Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Traditional Pathway

The traditional BSN requires a secondary application for admission. Students admitted from high school typically apply in the first semester of their Sophomore year at JMU. Transfer students typically apply after completing one semester of full-time course work. Admission to the pathway is competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee program admission. Students must be admitted to the pathway and meet the Technical Standards to take nursing courses.

Admission Requirements

Admission is conditional upon meeting all admission requirements. Applications for admission are accepted twice per calendar year. For admission to the Fall cohort, applications are due by December 1 and transcripts are due by January 11. For admission to the Spring cohort, applications are due by July 1 and transcripts are due by August 31.

• To be eligible for the Traditional Pathway, students must:
  • Be enrolled at JMU
  • Have BSN declared major
  • Have completed one full-time semester at JMU
  • Have completed 36 credit hours
  • Earn a grade of "C-" or higher in each of the following prerequisite courses and maintain a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 in these courses:
    • General Education "Madison Foundations" One Critical Thinking and One Human Communication course
    • One of the two biology courses and co-requisite laboratory: BIO 270 Human Physiology and BIO 270L Human Physiology Laboratory or BIO 290 Human Anatomy and BIO 290L Human Anatomy Laboratory
    • PSYC 160 Life Span Human Development

Additional Considerations

In addition to pre-requisite course GPA of 3.0 and a letter grade of "C-" or better for each pre-requisite course, the following are also considered:

• Experiences: ROTC, work experience, and community service
• An essay of no more than 500 words to address a prompt that demonstrates students' commitment to the values of the School of Nursing

Step Two - Complete the Remaining Requirements

Conditional admission to the Traditional BSN pathway is contingent upon the student's successful completion of all remaining admission requirements prior to program entry.

• After receiving Conditional Admission, the remaining criteria must be satisfied:
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all pre-requisite courses
  • Complete 48 credit hours
  • Earn "C-" or higher in each of the remaining pre-requisite courses:
    • NUTR 280 Nutrition for Wellness
    • MATH 220 Elementary Statistics
    • CHEM 120 Concepts of Chemistry
    • BIO 245 General Microbiology
    • BIO 245L General Microbiology Laboratory
    • Complete remaining biology course and co-requisite laboratory: BIO 270 Human Physiology and BIO 270L Human Physiology Laboratory or BIO 290 Human Anatomy and BIO 290L Human Anatomy Laboratory

Prerequisite Courses

• Prerequisite Courses Included General Education "Madison Foundations" One Critical Thinking and One Human Communication course
• Prerequisite Courses Included in General Education "The Natural World"
• Prerequisite Course Included in General Education "Sociocultural and Wellness Area"