Nursing, Bachelor of Science (BSN)

GENERIC BSN

The Generic BSN Program is designed for students desiring a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and, as such, is an ideal program for high school, transfer, and change-of-major students. Currently, students are only admitted into this program during the Fall semester. 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, but please note that this is not guaranteed. Clinical experiences are held in our clinical skills lab(s), Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, and other facilities in the surrounding area as needed.

Students Accepted to ASU Prior to Fall 2018 

Freshmen desiring to attend this program will enter ASU as a Health and Human Performance major with a “Pre-Nursing” attribute, which MUST be specified upon application to the college. During their first academic year (that is, their freshman year), students complete the prerequisite courses necessary to become eligible to apply for the nursing program beginning in the Fall, which would be the first semester of their sophomore year. Following acceptance, this track comprises six (6) additional semesters of alternating Fall and Spring semesters with Core curriculum course incorporated into the curriculum pattern; Summer semesters are not required while in the nursing . Throughout the nursing curriculum, students are exposed to the various fields and specializations within the field, including Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, and many others. This program culminates with the student earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which, following successful completion of the state licensing exam for Registered Nurses (the NCLEX), prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to function as a beginning nurse, nurse manager, or leader within various healthcare settings. Additionally, our BSN graduates are prepared to enter graduate nursing programs in order to advance their careers, two of which are offered at this institution!

Students Accepted to ASU Beginning Fall 2018 and After

Effective Fall 2018, the Generic BSN Program will be offered as a “2+2 program,” in which the student spends the first 2 years completing the Core curriculum and the second 2 years completing nursing courses exclusively. Freshmen will enter ASU as a Health and Human Performance major with a “Pre-Nursing” attribute, which MUST be specified upon application to the college. During their first 2 academic years (that is, their freshman and sophomore years), students complete the Core curriculum while taking the prerequisite courses necessary to become eligible to apply for the nursing program beginning in the Fall, which would be the first semester of their junior year. Following acceptance, students are exposed to the various fields and specializations within the field, including Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, and many others. This program culminates with the student earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which, following successful completion of the state licensing exam for Registered Nurses (the NCLEX), prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to function as a beginning nurse, nurse manager, or leader within various healthcare settings. Additionally, our BSN graduates are prepared to enter graduate nursing programs in order to advance their careers, two of which are offered at this institution!

ACCELERATED BSN

The Accelerated (or “Second Degree”) BSN Program is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from our or another institution and have graduated with at least a 3.0 Cumulative GPA but who also desire to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing, albeit at a faster pace than the generic track. Students are admitted into this program during the Fall semester. This accelerated track comprises five (5) consecutive semesters (that is, Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, and finally Spring), during which students are exposed to the various fields and specializations within the field, including Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, and many others. This program culminates with the student earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which, following successful completion of the state licensing exam for Registered Nurses (the NCLEX), prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to function as a beginning nurse, nurse manager, or leader within various healthcare settings. Additionally, our BSN graduates are prepared to enter graduate nursing programs in order to advance their careers, two of which are offered at this institution!

Generic BSN Program (Old Format)

NOTE: This format is applicable to students who were accepted to the University prior to the Fall 2018 semester under the old curriculum pattern and/or those who wish to apply to the program beginning in either the Fall 2018 or Fall 2019 semester under this admission criteria. If the student was accepted to the University after this point, please refer to the "2+2 Format" admission criteria. Applicants must be admitted to the University prior to submitting application to the Department of Nursing.

