Admission to the Basic B.S.N. Program

In addition to the university requirements, the following high school courses are required: biology and chemistry. Submission of SAT or ACT scores is required. Students with earned credits from other accredited colleges or universities are eligible for transfer on a space available basis.  Student nursing credits from other accredited programs who are not registered nurses must take all required CUA nursing courses regardless of previous nursing course work.

Admission to the Accelerated B.S.N. Program

Admission requirements include at least 55 semester credits from an accredited college or university, or a baccalaureate or higher degree earned within the past 10 years, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, and a transcript, which reflects:

• 8 semester hours in human anatomy and physiology with a laboratory
• 3 credits in microbiology with a laboratory
• 3 credits in human growth and development
• 4 credits in organic/biochemistry with a laboratory
• 3 credits of basic statistics
• 2 credits of human nutrition
• 6 credits of humanities
• 6 credits of social sciences

A grade point average of 3.0 is required for anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and chemistry.  Priority is given to current students at the Catholic University of America.

Admission requirements for nurse applicants include submission of a high school transcript; submission of nursing program transcript; completion of all required transfer credit; a cumulative grade point average of 3.0; a current R.N. license valid in the United States; and two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic ability and professional performance. Nurses not currently registered in the United States are not eligible for admission into the B.S.N. Completion Program.

Acceptance into the program option is not based solely on GPA and number of transfer credits, but also on evaluation of goal statement and references. Interviews may be requested by the School of Nursing.

Admission to the R.N. to B.S.N. Accelerated Program Track

Admission requirements are the same as those for admission to the accelerated BSN program.

Nurses not currently registered in the United States are not eligible for admission into the R.N. to B.S.N. Program. They may be admitted into the accelerated program.

Transfer Students

Admission for transfer students into the undergraduate program is on a space available basis. Transfer students, whether internal or external to the University should meet the requirements for the accelerated program.

International Students

Baccalaureate nursing programs are intensive academic programs with a heavy practice component. They require proficiency in written and spoken English and familiarity with the educational system in the United States, particularly with teaching and testing methods, to be successful. In addition, a broad background in liberal studies and the humanities is necessary to develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to function as a professional nurse in the health care system in the United States.

Admission into the School of Nursing, subsequent course load, and length of program will be determined based on a review of the transcript evaluation, TOEFL score, and English placement examination. Enrollment in intensive English courses may be necessary to progress in the nursing program.

Requesting the transcript evaluation from an approved educational evaluation service is the responsibility of the student and must be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions by the service. It must include an English translation and a course-by-course evaluation, as well as credential evaluation.

All students for whom English is a second language must complete the English placement examination offered by the university regardless of the completion of English courses at other institutions. Recommendations based on the English placement examination must be satisfied for progression into the nursing program.