Contact

Sabrina McIntyre Headshots

Sabrina McIntyre

Pre-Nursing Advisor
Nursing Building
P843-863-7372
Esmcintyre@csuniv.edu

Shannon Kiser Headshots

Shannon Kiser

Pre-Nursing Advisor
Nursing Building
P843-863-7029
Eskiser@csuniv.edu

Admissions Office

Hunter Center
9200 University Blvd., Charleston SC 29406
P843-863-7050
Eenroll@csuniv.edu

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Charleston Southern University is a four-year program. The first year focuses primarily on general education and the sciences, while the following three years dive deep into nursing and clinical experiences. Students receive experiential learning from the start, with human patient simulators in CSU labs, as well as real-life clinical experience in various hospital and community agencies in the Lowcountry.

Students may enter the program as freshmen, transfers, or with a change of major by the sophomore year. This is a highly competitive program, and the Charleston Southern BSN program graduates successfully pass the NCLEX-RN at a rate of 97% or greater.

A nursing student inserting an air tube into a mannequin patient

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply and be accepted to CSU!

After acceptance at CSU, be sure to enroll in required pre-nursing courses. If you are a new freshman at CSU, also enroll in GNED 101 (pre-nursing section). Meet with your nursing academic advisor at least once each semester to review academic progress and plans.

  • ENGL 111 English Composition I  3 Credits
  • MATH 105   Intro to Math Structures * 3 Credits
  • CHEM 110 Concepts of Chemistry w/Lab 4 Credits
  • BIOL 226 Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab  4 Credits
  • CHST 111 Survey of Old Testament** 3 Credits
  • ENGL 112 English Composition II  3 Credits
  • PSYC 110 General Psychology 3 Credits
  • BIOL 220 Microbiology w/Lab 4 Credits
  • BIOL 227 Anatomy & Physiology II w/Lab 4 Credits
  • NURS 104 Basic Pathophysiology  3 Credits

Total Required Prerequisite Credit Hours: 34

*Statistics does not satisfy math prerequisite for the BSN program.

** CHST 111 is suggested in this course sequence, but any other non-nursing course required for the BSN degree can be used to satisfy the 34 required prerequisite credit hours.

Don’t forget to prepare your application for admission into CSU’s nursing program and submit by fall or spring application deadlines. The BSN program at CSU is a competitive-entry program and admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the nursing program.

Step 2: Submit application to the nursing program

Requirements for consideration for admission:

  • Minimum GPA of 2.90 in prerequisite/required courses, priority consideration given to 3.0 GPA
  • At least a grade of “C” in all prerequisite/required courses.
  • Minimum SAT or ACT score If earned less than 34 semester hours that can be applied towards the nursing degree at the time of application to the nursing program.

Other considerations by Admissions Committee include but are not limited to:

  • Number of attempts in prerequisite courses, particularly math and sciences
  • Number of hours completed at CSU
  • Grade earned in NURS 104 course
  • Kaplan Nursing admission exam is required
  • Interview with Admissions Committee may be required

If admitted into the program, begin Sophomore/200 level Nursing courses.

If not admitted into the program, meet with nursing academic advisor to discuss options and academic plans.

Application Opens:

October 15

Application Closes:

April 1

Official transcripts may be submitted for review through April 1.

Early Acceptance Eligibility

Either test (SAT or the ACT) can be used to qualify a student for early acceptance, but all three requirements must be met to be qualify.

SAT Requirements

  • Total score of 1270 or higher
  • 650 or higher on Reading & Writing
  • 620 or higher on Math portion

ACT Requirements

  • Composite score of 26 or higher
  • 21 or higher on English portion
  • 21 or higher on Math portion

Two of the following three criteria MUST be met:

  • GPA of 3.5 or higher
  • Current class rank – Top 20%
  • Evidence of AP or Dual Credit course enrollment

If you have Early Acceptance, you will have a spot reserved to begin the nursing program in your sophomore year. This allows you to bypass the competitive entry of the general admission pool that takes place in a student’s freshman year.

Early Acceptance is a provisional acceptance and is contingent upon the student meeting certain prerequisite requirements during his or her freshman year at CSU.

  • Must be a first-time freshman.
  • Complete the Pre-Nursing Prerequisite Courses earning a “C” or better for each semester.
  • Pass the Kaplan Test (determined by the ranking of current class).

Early Acceptance requires a separate application process from the general admission application to the university. Use the application here. Applications must be received by the end of Add/Drop period during the first semester of the student’s freshman year at Charleston Southern University.

You will receive confirmation of Early Acceptance within 1-2 weeks after receipt of your application.

Tuition Cost

View Tuition & Costs here.

Time

8 semesters. Fall and Spring admission offered.

Contact Information

Your enrollment counselor will be your reference for any questions regarding admissions, financial aid, housing and to submit any documents during the application process. Admissions coordinates with the College of Nursing during this process.

If you have admissions-related questions, please contact enroll@csuniv.edu.