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, the $20.00 application fee money order, and a copy of TEAS exam scores by the application deadline. 
   1. Applicants who take the TEAS exam at Albany State University’s West Campus Testing Center may submit a printed copy of their results page with the application and money order.
   2. Applicants who take the TEAS exam at a testing site other than ASU’s West Campus Testing Center will need to purchase the “TEAS transcript” through ATI Testing’s online store and indicate that they wish to have their scores transferred to Albany State University.
3. Successfully complete and exit all learning support courses.
4. Complete 31 hours of the baccalaureate Core Curriculum prior to Fall admission with a minimum grade of "C" in the following courses: Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Microbiology, two (2) sequential courses in an Area D science (which can be either Biology I & II or Chemistry I & II), English Composition I & II, Human Growth & Development, and Pre-Nursing Seminar (NURS 1232).
   1. Pre-Nursing Seminar is an ASU-exclusive course. Applicants transferring from other institutions who have taken a medical terminology course at a non-ASU institution may be able to waive the Pre-Nursing Seminar requirement; however, this waiver is given on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.
      1. In the past, considerations have been given to students admitted to the University lacking only the Pre-Nursing Seminar requirement, allowing them to take this course during their first semester in the nursing program. However, this is not guaranteed and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Factors considered are the student's current Nursing GPA (which must be 2.8 or higher at the time of application, as detailed below) and TEAS performance; further, satisfaction of the minimum Nursing GPA requirement cannot depend on the student's performance in Pre-Nursing Seminar (that is, the student should only have to pass the course with a "C" in order to maintain a Nursing GPA of 2.8 or higher). 
5. Have a minimum cumulative Nursing Grade Point Average (NGPA) of 2.8 in the nine (9) core courses listed above. Please note that only the grades from the above courses will be used to compute the student’s NGPA. However, all passing, failing, and repeated course grades in the above courses will be computed to obtain the GPA. 
6. 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 5 years ago, the student has the opportunity to repeat the course(s) one (1) time.
7. Have successfully completed Anatomy and Physiology course(s) that are less than 6 years old at the time of potential admission to the nursing program. If the Anatomy and Physiology course(s) is/are older than 6 years, the student must retake the course(s) and pass with a "C" or better.
8. Must have passed the standardized entrance exam for admission to nursing at or above the established percentage rate within no more than two (2) attempts within the past 12-month period. Students who have taken the entrance exam within the last year must present official scores to the admission committee prior to being admitted to the program.
   1. Currently, the entrance exam for the nursing program is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The most current version is the ATI TEAS, and the minimum qualifying score is 70.0.
9. Following acceptance into the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the last date to add courses for the semester (“Schedule Adjustment Days”). Students who do not meet this requirement will be dropped from the clinical nursing course.
   1. Certificate of immunization: Must be on file in Student Health Services indicating that all immunizations are current based on his/her age. Immunizations include Hepatitis B (or waiver), MMR, tetanus, varicella, flu, tuberculosis, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site.
   2. BLS card: A current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) basic life support (BLS) card. All students must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in child and adult BLS for health care providers. This certification must be maintained throughout the program (renewed every 2 years). An outdated CPR certification will prohibit the student from attending clinical practice experiences.
10. Following admission to the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the course’s established pre-clinical deadline: malpractice insurance, proof of active health insurance (or enrollment into the student health insurance plan), a complete criminal background check, and a drug test at the expense of the student will be required. The criminal background check will be completed utilizing the following website: https://www.precheck.com/
11. Students who are engaged in clinical work at a practicum site may be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substance as a provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. 
12. A student who has failed (D, F, or WF) 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 5-year period has passed from the most recently-earned failure. Only one (1) nursing failure may be forgiven.

NOTE: This format is reserved for students who were accepted to Albany State University as new freshmen for the Fall 2018 semester and afterwards and/or those who wish to apply to the Fall 2020 program and afterwards. If the student was accepted to the University prior to the Fall 2018 semester, please refer to the "Old Format" admission criteria. Applicants must be admitted to the University prior to submitting application to the Department of Nursing.

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, the $20.00 application fee money order, and a copy of TEAS exam scores by the application deadline. 
   1. Applicants who take the TEAS exam at Albany State University’s West Campus Testing Center may submit a printed copy of their results page with the application and money order.
   2. Applicants who take the TEAS exam at a testing site other than ASU’s West Campus Testing Center will need to purchase the “TEAS transcript” through ATI Testing’s online store and indicate that they wish to have their scores transferred to Albany State University.
3. Successfully complete and exit all learning support courses.
4. Complete the entirety of the baccalaureate Core Curriculum (approximately 63 credit hours) prior to Fall admission with a minimum grade of "C" in the following courses: Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Microbiology, two (2) sequential courses in an Area D science (which can be either Biology I & II or Chemistry I & II), English Composition I & II, Human Growth & Development, and Pre-Nursing Seminar (NURS 1232).
   1. Pre-Nursing Seminar is an ASU-exclusive course. Applicants transferring from other institutions who have taken a medical terminology course at a non-ASU institution may be able to waive the Pre-Nursing Seminar requirement; however, this waiver is given on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.
      1. In the past, considerations have been given to students admitted to the University lacking only the Pre-Nursing Seminar requirement, allowing them to take this course during their first semester in the nursing program. However, this is not guaranteed and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Factors considered are the student's current Nursing GPA (which must be 2.8 or higher at the time of application, as detailed below) and TEAS performance; further, satisfaction of the minimum Nursing GPA requirement cannot depend on the student's performance in Pre-Nursing Seminar (that is, the student should only have to pass the course with a "C" in order to maintain a Nursing GPA of 2.8 or higher). 
5. Have a minimum cumulative Nursing Grade Point Average (NGPA) of 2.8 in the nine (9) core courses listed above. Please note that only the grades from the above courses will be used to compute the student’s NGPA. However, all passing, failing, and repeated course grades in the above courses will be computed to obtain the GPA. 
6. 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 5 years ago, the student has the opportunity to repeat the course(s) one (1) time.
7. Have successfully completed Anatomy and Physiology course(s) that are less than 6 years old at the time of potential admission to the nursing program. If the Anatomy and Physiology course(s) is/are older than 6 years, the student must retake the course(s) and pass with a "C" or better.
8. Must have passed the standardized entrance exam for admission to nursing at or above the established percentage rate within no more than two (2) attempts within the past 12-month period. Students who have taken the entrance exam within the last year must present official scores to the admission committee prior to being admitted to the program.
   1. Currently, the entrance exam for the nursing program is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The most current version is the ATI TEAS, and the minimum qualifying score is 70.0.
9. Following acceptance into the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the last date to add courses for the semester (“Schedule Adjustment Days”). Students who do not meet this requirement will be dropped from the clinical nursing course.
   1. Certificate of immunization: Must be on file in Student Health Services indicating that all immunizations are current based on his/her age. Immunizations include Hepatitis B (or waiver), MMR, tetanus, varicella, flu, tuberculosis, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site.
   2. BLS card: A current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) basic life support (BLS) card. All students must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in child and adult BLS for health care providers. This certification must be maintained throughout the program (renewed every 2 years). An outdated CPR certification will prohibit the student from attending clinical practice experiences.
10. Following admission to the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the course’s established pre-clinical deadline: malpractice insurance, proof of active health insurance (or enrollment into the student health insurance plan), a complete criminal background check, and a drug test at the expense of the student will be required. The criminal background check will be completed utilizing the following website: https://www.precheck.com/
11. Students who are engaged in clinical work at a practicum site may be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substance as a provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. 
12. A student who has failed (D, F, or WF) 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 5-year period has passed from the most recently-earned failure. Only one (1) nursing failure may be forgiven.

