BSN Program FAQs

BSN Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Nursing Major

  • No, applicants are not required to be pre-nursing majors to apply.

  • Current UA students interested in declaring the pre-nursing major must attend an information session, after which, they will be reviewed for eligibility for the major by an advisor. The schedule for information sessions is available here.
  • Once they have attended an information session they can schedule an appointment with a College of Nursing Academic Advisor to review their GPA and process the change of major request

  • Common complementary majors include: 
    • Public Health
    • Nutrition
    • Family Studies and Human Development
    • Physiology
    • Psychology
    • Care, Health and Society
  • Information on majors offered at the University of Arizona is available at Degree Search | The University of Arizona

 

Program Details

 

  • The BSN Tucson pathway is very much an in-person program where the majority of your classes are taught in-person; however, there are a couple of classes that are online. Labs, simulations, and clinicals are in-person as well.
  • The BSN-IH Gilbert pathway is a hybrid program. This means that the Nursing core classes are taught online whereas the labs, simulations, and clinicals are taught in-person.

  • Schedules will vary each semester but in general:
    • Classes run Monday-Friday
    • Consists of lecture, lab, clinical experience
    • Clinical days can be between 8-12 hours
    • Due to rigorous schedule, limited work hours are recommended
    • The program does not allow for vacations or time off for personal plans
    • All programs observe university breaks

  • Level 1 thru 3- 3- 4 days a week
  • Level 4 – 2 days a week

  • Yes! It’s highly recommended to move to Gilbert, AZ to complete the BSN-IH Gilbert pathway. Typically, the BSN-IH Gilbert pathway requires you to be in-person 3-4 days a week.

Prerequisite Information

  • Please attend an Information Session first. Sign-up days and times can be found via the Connect With Us page.
  • After you attend an information session, you can schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor

  • Taking classes at a community college will not reflect negatively on your application.
  • If you decide to take Nursing prerequisites elsewhere please make sure they transfer to the UA by checking the transfer courses on the Transfer Credit guide via the Transfer Credit & Articulation website.

  • In-State Coursework from Public Institutions
  • For courses taken at a public institution in Arizona (state university or community college), students may download the Arizona Course Equivalency Chart, which includes the exact courses that are acceptable for prerequisite transferability.
  • Out-of-State Coursework and In-State Private Institutions
  • Pre-established equivalencies can be searched and viewed on the University of Arizona's Transfer Credit Guide. If a course does not appear in this guide students will need to submit a course equivalency request to the Office of Transfer Credit & Articulation.

  • No, only the lecture for both Intro to Biology and Microbiology.
  • However, if you plan on working as a nurse in the state of California, the California Board of Registered Nurses requires Microbiology lecture AND Lab

  • Prerequisites are primarily offered in Fall and Spring semesters but can also be offered in summer term.
  • Visit the chedule of Classes to search for course offerings and availability

  • You can take either Allied Health Chemistry - CHM 130 (lecture and lab) OR General Chemistry I- CHM 151 AND General Chemistry II152 (2 lectures, 1 lab)
  • To view these as transfer courses please visit the Arizona Course Equivalency Chart or the University of Arizona's Transfer Credit Guide

BSN Admissions

  • College of Nursing prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better in each course.
  • Minimum of a 3.0 GPA for prerequisite courses 
  • Minimum of a 3.0 for cumulative GPA 
  • Minimum of a 75% cumulative score for the HESI A2 Entrance Exam 
    • Required categories of Biology, Math, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension
  • *Optional* Experiences related to healthcare, volunteering, association with the honors college,  military/peace corps service, and leadership
  • Completion of the College of Nursing application through Nursing CAS: www.nursingcas.org

  • Prerequisite GPA is based on the highest grade made in the Nursing prerequisites.
  • Cumulative GPA consists of every single college level class a student has ever taken at the college level. All attempts at courses you take are calculated into cumulative GPA calculations unless they are removed through an official grade replacement process.

  • No. Experiences are much like extra credit and can help bolster an application but are not required to be eligible for admissions.

