Program Overview

Nursing, BSN

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is accredited by the Virginia State Board of Nursing (VA-BON) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The undergraduate nursing program prepares students to deliver superior nursing care and provide leadership in nursing in the increasingly complex and challenging field of modern health care. Graduates are in demand as professional nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health and other health care agencies. The program emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention, capitalizing on early detection of potential health problems, health maintenance in ambulatory and acute-care agencies, and preparation for the managerial responsibilities of nursing.

Admissions

General Requirements

For admission into the direct entry BSN program, students must complete a Mason Application specifying Nursing as the intended major. Students admitted into the direct entry BSN and accelerated second-degree BSN will enter the program in the fall. Students admitted to the RN-BSN/Co-Enroll program may enter in the fall or spring semester.

Application to the BSN major is a competitive admission process. Prospective applicants are responsible to meet all BSN admission requirements at the time of application. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the nursing program and only allows an application to be considered.

Direct Entry BSN Pathway Requirements

• Applicant must be an incoming freshman student
• Submission of the Mason Application
• Specify Nursing as your intended major on the application
• Respond to short answer prompts, which will be provided to you after you submit your Mason Application
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your high school coursework
• Have a history of engagement in experiential learning opportunities
• Success in math and science coursework

Accelerated, Second Degree BSN Pathway Requirements

The Accelerated, Second Degree BSN Pathway is designed for applicants already holding a bachelor's degree who are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in nursing. This full-time accelerated program begins in the fall semester and is completed in 12 months.

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85 in their first degree. The non-nursing baccalaureate degree must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the year a student desires to be considered for fall admission.

RN-to-BSN Pathway Requirements

The RN-to-BSN Pathway is an online program for US-based RNs to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through the completion of the Mason Core requirements, designated nursing prerequisites, and required nursing courses. RN students can complete this program on a full-time or part-time basis.

RN-licensed students must satisfy all Mason Core requirements and designated nursing prerequisites. For some students, the Mason Core requirements (except ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core)) may be met by completing the Associate's degree (i.e., AA – Associate of Arts, AS – Associate of Science, or AA&S – Associate of Arts and Science) from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) with a qualifying GPA and specific admissions criteria.

Policies

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor's degrees, including the Mason Core requirements. For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.

Writing Intensive Requirement

Mason requires all students to complete at least one 300- or 400-level "writing intensive" course as designated by their department. Students majoring in nursing fulfill this requirement by successfully completing either NURS 465 or NURS 480.

Academic Progression Policy and Grading Standards

The School of Nursing has established the following policy outlining the academic requirements and expectations for students enrolled in Mason’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pathways.

• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above each semester to progress in the nursing program.
• Students who are at risk of exceeding the course repeat limit or whose GPA is negatively affected by course repeats will be required to meet with their academic advisors to develop an academic plan.
• Students must have a grade of “C” or higher in all nursing prerequisite courses.
• No more than one (1) nursing prerequisite course can be repeated due to unsuccessful completion (C-, D, F).
• Students have two attempts to earn a grade of C+ (77%) to successfully complete a NURS prefix course.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Mason Core Requirements

• Foundation Requirements
  • Written Communication
    • ENGH 101: Composition (Mason Core)
  • Oral Communication
    • Any Mason Core Oral Communication course
  • Information Technology
    • Any Mason Core Information Technology course
  • Quantitative Reasoning
    • See Nursing Designated Prerequisites
• Exploratory Requirements
  • Arts
    • Any Mason Core Arts course
  • Global Contexts
    • Any Mason Core Global Contexts course
  • Literature
    • Any Mason Core Literature course
  • Natural Science
    • See Nursing Designated Prerequisites
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
    • See Nursing Designated Prerequisites
  • Global History
    • Any Mason Core Global History course
• Integration Requirements
  • ENGH 302: Advanced Composition (Mason Core)
  • Writing Intensive
  • Mason Apex

