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Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Pre-licensure BSN, AS, and LPN-RN Programs

  1. Completed SAU application (See SAU admission checklist)
  2. Submit SON application (nursing.southern.edu)
    • Winter admission (BSN and AS) - September 15
    • Fall admission (BSN and AS) - February 15
  3. GPA: minimum cumulative university GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
  4. Pre-Admission Standardized Exam
    • LPNs must have an active and unencumbered LPN License. No ACT or SAT is required.
    • Pre-licensure and AS applicants must have ACT composite of 18 or higher or RSAT composite of 940 or higher or SAT composite of 1290 or higher
  5. Prerequisite Sciences: Survey of Health Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology I & II with grades of "C" or better.
  6. Personal admission interview
  7. Required hours:
    • BSN & LPN-BSN: Approximately 40-45 credits (3 semesters) for winter start; 30-35 credits (2 semesters) for fall start
    • AS & LPN-AS: Approximately 20-30 credits (2 semesters)
  8. Complete courses
    • English: Critical Thinking in Academic Reading & Writing 1 (English Composition I)
    • English: Critical Thinking in Academic Reading & Writing 2 (English Composition II) recommended.
    • Math: (exempt if ACT ≥22). ACT of 15 or below must complete MATH 081 with a grade of C or better
  9. References or additional information may be required.
  10. Transfer students will be individually reviewed once an official transcript is received. Acceptance will be on a space available basis.
  11. The Admission Committee may grant "Provisional Admission" to applicants who demonstrate academic potential to successfully complete the program, but whose GPA or test scores do not meet the academic admission requirements.
  12. Students with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, are given reasonable accommodation, if physically and mentally capable of performing the essential functions of the program. See SON Undergraduate Handbook for the SON policy based on "The Core Performance Standards developed by the Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing". http://www.southern.edu/academics/academic-sites/nursing/handbooks.html

RN-BSN Online and On-Campus Program: 

  1. Acceptance to Southern Adventist University.
  2. Acceptance to Nursing.
  3. A minimum grade point average of 2.50.
  4. Recommendation from nursing faculty in the student's basic nursing program and/or employer if requested.
  5. Interview with the RN-BSN program coordinator or designee, if requested.
  6. Transfer Student Admission: Documentation of clinical experience (satisfactory work performance recommendation), and/or RN Update or additional clinical experience may be required.
  7. Transfer of RN Nursing Credits: Transfer students who are graduates of accredited Associate and Diploma Nursing Programs will have 26 credits of lower division associate degree level nursing and thirteen (13) credits of upper division nursing NURS 400 Adult Health III, NURS 420 Child Health (SERV-2), NURS 425 Capstone Clinical - AS, NURS 432 Capstone Seminar, and NURS 440 Preparation for Licensure placed in escrow upon entrance to the RN-BSN program. After successfully completing 10 semester hours of RN to BSN nursing courses at Southern, the thirteen (13) credits held in escrow are available to be placed on the transcript ($520 transfer fee) as required credits toward a BSN degree.