
| | |
| PSY 12 | Lifespan/Human Development | 3 |
| or | |
| PSY 15 | Global Lifespan Development | 3 |
Second Year of Nursing
| NUR 168T | Integrative Theory and Practices | 1.5 |
| NUR 169T | Pallative Care | 1.5 |
| NUR 170T | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical II | 4.5 |
| NUR 170TP | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical II | 0 |
| NUR 171T | Adaptation Nursing: Childbearing Families and Women's Health | 4.5 |
| NUR 171TP | Adaptation Nursing: Childbearing Families and Women's Health | 0 |
| NUR 172T | Adaptation Nursing: Children and Families | 4.5 |
| NUR 172TP | Adaptation Nursing: Children and Families | 0 |
| NUR 173T | Adaptation Nursing: Mental Health | 4.5 |
| NUR 173TP | Adaptation Nursing: Mental Health | 0 |
| | |
| PHI 168A | Contemporary Moral Problems | 3 |
| or | |
| PHI 168B | Bioethics | 3 |
| or | |
| RST 149 | Sacred Ethics - Biomedical Issues in Sacred Ethics | 3 |
| or | |
| HCP 158 | Ethics in Health Policy | 3 |
| | |
LACE
| Critical Thinking Course | 3 |
Third Year of Nursing
| NUR 134T | Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NUR 184T | Adaptation Nursing: Leadership and Policy | 4.5 |
| NUR 184TP | Adaptation Nursing: Leadership and Policy | 0 |
| NUR 185T | Adaptation Nursing: Gerontology | 4.5 |
| NUR 185TP | Adaptation Nursing: Gerontology | 0 |
| NUR 186T | Adaptation Nursing: Transition to Professional Practice | 5 |
| NUR 186TP | Adaptation Nursing: Transition to Professional Practice | 0 |
| NUR 187T | Adaptation Nursing: Community/Public Health | 4.5 |
| NUR 187TP | Adaptation Nursing: Community/Public Health | 0 |
| NUR 188T | Adaptation Nursing: Advanced Health Assesment | 2 |
| Integrative Scholarship (Any 2 courses that meets) | 6 |
*SOC 1, PHI 21 or RST 41, and PHI 168A or PHI 168B or RST 149 or HCP 158 are required as part of the LACE General Education requirements, starting with the Fall 2018 Catalog.
To graduate with a BSN degree, students will need to complete the LACE requirements. This will encompass a central core course sophomore year in addition to the courses noted above.
*NUR 186T and NUR 186TP fulfill the capstone requirement for BSN.
Please note, those courses with Practicum units above are the clinical courses in the curriculum. They must be passed with a C or better. A C- or lower grade will result in program dismissal.
Accelerated BSN Program
The Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing meets the standards for and has been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, leading to a California Registered Nurse (RN) license. Students who wish to practice in a state other than California may or may not have additional educational and/or non-educational requirements to complete prior to applying for the RN license. Prior to enrollment, prospective students must review the lists below to determine whether this program meets the educational requirements in a specific state. MSMU would like to help applicants and students navigate the licensure process. Contact Marie Seitz at mseitz@msmu.edu to discuss the process of obtaining an RN license in a state outside of California.
ABSN Application Procedure
ABSN applicants must submit the following documents:
- Completed admissions application
- Personal statement of intent
- Official transcripts of all college work
- Two recommendations by those acquainted with the applicant's ability to succeed in an accelerated curriculum.
- Personal interviews may be scheduled.
ABSN Program Admission Requirements
The ABSN program is open to persons who have previously completed a Baccalaureate degree and who meet specific admission requirements. Admission to the program is open twice a year. Please see the website for specific deadlines.
To be considered for admission, students must be graduates of an accredited four-year college or university with an earned cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
ABSN Entrance Requirements
Before admitted students begin the program, they must:
- Complete the necessary health forms and immunizations (See Health Policies, Department of Nursing.).
- Be current in CPR (Healthcare Provider BCLS/Professional Rescuer CPR).
- Carry malpractice insurance.
- Complete a First Aid Course.
- Submit a successful completion of a Criminal Background check as outlined in clinical policies
- Drug Screening
LVN to RN Non-Matriculation Option (26 unit option)
See option under the BSN option.
Transfer Articulation for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science – Major in Nursing
Mount Saint Mary's University accepts completed Baccalaureate degrees from accredited colleges and universities as evidence of fulfillment of MSMU General Education requirements with the exception of GE Central Core. ABSN students will be exempted from taking 3 units of GE Written Communication, GE Critical Thinking, GE Math, and GE Integrative Scholarship courses because they are pursing a second bachelors degree.
Costs/Financial Aid/Registration
Tuition for the ABSN program is the same as the standard Mount Saint Mary’s University undergraduate tuition and fees for three semesters. There is a nursing fee for each of the three accelerated sessions. Please refer to the Fees and Expenses for exact figures and guidelines.
