Nursing, Bachelor of Science (BSN)

Albany State University offers a high-quality Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that’s both affordable and convenient. Throughout the program’s curriculum, students are exposed to the various fields and specializations within the nursing profession, including women’s health, pediatrics, adult medical-surgical, and many others. This culminates with the student earning their BSN, which makes the graduate academically eligible to write the state licensing examination (the NCLEX-RN) to practice as a registered nurse. 

Undergraduate nursing education—whether at the associate or baccalaureate level—prepares the nurse to function as a generalist utilizing the triad of evidenced based practice, teaching, and practice in providing nursing care in traditional and nontraditional settings. The professional nurse is broadly prepared to assume responsibilities as a leader, client advocate, change agent, health care provider, health educator, and consumer of research. Additionally, our BSN graduates are prepared to enter graduate nursing programs in order to advance their careers, several of which are offered at this institution!

Albany State University proudly offers the following program tracks to allow our students to complete this degree quickly and conveniently, regardless of their experience within the collegiate setting:

The Generic BSN Program is structured as a “2+2 program,” in which the student spends their first 2 years at the University completing the Core curriculum and their second 2 years completing the nursing curriculum. Currently, students are admitted into this program for the Fall semester annually. Courses within this program are primarily taken on-campus (that is, on Albany State University’s East and West Campuses) with the potential for some courses to be offered as online or hybridized; however, this is not guaranteed. Clinical experiences are held in our clinical skills and simulations labs, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, and other facilities in the surrounding area as needed.

Freshmen will enter ASU as a Health and Human Performance major with a pre-nursing attribute, which MUST be specified upon application to the University. During their first 2 academic years (that is, their freshman and sophomore years), students intending to apply to this program will complete the entirety of the Core curriculum, which includes nine (9) courses utilized in the determination of their Nursing GPA (and, consequently, program eligibility). After being accepted into this nursing program, the student’s major will be changed to Nursing, and this track comprises five (5) additional consecutive semesters, including one (1) required Summer semester.

The Accelerated (or “Second Degree”) BSN Program is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in an area other than nursing and have graduated with at least a 3.0 Cumulative GPA but who also desire to earn their BSN with consideration of their past educational experience. Currently, students are only admitted into this program during the Fall semester. Currently, students are admitted into this program for the Fall semester annually. Courses within this program are primarily taken on-campus (that is, on Albany State University’s East and West Campuses) with the potential for some courses to be offered as online or hybridized; however, this is not guaranteed. Clinical experiences are held in our clinical skills and simulations labs, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, and other facilities in the surrounding area as needed.

Applicants will enter ASU as a Health and Human Performance major with a pre-nursing attribute, which MUST be specified upon application to the University. After being accepted into this nursing program, the student’s major will be changed to Nursing, and this track comprises five (5) additional consecutive semesters, including one (1) required Summer semester.

Applicants must:

1. FIRST, submit an application to Albany State University and be admitted in good standing.
2. AFTER being accepted as a student at Albany State University, submit the completed application, a $20.00 application fee money order, and a printed copy of their TEAS exam scores by the application deadline. 
   • In addition to a printed copy, applicants who take the TEAS exam at a testing site other than ASU’s West Campus Testing Center must also have their official TEAS scores transferred to Albany State University via ATI Testing’s “TEAS Transcript.”
3. Pass the standardized entrance exam for admission to nursing at or above the established percentage rate within no more than two (2) attempts within 12 months of application submission. As TEAS scores are valid for 12 months after the published testing date, scores older than 12 months of age at the time of application submission will not be considered.
   • Currently, the entrance exam is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), and the minimum qualifying score is 70.0%.
4. Successfully complete and exit all learning support courses.
5. Complete the entirety of the baccalaureate Core curriculum (including the “Above the Core” requirements) prior to Fall admission with a minimum letter grade of “C” in all coursework.
   • Applicants with six (6) or less credit hours of outstanding Core curriculum may still be considered for program admission, provided no other criteria are outstanding and none of the outstanding courses impact the calculation of an applicant’s Nursing GPA, as discussed below. However, if admitted, any outstanding Core must be completed within two (2) semesters of program enrollment.
6. Have a minimum cumulative Nursing Grade Point Average (NGPA) of 2.8 in the following nine (9) Core courses: English Composition I & II, two (2) sequential courses in an Area D science (either Biology I & II or Chemistry I & II), Microbiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Human Growth and Development, and Pre-Nursing Seminar.
   • Only the grades from the above nine (9) courses will be used to compute the student’s NGPA. All passing, failing, and repeated course grades from within the past 10 years will be included in this calculation.
7. Complete all required science courses with a grade of “C” or higher in each course. Only one (1) science course failure is allowed, and this course must be repeated prior to entry into the nursing program. If the science failure(s) occurred more than 3 years ago, the student has the opportunity to repeat the course(s) one (1) time.
8. Successfully complete Human Anatomy and Physiology course(s) that are less than 6 years old at the time of potential admission to the nursing program. Any Human Anatomy & Physiology courses that are older than 6 years of age must be retaken and passed with a letter grade of “C” or higher.
9. Following admission to the nursing program, students will be required to submit documentation evidencing satisfaction (and/or maintenance) of the following requirements prior to the established pre-clinical deadline for each nursing course with a clinical/laboratory component:
   • Annual flu vaccinations
   • Complete criminal background check and 10-panel drug screening (via PreCheck)
     • ​Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substances as a provision by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site, and the student will not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.
   • Active health insurance (or enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan)
   • Immunization record documenting the following: measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, varicella, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for clinical settings but is not required.
   • Active malpractice insurance (University-provided)
   • Basic life support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card (must be certified by the American Heart Association)
   • Tuberculosis screening

