Nursing Major
Admission Requirements
Admission with RN-BSN option
Course Descriptions
Curriculum ... Basic | RN-BSN option
Program Progression
Skills for Eligibility
Health Promotion Major
Mission, Program and Curriculum
Course Descriptions
School of Nursing Handbook
Student Nurses Association
Contact
RN-BSN Option
The RN-BSN Option is designed for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing who wish to complete a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The RN-BSN Option is designed to enable registered nurses to achieve a higher degree with minimal loss of credit or duplication of knowledge and skills.
The registered nurse student must be accepted for admission by Charleston Southern University. In order to be considered for admission to the RN-BSN Option in the nursing major/program, the registered nurse student must complete an application by June 1 to the School of Nursing and must meet the following admission requirements for the RN-BSN Option of the nursing major/program:
1. Complete at least 34 sh of prerequisite non-nursing course work. 21 semester hours must include:
English 111, 112 Composition/Rhetoric I and II 6 sh
Mathematics 105 Intro to Mathematical Structures 3 sh
Biology 215 Human Anatomy and Lab 4 sh
Biology 216 Human Physiology and Lab 4 sh
Biology 220 Microbiology and Lab 4 sh
The remaining 13 semester hours of the 34 hours required for admission may be chosen from any of the non-nursing courses (pre-nursing, core, supporting) required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (see below).
Chemistry 110 Concepts of Chemistry and Lab 4 sh
Religion 111 or 112 Survey of Old or New Testament 3 sh
History 101, 102 or 103 Western or World Civilization 3 sh
Communication 110 Public Speaking 3 sh
Psychology 110 General Psychology 3 sh
Nursing 260 Life Span Development or
approved growth and development course 3 sh
Biology 345 Nutrition 3 sh*
PSYC/SOCI 301 Intro Behavioral Statistics or
approved statistics course 3 sh
COIN 209 Intro to Computer Systems or
approved computer course 3 sh
Foreign Language/Literature at 200 level 3 sh
Art 201 or 202 or Music 171 Appreciation course 3 sh
English 201 or 202 Survey of English or American Lit 3 sh
History of Political Science 3 sh
Free Elective 3 sh**
*The nutrition requirement may be met through a nutrition course or free elective course.
**NURS 102 Foundations of Health Care required for basic students is waived for RN-BSN students. The credit may be met through a free elective course. There is no time limit on prior completion of science and mathematics courses.
2. Earn at least a grade of “C” or better and a 2.5 GPA in the 34 semester hours of non-nursing courses required for admission. Applicants must have a cumulative CSU GPA of 2.0. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirement will be considered on an individual basis.
3. Hold a current, non-restrictive active license as a Registered Nurse in South Carolina
4. Prior Work Experience: No prior work experience is required. However, it is recommended that students have six months full-time or one year part-time clinical experience as a registered nurse within the previous three years to the enrollment in the first nursing course in the nursing major/program. For new Associate Degree or Diploma graduates without prior clinical experience as a registered nurse, it is recommended that the student work part-time as a registered nurse while enrolled in the program on a part-time basis.
5. Submit documentation of graduation from a state approved associate degree or diploma program.
6. Submit completed Charleston Southern University application and Application for Admission to the School of Nursing. A copy of current active nursing license must be submitted with the Application for Admission to the School of Nursing.
Validation Requirements for RN-BSN Option
Graduates of Associate Degree and Diploma nursing programs in South Carolina and NLNAC Accredited Associate Degree and Diploma nursing programs outside of South Carolina are not required to submit documentation for validation of prior nursing knowledge and skills.
Graduates of non-NLNAC accredited Associate Degree and Diploma nursing programs outside of South Carolina may be required to validate prior nursing knowledge and skills. The applicant may submit complete documentation, including all course syllabi of all nursing courses taken, for review by School of Nursing faculty to determine a common core of knowledge and skills. If not submitted or acceptable, students will be admitted on a provisional basis to the nursing program and will be required to complete NURS 209 and NURS 360 prior to enrolling in the senior 400 level nursing courses.