While ABSN students are not eligible for Mount Saint Mary's grants or scholarships, students may be eligible for federal, state, or private grants or loans. In order to qualify, students must send the FAFSA forms to the processor no later than January 15. Information on financial aid eligibility will be sent prior to the deposit deadline. A non-refundable deposit fee of $400.00 is due on the date specified in the acceptance letter.
Nursing Pre-requisite Requirements (starting Fall 2021)
An eligible applicant entering the ABSN option Fall 2021 or thereafter, must have also completed the following requirements prior to beginning the program:
Nursing Pre-requisite Requirements:
| *Chemistry or Physics |
(4 units) |
| *Human Anatomy with Lab |
(4 units) |
| *Human Physiology with lab |
(4 units) |
| *Microbiology with Lab |
(4 units) |
| Human Nutrition |
(3 units) |
| General Psychology |
(3 units) |
| Life-span Developmental Psychology (Infant through Older Adult ) |
(3 units) |
| Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology |
(3 units) |
| Written Communication (ENG 1A or ENG 1B) |
(3 units) |
| Oral Communication |
(2-3 units) |
*Must have been completed within five years prior to admission
General Education Requirements - Central Core
The General Education requirement includes 12 units of course work in the Central Core category, with 3 units completed in each core: Spirit of the Founders, Community, Global Awareness and Understanding, and Women and Gender.
| Bioethics |
(3 upper division units, must be MSMU Bioethics) |
| Sociology/Cultural Anthropology |
(3 units) |
| Two Additional LACE Central Core Courses |
(6 units) |
ABSN Degree Curriculum Requirements for Students Entering Fall 2021 and thereafter
The ABSN program requires 58 Nursing department units and 3 units of upper division Bioethics. Admitted students must complete their total curriculum plan at Mount Saint Mary’s University. They may not take required nursing courses at other institutions. A sample program is listed below.
Courses
1st Semester
| NUR 13A | Pharmacology I | 1 |
| NUR 14A | Pharmacology II | 2 |
| NUR 55A | Adaptation Nursing: Foundations of Nursing and Roy Adaptation Model | 6 |
| NUR 55AP | Adapt Nur: Fnd of Nur/Roy Adap | 0 |
| NUR 56A | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 57A | Adaptation Nursing: Fundamental Nursing Skills Lab | 1 |
| NUR 62A | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical Nursing I | 8 |
| NUR 62AP | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical Nursing I | 0 |
2nd Semester
| NUR 168A | Integrative Theory and Practices | 1.5 |
| NUR 169A | Pallative Care | 1.5 |
| NUR 170A | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical II | 3.5 |
| NUR 170AP | Adaptation Nursing: Adult Medical Surgical II | 0 |
| NUR 171A | Adaptation Nursing: Childbearing Families and Women's Health | 3.5 |
| NUR 171AP | Adaptation Nursing: Childbearing Families and Women's Health | 0 |
| NUR 172A | Adaptation Nursing: Children and Families | 3.5 |
| NUR 172AP | Adaptation Nursing: Children and Families | 0 |
| NUR 173A | Adaptation Nursing: Mental Health | 3.5 |
| NUR 173AP | Adaptation Nursing: Mental Health | 0 |
| PHI 168B | Bioethics | 3 |
| or | |
| PHI 168A | Contemporary Moral Problems | 3 |
| or | |
| RST 149 | Sacred Ethics - Biomedical Issues in Sacred Ethics | 3 |
| or | |
| HCP 158 | Ethics in Health Policy | 3 |
3rd Semester
| NUR 134A | Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NUR 184A | Adaptation Nursing: Leadership and Policy | 3.5 |
| NUR 184AP | Adaptation Nursing: Leadership and Policy | 0 |
| NUR 185A | Adaptation Nursing: Gerontology | 3.5 |
| NUR 185AP | Adaptation Nursing: Gerontology | 0 |
| NUR 186A | Adaptation Nursing: Transition to Professional Practice | 4 |
| NUR 186AP | Adaptation Nursing: Transition to Professional Practice | 0 |
| NUR 187A | Adaptation Nursing: Community/Public Health | 4 |
| NUR 187AP | Adaptation Nursing: Community/Public Health | 0 |
| NUR 188A | Adaptation Nursing: Advanced Health Assessment | 2 |
*SOC 1, and PHI 168A or PHI 168B or RST 149 or HCP 158 are required as part of the LACE General Education requirements, starting with the Fall 2021 Catalog.
*NUR 186A and NUR 186AP fulfill the capstone requirement for the ABSN program.
Please note, those courses with Practicum units above are the clinical courses in the curriculum. They must be passed with a C or better. A C- or lower grade will result in program dismissal.