NOTE: The accelerated curriculum pattern is designed for five (5) semesters after completion of all prerequisites. If the student is unsuccessful in any nursing courses, he or she may opt to revert to the Generic BSN Program track curriculum pattern or sit out until the sequence for the accelerated option is offered again. Applicants must be admitted to the University prior to submitting application to the Department of Nursing.

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, the $20.00 application fee money order, and a copy of TEAS exam scores by the application deadline. 
   1. Applicants who take the TEAS exam at Albany State University’s West Campus Testing Center may submit a printed copy of their results page with the application and money order.
   2. Applicants who take the TEAS exam at a testing site other than ASU’s West Campus Testing Center will need to purchase the “TEAS transcript” through ATI Testing’s online store and indicate that they wish to have their scores transferred to Albany State University.
3. 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 not factor into the 3.0 required graduating GPA for admission consideration.
4. Complete 31 hours of the baccalaureate Core Curriculum prior to Fall admission with a minimum grade of "C" in the following courses: Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Microbiology, two (2) sequential courses in an Area D science (which can be either Biology I & II or Chemistry I & II), English Composition I & II, Human Growth & Development, and Pre-Nursing Seminar (NURS 1232).
   1. Pre-Nursing Seminar is an ASU-exclusive course. Applicants transferring from other institutions who have taken a medical terminology course at a non-ASU institution may be able to waive the Pre-Nursing Seminar requirement; however, this waiver is given on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.
5. 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 5 years ago, the student has the opportunity to repeat the course(s) one (1) time.
6. Have successfully completed Anatomy and Physiology course(s) that are less than 6 years old at the time of potential admission to the nursing program. If the Anatomy and Physiology course(s) is/are older than 6 years, the student must retake the course(s) and pass with a "C" or better.
7. Must have passed the standardized entrance exam for admission to nursing at or above the established percentage rate within no more than two (2) attempts within the past 12-month period. Students who have taken the entrance exam within the last year must present official scores to the admission committee prior to being admitted to the program.
   1. Currently, the entrance exam for the nursing program is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The most current version is the ATI TEAS, and the minimum qualifying score is 70.0.
8. Following acceptance into the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the last date to add courses for the semester (“Schedule Adjustment Days”). Students who do not meet this requirement will be dropped from the clinical nursing course.
   1. Certificate of immunization: Must be on file in Student Health Services indicating that all immunizations are current based on his/her age. Immunizations include Hepatitis B (or waiver), MMR, tetanus, varicella, flu, tuberculosis, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site.
   2. BLS card: A current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) basic life support (BLS) card. All students must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in child and adult BLS for health care providers. This certification must be maintained throughout the program (renewed every 2 years). An outdated CPR certification will prohibit the student from attending clinical practice experiences.
9. Following admission to the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the course’s established pre-clinical deadline: malpractice insurance, proof of active health insurance (or enrollment into the student health insurance plan), a complete criminal background check, and a drug test at the expense of the student will be required. The criminal background check will be completed utilizing the following website: https://www.precheck.com/
10. Students who are engaged in clinical work at a practicum site may be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substance as a provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. 
11. A student who has failed (D, F, or WF) 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 5-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

Curriculum Patterns: Baccalaureate Nursing Programs

Generic BSN Program (Fall Admission)

Accelerated BSN Program (Fall Admission)