NOTE: A student who has failed (“D,” “F,” “WF,” or “U”) two (2) nursing courses, whether at a 2-year or 4-year institution (including ASU) will not be eligible for admission or continuation in the nursing program at ASU. Students with no more than two (2) nursing failures may be considered for entry (or reentry) into the nursing program on a case-by-case basis only after a 3-year period has passed from the most recently-earned failure. Only one (1) nursing failure may be forgiven.

Applicants must:

1. FIRST, submit an application to Albany State University and be admitted in good standing.
2. AFTER being accepted as a student at Albany State University, submit the completed application, unofficial transcripts from all institutions previously attended, a $20.00 application fee money order, and a printed copy of their TEAS exam scores by the application deadline.  
   1. In addition to a printed copy, applicants who take the TEAS exam at a testing site other than ASU’s West Campus Testing Center must also have their official TEAS scores transferred to Albany State University via ATI Testing’s “TEAS Transcript.”
3. Pass the standardized entrance exam for admission to nursing at or above the established percentage rate within no more than two (2) attempts within 12 months of application submission. As TEAS scores are valid for 12 months after the published testing date, scores older than 12 months of age at the time of application submission will not be considered.
   1. Currently, the entrance exam is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), and the minimum qualifying score is 70.0%.
4. Successfully complete and exit all learning support courses.
5. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited program in a field other than nursing with a graduating cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. Courses taken and degrees earned after obtaining the first bachelor’s degree will notfactor into the 3.0 required graduating GPA for admission consideration.
6. Complete the following 29 hours of baccalaureate Core Curriculum prior to Fall admission with a minimum grade of “C” in each: English Composition I & II, two (2) sequential courses in an Area D science (either Biology I & II or Chemistry I & II), Microbiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, and Human Growth and Development.
   • Applicants who have graduated from an institution outside of the University System of Georgia (USG) may be required to complete additional Core coursework in order to satisfy graduation requirements mandated by the USG.
7. Complete all required science courses with a grade of “C” or higher in each course. Only one (1) science course failure is allowed, and this course must be repeated prior to entry into the nursing program. If the science failure(s) occurred more than 3 years ago, the student has the opportunity to repeat the course(s) one (1) time.
8. Successfully complete Human Anatomy and Physiology course(s) that are less than 6 years old at the time of potential admission to the nursing program. Any Human Anatomy & Physiology courses that are older than 6 years of age must be retaken and passed with a letter grade of “C” or higher.
9. Following admission to the nursing program, students will be required to submit documentation evidencing satisfaction (and/or maintenance) of the following requirements prior to the established pre-clinical deadline for each nursing course with a clinical/laboratory component:
   • Annual flu vaccinations
   • Complete criminal background check and 10-panel drug screening (via PreCheck)
     • Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substances as a provision by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site, and the student will not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.
   • Active health insurance (or enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan)
   • Immunization record documenting the following: measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, varicella, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for clinical settings but is not required.
   • Active malpractice insurance (University-provided)
   • Basic life support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card (must be certified by the American Heart Association)
   • Tuberculosis screening

NOTE: A student who has failed (“D,” “F,” “WF,” or “U”) two (2) nursing courses, whether at a 2-year or 4-year institution (including ASU) will not be eligible for admission or continuation in the nursing program at ASU. Students with no more than two (2) nursing failures may be considered for entry (or reentry) into the nursing program on a case-by-case basis only after a 3-year period has passed from the most recently-earned failure. Only one (1) nursing failure may be forgiven.

Programs of Study: Baccalaureate Nursing Programs

Generic & Accelerated BSN

Degree Requirement – all courses in the program of study must be completed with a grade of C or better. 

¹

The health & wellness requirement may be fulfilled by taking one - two (2) credit hour health or wellness course OR two one (1) credit hour health or wellness activity courses.

²

NURS 1232 requires a grade of B or better. 

³

Core IMPACTS: Students are required to complete Quantitative Reasoning (MATH 1001) or College Algebra (MATH 1111) (preferred) in the Mathematics Area and Introduction to Statistics (MATH 2411) in the STEM Area. A lab science sequence (BIOL 1111K & BIOL 1112K, BIOL 2107K & BIOL 2108K, CHEM 1151K & CHEM 1152K, or CHEM 1211K & CHEM 1212K) is required for the STEM Area. 

⁴

A grade of C or better is required for the field of study.

Curriculum Patterns: Baccalaureate Nursing Programs

Generic (2+2) BSN Plan of Study

¹

Course utilized to calculate a student's Nursing GPA (NGPA)

²

Science courses must be in sequence.

³

Please be aware that 12 credit hours are required for full-time student status during non-summer semesters; speak with your faculty advisor for elective options that are applicable to your degree.

Accelerated (2nd Degree) BSN Plan of Study

¹

Science courses must be in sequence.