BSN Program
Note: The CSULB School of Nursing is evaluating CHEM 140 as a required pre-requisite for the nursing program. All applicants should use www.assist.org to determine if their course is equivalent to CSULB's CHEM 140 requirement. Any students who have completed a college chemistry course (general, inorganic, organic, biochemistry, or integrated with a lab) will be considered through Spring 2025. If admitted to the program with a non-articulated course, the School of Nursing will determine if the course can be used for graduation.
BSN Overview
The BSN program is designed for students who enter the Nursing program with no prior nursing knowledge, experience, or skills. Following the prerequisite courses, completion of this program requires 5 semesters of full-time study.
Students complete the BSN through either the Semester or Trimester pathway. The admission requirements and the curriculum are the same. The Semester BSN pathway requires 5 semesters of full-time study in the Fall and Spring semesters. The Trimester BSN pathway requires 5 year-round semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer). The Trimester BSN pathway is financially supported through a generous grant from Long Beach Memorial Medical Center/Miller Children’s Hospital and CSULB.
Following acceptance into the BSN program, students preference of pathway is submitted and students are assigned to either the Semester or Trimester pathway. While every effort will be made to give students their preference, the department cannot guarantee the outcome of the assignment.
BSN Roadmap
Application Deadlines
Fall Admission
- Cal State Apply: October 1st - November 30th
Important: The degree objective is "Nursing BS” (NOT "Nursing BS - RN"). This program is for students seeking their first nursing degree. After completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to be licensed as Registered Nurses. If you apply for the Nursing BS-RN program, you application cannot be processed.
3. School of Nursing BSN Program Application: October 1st - February 1st.
4. *We are in the process of transitioning to a new entrance examination. We are awaiting final approval and set up for the new exam. You will need to take an entrance examination prior to February 1st of 2025. Watch this spot for updates.
Spring Admission
- Cal State Apply: August 1st - August 31st
Important: The degree objective is "Nursing BS” (NOT "Nursing BS - RN"). This program is for students seeking their first nursing degree. After completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to be licensed as Registered Nurses. If you apply for the Nursing BS-RN program, you application cannot be processed.
3. School of Nursing BSN Program Application: August 1st - September 21st.
4. All Spring applicants must register for and take the General Assessment Test (ATI TEAS Examination) and submit test results electronically via ATI to CSULB (or CSULB TEAS) on or prior to the Program Application deadline of September 21st above - no exceptions will be made for deadline extensions.
Application Information
Instructions
There are three categories of applicants for the BSN Program:
- Current CSULB undergraduate students (pre-nursing majors),
- Transfer Undergraduate Applicants (students without a BA or BS),
- Second Bachelor's Degree Applicants (students with a BA or BS degree in other fields).
All three applicant types must register for and take the General Assessment Test ( ATI TEAS Examination) and submit test results electronically via ATI to CSULB (or CSULB TEAS) on or prior to the program application deadline - no exceptions will be made for deadline extensions. Applicants must carefully follow application instructions for their own category.
General Information
- All application materials are online. All communication is via email. Due to the volume of inquiries, we are not able to answer questions about the communication exercise, your submitted application, and/or admissions status.
- Please note: the School of Nursing does not offer transcript review, counseling, or advising for prospective students - we can only answer questions about the nursing program and/or the application process.
- Prospective students and applicants should read the information below thoroughly.
- Admissions notices will be sent via email in late April (for Fall applications)/late November (for Spring applications).
- If you have any questions about the program or application process that are not answered below, please email nursing@csulb.edu .
Applications Required based on Applicant Category:
CSULB Supplemental Application
SON BSN Application
You have already completed this as a pre-nursing
You have already completed this as a pre-nursing
(Apply for Nursing BS program)
(Apply for Nursing BS program)
Current CSULB Undergraduate Students (Pre-Nursing majors):
- Current CSULB Undergraduate Pre-Nursing Majors should review Degree Progress Guidelines (PDF) and seek out to CHHS Academic Advising for more information.
- CSULB students with fewer than 75 Timely Graduation Units may apply - if you are a CSULB student with more than 75 Timely Graduation Units, please see your current college advisor for further guidance ( CHHS Academic Advising ).
Transfer Undergraduate Applicants and Second Bachelor’s Applicants
- More information is available from CSULB Admissions.
- If admitted or waitlisted, follow up with CSULB Admissions to submit documents before their deadlines. Please note that admission into the School of Nursing is contingent on being offered admission by the University, therefore, applicants must also meet the admission eligibility requirements for CSULB.
