BSN Admission Application
Admission into the BSN Program is competitive. Students who meet the minimum requirements are eligible to submit an application for admission.
- Application Deadline - March 1 for fall entry into the program and October 1 for spring entry into the program
- Eligible students must submit an application for admission to the Coordinator of Academic Support Services for the College of Health Sciences prior to the application deadline
BSN Program Application and Information Packet
Selection
Selection is based on the following weighted system:
- Quality Points earned for pre requisites and any additional courses on the BSN degree plan (college credit earned through CLEP or AP for a course will not be used for ranking purposes.) - 60%
- Cumulative GPA - 40%
NOTE: In the event that applicants have identical ranking scores, priority will be given to the student with the highest cumulative GPA. The top 40 applicants will be offered positions in the BSN Program. Meeting the minimum criteria for admission or taking courses on the BSN degree plan does not guarantee admission into the program. Students not admitted must reapply to be considered for another semester. Students chosen as alternates are not guaranteed a position in the next class.
Additional Documentation
Students admitted into the BSN Program must submit the following additional documentation prior to fall or spring entry:
- Health Care Provider Statement/Medical Release form
- Proof of immunizations (Submitted through CertifiedProfile.com)
- CPR Certification: American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers
- Criminal Background Check (Clinical facilities require a criminal background check on CHS students and have the authority to deny clinical training in their facility. Students unable to practice in clinical agencies because of an adverse or negative background check will be unable to complete the program objectives, halting continued progression in the student's program of study.)
- Drug Screen (Admission to the BSN Program is contingent on a negative drug screen.)
Student Health Statement/Medical Release
Students accepted into any of the College of Health Sciences programs will be required to provide documentation of good physical and mental health by completing the Student Health Statement/Medical Release form. Documentation of all health problems and a medical release is required. Copies of immunization records and valid CPR certification must be submitted. No student will be allowed to attend a clinical rotation without the required health data records.
You may access the Student Health Statement/Medical Release form below:
Degree Requirements
View the degree requirements for the BSN-Nursing degree plan.
Progression
Science courses taken more than five years prior to entering the program will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Executive Program Director of Nursing Programs and the Dean of the College of Health Sciences. See your advisor for more information and to request a science course evaluation.
The BSN Program is competency based in skills and theory. A student must demonstrate satisfactory clinical performance, 100 percent mastery on all Competency Performance Evaluations (CPE), and maintain a minimum average cumulative score of 77 percent on competency Performance Assessments (CPA) including the final for each course.
A student dropped for academic or any other reason may apply for readmission if in compliance with the UA Fort Smith Student Academic Progress Policy as outlined in the course catalog. A student who discontinues the nursing sequence for academic or any other reason must petition for readmission to the BSN Program. The readmission requirements are found in the BSN Student Handbook (see the Readmission Criteria & Procedure Policy). The student is not guaranteed a position for readmission. A student who is readmitted is accountable for the degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission.
A grade of “C” or better is required in ALL courses applicable to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Graduation
To earn a BSN degree, a student must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required courses applicable to the BSN Program; earn a minimum of 2.00 cumulative GPA in all course work required for the major and/or minor areas; and earn a minimum of a 2.00 cumulative GPA on all work attempted at the University. The student must meet with their faculty advisor to complete the graduation application the semester prior to graduation.
After being granted the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, the student is eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Exam for a registered nurse (NCLEX-RN).
NOTE: RN licensure requires a state and federal criminal background check. Students who have been convicted of a crime, including those that are sealed or expunged, must seek permission from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to write the licensure exam to become a registered nurse (See Addendum).
