The undergraduate nursing program offers the Bachelor of Science degree (BS). The curriculum is built on the five components of professional nursing education: liberal arts education, professional values, core competencies, core knowledge and role development as recommended in The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. It is also designed to prepare the graduate to practice as a generalist, independently or collaboratively, with other health professionals in the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of health. Through theory and clinical practice, students will expand nursing skills and knowledge, enabling them to provide quality healthcare and to qualify for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). In addition, BSN program graduates have a sound academic foundation for graduate study.
Admissions to the Undergraduate Nursing Program
Upon admission to the University, new students may declare nursing as their prospective major. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the upper level nursing program. Students will be assigned an academic advisor to guide them through successful completion of their general education and nursing prerequisite courses In this phase, students undertake coursework that will prepare them for entry into nursing major courses. Students must satisfactorily complete their general education, university and nursing program prerequisite requirements in order to be eligible to apply to the major nursing program. The general education and prerequisite courses provide the foundation nursing students need to synthesize knowledge from the humanities, arts, and sciences as a basis to provide effective nursing care within a multicultural society.
Note: all nursing program supporting prerequisite requirements must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
The Undergraduate Nursing Major Division
The BS program is open to both juniors at Morgan and transfer students who meet Morgan State University’s (MSU) admission requirements and the admission requirements of the nursing program. Qualifications for Admission to the Major requirements division include: (1) completion of all pre-requisite courses (2) a minimum calculated cumulative 3.0 GPA based on all prior schools attended and (3) timely submission of a complete admissions packet. Up-to-date forms will be available from the program’s website. Additional conditions may apply and will be posted on the website along with the other admissions information. Admission to the upper-level nursing courses is highly competitive. Therefore, all students who do not meet minimum eligibility requirements may not be admitted. For those with a GPA between 2.75 and 2.99, an application can be made for “Special Consideration” to explain any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted the cumulative GPA. Your application will be considered separately and should be designated as a special consideration request in your personal statement.
Students should note that, while a criminal background check is not required for admission into the nursing program, it is a requirement for clinical practice. Issues in the criminal background check may prevent you from attending clinical (and thus may delay progression through the program) and may also inhibit your ability to become licensed as a nurse.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must first be admitted to MSU before they are eligible to apply to the nursing program. They must also have completed all general education and pre- professional requirements prior to acceptance into the nursing program. Their academic qualifications from all previous institutions will be evaluated for admission to the program outlined above. Other conditions may also apply. Nursing credits from other schools will be accepted only as electives.
Retention/Progression/Graduation
In addition to those specified by the University, the undergraduate nursing program has specific requirements regarding progression, retention and graduation from the upper level Nursing Program.. Students are required to complete all Nursing courses (i.e. those listed in the catalog as starting with “NURS”) with a grade of C or better. If a letter grade of “D” or “F” is received in any nursing course, the student is automatically placed on academic probation and must retake the course the next available time the course is offered. The student cannot progress to the next nursing course level until the failing grade is successfully passed. Prerequisite course requirements must be met prior to further progression in the program. Any changes to a students’ program sequence must be approved by the Nursing Program Advisor, Course Coordinator, and Undergraduate Program Committee. Nursing students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA and have at least a cumulative 2.5 GPA to graduate from the program. Students whose semester GPA falls below 2.5 for two consecutive terms will be dismissed from the nursing program. Note: Other conditions may apply as outlined in the MSU-BS Nursing Program Student Handbook of Academic Policy and Procedures.
A minimum of 120 credit hours is required of students pursuing the Nursing, B.S. degree. These credit hours are distributed as follows:
General Education and University Requirements 44
Supporting Courses 18
Major Requirements 58
TOTAL 120
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