Prerequsite and General Information
The basic baccalaureate program is the traditional track designed for students who enter the Nursing program with no prior nursing knowledge, experience, or skills. Applicants with an Associate's Degree in Nursing, please review the information for ADN/RN-to-BSN Program "Nursing BS - Registered Nurse."
Important: The degree objective is for this program is "Nursing BS" (NOT "Nursing BS - Registered Nurse"). The School of Nursing can only evaluate applicants under the major they applied for and cannot edit incorrect applications.
Note: The CSULB School of Nursing is evaluating CHEM 140 as a required pre-requisite for the nursing program. All applicants should use www.assist.org to determine if their course is equivalent to CSULB's CHEM 140 requirement. Any students who have completed a college chemistry course (general, inorganic, organic, biochemistry, or integrated with a lab) will be considered through Spring 2025. If admitted to the program with a non-articulated course, the School of Nursing will determine if the course can be used for graduation.
- Prerequisites and program information can be found on the University Catalog.
- Applications are reviewed, scored, and ranked based upon the following information.
- Please note that admission into the School of Nursing is contingent on being offered admission by the University, therefore, applicants must also meet the admission eligibility requirements for CSULB.
There are four natural science prerequisite courses to be completed prior to application.
Each course must be completed with a "C" or better grade; when all prerequisites are completed the GPA for the prerequisite courses must be "B" or better (3.0 or better).
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
- Human Anatomy Lecture and Lab (4 semester units minimum) - CSULB BIO 208
- Human Physiology Lecture and Lab (4 semester units minimum) - CSULB BIO 207
- Chemistry Lecture and Lab (4-5 semester units/6-10 quarter units): An introductory or preparatory chemistry course is not acceptable. The School of Nursing requires either:
- a combined/integrated chemistry course (which includes general, organic and biochemistry) equivalent to CSULB CHEM 140 or
- a general/non-integrated chemistry course (which is either a.) inorganic, b.) organic or c.) biochemistry)
There are four general education prerequisite courses to be completed prior to application.
Each course must be completed with a "C" or better grade; when all prerequisites are completed the GPA for the prerequisite courses must be "B" or better (3.0 or better).
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
- Statistics or AP Statistics - CSULB STAT 108, STAT 118, HDEV 190, PSY 110, SOC 170
- Oral Communication (any communications course that meets GE requirements)
- Written Communication/College Composition (any composition course that meets GE requirements, including AP English)
- Critical Thinking (any critical thinking course that meets GE A3 requirements)
Minimum Composite Score: 70%
No minimum Reading Score
All applicants must register for and take the General Assessment Test (ATI TEAS Examination) and submit test results electronically via ATI to CSULB (or CSULB TEAS) on or prior to the Program Application deadline - no exceptions will be made for deadline extensions.
- Please see the Application Deadlines information above.
- Testing locations may be found on the ATI TEAS website.
- Applicants should plan early in order to take the test at a preferred location.
- It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure test results have been sent electronically via ATI to CSULB (or CSULB TEAS).
- Applications without electronic test results via ATI will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn.
- The test can be retaken without a limit, however, there must be 30 days between each retake.
- The School of Nursing will accept the scores from the one test date with the highest composite score (composite and reading scores cannot be split from two dates).
After applications are submitted, applicants with the highest-ranking cumulative scores will be contacted (via email) and must participate in a mandatory School of Nursing Communication Exercise.
- This is a timed evaluation of both written and oral communication skills.
- The School of Nursing receives applications from hundreds of highly competitive, qualified applicants.
- Approximately 120 applicants will participate in the Communication Exercise.
- Thus, not all qualified applicants will be contacted for the Communication Exercise.
- The Communication Exercise will be held approximately 30-45 days after the nursing application deadline (Fall term: late March/early April, Spring term: late October/early November). At the time of your application, these dates are not yet scheduled. Please do not inquire as to when they will be held.
- The School of Nursing may conditionally admit or waitlist any qualified applicants pending successful completion of the Communication Exercise at a later date.
- After the Communication Exercise is completed, applicants will receive notifications regarding their admissions status via email in late April (for Fall applications)/late November (for Spring applications).
All application materials are online. All communication is via email. Please do not call the School of Nursing regarding the Communication Exercise, your submitted application and/or admissions status.
Please note: the School of Nursing does not offer transcript review, counseling, or advising for prospective students - we can only answer questions about the nursing program and/or the application process.
