Upper-Division BSN Transfer and LVN Options

APU male undergraduate nursing student poses in front of hospital equipment.

Admission Requirements for the BSN Upper-Division Transfer and LVN-to-BSN Programs 

BSN Upper-Division Transfer and LVN to BSN applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

  1. Submit an application to Graduate and Professional Admissions indicating interest in becoming a nursing major and pursuing the BSN degree. Include in the application the following information:
    1. Official college transcripts for all colleges attended
    2. Two letters of recommendation
    3. A one-page statement of professional goals in nursing
    4. A résumé reflecting volunteer and paid work experience within the past three years. Please include leadership positions held within volunteer organizations, community service experience, and/or employment where applicable
    5. LVN applicants must include a copy of their current LVN license
  2. Submit evidence of a minimum of 48 college or university semester units of transferable nursing prerequisite course requirements prior to the semester in which the student is requesting admission. See list of courses below.
  3. Submit proof of achieving a minimum cumulative college or university grade-point average of B (3.0) or better.
  4. Successfully complete Human Anatomy with lab (4 units), Chemistry with lab (4 units), Human Physiology (4 units), and General Microbiology with lab (4 units) with no lower than a B- (2.7) grade-point average.  
  5. Provide a writing sample that demonstrates written communication skills.
  6. Candidates are considered for admission into the program once they have completed the prerequisite coursework and progress through the curriculum in a predetermined sequence with an assigned group of students (cohort model). All nursing coursework assigned to a specific semester is prerequisite for progression to the next semester.
  7. Eligible candidates may be interviewed by the program director and reviewed by the admissions committee.
  8. Candidates accepted into the program will be notified by the admissions representative and assigned to the appropriate semester.
  9. An acceptance letter will be mailed to the candidate from the School of Nursing.

Course Requirements and Sequences

All undergraduate nursing programs are designed with a specific course sequence that is determined by the School of Nursing. When each student is accepted into a program, a progression schedule is reviewed by the student and the advisor. Courses must be taken in the assigned sequence. Admission is based on a cohort model.

Students enrolled in professional program UNRS or RNRS courses must achieve a 73% or higher in all courses to successfully pass the courses. If a student fails to achieve 73% or higher in any UNRS or RNRS course, he/she will be required to repeat (one time) for BSN degree completion. Students failing two or more courses may be dismissed from the program. Students in UNRS courses must achieve 73% or higher in the testing categories before other coursework can be counted in the determination of the final course grade. If a student fails the didactic portion of a clinical course, the clinical portion will also be recorded as a failure, and vice versa. Refer to the School of Nursing handbook for more information on academic requirements for the BSN degree.

The Upper-Division BSN Transfer Program is based on a cohort model. Students complete the required 48 units of prerequisite coursework, then begin nursing coursework in the fall, spring, or summer semester and continue in sequence for three consecutive semesters per year.

Prerequisite Coursework

Prerequisite Nursing Requirements
BIOL 220General Microbiology4
BIOL 200Human Anatomy for Nursing 14
BIOL 210Human Physiology for Nursing 24
PRCH 123General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry for the Health Sciences 3, 44
Prerequisite General Education Requirements
Skills and University Requirements
PRCO 111Public Communication 53
PRWR 112Writing 1A: Writing and Rhetoric for Professional Students 62
PRWR 113Writing 1B: Research and Writing for Professional Students 62
Humanities: Fine Arts Requirement3
Humanities: Philosophy Requirement3
Humanities: History Requirement3
Humanities: Literature Requirement3
PRPS 110General Psychology 73
PRPS 290Human Growth and Development 73
Electives7
Bible and Theology general education requirements vary based on number of units transferred
Total Units48-66
1

BIOL 200 is equivalent to BIOL 250.

2

BIOL 210 is equivalent to BIOL 251.

3

Meets the APU Core: Natural Science general education requirement.

4

PRCH 123 is the transfer equivalent to CHEM 123. Students who choose to meet this prerequisite at APU must enroll in CHEM 123.

5

Meets the APU Core: Oral Communication general education requirement.

6

Together, meets the APU Core: Writing general education requirement.

7

Meets the APU Core: Social Science general education requirement.

BSN Coursework

Nursing Requirements
UNRS 107
107P
Foundations of Professional Nursing
and Foundations of Professional Nursing Practicum 1
4 (3/1)
UNRS 108Fundamentals in Nursing Practice2
UNRS 113Pharmacology 22
UNRS 212
212P
Nursing Care of Adults and the Aging
and Nursing Care Of Adults/Aging Practicum
6 (3/3)
UNRS 220Health Assessment3 (2/1)
UNRS 260Nutrition2
UNRS 270Professional Concepts in Nursing3
UNRS 299Statistics and Data Management for Nursing and Health Care 33
UNRS 306Writing within the Discipline: Theoretical Frameworks in Nursing3
UNRS 310
310P
Mental Health Nursing
and Mental Health Nursing Practicum
4 (2/2)
UNRS 314
314P
Nursing Management and Restorative Care of Adults
and Nursing Management and Restorative Care of Adults Practicum
6 (3/3)
UNRS 367Pathophysiology3
UNRS 386
386P
Population and Community Health Nursing
and Population and Community Health Nursing Practicum 4
6 (3/3)
UNRS 402
402P
Nursing Care in Maternal, Newborn, and Women's Health
and Nursing Care in Maternal, Newborn, and Women's Health Practicum
4 (2/2)
UNRS 403Leadership and Management in Professional Practice2
UNRS 404
404P
Nursing Care of Children and Young Adults
and Nursing Care of Children and Young Adults Practicum
4 (2/2)
UNRS 414
414P
Advanced Nursing Care of Adults
and Advanced Nursing Care of Adults Clinical Practicum
6 (2/4)
UNRS 425Nursing Research3
UNRS 445Applied Pharmacology2
UNRS 496Writing within the Discipline: Ethics and Issues in Health Care4
Total Units72
1

Numbers in parentheses indicate classroom/clinical or lab units.

2

May receive academic credit for this course through competency assessment.

3

Meets the APU Core: Quantitative Reasoning general education requirement.

4

Meets the APU Core: Intercultural Competence general education requirement.

LVN to RN 30-unit Option

Students choosing this option are admitted as terminal nondegree students. Upon completion of the requirements of the 30-unit option with a 2.0 GPA or better in all courses, students receive a certificate of completion, which establishes eligibility to take the California Board of Registered Nursing examination for RN licensure as a nongraduate. Students should see a School of Nursing academic advisor for requirements. This program operates on a space-available basis for didactic and clinical coursework.

Previous Education Credit

Students may be awarded credit for prior learning/coursework and clinical experience, including military education and experience, through a challenge examination and/or competency testing.