Generic BSN Program (2+2 Format)

Application Period

Acceptance Cohort Application Period Classes Begin
Fall January 1 - June 1 August

NOTE: It is strongly advised that new applicants apply to the University AT LEAST ONE MONTH PRIOR to submitting an application for the program. This will allow the University time to fully evaluate the student’s application/supporting documentation and perform any necessary transfer articulations.

Background

The Generic BSN Program is designed for students desiring a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and, as such, is an ideal program for high school, transfer, and change-of-major students who want that “classic” college experience. Currently, students are only admitted into this program during the Fall semester. Courses within this program are primarily taken on-campus (that is, on Albany State University’s East and West Campuses) with the potential for some courses to be offered as online or hybridized, but please be aware that this is not guaranteed.

Clinical experiences are held in our clinical skills lab(s), Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, and other facilities in the surrounding area as needed. All students will be expected to comply with all requirements set forth by the clinical institution, including their code of conduct. The institution reserves the right to prevent entry or request withdrawal from the clinical site any student the institution believes constitutes a risk of harm to patients, visitors, or employees or who fails to follow the institution’s policies and procedures. If students are precluded from a clinical site by an institution, the Department of Nursing has no obligation to find an alternative clinical site for the student, and this may prevent the student from progressing in the Nursing Program.

Program Format

The Generic BSN Program is offered as a “2+2 program,” in which the student spends their first 2 years at the University completing the Core curriculum and their second 2 years completing nursing courses exclusively. Freshmen will enter ASU as a Health and Human Performance major with a “Pre-Nursing” attribute, which MUST be specified upon application to the University. During their first 2 academic years (that is, their freshman and sophomore years), students complete the Core curriculum while taking the nine (9) courses necessary to become eligible to apply for the nursing program beginning in the following Fall semester. After being accepted into the nursing program, the Generic BSN program lasts for two academic years.

Throughout the nursing curriculum, students are exposed to the various fields and specializations within the field, including Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, and many others. This program culminates with the student earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which, following successful completion of the state licensing exam for Registered Nurses (the NCLEX-RN), prepares students with the knowledge and clinical skills to function as a beginning nurse, nurse manager, or leader within various healthcare settings. Additionally, our BSN graduates are prepared to enter graduate nursing programs in order to advance their careers, two of which are offered at this institution!

 Admission Criteria

Applicants must:

  1. FIRST, submit an application to Albany State University and be admitted in good standing.
  2. AFTER being accepted as a student at Albany State University, submit the completed program application, application fee, and TEAS results by the application deadline.
    • In addition to a printed copy, applicants who take the TEAS exam at a testing site other than ASU’s West Campus Testing Center must also have their official TEAS scores transferred to Albany State University via ATI Testing’s “TEAS Transcript.”
  3. Pass the standardized entrance exam for admission to nursing at or above the established percentage rate within no more than two (2) attempts within 12 months of application submission. As TEAS scores are valid for 12 months after the published testing date, scores older than 12 months of age at the time of application submission will not be considered.
    • Currently, the entrance exam is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), and the minimum qualifying score is 70.0%.
  4. Successfully complete and exit all learning support courses.
  5. Complete the entirety of the baccalaureate Core curriculum (including the “Above the Core” requirements) prior to Fall admission with a minimum letter grade of “C” in all coursework except NURS 1232: Pre-Nursing Seminar, which, beginning the Fall 2023 semester, requires a minimum letter grade of “B.”
    • Applicants with six (6) or less credit hours of outstanding Core curriculum may still be considered for program admission, provided no other criteria are outstanding and none of the outstanding courses impact the calculation of an applicant’s Nursing GPA, as discussed below. However, if admitted, any outstanding Core must be completed within two (2) semesters of program enrollment.
  6. Have a minimum cumulative Nursing Grade Point Average (NGPA) of 2.8 in the following nine (9) Core courses: English Composition I & II, two (2) sequential courses in an Area D science (either Biology I & II or Chemistry I & II), Microbiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Human Growth and Development, and Pre-Nursing Seminar.
    • Only the grades from the above nine (9) courses will be used to compute the student’s NGPA. All passing, failing, and repeated course grades from within the past 10 years will be included in this calculation.
  7. Complete all required science courses with a grade of “C” or higher in each course. Only one (1) science course failure is allowed, and this course must be repeated prior to entry into the nursing program. If the science failure(s) occurred more than 3 years ago, the student has the opportunity to repeat the course(s) one (1) time.
  8. Successfully complete Human Anatomy and Physiology course(s) that are less than 6 years old at the time of potential admission to the nursing program. Any Human Anatomy & Physiology courses that are older than 6 years of age must be retaken and passed with a letter grade of “C” or higher.
  9. Following admission to the nursing program, students will be required to submit documentation evidencing satisfaction (and/or maintenance) of the following requirements prior to the established pre-clinical deadline for each nursing course with a clinical/laboratory component:
    • Annual flu vaccinations
    • Complete criminal background check and 10-panel drug screening (via PreCheck)
      • Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substances as a provision by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site, and the student will not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.
    • Active health insurance (or enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan)
    • Immunization record documenting the following: measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, varicella, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for clinical settings but is not required.
    • Active malpractice insurance (University-provided)
    • Basic life support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card (must be certified by the American Heart Association)
    • Tuberculosis screening

