Why a Bachelor's Degree?

The health care field in general and the nursing profession in particular are undergoing rapid transition. Nurses today are often called upon to be generalists, and as such must be able to offer care to clients across the lifespan. Today's nurses serve as case managers, lead patient care teams, provide and coordinate care, and are moving into key supervisory and management positions. As a direct result of this increased responsibility, hospitals, visiting nurse services, and other health care settings prefer or even require nurses to have a bachelor's degree in nursing. The Cleveland State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Graduates of the program are prepared for professional nursing by receiving a strong theoretical and clinical foundation. The program focuses on excellence.

Our community-based nursing program prepares students with the necessary skills to perform their new role in the reordered and restructured health care system or to pursue graduate education in nursing or another field.

Here is How to Get Started:

Schedule an appointment with the Recruiter/Advisor at 216.687.3598. Be prepared with copies of your academic transcripts for evaluation for possible credit toward the prerequisite coursework. Students must complete prerequisites for the nursing major (usually taken in one academic year) and apply for acceptance into the nursing major classes. This full-time sequence is completed in three years. Thus, the expected plan for the entire program is four years.

Prerequisite Coursework

• Anatomy & Physiology I & II
• Chemistry I & II
• Microbiology
• English I & II
• Math
• Psychology
• Computers and Health Care

These courses must be completed prior to beginning the Nursing sequence in the fall semester. Please schedule an appointment with the advisor for individual guidelines.

Admission Guidelines

Begin the admission process by scheduling an advising appointment with the Recruiter/Advisor (phone 216.687.3598) to plan a course of study. Students who have taken courses at other colleges or universities must have their transcripts evaluated for possible credit toward the prerequisites. All pre-nursing students and applicants must meet with the School of Nursing's Recruiter/Advisor prior to the March application deadline to assess academic standing, and to review course requirements and health care related experience. This interaction assures that applicants have knowledge of admission criteria prior to the Fall semester for which they are seeking admission. An appointment can be made by calling 216.687.3598.

Selection Criteria

Selection of students is based on a number of criteria including prerequisite course grade point average, an entrance exam with an accompany essay and identified related health care experience. The number of spaces in the program is limited. Students not admitted due to lack of space or who do not accept an admission slot must reapply. There is no ongoing waiting list.

1. Enroll in prerequisites to the nursing major during your first semester at CSU. Successfully complete two of the following during your first fall term: Anatomy & Physiology I or II, Chemistry I or II, and Microbiology.
2. Enroll in the remaining prerequisites during Spring and Summer terms.
3. Complete all prerequisites with a grade of "C" or higher.
4. Maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher in prerequisite courses.
5. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
6. Submit two reference forms.
7. Formally apply for acceptance into the annual Fall nursing class no later than March 1st.
8. Those students with a prerequisite GPA of 3.25 or above may apply for early admission status. Deadline for receipt of applications for early admission is January 1st.

ESL Students

English as a Second Language (ESL) students are required to contact the English as a Second Language Department to arrange an assessment of their English language skills. The assessment may outline additional coursework that must be completed before admission to the nursing major.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many students are accepted each year, how many applied?
60 students are accepted each year and over 131 students applied in 2006.

What college degree is awarded upon completion of the program?
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Please note that Nursing is a three year major at CSU. Students are admitted to the program as sophomores. Students are also required to complete the College of Education's requirements (many courses meet more than one requirement) as part of the BSN degree.

What grade point average (GPA) is required for acceptance?
A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in prerequisite courses.

How much will it cost? Are there any scholarships?
CSU tuition for 2006/07 is $4,000 per semester. Other expenses for the Nursing program include books, uniforms, and insurance. Due to various clinical sites in the Greater Cleveland area students are responsible for their own transportation. Information on financial aid, including scholarships, is available through Campus 411 (216.687.5411).

When would I start if I were accepted?
BSN students begin the nursing sequence in Fall semester each year.

When are application available? When is the application deadline?
Applications are available year round. The deadline for application for Fall admission is March 1st, with January 1st designated for early admission. Only highly qualified students will be accepted for early admission. A pre-admission test must be completed prior to the application deadline.

How are applications evaluated?
Applications are evaluated on the basis of GPA, a written examination which includes essay questions, and additional consideration is given for any health care related experience. All applicants are strongly encouraged to have some kind of health care related experience, either through volunteer work or job experience. All applicants are required to meet with the Nursing Recruiter/Advisor prior to the March 1st application deadline. An appointment may be made by calling 216.687.3598. You will be notified of your acceptance by April.

What are the characteristics of this year's nursing class?
Over half are transfer students. The average age is 27. The class is culturally diverse. Numerous second career students. Many are parents with small children.

Do I need to complete all my prerequisites at CSU?
No, a transfer guide listing equivalent courses at colleges and universities across Ohio is available by calling 216.687.3598.

Who can I contact for further information?
The Recruiter/Advisor is available Monday - Friday from 8:00AM - 5:00PM by calling 216.687.3598 or by email at sonadvising@csuohio.edu.

Course Sequence & Descriptions

Sophomore Year	Fall Semester
Course	Title	Credits
Nur 200	Stress Framework	4
Nur 219	Pathophysiology	2
Nur 220	Health Assessment	2
Nur 221	Health Assessment Lab	1
Nur 215	Strategies for Nursing Practice	2
Nur 216	Strategies for Nursing Practice Lab	3
Sophomore Year	Spring Semester
Course	Title	Credits
Nur 218	Pharmacology	2
Nur 222	Tertiary Preventive Strategies I	2
Nur 225	Tertiary Preventive Strategies II	2
Nur 226	Tertiary Preventive Strategies Lab	6
******	Electives	8
Junior Year	Fall Semester
Course	Title	Credits
Nur 300	Leadership and Management	2
Nur 305	Secondary Preventive Strategies/Acute Care	2
Nur 306	Secondary Preventive Strategies Lab	3
Nur 312	Secondary Strat: Behavioral Health	2
Nur 313	Secondary Strat: Behav. Health Lab	3
*****	Electives	8
Junior Year	Spring Semester
Course	Title	Credits
Nur 310	Nursing Research	2
Nur 325	Secondary Strategies: Pediatrics	2
Nur 326	Secondary Strategies: Pediatrics Lab	3
Nur 380	Primary Strategies: Childbearing Family	2
Nur 382	Primary Strategies: Childbearing Family Lab	3
*****	Elective	3
Senior Year	Fall Semester
Course	Title	Credits
Nur 410	Preventive Strategies: Community Case Management/Home Care	2
Nur 411	Preventive Strategies: Community Case Management/Home Care Lab	3
Nur 412	Primary Strategies: Community	2
Nur 414	Primary Strategies: Community Lab	3
*****	Electives	6
Senior Year	Spring Semester
Course	Title	Credits
Nur 415	Advanced Med-Surg	2
Nur 416	Advanced Med-Surg Lab	3
Nur 420	Role Practicum	3
Nur 430	Professional Seminar	1
*****	Electives	6

Link to Nursing Course Descriptions