Curriculum

  • COMM 110 – Public Speaking (3 hours)
  • BIOL 345 – Nutrition (3 hours)
  • NURS 203 – Health Assessment (4 hours)
  • NURS 215 – Fundamentals of Nursing (5 hours)
  • NURS 221 – Clinical Pharm Concepts I (2 hours)

17 credit hours

 

Nursing Content Concentration (3-12 hours)

Students must take NURS 260 at CSU which is required for graduation; the other courses are optional but will apply towards your degree requirements. NURS 260 Lifespan Development (3 ch), NURS 300 Informatics (3 ch), NURS 313 Alternative Therapies (3ch), NURS 314 Ethical Issues (3ch), NURS 315 Genetics (3ch), NURS 316 Forensics (3ch)

  • Foreign Language (3 hours)
  • Intro to Computer Systems (3 hours)
  • Art or Music Appreciation (3 hours)
  • Clinical Pharm Concepts II (3 hours)
  • Adult Health I (5 hours)

17 credit hours

 

Nursing Content Concentration (3-12 hours)

Students must take NURS 260 at CSU which is required for graduation; the other courses are optional but will apply towards your degree requirements. NURS 260 Lifespan Development (3 ch), NURS 300 Informatics (3 ch), NURS 313 Alternative Therapies (3ch), NURS 314 Ethical Issues (3ch), NURS 315 Genetics (3ch), NURS 316 Forensics (3ch)

  • World Civilization (3 hours)
  • CHST 112 – Survey of New Testament (3 hours)
  • NURS 260 – Lifespan Development (3 hours)
  • NURS 323 – Maternity Nursing (4 hours)
  • NURS 331 – Adult Health II (5 hours)

18 credit hours

 

Nursing Content Concentration (3-12 hours)

Students must take NURS 260 at CSU which is required for graduation; the other courses are optional but will apply towards your degree requirements. NURS 260 Lifespan Development (3 ch), NURS 300 Informatics (3 ch), NURS 313 Alternative Therapies (3ch), NURS 314 Ethical Issues (3ch), NURS 315 Genetics (3ch), NURS 316 Forensics (3ch)

  • PSYC 305 – Behavioral Stats for Health Prof. (3 hours)
  • 200 Level Survey of English/American Literature (3 hours)
  • NURS 322 – Psych/Mental Health Nursing (3 hours)
  • NURS 324 – Pediatric Nursing (4 hours)
  • NURS 325 – Gerontology (2 hours)

16 credit hours

 

Nursing Content Concentration (3-12 hours)

Students must take NURS 260 at CSU which is required for graduation; the other courses are optional but will apply towards your degree requirements. NURS 260 Lifespan Development (3 ch), NURS 300 Informatics (3 ch), NURS 313 Alternative Therapies (3ch), NURS 314 Ethical Issues (3ch), NURS 315 Genetics (3ch), NURS 316 Forensics (3ch)

  • POLI 201 or History Elective (3 hours)
  • NURS 405 – Research in Healthcare (3 hours)
  • NURS 409 – Community Health Nursing (4 hours)
  • NURS 431 – Adult Health III (4 hours)

14 credit hours

 

Nursing Content Concentration (3-12 hours)

Students must take NURS 260 at CSU which is required for graduation; the other courses are optional but will apply towards your degree requirements. NURS 260 Lifespan Development (3 ch), NURS 300 Informatics (3 ch), NURS 313 Alternative Therapies (3ch), NURS 314 Ethical Issues (3ch), NURS 315 Genetics (3ch), NURS 316 Forensics (3ch)

  • NURS 404 – Leadership/Management (5 hours)
  • NURS 430 – Capstone: Prep/Prof Role (2 hours)
  • NURS 432 – Adult Health IV (5 hours)

12 credit hours

 

Nursing Content Concentration (3-12 hours)

Students must take NURS 260 at CSU which is required for graduation; the other courses are optional but will apply towards your degree requirements. NURS 260 Lifespan Development (3 ch), NURS 300 Informatics (3 ch), NURS 313 Alternative Therapies (3ch), NURS 314 Ethical Issues (3ch), NURS 315 Genetics (3ch), NURS 316 Forensics (3ch)

Non-Nursing Prerequisite, Core, and Supporting – 62
Pre-Nursing Professional Foundation – 3
Nursing Major – 61
Nursing Concentration – 3
Total credit hours required for graduation – 129

Program Outcomes

PROGRAM OUTCOMEEXPECTED LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENTRESULTS
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate80% of students will pass NCLEX-RN on first attempt1/1/19 – 12/31/19: 94.81%
SC Average: 90.5%
National Average: 88.7%
Program Completion Rate75% of students will complete program within 9 semesters (traditional) and 6 semesters (accelerated)Traditional Admitted Fall 2015/Graduated Fall 2019: 82%
Accelerated: n/a
Job Placement Rate80% of graduates will be employed as an RN within 12 months of graduation2018: 100%
2019: 100%*
*excludes Fall 2019 graduates

BSN Application