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Application Process

Application Process2024-01-22T14:50:11-06:00

Application Process:
All applicants for the BSN Pre-Licensure program at Missouri Western who meet the minimum published criteria (see Admission Requirements) are encouraged to apply by the stated deadlines below.

Admission is competitive, therefore, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. General admission to the University does not admit a student to the baccalaureate degree program in nursing. Admission decisions are based on cumulative GPA for all completed coursework with consideration given to the overall admission packet: TEAS score, prerequisite coursework, previous degrees, personal essay statement healthcare experience, and evidence of LPN licensure. Special consideration is given to prerequisite coursework in General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry and Math as these courses are highly predictive of success in nursing coursework. Patterns of repeated coursework and course failures are also considered during the admission process.

Follow the steps below to successfully apply to the BSN Pre-Licensure Program. Current Missouri Western students will skip step four. Application Instructions Handout

  1. TEAS Exam Score of Proficient (58.7% or above)
    Applicants must take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) prior to applying to the nursing program via NursingCAS. TEAS tests taken within the past 3 years from date of application will be valid. Students who have been granted early acceptance (nurse scholars) are not required to take the TEAS. The TEAS is designed to evaluate the academic readiness of candidates prior to admission into the nursing program. The results also provide documentation useful for counseling and advisement. This examination also assesses the candidate’s ability to respond and apply knowledge to new situations and to understand complex technical material and relationships. All students must score at ATI Academic Preparedness Category of Proficient (58.7%) or above in order to be considered for admission. The highest score achieved will be used in the overall admission decision. A copy of the TEAS results must be uploaded to NursingCAS as part of the application process. Potential applicants may take the TEAS test a total of 2 times per calendar year (January 1-December 31). The TEAS will be administered on the MWSU campus. Click here to register for a testing session. (You must first create an account with ATI. The institution is listed as MO Western State U BSN.) For more detailed information, visit our Testing Center website. Applicants who take the TEAS elsewhere are eligible for application.
  2. Submit an Application to Missouri Western’s BSN Pre-Licensure Program
    Applications are submitted electronically through NursingCAS. At the NursingCAS website, applicants will select “Apply Now” to begin. Note: Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section to obtain detailed instructions before beginning the NursingCAS application. Applications submitted through NursingCAS are valid for one cycle. After one cycle, applications can be resubmitted for consideration for another cohort, but applicants will be required to pay a new application fee. In your NursingCAS application, complete the following Personal Information, Academic History, Supporting Information and Program Materials sections. In the Supporting Information section, you will want to include any professional experience (example: healthcare experience, licenses, certifications, etc). In the Program Materials section under “Documents”, you will enter your Personal Essay Statement and upload your TEAS exam results.
  3. Additional Application Information
    • A personal essay statement is required and must be included with your application. Criteria for the personal essay statement are: “Provide a personal statement that is between 250-300 words. This statement should provide a rationale as to why you should be accepted to the Missouri Western nursing program. Also describe how you will make an impact on the profession of nursing.”
    • References are not required for the application to the BSN program.
    • Applications will be accepted until 10:59p.m. on the specified deadline dates (listed below).
  4. Submit a Missouri Western Admissions Application (if not a current Missouri Western student)
    Submit an undergraduate application for admission to the Admissions Office. For questions regarding undergraduate admissions (including Missouri Western deadlines), please call (816) 271-4266 or check the website. Admission to Missouri Western is a requirement for admission to Missouri Western’s BSN Pre-Licensure program.
  5. Submit official transcripts to Admissions
    Submit official transcripts from every college or university attended to the Missouri Western Admissions Office, 4525 Downs Drive, Eder Hall 101, St. Joseph, MO 64507. Transcripts will not be considered until they are received, opened, and processed in the system by the Admissions Office. Admissions will decide what course work is transferable to the University.
  6. Submit unofficial transcripts in NursingCAS
    Unofficial transcripts from every college or university that you have attended must be uploaded in NursingCAS.
  7. Complete or plan to complete all general studies and prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the BSN program at Missouri Western
    The Missouri Western School of Nursing can only consider applicants who meet all the minimum criteria, which includes completion of general studies and prerequisite courses prior to the beginning of the term in which you have applied. Please review the Sample Program for the BSN Pre-Licensure program for more information regarding general studies and prerequisite course requirements.

Application Deadlines
The School of Nursing typically accepts 60 students into the BSN Pre-Licensure program twice per year in the fall and spring semesters. The application deadlines for applications to the BSN Pre-licensure program and for general admission to Missouri Western are listed below:

Term Application Deadlines – BSN Application Deadlines – Missouri Western
Fall 2024 January 15, 2024 Contact MWSU Admissions Office
Spring 2025 August 15, 2024 Contact MWSU Admissions Office
Fall 2026 January 15, 2025 Contact MWSU Admissions Office
Spring 2027 August 15, 2025 Contact MWSU Admissions Office

Title IX, 504/ADA
In keeping with the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in regard to sex discrimination and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in regard to handicap discrimination as well as other applicable federal and state laws, Missouri Western State University follows a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in regard to all employment practices and to all educational programs and activities including financial aid, recruitment, admission, housing, and placement. Inquiries regarding the application of these laws may be submitted to the Title IX Coordinator, Blum 231, (816) 271-4557, titleix@missouriwestern.edu OR the accessibility resource center director, Eder 201, (816) 271-4330 arc@missouriwestern.edu.

MWSU nursing students learning CPR
Nursing (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, B.S.N.) < Missouri Western University

Nursing (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, B.S.N.)

