Early acceptance into the Pre-licensure BSN program is available for high school students and Missouri Western freshmen with superior academic achievement. Early acceptance allows eligible students to reserve a spot in this competitive program. Students who are granted early acceptance are then designated as Nursing Scholars. These students are eligible to participate in special programs and activities within the nursing department. They are also eligible for some scholarships. Nursing Scholars are not required to take the TEAS exam.
Application Deadlines
A completed application must be submitted to the nursing department by January 15 or August 15. Applicants will be notified by email of their admission status following the application deadline. No more than 50% of each cohort will consist of early acceptance admissions.
Nursing Scholars Criteria
- High school students: High school juniors or seniors must be admitted to Missouri Western State University, have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above on a 4.0 (unweighted) scale and be involved in community service/leadership activities. High school students can apply anytime following the first semester of their junior year. A final high school transcript is required following graduation to provide documentation that the GPA remained at 3.2 or above.
- MWSU Freshmen: MWSU freshmen must be currently enrolled full time at MWSU, have a cumulative college GPA of 3.2 or above, have completed at least one lab science course with a grade of B or above, and be involved in community service/leadership activities. Freshmen are only eligible after their first semester at MWSU.
Maintaining Nursing Scholar status:
Nursing Scholars are required to:
- maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 or greater in order to keep early acceptance status. If, after any pre-nursing coursework, your cumulative GPA at the end of each semester falls below 3.2 or if a grade of “D” or “F” is received in a prerequisite course, applicant will receive a letter indicating that their early acceptance status has been rescinded and they will need to submit a new nursing application for regular acceptance into the program after they have completed (or are currently enrolled in) all general studies and nursing support courses (prerequisites).
- maintain continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours or more) at MWSU.
- complete all general studies and nursing support courses (prerequisites) prior to starting the nursing program. These courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. (Refer to college catalog for list of these courses). All nursing support courses must be taken at MWSU (excluding dual credit).
- complete all clinical compliance requirements prior to starting the nursing program.
General Information:
- Criminal background checks are required prior to beginning the nursing program in order to meet contractual obligations with clinical agencies (pursuant to Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 660.317). An applicant who has been found guilty of a Class A or B Felony would not be allowed to participate in clinical nursing courses, therefore, would not be able to complete nursing degree requirements. Some clinical agencies have more stringent requirements.
- You must be eligible to lawfully gain employment in the U.S.
- Provisions of Section 335.046 State of Missouri Nursing Practice Act states: “Applicants from non-English speaking lands shall be required to submit evidence of proficiency of the English Language.” Refer to the Missouri State Board of Nursing website at: http://pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp.
Approved 11/4/22
Program Accreditation & Approval
The Baccalaureate Degree Program in Nursing at Missouri Western is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 and is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | ||
| Students must complete General Studies courses | 42 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| NUR 302 | Introduction to Standards-Based Nursing | 4 |
| NUR 303 | Introduction to Clinical Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 306 | Holistic Assessment | 3 |
| NUR 307 | Nutrition in Nursing | 2 |
| NUR 308 | Professional Concepts in Nursing | 1 |
| NUR 314 | Quantitative Analysis for Health Care Research | 3 |
| NUR 334 | Pharmacology I | 2 |
| NUR 336 | Pharmacology II | 2 |
| NUR 363 | Adult Health I | 4 |
| NUR 364 | Adult Health Clinical I | 4 |
| NUR 390 | Evidence-based Practice in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 402 | Maternal/Newborn Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 403 | Pediatric Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 422 | Adult Health II | 4 |
| NUR 423 | Adult Health Clinical II | 2 |
| NUR 424 | Care Coordination Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NUR 435 | Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 453 | Community and Population Health | 5 |
| NUR 474 | Nursing Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NUR 475 | Senior Capstone Clinical | 3 |
| NUR 488 | Nursing Senior Seminar | 2 |
| Support Courses | ||
| ALH 106 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
| BIO 101 | Principles of Biology | 4 |
| BIO 250 | Anatomy and Physiology | 5 |
| BIO 251 | Medical and Public Health Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 375 | Pathophysiology | 4 |
| CHE 101 | Introductory Chemistry | 4-5 |
| or CHE 111 | General Chemistry I | |
| PHL 230 | Ethics | 3 |
| or PHL 231 | Healthcare Ethics | |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 240 | Life-Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Program Graduation Requirements
- Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- 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.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.
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- Major: BSN Nursing
- Pre-Major: BSN Nursing
Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.
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