College of Nursing
www.kent.edu/nursing

About This Program

Kent State's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program prepares you for a rewarding career in healthcare. With a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on experience and evidence-based practice, this program provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to provide high-quality patient care. As a student in this program, you'll have access to clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings, as well as experienced faculty who are dedicated to helping you succeed. Read more...

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: Tracey Motter D.N.P., RN | BSN@kent.edu | 330-672-7911
• Speak with an Advisor
  • Geauga Campus
  • Kent Campus
  • Salem Campus
  • Stark Campus
  • Trumbull Campus
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor: Kent Campus | Regional Campuses

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Geauga Campus (Nursing major only)
  • Kent Campus (Nursing major and Accelerated Second Degree concentration)
  • Salem Campus (Nursing major only)
  • Stark Campus (Nursing major only)
  • Trumbull Campus (Nursing major only)

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

The B.S.N. degree in Nursing at Kent State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

New Students

Traditional Admission

Admission to the Nursing major is selective; the process is competitive, and acceptance is never guaranteed. Prospective applicants must have completed:

• High school level mathematics, biology, and chemistry.
• In addition, students must have achieved one of the following:
  • Minimum 2.7 overall high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); and a minimum 22 ACT composite or a minimum 1100 SAT score; or
  • Minimum 3.0 overall high school grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

Early Admission

Early admission students are granted admission to the professional nursing sequence as new students provided they meet the early admission criteria and maintain the progression requirements. Students must signify they want to be considered for early admission and agree to declare Kent State as their college of choice in early September. The early admission program has a limited number of seats, with an emphasis on students who can enhance the College of Nursing's mission to improve healthy living in a diverse, changing society. 

Transfer Students

Traditional Admission

Admission to the Nursing major requires a minimum 2.750 overall GPA and completion of 12 college credit hours from an institional-accredited college or university.

Transfer students who have successfully completed minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State University will be evaluated on their Kent State overall GPA only along with the pre-requisite criteria for admission into the Professional Phase.

Direct Admission

Admission to the Professional Nursing Sequence of the Nursing major requires meeting prerequisite criteria. Students who have failed out of another nursing program are not eligible for admission to Kent State's B.S.N. degree.

Transfer students from another accredited B.S.N. degree who have completed at least one laboratory or clinical course must have achieved the following for admission to Kent State's B.S.N. degree:

• Minimum 3.200 overall GPA in all college-level coursework
• Minimum 2.750 GPA for the required (or equivalent) science courses in Kent State's B.S.N. degree (BSCI 21010, BSCI 21020, BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171 and CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060)
• Minimum C grade in the following prerequisite courses:
  • Anatomy and Physiology (BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020)
  • Microbiology (BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171)
  • Genetics (BSCI 30050 or BSCI 30156)
  • Chemistry (CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060)
• Good academic standing at current college or university

Admission to the Accelerated Second Degree concentration

Admission to the Accelerated Second Degree concentration requires a completed bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.750 overall GPA. Students who have failed out of a nursing program are not eligible to apply to the Accelerated Second Degree concentration. Accelerated students must have all college-level core and nursing prerequisite courses complete:

• Anatomy and Physiology (BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020)
• Microbiology (BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171)
• Genetics (BSCI 30050 or BSCI 30156)
• Chemistry (CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060)
• Psychology (PSYC 11762)
• Human Growth and Development (NURS 20950)
• Sociology (SOC 12050 or SOC 22778)
• Minimum 2.750 overall GPA and minimum 2.750 science GPA
• Minimum C grade in all science and mathematics courses

English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who travel abroad can opt to take NURS 40089 to fulfill the NURS 30070 requirement.

²

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

³

Students who have successfully completed ATTR 25057 (or EXSC 25057) and ATTR 25058 (or EXSC 25058) with a minimum C grade may use those courses in place of BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

¹

Students admitted into the LPN to BSN sequence and the LPN and Allied Health sequence will take NURS 20040 instead of NURS 20020 and NURS 20030.