The School of Science and Health Professions offers a baccalaureate degree in Nursing that provides a foundation of knowledge and skills necessary to be eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination. Upon satisfactory completion of this examination, the candidate is licensed as a registered professional nurse (RN). The program is designed with a strong clinical emphasis, based upon the relationship among the concepts of nursing, person, health-illness, environment, nursing education, nursing research, and ethical concepts applied to nursing. Students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in healthcare agencies to prepare them to respond to the challenge of providing quality nursing care to individuals and groups. Some clinical agencies may require criminal background checks and may refuse to allow a student to gain experience in a clinical agency in accordance with provisions of Missouri State Law. A minimum grade of C in each course in the major is required for progression in and completion of the nursing program. The program is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The School of Nursing and Health Professions allows individuals who have been admitted to the B.S.N. program, who have a current, unencumbered Missouri license to practice as a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.), to apply for advanced placement through tested experience. LPNs who have completed the Army’s practical nurse program or airmen who have completed the Air Force 4N Training Program may apply for advanced placement. Other military medical service (e.g.Navy, Marine Corp, Coast Guard) personnel with equivalent training as the Army’s practical nurse program or the Air Force 4N Training Program may request review of credentials. Tested experience is established through verification of LPN license, standardized testing, and skills validation of select competencies.  Please contact the School of Nursing and Health Professions for specific information on testing procedures and scheduling.

Progression Requirements

Students must achieve a grade of "C" or higher in all required nursing courses in order to continue progression in the Nursing Program. Any student who receives a final course grade of C in two or more nursing courses in a single semester during the Nursing Program will be placed on nursing academic probation. Students placed on Nursing Academic Probation will be required to enroll in NUR 300 Strategies for Success in Nursing in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. Specific Nursing progression, probation, and dismissal policies are available on the Department of Nursing webpage.

Eligibility for Nursing Licensure

Completion of the BSN program does not guarantee eligibility to write the licensure examination. Completion of the program guarantees eligibility to apply to the State Board of Nursing to write the national licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). A criminal background check is conducted by the Missouri State Board of Nursing before a decision is made regarding certificate of registration or authority; permit or license pursuant to section 335.011 to 335.066 for any one or any combination of causes stated in 335.066 subsection 2 of the State of Missouri Nursing Practice Act. Specific information may be obtained by contacting the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

Admission Requirements

Freshmen desiring to enter the 4-year BSN program should declare a pre-major in Nursing at the time of enrollment. Application to the Nursing Program should be made one full semester prior to the anticipated beginning of nursing courses. A selection committee reviews all applicants and determines those who will be admitted. General admission to the College does not admit a student to the baccalaureate degree program in nursing. Admission is competitive. Applications must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • The applicant must apply and be admitted to MWSU.
  • The applicant must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.7.
  • Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) test score of 58.7% (academic preparedness category of proficiency) or above is required.
  • The applicant must have completed or be currently enrolled in all general studies and nursing support courses (and earn a grade of C or higher in each support class, as well as general studies mathematical course).
  • High school seniors and MWSU freshman with outstanding academic records should contact the Department of Nursing for information about early acceptance in the nursing program.

All required general studies and support courses for the nursing major must be completed prior to beginning nursing courses. Students should work closely with their academic advisors to select appropriate courses. Taking and passing prerequisite courses does not assure acceptance into the BSN program. A completed application and current transcripts must be submitted to the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS) by January 15 for a candidate to be considered for admission for fall and by August 15 for consideration for spring. Instructions for the TEAS test and NursingCAS can be found on Department of Nursing webpage.

Students who choose this bachelor degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence. 

Note: Students pre-admitted into the bachelor degree program (pre-major) have three years to meet admission requirements before moving to the overall 6 year time-frame allowed to complete the program requirements. 
General Studies
Students must complete General Studies courses42
Major Requirements
NUR 302Introduction to Standards-Based Nursing4
NUR 303Introduction to Clinical Nursing Practice3
NUR 306Holistic Assessment3
NUR 307Nutrition in Nursing2
NUR 308Professional Concepts in Nursing1
NUR 314Quantitative Analysis for Health Care Research3
NUR 334Pharmacology I2
NUR 336Pharmacology II2
NUR 363Adult Health I4
NUR 364Adult Health Clinical I4
NUR 390Evidence-based Practice in Nursing3
NUR 402Maternal/Newborn Nursing3
NUR 403Pediatric Nursing3
NUR 422Adult Health II4
NUR 423Adult Health Clinical II2
NUR 424Care Coordination Across the Lifespan2
NUR 435Mental Health Nursing3
NUR 453Community and Population Health5
NUR 474Nursing Leadership and Management3
NUR 475Senior Capstone Clinical3
NUR 488Nursing Senior Seminar2
Support Courses
ALH 106Medical Terminology2
BIO 101Principles of Biology4
BIO 250Anatomy and Physiology5
BIO 251Medical and Public Health Microbiology4
BIO 375Pathophysiology4
CHE 101Introductory Chemistry4-5
or CHE 111 General Chemistry I
PHL 230Ethics3
or PHL 231 Healthcare Ethics
PSY 101General Psychology3
PSY 240Life-Span Developmental Psychology3

Program Graduation Requirements

  1. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
  2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses.  Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam. 

Are you ready to declare this major? Download, sign and submit the form(s) to the nursing department.

Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan for degree completion and monitor it regularly.

BSN Related Links

Application Instructions Video
Application Instructions Handout
Apply button for CAS