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Undergraduate Admission Requirements

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School of Nursing Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for undergraduate university admission, applicants must meet the requirements for admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

The BSN program offers two options: the Generic option and the Two-Plus-Two (High Desert) option. The Generic option is designed primarily for recent high school graduates, while the Two-Plus-Two option meets the needs of the transfer student interested in pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Once accepted into an option, students must remain in that option for the duration of the program. The School of Nursing Admissions Committee reviews all student applications and the student is notified in writing of the results of the evaluation.

Generic Program Option

Applicants interested in the BSN Generic option must meet the following admission requirements:

  1. Submit an application to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions indicating interest in becoming a nursing major and pursuing the Generic option. Include in that application the following information:
    1. Copies of all high school and college transcripts.
    2. Letters of recommendation as required by the university and the School of Nursing. (Download the School of Nursing Personal Reference (PDF).)
    3. A one-page statement of professional goals in nursing.
    4. A résumé reflecting volunteer and paid work experience within the past three years. Please include leadership positions held within volunteer organizations, community service experience, and/or employment where applicable.
  2. Complete applicable prerequisite courses with a grade of B or better including the following:
    1. One year of high school chemistry B (or CHEM 101 Introduction to Chemistry).
    2. One year of high school biology B (or BIOL 101 Fundamentals of Biology).
    3. Two years of high school math (algebra or geometry). A math placement test is required unless the placement test is waived by an SAT 1 math score of 540+ or ACT math score of 23+. With either SAT 1 (540+) or ACT (23+) math score the student will be allowed to take college algebra. The college algebra course requirement is waived by an SAT 1 math score of 600+ or an ACT math score of score of 26+. However, this does not grant units for the course.
    4. Students with a verbal SAT 1 score below 480 must take a writing placement test in English during registration. SAT 1 verbal score does not waive the Freshman Writing Seminar requirement. An AP English score of 3 or better waives the Freshman Writing Seminar course.
  3. Submit proof of achieving the minimum high school, college or university cumulative grade-point average of 3.00.
  4. Once a student has received a letter of acceptance into the School of Nursing, proof of the following must be provided prior to the beginning of the first nursing course (UNRS 105).
    1. Successful completion of anatomy with lab (4 units) and organic chemistry with lab (3 units), with no lower than a B- (2.7) grade-point average. Note: A student is allowed only one opportunity to repeat a single science course to try to raise his/her grade prior to beginning nursing (UNRS) courses. Students must maintain a B- (2.7) average in all subsequent science coursework or be placed on academic probation.
    2. Credit or waive for college algebra
    3. A current full physical examination clearance done within the past 12 months. This report is to be submitted to the APU Health Center.
    4. Current two-step TB test, Hepatitis B, MMR titer, Varicella titer, DTAP, and current influenza immunizations.
    5. A current background check.
    6. Ability to meet physical sensory technical standards required for safe and competent performance of the duties and skills needed for the nursing occupation.
    7. Current CPR with AED certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health Care Providers for adults and children from the American Heart Association.
  5. Deadlines to apply are September 30 for spring admission and January 31 for fall admission.

Current and Incoming Fall 2011 APU Students

APU students who have applied for admission to the School of Nursing for fall 2011 or earlier and meet the requirements for consideration, but have not received letters of acceptance to the School of Nursing, may request an opportunity to interview for possible fall 2012, summer 2012, or spring 2013 admission to either the Generic option or the Two-Plus-Two (High Desert) option. Deadline for submitting request for an interview is March 16, 2012. Inquire at the School of Nursing for a request form. Students admitted to APU after fall 2011 who do not receive letters of acceptance to both the university and the School of Nursing at the time of their initial application will NOT be considered for admission into the Generic option.

Two-Plus-Two (High Desert) Program Option

Transfer applicants interested in the Two-Plus-Two (High Desert) option must meet the following admission requirements:

  1. Submit an application to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions indicating interest in becoming a nursing major and pursuing the Two-Plus-Two (High Desert) option. Include in that application the following information:
    • Copies of all college transcripts.
    • Letters of recommendation as required by the university and School of Nursing. (Download the School of Nursing Personal Reference (PDF)
    • A one-page statement of professional goals in nursing.
    • A résumé reflecting volunteer plus work experience within the past three years. Please include leadership positions within volunteer organizations, community service and/or employment where applicable.
  2. Submit evidence of a minimum of 60 college or university semester units of transferable nursing prerequisite course requirements for the semester in which the student is requesting admission. See section “Requirements and Sequences for the Generic and Two-Plus-Two (High Desert) Options.”
  3. Submit proof of achieving a minimum cumulative college or university grade-point average of B (3.00) or better.
  4. Successful completion of Human Anatomy with lab (4 units), Organic Chemistry for Health Science with lab (3 units), Biochemistry (1 unit), Human Physiology (4 units), and General Microbiology with lab (4 units) with no lower than a B- (2.7) grade-point average. Receive credit for college algebra.
  5. Once a student has received a letter of acceptance into the School of Nursing, they must provide proof of the following:
    • Full physical examination clearance done within the past 12 months. This report is to be submitted to the APU Health Center.
    • Current two-step TB test, Hepatitis B, MMR titer, Varicella titer, DTAP, and current influenza immunizations.
    • Documentation verifying ability to meet School of Nursing Physical and Technical Standards for safe and competent performance of duties and skills needed for the nursing occupation. Provider assessment forms are available in the School of Nursing.
    • Ability to meet physical sensory technical standards required for safe and competent performance of the duties and skills needed for the nursing occupation.
    • Current CPR with AED certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health Care Providers for adults and children from the American Heart Association.
  6. Qualified candidates are accepted into the Two-Plus-Two (High Desert) option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications will not be accepted after the following deadlines: June 1 for fall admission, October 15 for spring admission, and February 15 for summer admission.
  7. Priority admission to the High Desert Regional Center is given to San Bernardino County and Riverside County residents. Applications for acceptance for residents outside of these counties are currently not being considered.

Transfer Students with Nursing Credit

  1. Transfer applicants who have completed college nursing courses in nationally accredited nursing or other health care programs are evaluated individually and may be given credit for courses that meet the requirements.
  2. Up to 70 units of community college credit and additional units from a university (per registrar’s approval) may be transferred. No community college nursing credit will be transferred. It might be possible for nursing units from a nationally accredited university to be transferred in by administrative approval. Some nursing courses may be challenged by the applicant if they have taken similar coursework from another university.
  3. Students with transferable nursing courses must take UNRS 270 Theories and Concepts in Professional Nursing prior to any other nursing course at APU except UNRS 220 Health Assessment, which may be taken concurrently.
  4. Transfer students with nursing credit must meet the Two-Plus-Two requirements for transfer applicants above, plus:
    • Submit a letter of recommendation/academic standing from the dean/director of the previous school to the School of Nursing.
    • Submit course syllabi and catalog descriptions for all courses for which nursing transfer credit is requested to the School of Nursing.
    • The School of Nursing will only consider accepting nursing courses transferred in from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program.

International Students

International students are required to meet the same academic and admission requirements as other students. In addition, the following conditions must be met:

  1. International students must complete Freshman Writing Seminar, one of the four required sciences taken at an accredited U.S. university with a minimum grade of C, and achieve a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 in all college courses completed at Azusa Pacific University after two semesters of full-time enrollment.
  2. Students must meet the university's English proficiency requirements to be admitted to School of Nursing programs.

Accelerated RN to BSN Students

For Accelerated RN to BSN admissions requirements, visit www.apu.edu/aps/rnbsn/admission/ .

Note: This information is current for the 2012–13 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.