Accelerated Second Degree Concentration Requirements

Progression Requirements

• All students in the B.S.N. degree must have a minimum 2.000 overall GPA each semester to continue in the program; failure to achieve this GPA each semester will result in not permitted to continue in the program.
• All students in the B.S.N. degree must have earned a minimum C grade in each science course required in the B.S.N. curriculum. All required chemistry and biology courses must be successfully completed with a minimum C grade to graduate with the B.S.N. degree.
• Students in the traditional and accelerated concentration must have a minimum C grade in each of the sophomore nursing courses to progress to the junior nursing sequence.
• Students in the traditional and accelerated concentration must have a minimum C grade in each of the junior nursing courses (NURS 30010, NURS 30020 and NURS 30035) to progress to the senior nursing sequence.
• Students in the traditional and accelerated Nursing major must have a minimum C grade in each of the senior nursing courses (NURS 40005, NURS 40010, NURS 40020, NURS 40030, NURS 40045 and NURS 40872) to progress and graduate.
• Students in the accelerated concentration and LPN and Allied Health to B.S.N. sequence may take junior- and senior-level courses concurrently as specified by their curriculum.
• Students in the traditional Nursing major may take a maximum of two clinical courses each semester.
• Students in the accelerated concentration and LPN and Allied Health to B.S.N. sequence are permitted to take three clinical courses each term, as specified by their curriculum.
• Students in the accelerated concentration and LPN and Allied Health to B.S.N. sequence who do not earn a C or better in any nursing courses will be transferred to the traditional B.S.N. course schedule.

Professional Nursing Sequence. Students are eligible to apply to the Professional Nursing Sequence during the semester in which they anticipate completing or have completed 30 credit hours.

Admission to the Professional Nursing Sequence is based on overall; and science GPA. Students who completed required prerequisite science courses while in the College Credit Plus (CCP) program may elect to repeat prerequisite science courses to be used in the calculation of the science GPA.

Students must meet all the following requirements to be eligible for admission to the Professional Nursing Sequence:

• Minimum 2.750 overall GPA
• Minimum 2.750 GPA in the required sciences:
  • BSCI 21010
  • BSCI 21020
  • BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171
  • CHEM 10050 or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060
• Minimum C grade in each of the prerequisite science courses:
  • BSCI 21010
  • BSCI 21020
  • BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171
  • CHEM 10050 or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060
• Candidates who meet the admission criteria for the Professional Nursing Sequence will be selected using a holistic admission process including the individual's personal experiences, attributes and metrics.
  • LPN and Allied Health to B.S.N. Sequence: Students who are pursuing the nursing major will need to complete all core and prerequisite coursework to be admitted to the Professional Nursing Sequence. Admission is competitive and is never guaranteed.

Admission checklist for the Professional Nursing Sequence for LPN and Allied Health to B.S.N. students:

• Students are eligible to make application during the semester in which they anticipate completing, or have completed the core courses, along with:
  • UC 10001
  • Approved statistics course
  • SOC 12050 or SOC 22778
  • NUTR 23511
  • NURS 20950
  • PSYC 11762
  • Chemistry electives (CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060)
  • BSCI 30050 or BSCI 30156
  • BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171
  • BSCI 21020
  • BSCI 21010
  • NURS 10060
  • Students must have a 2.750 overall GPA, and a 2.750 science GPA
  • Students must earn minimum C grade in all science and mathematics courses
  • Unrestricted practice license (priority admission is given to students with two or more years of practice in their field)

The collage dean may review the student's educational files to determine if adequate progression has been made.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum C grade is required in all specified NURS, BSCI, CHEM and Kent Core MATH courses.
• Students in the Nursing program must earn a combined minimum 2.750 GPA in BSCI 21010, BSCI 21020 and BSCI 20021 (or BSCI 30171) and CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060.

Roadmaps

Nursing Major (No Concentration)

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Accelerated Second Degree Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Meet educational eligibility requirements to take the registered nurse licensing examination (National Certification and Licensure Exam).
2. Acquire competencies based on professional standards to assume the role of the professional nurse and for career advancement, including graduate studies.
3. Diversify the student population to provide equitable evidence-based, culturally sensitive care.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in Nursing prepares practitioners for professional nursing, helps them understand their role in society and prepares them for graduate study. The program emphasizes professional knowledge, skills and compassionate nursing practices. Students begin with courses that demonstrate the core foundations of the nursing profession and its historical roots. The capstone preceptorship exposes students to research and professional-practice concepts that will ensure their abilities to be nurse leaders and healthcare advocates.

Throughout the curriculum, students study life-span and cultural diversity issues while applying evidence-based practice to their profession.

The Nursing major includes the following optional concentration:

• The Accelerated Second Degree concentration is for students who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue the B.S.N. degree in an accelerated manner.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.