University of South Alabama College of Nursing

Program Length & Format

• Professional Component: 22 courses, 62 credit hours
• Total degree when entering with prior baccalaureate: 88 credit hours (26 credit hours general education + 62 professional)
• Program schedule: accelerated format not tied to university academic calendar; professional component can be completed in a minimum of 3 semesters and typically over 5 semesters
• Cohort start months: January (Spring cohort) and July (Fall cohort); Spring cohorts begin first week of January, Fall cohorts begin mid-July

Admission Requirements

• Prior non-nursing baccalaureate degree required with degree posted on official transcript
• All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to admission to the professional component
• Minimum prerequisite GPA 2.90
• Minimum grade of C required in all prerequisite courses
• Applicants must be in good academic standing at all previously attended institutions

Prerequisites

• Total prerequisite credits: 26
• Required courses (examples): Life Science w/lab (BLY 101 & 101L or higher), Microbiology w/lab (BLY 213 & 214 or BMD 210 & 210L), Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II w/labs (BMD 251, BMD 252), Chemistry w/lab (CH 101 & 101L or higher), Introduction to Psychology (PSY 120), one Statistics course (ST 305 / ST 210 / BUS 245 / PSY 220)
• All prerequisites must be completed before applying the professional component

Deadlines

• Spring admission application deadline: July 15
• Fall admission application deadline: March 15
• Attendance on first day of classes for cohort is required to begin the Accelerated BSN professional component

Application

• Application fee: $50 non-refundable
• Application components: University application, College of Nursing application
• Transcripts: submission of official transcripts to the University; submission of unofficial transcripts to College of Nursing via email for prerequisite review
• Pre-registration contingencies: completion of acceptance packet, negative drug screen, acceptable background check, and completion of Medical Documents Manager health requirements (all health requirements to be completed no later than one month prior to first day of professional component)

Selection Process

• Applicants reviewed by College of Nursing Admissions Committee and the Dean; enrollment to professional component is limited and selection is made by the committee and Dean
• Students must be in good standing with all prior academic institutions
• Students dismissed from prior nursing programs may only be considered for the Traditional BSN and must compete with other applicants
• Conditional offers require completion of health, background, and drug-screen clearances before initial registration

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical schedule: clinical rotations may include weekdays and weekends (Saturday and Sunday); students may be required to complete more than 20 clinical hours per week during clinical courses
• Clinical practicum course: NU 460 Practicum (6 credit hours)
• Simulation facilities (Baldwin County Campus): three computerized human patient simulators specified as child, adult male (iStan), and pregnant female
• Clinical skills courses: examples include Clinical Nursing Skills, Foundations Professional Nursing Clinical, Psych/Mental Health Nursing Clinical, Community Health Nursing Clinical, and specialty clinical courses listed in professional component

Credit Transfer

• Upper-division nursing courses taken at another institution will not transfer or apply toward the 62 credit hours required for the professional component at USA
• Transfer credit articulation is completed by the Office of Admissions at time of acceptance
• An unofficial transfer equivalency tool is available for initial assessment of transferable credits

Contacts

• USA College of Nursing main phone: (251) 445-9400; fax: (251) 445-9416
• College address: 5721 USA Dr. N., Room 3083, Mobile, AL 36688-0002
• Accelerated BSN Professional Component Academic Advisor: Kayla Young (email listed on College of Nursing pages)

The program is fully accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education. The program prepares students for advance nursing practice and further post graduate work. Students in the program are prepared to synthesize and implement advance theories and to conduct research in a specialized area of nursing practice. 

The program offers several tracks and opportunities for specialized options within the scope of the MSN program. The  course-works are completed completely online and clinical hours to be completed at an approved health center in your area.

Admission Requirements:

• BSN degree from an accredited college or university
• No letters of reference required

Clinical practice components of the program require students to submit to a range of requirements including criminal background check, travel costs, health examinations, etc. Students are also responsible for financial requirements for test monitoring and proctoring as well as authentication of identity as required.