What to do before applying to the BSN program at CSU Bakersfield
The traditional BSN program at CSU Bakersfield is a thee year program. Once the program is completed, the student will receive her/his BSN degree, and will be able to sit for the NCLEX examination. Graduates from the CSU Bakersfield nursing program will have many opportunities available to them, such as pursuing an advanced degree as a Nurse Practitioner.
The following steps must be taken prior to applying to the nursing program at CSU Bakersfield
- Submit an application to CSU Bakersfield. Students must first be accepted to the University before they can apply to the nursing program.
- Applicants who have attended any other colleges, such as Bakersfield College, must submit official college transcripts. The transcripts should be submitted directly to to the Admissions Department at CSU Bakersfield.
- Prepare to complete the 8 prerequisite courses. If you have taken any of the prerequisites at other colleges, make sure to notify your CSU Bakersfield academic advisor.
Prerequisites for the CSU Bakersfield Nursing Program
- Physiology with Lab (4 unit minimum course)
- Anatomy with Lab (3 unit minimum course)
- Chemistry with Lab (4 unit minimum course)
- Microbiology with Lab (4 unit minimum course)
- Critical Thinking (minimum 3 unit course)
- Public Speaking (minimum 3 unit course)
- English Composition (minimum 3 unit course)
- Introduction to Statistics (minimum 3 unit course)
In addition to the prerequisite courses for the CSU Bakersfield nursing program, there are also 5 classes that can be taken either during, or prior to the nursing program, but they must be completed before receiving the BSN Degree:
- Pathophysiology
- Lifspan Development
- Nutrition
- Introduction to Sociology
- Introduction to Psychology
Although there is no time limit on when any of the prerequisite courses were taken, it’s recommended by the CSU Bakersfield nursing staff that the courses have been taken within the last 10 years. CSU Bakersfield has the following policy on “Withdrawals” from previous classes: the prospective nursing student can’t have “Withdrawn” from more than 19 units. The only exception to this is if an entire semester was “Withdrawn”.
For the prerequisite courses, the applicant must not have a grade lower than a “C” in any prerequisite. A class may be retaken in order to get a higher grade. For the Statistics, Chemistry, Microbiology, Physiology, and Anatomy prerequisites, the applicant must have a minimum of a 3.00 GPA.
Once the applicant has determined the requirements will be met for CSU Bakersfield nursing program, she/he should:
Submit the nursing application to CSU Bakersfield’s Nursing Department between January 4th 2016 and March 5th 2016. A copy of the applicant’s official college transcripts from other schools need to be submitted with the application to the Nursing Program. Do NOT send transcripts to the Admissions Department. They must be sent directly to the Nursing Department. Late submissions will NOT be accepted. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted, and will be mailed back to the applicant.
The TEAS exam must be completed, with the results submitted to CSU Bakersfield by April 18th 2016. The TEAS results must be received from ATI directly. ATI is the testing facility that administers the TEAS test.
The Selection Process
The CSU Bakersfield nursing department does not have a waiting list. Prospective students who are not accepted into the nursing program must reapply the next calendar year. Rankings that affect a student’s chances of being accepted are the GPA of the prerequisite courses, the prerequisite math and science GPA, the results of the TEAS Test, the location of the applicant’s residence, and whether the applicant is already a student at CSU Bakersfield.