NOTE: A student who has failed (“D,” “F,” “WF,” or “U”) two (2) nursing courses, whether at a 2-year or 4-year institution (including ASU) will not be eligible for admission or continuation in the nursing program at ASU. Students with no more than two (2) nursing failures may be considered for entry (or reentry) into the nursing program on a case-by-case basis only after a 3-year period has passed from the most recently-earned failure. Only one (1) nursing failure may be forgiven.

 Program of Study

nURSING Program of Study Notes

  • Area A2: Quantitative Skills
  • Area D: Science, Math & Tech
  • Area E: Social Sciences
    • One of the Social Science Electives MUST be PSYC 1101: General Psychology
    • SOCI 1101: Introduction to Sociology is RECOMMENDED as the second elective in this area

 Curriculum Pattern

Fall University Entry / Fall Program Entry

  1. Items highlighted in yellow will be factored in the calculation of students' Nursing GPA (NGPA)
  2. Regarding the first in-program semester, in order to maintain full-time student status, students must take a minimum of 12 credit hours each non-summer semester. This credit hour load may also affect other areas, such as financial aid disbursement and campus housing. Please speak with your faculty advisor regarding electives relevant to the major that may be taken to supplement this load.
Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
ASU 1101 First Year Experience (1)
BIOL/CHEM ####K Area D Sequential Sci. I (4)
ENGL 1101 English Composition I (3)
HEDP/WELL #### Health/Wellness Elective (1 or 2)
MATH 1001 or MATH 1111 (3)
NURS 1232 Pre-Nursing Seminar (2)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 14 or 15
Area E Elective Social Science (Rec. SOCI 1101) (3)
BIOL/CHEM ####K Area D Sequential Sci. II (4)
COMM 1000, HIST 1002, or POLS 1105 (2)
ENGL 1102 English Composition II (3)
PSYC 1101 General Psychology (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 15
BIOL 2211K Microbiology (4)
COHP 2120 or PSYC 2103 Growth & Devt. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 7
Area C Elective Literature (3)
Area E Elective World/U.S. History (3)
BIOL 2411K Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4)
HEDP/WELL #### Health/Wellness Elective (0 or 1)
POLS 1101 American Government (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 13 or 14
Area C Elective Foreign Lang./Appreciation (3)
BIOL 2412K Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
COMM 1100 or COMM 1110 (3)
MATH 2411 Introduction to Statistics (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 13
 
NURS 2210 Pharmacology (3)
NURS 2231 Fund. Concepts of Prof. Nursing (5)
NURS 3510 Health Assessment (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 11
NURS 2331 Adult Health Nursing I (5)
NURS 3134 Pediatric Nursing (5)
NURS 3320 Pathophysiology Health Prof. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 13
NURS 2601 Intro. to Geriatrics (3)
NURS 4131 Research (3)
NURS 4240 Community Health Nursing (5)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 11
NURS 3335 Mental Health Nursing (5)
NURS 4140 Leadership (2)
NURS 4342 Adult Health Nursing II (5)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 12
NURS 3136 Women’s Health Nursing (5)
NURS 4111 Directed Study/NCLEX Prep (3)
NURS 4345 Senior Comp. Nursing (5)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 13