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Course Program Plans By Semester Start Date:

Sample Program Plan:

 

Final Policy

Admission - Admission to the university as a pre-nursing major does not assure admission to the major.

1. ​Applicants must be in progress or have completed all ETSU General Education courses* (or equivalent from a Transfer Institution) including the four (4​) Nursing Pre-requisite classes:  Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with labs), Intro to Microbiology (with lab), and Probability and Statistics. At least three (3) of the four (4) pre-requisite math/science classes must be completed prior to the application deadline.

​* Applicants with greater than two (2) unsuccessful attempts to complete all required pre-requisite math/science courses will be ineligible for admission to the College of Nursing.  Grades below a “C” (C-, D+, D, and F) are considered unsuccessful attempts.

* ​Applicants with completed Bachelor’s degrees are exempt from taking General Education Requirements (by virtue of the completed degree) but must complete the four pre-requisite math/science courses or equivalents with at least three (3) of the four (4) completed prior to the application deadline.

*Transfer students are responsible for making sure courses taken at other institutions are equivalent to ETSU General Education courses. For further information about transfer equivalency, go to: https://www.etsu.edu/articulation/equivalencies.php . For a list of ETSU General Education requirements, go to: https://www.etsu.edu/uged/gened.php .

2. A minimum cumulative College Level G​rade Point Average (GPA​) of 2.6 as computed by East Tennessee State University (excluding developmental coursework) is required.
   
   
3. Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, must apply to the College of Nursing using the Centralized Application System (Nursing CAS).  LPN to BSN and RN to BSN applicants must apply to the College of Nursing using electronic or paper application found on the College of Nursing website.  
   
   
4. Official Transcripts from all higher education institutions must be sent to CAS with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN. LPN to BSN and RN to BSN applicants must submit official transcripts with the electronic or paper application. Students must also apply for General Admission to ETSU.  This should be done well in advance of the application deadline. Detailed instructions and information are available at: https://www.etsu.edu/nursing/default.php
   
   
5. Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, must submit (electronically) all scores from the standardized entrance exam. The standardized entrance exam may be taken twice within a two year period, but not twice in the same semester.  Scores are valid for two (2) years. Information about scheduling and preparing for the standardized entrance exam can be obtained by contacting the College of Nursing Office of Student Services.
   
   
6. ETSU College of Nursing does NOT require references, a personal statement or professional experience for admission.
   
   
7. Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, are ranked by a point system which includes 100 possible points in four (4) areas: Overall GPA, Math/Science Nursing Pre-requisite GPA, Adjusted Individual Total Score, and Adjusted Individual Reading section score of the standard entrance exam for a total of 400 possible points.  Applicants are admitted in point order. LPN to BSN and RN to BSN applicants are ranked by overall Grade Point Average (GPA) and admitted in ascending order.
   
   
8. Applicants who are admitted to ETSU as freshman with a high school GPA of 3.5 or above, ACT cumulative score of 29 or above, and maintain an ETSU overall GPA of 3.2 or higher, will be guaranteed admission to the nursing major.  Students must complete the College of Nursing application process and meet all other established admissions criteria.

There are 2 applications to the program:

1. Apply to the ETSU, click here.
   • Please apply as a Transfer Student and select Pre-Nursing (Pre-BSN) for the major.
   • Request ALL college and university transcripts, and high school transcript (if you graduated High School Fall 1989 or after) be sent to ETSU. It is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the Admissions Office regarding university acceptance (423-439-4213).
   • If you have been accepted at ETSU previously, please complete the online Re-admit Form to the university and request all official updated transcripts be sent to ETSU. No Re-Admission fee required.
2. Complete the RN to BSN Pre-Assessment Application Form and email it to Matt Johnson, johnsonm@etsu.edu
   (click on Pre-Assessment Application to apply, or  on "APPLY NOW!" link below)
   
   You can apply to ETSU and complete the RN to BSN Pre-Assessment Application in the same time frame. The College of Nursing will accept RN to BSN applications for the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters (refer to deadlines). Admitted students will be classified as Pre-BSN students until they are accepted into the program. The College of Nursing will change the status to BSN when accepted. Pre-BSN status does not guarantee admission to the RN-BSN major.
   
   To receive full consideration, students must be fully admitted to East Tennessee State University by the nursing application deadline dates. Since admission to the university can take several weeks, students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the nursing deadlines. Consideration for the nursing major cannot be guaranteed if full admission to the university has not been obtained.

Semester Deadlines to Apply:

• Spring – December 15
• Summer – April 15
• Fall – August 1

NOTE:

• Attach copy of in-process schedule (if attending another institution or in progress of completing ADN program)
• List RN license number and state of issuance
• ADN graduates- Students sitting for licensing exam (but do not have results) should attach a copy of NCLEX-RN registration as proof of eligibility for licensure

Transfer of Nursing College credits: All nursing courses, in which a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher was earned, will be transferred in as nursing electives. Nursing courses, in which a grade of “C-“ or less was earned, are considered nursing failures. Please contact the Office of Student Services regarding the nursing failure policies and procedures.

