University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Nursing Programs Offered

RN to BSN Program Details

Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.85 or higher are eligible to enroll in Pathway II. This pathway is designed for registered nurses who do not have a baccalaureate degree but possess the background and ability to pursue leadership and specialty preparation at the master's level. The curriculum combines elements of the BSN program with the MNSc program by substituting master's courses for BSN courses. With this pathway, student s completes 8 credit hours of graduate course work that is applied to completion of the BSN. Total credit hours to complete the BSN, including the graduate hours, is 26 credit hours.

BSN Program Details

Students are encouraged to contact the College of Nursing in their freshman year. All general education prerequisites must be completed prior to summer entry date each year. All application materials and official transcripts must be received by the College of Nursing Admissions’ office by February 1st of the year the student plans to enter the program.

1.

All applicants, including those with a previous baccalaureate or higher degree, must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale with a grade of “C” or better in all College of Nursing general education prerequisite courses. Entering GPA is calculated using every general education prerequisite course grade excluding elective hours. Grade replacement policy is in effect. To replace a grade, the number of hours must be equal and the course content must be equal. (In the case of repeated courses, only the last grade will be used to calculate the GPA.) All 64 prerequisite hours must be successfully completed with a “C” or better prior to enrollment.

2.

Applicants must complete 64 semester hours of prerequisite general education courses prior to admission.

3.

Applicants must complete and successfully pass the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Test of Essentials Academic Skills (TEAS). This exam must be completed at the applicant’s personal expense prior to 1 February the year of application and an official score report must be submitted at the time of application. Minimum passing score must be 60% or greater (rounding does not apply) to be considered for admission. Students must have completed the exam within two (2) years prior to the application date with the highest exam score considered for application purposes. Scores older than two (2) years will not be considered. (Licensed RNs returning for a BSN degree are exempt from this test.)

4.

If you were not born in the U.S. or in a country where English is the official language, an official TOEFL score of at least 550 or above on the paper-based exam, or 213 or above on computer-based exam, or a minimum score of 20 in each section of the iBT is required. The test must have been taken within the last two (2) calendar years of admission. Official TOEFL exam score report reflecting successful completion must be received no later than one (1) month past the application deadline date. Only TOEFL test scores received directly from ETS will be accepted as valid. Testing information is available at
http://etsis4.ets.org/tcenter/cbtdmlst.cfm

5.

If an international applicant is basing admission eligibility on credits from a foreign university, the official transcript must first be evaluated by the American college where prerequisite courses are being taken. A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with the application. A GPA for purposes of admission is figured on courses taken at American Universities.

6.

Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) of all course work from all institutions attended should be attached to the completed application and the entire packet forwarded to the College of Nursing, Director of Admissions for review. Upon request, an accompanying catalog for the years covered by the transcript must be submitted before evaluation can take place.

7.

Applicants who have previously attended a nursing school or another school of a health related profession must have a letter submitted from that school that includes a statement regarding the student’s standing at the previous school or provide an official transcript reflecting completion. Applicants who have been previously dismissed from a program or are not in good standing, will not be considered for admission. Admission will not be considered for anyone who earned an "NC", "D", an "F" or a "WF" in any two nursing courses, unless they are currently a licensed RN.