Oakland University

Program Length & Format

• Four-semester, full-time
• Total program credit hours: 69
• Didactic instruction at Oakland University main campus and West Center
• Clinical experiences scheduled throughout Southeastern Michigan
• Admission cycles: fall, winter, summer

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a field outside of nursing required
• Must be admitted to Oakland University and have OU email set up before submitting ASD application
• Pre-nursing GPA (BIO 1200, BIO 2006, CHM 1040, CHM 2010, PSY 1000) minimum 3.0
• Minimum grade of B- (B minus) required in each prerequisite course before applying (conditional admission exception noted below)
• Required application materials include an essay, a professional reference form, and a character assessment

Prerequisites

• BIO 1200 Biology I — 4 credits
• BIO 2006 Clinical Anatomy and Physiology — 5 credits
• CHM 1040 Introduction to Chemical Principles — 4 credits
• CHM 2010 Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry — 4 credits
• PSY 1000 Foundations of Contemporary Psychology — 4 credits
• Philosophy (Intro to Logic, Intro to Philosophy, Intro to Ethics, or Intro to Ethics for Health Professions) — 4 credits
• MTH 0661 (math requirement; waiver conditions described below)
• All prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of B- (B minus)

Deadlines

• Winter 2026 application window: August 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025
• Summer 2026 application window: December 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026
• Fall 2026 application window: April 1, 2026 to June 1, 2026

Application

• Complete Oakland University admission application and ASD application (online)
• Official college transcripts, including AP/IB/CLEP scores where applicable
• Essay, professional reference form (from supervisor or professor), and character assessment
• Degree Works updated by School of Nursing after OU admission decision
• Admitted students must submit clinical health requirement documentation prior to program start

Selection Process

• Holistic review combining pre-nursing GPA, essay, professional reference, and character assessment into a composite score
• Materials reviewed and scored by School of Nursing faculty
• Conditional admission allowed if applicant is finishing no more than two prerequisite courses; official transcripts for completed courses must be received prior to program start
• Offers of conditional admission are space-contingent; failure to meet minimum prerequisites or GPA results in rescission of admission offer
• Applicants previously dismissed from a nursing program or with two or more nursing course grades of B- or lower must obtain School of Nursing approval via the Student Academic Standing Inquiry Form before applying

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical placements across Southeastern Michigan
• Didactic coursework delivered on-campus (main campus and West Center)
• Program courses with lab/clinical components (examples with credit and breakdown):
  • NRS 2014 Health Assessment — 4 credits (3 lecture / 1 lab)
  • NRS 2024 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice — 5 credits (3 / 1 / 1)
  • NRS 3015 Nursing Care of Adults I — 5 credits (3 / 2)
  • NRS 3016 Nursing Care of Individuals with Behavioral & Mental Health Disorders — 5 credits (3 / 2)
  • NRS 3026 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family — 5 credits (3 / 2)

Credit Transfer

• Second-degree students from regionally accredited U.S. institutions are exempt from Oakland University general education requirements
• Students must complete at least 32 credits at or above the 3000-level
• AP, IB, and CLEP credit considered per Oakland University policies
• Transfer equivalency and articulation evaluated through Oakland University transfer processes

International Students

• Foreign bachelor’s degrees require a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-approved provider to demonstrate U.S. bachelor’s degree equivalence
• First professional degrees (e.g., MD) are not considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree unless the evaluation explicitly states equivalence

Contacts

• Oakland University School of Nursing, Human Health Building, Room 3027, 433 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester, MI 48309-4452
• School of Nursing phone: (248) 364-8733; office hours Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Oakland University Admissions phone: (248) 370-3360