Designated Nursing Prerequisites

• Anatomy and Physiology
  • Select one of the following sequences:
    • GCH 270 & GCH 271: Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II
    • BIOL 124 & BIOL 125: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II
• Microbiology
  • BIOL 246: Introductory Microbiology
  • BIOL 306: Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory
• Chemistry
  • CHEM 103: Chemical Science in a Modern Society (Mason Core)
• Bioethics
  • PHIL 309: Bioethics (Mason Core)
• Statistics
  • STAT 250: Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
• Human Lifespan Development
  • PSYC 211: Lifespan Development (Mason Core)
• Nutrition
  • NUTR 295: Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core)

Direct Entry BSN Pathway

• GCH 300: Introduction to Public Health
• HI 360: Introduction to Health Information Systems
• NURS 103: Introduction to Professional Nursing
• NURS 113: Population Health Nursing
• NURS 214: Nursing Care of the Community I
• NURS 215: Nursing Care of the Community II
• NURS 240: Pharmacology for Nursing Practice
• NURS 241: Essentials of Nursing Practice
• NURS 243: Health Assessment for Nursing Practice
• NURS 244: Clinical Management of Essentials of Nursing Practice
• NURS 300: Nursing Care of Adults I
• NURS 306: Clinical Management: Adults I
• NURS 311: Nursing Care: Mental Health and Well-Being
• NURS 314: Clinical Management: Mental Hlth Well Being
• NURS 315: Nursing Care of the Community III
• NURS 316: Nursing Care of the Community IV
• NURS 320: Nursing Care: Women and Childbearing Families
• NURS 324: Clinical Management: Women and Childbearing Families
• NURS 331: Nursing Care: Children and Adolescents
• NURS 335: Clinical Management: Children and Adolescents
• NURS 400: Nursing Care of Adults II
• NURS 406: Clinical Management: Adults II
• NURS 413: Transition to Practice
• NURS 450: Evidence Based Practice in Nursing
• NURS 460: Leadership in Nursing
• NURS 470: Clinical Reasoning
• NURS 480: Professional Issues in Nursing (Mason Core)
• NURS 490: Health Policy and Advocacy in Nursing (Mason Core)
• General Electives

Accelerated, Second Degree BSN Pathway (SEC)

• GCH 300: Introduction to Public Health
• NURS 305: Application of Basic Nursing Techniques
• NURS 309: Introduction to Basic Nursing Care
• NURS 310: Application of Basic Nursing Care
• NURS 319: Pathophysiological Basis for Nursing Care of Individuals and Small Groups
• NURS 334: Nursing as a Health Profession and Discipline
• NURS 343: Pharmacology
• NURS 350: Application of Nursing Care for Individuals and Small Groups
• NURS 351: Application of Intermediate Nursing Technologies
• NURS 419: Pathophysiological Basis for Nursing Care of Individuals and Small Groups II
• NURS 425: Comprehensive Health Assessment
• NURS 427: Advanced Technologies for the Accelerated Pathway
• NURS 428: Community Health Clinical for the Accelerated Pathway
• NURS 429: Preceptorship for the Accelerated Pathway
• NURS 436: Leadership and Management of Health Care
• NURS 453: Research in Nursing
• NURS 465: Examination and Integration of Professional and Health Care Issues (Mason Core)

Accelerated RN-to-BSN Pathway (RN)

• ENGH 302: Advanced Composition (Mason Core)
• GCH 300: Introduction to Public Health
• NURS 336: Concepts in Professional Nursing as a Discipline
• NURS 425: Comprehensive Health Assessment
• NURS 436: Leadership and Management of Health Care
• NURS 434: Vulnerable Populations
• NURS 453: Research in Nursing
• NURS 457: Introduction to Nursing Informatics
• NURS 465: Examination and Integration of Professional and Health Care Issues (Mason Core)
• Elective

Credit by Exam

• NURS 336: Concepts in Professional Nursing as a Discipline

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Sample Plan of Study

Detailed four-year plans can be found on the School of Nursing website.