Nursing Major (B.S.N.)

Major code BS1221- Traditional B.S.N.

College of Health Sciences and Professions 
School of Nursing 
Grover Center E317
Phone: 740.593.4494
Phone: 800.560.0144
Fax: 740.593.0286
nursing@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/chsp/nursing/bachelors-degree

Athens:
Phone: 740.593.4494 or 800.560.0144 Fax: 740.593.0286
Email: nursing@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/chsp/nursing/bachelors-degree

Chillicothe:  
Phone:  740.774.7282 
Email:  Chillicothe-Nursing@ohio.edu 
www.ohio.edu/chillicothe/academics/bachelor/nursing 

Eastern: 
Phone: 740.699.2345
Email: OhioEasternNursing@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/eastern/academics/bachelor/nursing

Lancaster:
Phone: 740.681.3768
Email: Lancaster-nursing@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/lancaster/academics/bachelor/nursing

Southern: 
Phone: 740.533.4633 
Email: Southern-Nursing@ohio.edu 
www.ohio.edu/southern/academics/bachelor/nursing 

Zanesville:  
Phone: 740.588.1515  
Email: Zanesville-Nursing@ohio.edu 
www.ohio.edu/zanesville/academics/bachelor/nursing 

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares students in the science and principles of nursing to provide care for individuals, families, and populations within complex healthcare systems. The BSN curriculum includes courses in the sciences, humanities, and human behavior in addition to the nursing courses. Students learn through a combination of classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinical instruction and graduate with the competencies to provide evidence-based practice care as a generalist nurse. Graduates of the BSN program will be eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program: 

1. Students will be able to apply knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as a basis for clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice.
2. Students will be able to demonstrate clinical reasoning and clinical judgment in the delivery of person-centered care to enhance health outcomes across the lifespan.
3. Students will be able to identify and apply principles of population health, advocacy strategies, and collaborative interdisciplinary team approaches that optimize health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations.
4. Students will be able to integrate evidence-based interventions into person-centered care.
5. Students will be able to describe and apply the principles of quality improvement that create a culture of safe, professional nursing practice that optimizes health and protects all.
6. Students will be able to demonstrate leadership skills as a member of the interprofessional team to optimize the health of individuals, families, and populations within complex healthcare environments.
7. Students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to economic and social determinants of health necessary to provide quality person-centered care within complex healthcare delivery systems.
8. Students will be able to utilize information management and care technology systems to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and guide clinical decision-making to support optimal health outcomes.
9. Students will be able to utilize professional communication to act as an advocate and deliver culturally sensitive person-centered care adhering to ethical and legal frameworks.
10. Students will be able to identify healthy self-care behaviors and commit to continuous professional growth.

Admissions Information

First-Year Admission

The BSN program has both Direct Enrollment and Traditional Admission options. 

BSN Direct Enrollment Pathways

OHIO BSN Direct Enrollment offers two pathways for incoming students:

• Direct Entry (Prerequisite Pathway): Designed for transfer students and College Credit Plus (CC+) students who have completed all first-year prerequisites (NRSE 1102  may be taken concurrently with Year 1 nursing courses if all other pre-requisites are met).
• Direct Admission (High School Pathway): Designed for high school students who fully qualify but still need to complete prerequisites. This pathway guarantees a seat in the BSN program while prerequisites are completed during the first year. Students who meet all progression criteria transition into the nursing program in their second year.

Final selection for Direct Enrollment occurs once per year in the Spring. Admission to Direct Admission and Direct Entry Pathways is competitive, and seat availability limits the number of qualified applicants who can be accepted.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements 

Students given consideration for Direct Admission or Direct Entry to the BSN program have met the requirements for admission to the Pre-BSN major (ND1220), demonstrated high academic ability, and completed three years of science to include at least one year of biology and one year of chemistry. Students must be 18 years of age by the first day of the spring semester of their first clinical course (NRSE 2212 ) in Semester 4 on the BSN Curriculum Plan.

All admission decisions are final. Applicants not admitted through Direct Enrollment remain admitted to Ohio University as Pre-Nursing (ND1220) students. They can apply to the Traditional BSN Enrollment Pathway during their first year to be considered for BSN program admission. 

Progression Criteria for Direct Entry Students:

Please refer to the School of Nursing Grading/Progression Policy for admitted students. In addition to the standard progression criteria for admitted students in the School of Nursing, Direct Entry students must also:

• Achieve a TEAS exam result of Basic or higher by the end of Fall semester Year 1
• Complete NRSE 1102 with at least a grade of B- (80%) by the end of the first year in the program
• Progression Criteria for Direct Admission Students

To maintain Direct Admission status, students must meet the following criteria by the end of the Spring semester of their first year:

• Completed at least 30 undergraduate semester credit hours (including transfer, AP, or College Credit Plus credits)
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 at Ohio University
• Complete all non-nursing prerequisites with a grade of C or higher
• NRSE 1102  must be completed with a minimum grade of 80% (B-)
• BIOS 1300  and BIOS 1310  must be completed with a minimum grade of B
• Achieve a TEAS exam result of Proficient or higher by February 1 of Year 1
• Maintain Ohio University Academic and Community Standards

Failure to achieve the above criteria will result in loss of “Direct Admission” status. In these cases, students may still be considered for re-admission on a competitive basis with all other BSN Traditional Enrollment Pathway applicants. Re-admission is not guaranteed and seats are limited. 

BSN Traditional Enrollment

In the BSN Traditional Enrollment pathway, first year students are not directly admitted to BS1221. Individuals interested in the BSN program should apply to the pre-BSN major (ND1220) and complete specified prerequisite courses required for admission to the BS1221 major.

Requirements for first-year applicants to be considered for the pre-BSN (ND1220) include:

• Graduation from high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4-point scale
• Completed application and admission to Ohio University

BSN (BS1221) Selection

Individuals must apply and meet specific School of Nursing requirements in order to be considered for selective admission into the BSN program (BS1221). Admission to the BS1221 is competitive, and success in the pre-BSN major (ND1220) does not guarantee admission to the BSN program. A minimum college grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 and other criteria are required for consideration of admission to the BSN major. Meeting minimum program requirements does not guarantee admission.  Individuals interested in the BSN program major (BS1221) should speak with a College of Health Sciences and Professions Student Success Advisor or refer to the School of Nursing website for additional program information and specific requirements for admission.

Change of Major Policy

Individuals seeking to change their major to ND1220 (pre-BSN) need to contact the School of Nursing, schedule an advising appointment, and complete the required paperwork. All applicants must meet specific School of Nursing requirements.

External Transfer Admission

Transfer students are reviewed individually for admission to the BSN major. Transfer Applicants must have:

• Overall minimum college grade point average of 2.75 on a 4-point scale
• Accumulated at least 30 credit hours at the undergraduate level

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Graduates are eligible to sit for the registered nursing licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) to become licensed RNs. Upon successful passing of the NCLEX-RN, graduates can be employed in a variety of settings to provide care for individuals, families, and populations within complex healthcare systems. Graduates are prepared to enter master’s or doctoral programs in nursing, which prepare baccalaureate registered nurses for advanced nursing roles.

Requirements