Bachelor of Science in Nursing Direct Admit (BSN-DA)
The BSN-DA major is designed for students who want to become a Registered Nurse (RN). BSN-DA students will complete all lower-division coursework, including General Education, University Foundation, and BSN Prerequisite Course Requirements, during their first and second years. This coursework will be completed at the University of Arizona main campus in Tucson, Arizona.
While enrolled in their final semester of lower-division coursework, students will register for an Advanced Standing Conference with their academic advisor. During this conference, advisors will review all relevant transcripts to ensure the student has met the Continuing Eligibility Requirements.
Once Advanced Standing eligibility has been confirmed, students will complete the Advanced Standing Request Form to indicate in which semester and on which campus they prefer to begin their BSN curriculum. The BSN Program has two pathways.
- The BSN-Conventional pathway is offered on the UArizona Health Science campus in Tucson, Arizona. This pathway teaches traditional nursing education. Classes are offered in-person in the Fall and Spring semesters. The Conventional pathway is four semesters, completed over 24 months.
- The BSN-Integrative Health (IH) pathway is offered on the UArizona Distance campus in Gilbert, Arizona. This pathway combines traditional and integrative nursing education to teach holistic patient care. Classes are offered in the Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters. The IH pathway is four semesters, completed over 15-16 months.
The College of Nursing will make every effort to meet the students preferred start semester and campus within one year of their eligibility.
BSN DA is available to first-year applicants. The priority application deadline is December 2, 2024. Applications received after the December 2 deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.
The following criteria will be used to assess applicants for admission to the College of Nursing:
- Academic GPA (core, unweighted)
- Class Rank
- Rigor of high school courses (AP, IB, honors, etc.)
- Math and science course completion/grades
- Senior year coursework
- Optional standardized test scores (not required)
Admission into the College of Nursing is highly competitive. Students not admitted directly to the nursing program will be placed in their alternate major. Some students may also be placed on a BSN-DA waiting list. As space becomes available in the BSN-DA major, students on the wait list will be contacted and given the choice to transfer to the BSN-DA major or remain where they are. Students may remain on the waiting list for five semesters after their first day as a UArizona first year student.
To be eligible for Advanced Standing status, students must:
- Take only UArizona courses and courses approved as direct equivalency, including high school coursework, by the Transfer & Articulation department.
- Earn a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA of all college-level coursework.
- Complete each Prerequisite Course with a minimum B grade.
- Abide by the UArizona Grade Replacement Opportunity guidelines.
- Become eligible for Advanced Standing within five semesters (Fall and Spring) or submit an exception request form if more than five semesters are needed. Exception requests will be reviewed by committee. Approval is not guaranteed. Students whose exception request is approved and do not meet the eligibility requirements by the extended deadline will be moved to the BSN Direct Admit waiting list.
Eligibility will be evaluated during the Advanced Standing Conference. If it is determined the student does not meet the continuing eligibility requirements, their academic advisor will work with them to determine if eligibility can be achieved or transfer the student to a different major.
Students may register for an Advanced Standing Conference when they are enrolled in their final semester of lower-division coursework. No more than two prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of the conference.
Advanced Standing Conferences will be offered two times each year:
- In February for students eligible to begin their BSN curriculum in Summer or Fall.
- In September for students eligible to begin their BSN curriculum in Spring.
If a student took college-level coursework outside of UArizona, including at their high school, they must confirm official transcripts (from all institutions) have been received by the Registrar’s Office before arriving to the Advanced Standing Conference. Review the Transfer Credit instructions for more information. If official transcripts have not been received, the conference must be rescheduled to a later date.
Once Advanced Standing eligibility has been confirmed*, students will complete the Advanced Standing Request Form to indicate in which semester and on which campus they prefer to begin their BSN curriculum. Students will be notified of their placement before April 1. The College of Nursing will make every effort to meet the students preferred start semester and campus within one year of their eligibility.
The College of Nursing offers its BSN curriculum on two UArizona campuses – Tucson and Gilbert. Each campus offers unique benefits. We encourage all students interested in pursuing a BSN to register for a tour of both campuses. This allows the best opportunity to get a feel for which campus is the best fit for them.
Upon admission to the BSN Direct Admit major, students will identify on which campus they prefer to complete their BSN curriculum. They will be admitted to either BSN Direct Admit Tucson or BSN Direct Admit Gilbert.
All BSN Direct Admit students will begin their journey at the UArizona main campus in Tucson, Arizona. There they will complete the General Education, University Foundation, and BSN Prerequisite Course Requirements.
When students complete the Advanced Standing Request Form, they will be asked to specify on which campus they prefer to begin their BSN curriculum. Preference will be given to students who select the same campus they indicated when they first entered the BSN Direct Admit pathway. Students who prefer to change to the other campus, will be selected on a space-available basis. The College of Nursing cannot guarantee space will be available in the other campus. If space is not available on the other campus, the student will be offered a spot on the campus they indicated when they first entered the BSN Direct Admit pathway.