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Selection Process:

Students are ranked according to a points-system that includes:

1. Overall GPA (excluding developmental coursework) * - 100 points available
2. Math-Science Requirements GPA (at least 3 of 4 courses must be complete upon application with remainder in progress and completed by end of term)** - 100 points available

200 Total points are available.

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Admission points breakdown:

OVERALL GPA* - 100 Points Available

• GPA 3.8 to 4.0 = 100 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.6 to 3.79 = 90 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.4 to 3.59 = 80 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.2 to 3.39 = 70 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.0 to 3.19 = 60 Admissions Points
• GPA 2.8 to 2.99 = 50 Admissions Points
• GPA 2.6 to 2.79 = 40 Admissions Points
• GPA of less than 2.6 = 0 points

Math-Science Requirements GPA** - 100 Points Available

• GPA 3.8 to 4.0 = 100 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.6 to 3.79 = 90 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.4 to 3.59 = 80 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.2 to 3.39 = 70 Admissions Points
• GPA 3.0 to 3.19 = 60 Admissions Points
• GPA 2.8 to 2.99 = 50 Admissions Points
• GPA 2.6 to 2.79 = 40 Admissions Points
• GPA 2.2 to 2.59 = 20 Admissions Points
• GPA 2.0 to 2.19 = 10 Admissions Points
• GPA of less than 2.0 = 0 points

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Also required:

General Education Courses will be required to graduate from ETSU with the BSN Degree.

East Tennessee State University is fully in accord with the belief that educational and employment opportunities should be available to all persons without regard to age, sex, color, race, religion, national origin, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

**NOTE: General education courses can be determined through individual program planning.

**NOTE: Students who enroll in and successfully complete CSCI 1100/NFS 1010 will receive college credit. College credits are not awarded for the proficiency exam.

Course and program availability varies by state and is established by each individual state’s Board of Nursing; therefore, admission to ETSU CON online RN to BSN Program cannot be guaranteed to all applicants.

ETSU College of Nursing RN to BSN Program is not accepting applications from residents in the following states due to current requirements or restrictions imposed on distance education programs by their board of education or board of nursing:

• California
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Utah
• Washington
• U.S. Territories
• Canadian Provinces

Students who reside outside the state of Tennessee who are considering an on-line nursing program should contact the appropriate board of nursing in the state of residency to confirm whether the course or program meets requirements for online degree programs prior to beginning a course of study. 

If the student moves from the state of Tennessee after admission to the program, continuation in the program will depend on the availability of the program within the new state where the student is physically present.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify ETSU College of Nursing of a change in physical residence.

Upon successful completion of NRSE 3200 Advancing to Professional Nursing Practice and NRSE 2030 Health Assessment Students will be awarded 8 – 12 articulation course credits identified in the articulation agreements at specific community colleges.

Hospital diploma graduates upon successful completion of NRSE 3200 Advancing to Professional Nursing Practice and NRSE 2030 Health Assessment will be awarded 42 semester credits in nursing.

Questions? For additional information contact Matt Johnson in the Office of Student Services by email or at 423.439.4528.

 

• Spring Semester - December 15 ( Note: Applications will continue to be accepted after this date pending availability.)

• Summer Semester - April 15 ( Note: Applications will continue to be accepted after this date pending availability.)

• Fall Semester - August 1 ( Note: Applications will continue to be accepted after this date pending availability.)

 

1. Is this program totally online?

   Answer
2. What is the application process?Answer
3. What happens after I apply?Answer
4. What is general education curriculum?Answer
5. Do I need to be at the computer on designated days/times for my courses?Answer
6. Is there an expiration date for previously taken transfer general education courses or health science courses?Answer
7. What does the Practicum consist of in this program?Answer
8. When I complete the RN to BSN Program, am I required to take the NCLEX-RN, again?Answer
9. If I am finishing an Associate RN Program and have not taken the NCLEX-RN, yet, am I allowed to start the program?Answer
10. After I complete the Associate RN Program, am I required to re-apply to ETSU or NursingCAS?Answer

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Matt Johnson

Contact:

The Baccalaureate degree in nursing program and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at East Tennessee State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC  20001, 202-887-6791 (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)

The ETSU College of Nursing BSN program is approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Tennessee Board of Nursing 
665 Mainstream Drive 
Nashville, TN 37243 
Telephone 1.615.532.5166

The ETSU College of Nursing BSN program offers eligible candidates membership in the Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Nursing Honor Society.