Nursing, BSN (Traditional) Nursing, BSN (RN to BSN) Nursing, BSN (Accelerated)

Program Description

The Associate of Arts degree (A.A) at JCCC is a general transfer degree and partners well with the first two years of most bachelor degree programs. Student pursing the A.A. may select courses that satisfy both the A.A. degree requirements and lower division requirements for a bachelor’s degree at four-year institutions. The elective hours within the A.A. allow students to complete additional general education and lower division courses required for specific majors. The A.A. degree requires completion of 60 credit hours; please see JCCC degree requirements. The maximum number of hours from a community college that will be applied toward a bachelor’s degree is 81 hours. Meeting with a JCCC counselor is strongly recommended for selection of appropriate courses. 

The University of Saint Mary offers a Traditional Track, RN to BSN Track, and an Accelerated Track for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Please note: The University of Saint Mary is not participating in the Kansas (KBOR) Systemwide General Education framework. Visit the USM General Education guide for more information.

Nursing, BSN - Traditional Track Admission

Formal admission to the Nursing Program is completed at the point in a student’s education when all prerequisites are addressed. Admission decisions for all applicants are competitive and based on combined qualifications of the applicant in each of the following areas: 

• Completed Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS) application
• Indications of academic success:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.00 scale in all previous college coursework.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale for science prerequisite coursework (nutrition, chemistry with lab, microbiology with lab, Human Anatomy with Lab AND Human Physiology with Lab OR Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab AND Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab, intro statistics, intro psychology or sociology, psychology of childhood and adolescence or human growth and development).
  • Minimum grade of “C” in each foundational/prerequisite course required for the major, and only one prerequisite course can be repeated
• Completion of 56 credit hours including all nursing prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the nursing major.
• Official transcripts for all college or university courses submitted through NursingCAS.
• Personal Statement.
• Two letters of professional or academic reference speaking to individual’s ability to complete the rigorous program of study and demonstration of the qualities to be a professional nurse.
• Achievement of designated benchmark on program-specified eternally prepared entrance exam (ex. TEAS score of 70% or higher).
• Minimum TOEFL score if English is the not native language and/or most recent degree is from a college or university outside the United States. Minimum writing and speaking scores as outlined in international Admission section of catalog.
• Additional application directly to the University of Saint Mary through the Admissions Office is not required.
• Highly qualified high school student may apply for direct entry to nursing through the aSpire to Nursing Program. Students must have a high school GPA of at least 3.5, 3.5 cumulative GPA in science coursework and an ACT composite of at least 24, and maintain a 3.5 GPA throughout all pre-nursing coursework.

Conditional acceptance is based upon successful completion of any outstanding prerequisite coursework with a grade of “C” or higher. Cumulative and science prerequisite GPA of 3.50 must be maintained. 

Additional Requirements for Nursing Students: Nursing education takes place in both the college classroom and the clinical setting. Students must have access to a computer for the duration of the program. The student’s personal computing system must meet or exceed the published “Personal Computing Specifications” of the university. Computers are used during class time for research, note-taking, NCLEX-RN prep, and internal and external assessments. Outside of class, students are required to do research, practice with computer-based testing programs, navigate electronic health record systems, participate in various online activities and complete other computer-based assignments. 

Additional requirements and expenses include (but are not limited to): health examinations, immunizations, unforms, transportation to clinical agencies, computer programs, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, background checks, and fees for licensure, graduation, and externally prepared examinations. Students are required to be covered by a valid health insurance policy while enrolled in nursing courses. Clinical hours may be during evening and weekends. 

Graduation requirements 

• Completion of 120 hours of college level credit as indicated in the university catalog.
• Cumulative GPA of at least 2.00.
• Other requirements for graduation are the same as the university requirements.

Nursing RN – BSN Track Admission

The RN-BSN degree completion program is designed for students who have a current license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States. Nursing courses are in the online delivery model. 

Nursing, (RN-BSN) – Acceptance:

• Completion of admission application
• Cumulative GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale is required on all previous college work. RN applicants who have a cumulative GPA between 2.00 and 2.50 may be considered for admission on an individual basis.
• Completion of Supplemental Application Form.
• Verification of unrestricted RN license in the United States.
• Letters from two professional/educational references.
• Receipt of all official transcripts of all college work.
• Statement of Personal Goals (if not included on supplemental application form). 

Students will complete the requirements for general education for the university’s bachelor degrees and the requirements of the nursing program. RN-BSN nursing students complete 28 hours of professional nursing courses work (Nursing Core), 18 hours of nursing support courses, and earn 36 escrow hours of credit for previous nursing coursework.  All transcripts will be formally reviewed by the Registrar’s Office for acceptance of additional transfer credit. The minimum total hours required for graduation is 125 credit hours. Students may need additional course hours (electives) to meet the 125 credit hour graduation requirement. 

Upper-Level Transfer: No more than 9 hours of upper-level nursing course work (obtained after licensure) will be accepted into the Nursing Core. 

Nursing Accelerated Track Admission

Accelerated Track students apply for admission into the Nursing Program and the University of Saint Mary through NursingCAS. Additional application directly to the University of Saint Mary through the Admissions Office is not required.  Formal admission to the Nursing Program is completed during the spring semester of each year. Admission decisions for all applicants are highly competitive and based on combined qualifications of the applicant in each of the following areas: 

• Completed Nursing Centralized Application Service (CAS) application
• Official transcripts for all college or university courses
• Minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for all previous course work
• Minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for science prerequisites
• Minimum grade of “C” in all prerequisite courses being transferred to the University with only 1 repeated prerequisite
• Personal Statement
• Two letters of professional or academic reference speaking to individual’s ability to complete the rigorous program of study and to have the qualities to be a professional nurse
• Personal interview for selected eligible candidates (an interview does not guarantee admission)
• Achievement of designated benchmark on program-specified externally prepared entrance exam (ex: TEAS score of 70% or higher)
• Minimum TOEFL score if English is not the native language and/or most recent degree is from a college or university outside the United States. Minimum writing and speaking scores as outline in the Admission section of the catalog.
• Conditional acceptance is based upon successful completion of any outstanding course work with a grade of “C” or higher. Cumulative and science prerequisite GPA of 3.00 must be maintained. 

Additional Requirements for Nursing Students: Nursing education takes place in both the college classroom and the clinical setting. Students must have access to a computer for the duration of the program. The student’s personal computing system must meet or exceed the published “Personal Computing Specifications” of the university. Computers are used during class time for research, note-taking, NCLEX-RN prep, and internal and external assessments. Outside of class, students are required to do research, practice with computer-based testing programs, navigate electronic health record systems, participate in various online activities and complete other computer-based assignments. 

Additional requirements and expenses include (but are not limited to): health examinations, immunizations, unforms, transportation to clinical agencies, computer programs, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, background checks, and fees for licensure, graduation, and externally prepared examinations. Students are required to be covered by a valid health insurance policy while enrolled in nursing courses. Clinical hours may be during evening and weekends. 

Graduation Requirements 

• General education requirements are met through the previous bachelor’s degree.
• Students must successfully complete 61 credit hours of nursing plus additional nursing supporting courses described below.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.00. 

It is the STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY to check for updates to all transfer information. This transfer guide is provided as a service and is updated as needed. Degree requirements at the four-year colleges are subject to change by those institutions. To ensure you have the most accurate information about the program, you must meet with an advisor at the transfer institution.