A-to-Z Index

Academic Advising Departmental Image
JMU Major: Nursing
Description of the Major | Degrees Offered | Concentrations | Minors |
Declaring the Major | Progressing in the Major

Description of the Major

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (B.S.N.) prepares undergraduate students to be professional nurses and leads to eligibility to take the National Certification and Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse (R.N.). During your first two years of study, you will take General Education courses in biology, chemistry, math, and psychology as well as a course in nutrition while developing a strong foundation in the liberal arts.

After admission to the nursing program, the curriculum consists of concurrent classroom courses, laboratory and simulation learning, and clinical practice experience. Students have opportunities for learning in a variety of settings including community, specialty, and academic medical centers and hospitals; long term care facilities and clinics; and community based clinical learning experiences. The JMU Nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

Degrees Offered

B.S.N.

Concentrations

None

Minors

None

Declaring the Major

New Freshmen and Transfer Students
Declare the nursing major when you register for orientation; this will enable you to be assigned to a nursing adviser who can answer your questions and help you plan your course of academic study during Freshman or Transfer Orientation. The B.S.N. program is not a freshman admit program. Typically, students will apply for the B.S.N. program after their first semester sophomore year.

Currently Enrolled Major Changers
In order to change your major to nursing, you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater. Applicants should complete a Change or Declaration of Major form and submit it to the nursing academic adviser. After the adviser signs the form it will be submitted to the department head and then the registrar. Submit the Change or Declaration of Major form to Burruss Hall Room 105.

Admission to the Major
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) major is competitive. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission to the nursing program. Meeting these requirements only allows an application to be considered in the review process. Each year, around 90 students are admitted to the B.S.N. program. Admission is based on all student qualifications but JMU cumulative grade point average and grades in the prerequisite math and science courses are a strong consideration. Students are admitted twice a year for fall and spring program entry. Acceptance to JMU does not guarantee acceptance into the nursing program.

To be eligible to apply for admission, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Applications are due by December 1 for fall program admission. Students will be notified of program acceptance by February 15. Applications are due by July 1 for spring program admission. Students will be notified of program acceptance by September 15.
  2. Earned a cumulative JMU GPA of at least 3.00 as verified by your academic record.
  3. Completed 36 academic credits by the end of the fall semester (to be considered for the following fall) or by the end of spring semester (to be considered for the following spring).
  4. Completed the following nursing pre-requisite courses (or approved equivalents) with a grade of "C-" or higher: CHEM 120, MATH 220 and at least two of the required biology courses (BIO 270, BIO 280 or BIO 290) by the end of the fall semester (to be considered for the following fall) or by the end of spring semester (to be considered for the following spring)
  5. Submitted an application via mail or brought to Burruss Hall room 116.

Progressing in the Major

Once admitted to the nursing program, you must have the following completed at the time of entry to the first semester:

  1. All required nursing prerequisite courses (or approved equivalents) with a grade of "C-" or higher (CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry; MATH 220. Statistics; GPSYC 160. Human Development; NUTR 280. Nutrition; BIO 270. Physiology; BIO 280. Microbiology; BIO 290. Human Anatomy).
  2. Maintain a GPA of at least a 3.00 or higher.
  3. Meet the nursing department's technical standards.

To remain in good standing in the nursing program, you must earn a grade of "C-" or better in each required nursing course. A grade of "D" or "F" is considered a failure. A student who for the first time receives a grade of less than a "C-" in a nursing course may, with department approval, repeat the course. A student who receives a grade of less than a "C-" in a second nursing course will not be permitted to continue in the program.