  • Volunteer experience can be anything! It does not have to be healthcare. For application purposes, we look at both healthcare and volunteer experience.

  • Employment or volunteering in (but not limited to):
    • Licensed/certified role (Ex: CNA, EMT, Caregiver, Phlebotomist)
    • Dental Technician
    • Veterinary Technician
    • Health care agency (long term care, assisted living, acute care, clinic)
    • Medical Sales (equipment, pharmaceuticals)
    • Administrative role at the medical/clinical setting (Medical Records, Transcriptionist, Receptionist, clerk, billing)
    • Lifeguard, Search and Rescue
    • Bio Laboratory and Medical Research Assistant

  • Evolve has an examination preparation guide available for purchase. You may also access a preparation guide through the UA Health Sciences Libraries, which has several copies on reserve. Elsevier: Evolve also provides test remediation after a first attempt for future test attempts.
  • Quizlet, particularly the vocabulary section as well as the math section for conversion ratios.
  • The Pocket Prep application.
  • Using internet resources, such as googling “Free HESI Practice Exams” or using resources such as YouTube.

  • No. Having a minor does not impact your application.

  • No, W’s do not impact your application.

Application Process

  • Fall Admissions: April 1
  • Spring Admissions: August 15
  • Summer Admissions (BSN-IH only): December 1

  • BSN: Two (fall + spring)
  • BSN-IH: Three (fall + spring + summer)

  • The Nursing application can be found via nursingcas.org.
  • Please note: The application opens two months prior to the application deadline you plan to apply to.

  • HESI Exam: $60-$120 per attempt
  • NursingCAS: $60.00 application fee
  • University of Arizona Undergraduate Application (for transfer students only): $50 for Arizona residents and $80 for non-residents

  • For help with application-related questions, you can log in to your application and contact us using the chat icon in the lower right corner.
  • You can also contact NursingCAS by email at nursingcasinfo@nursingcas.org or by phone at 617-612-2880.
  • Note the following:
  • Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM ET.
  • For the quickest response, log in to your application and contact by chat.
  • NursingCAS typically provides responses to emails within two business days; however, response times can take up to three business days during peak timesBe sure to have your CAS ID number (located under your name in the upper-right corner of the application) when contacting NursingCAS.

Information on our application open and close dates are available at:  www.nursing.arizona.edu

  • It depends. If you have completed all Nursing prerequisites. as well as the HESI exam and are ready to apply to the Nursing program, then please apply through NursingCAS first. If admitted to the Nursing program, then you will be required to apply to UA Undergraduate Admissions. Please do not apply to UA Undergraduate Admissions before knowing if you have been admitted to the Nursing program or not.

  • Decisions will be sent out approximately 8-weeks after the application deadline.

Admissions Decisions

  • Conditional Admissions: Offered admissions to the BSN Program with the condition that academic and clinical compliance requirements must be met
  • Alternate: Once the programs have admitted the maximum number of candidates, a small number of applicants are selected for alternate status for each program. If a seat becomes available before the start of the semester, an alternate be contacted and offered admissions. If not offered a seat by the beginning of the next semester will be considered ‘not admitted’ and will need to reapply to the program in a future application cycle to be considered for admissions again.
  • Not Admitted: Not offered admissions or alternate status. Will need to reapply to the program in a future application cycle to be considered for admissions again.

  • No, there is no waitlist. Applicants are reviewed each cycle. Applicants not admitted to the program for that cycle will need to reapply in the future.

  • You will be notified via email. It will be sent to the email address you have on file with NursingCAS.

  • You will receive an intent to enroll form that will need to be completed to accept your seat. You will also receive detailed information on next steps including registration, clinical compliance, and orientation. 

  • Applicants are encouraged to review their application in detail (GPA, HESI, Experiences) to ensure eligibility. Applicants can view admission averages for our BSN Tucson and BSN-IH Gilbert Program.

  • Applicants can accept their admissions to the second choice or decline the seat and reapply for admissions in a future admissions cycle.

  • Retake prerequisite courses
  • Retake HESI
  • Explore gaining healthcare, volunteer, or leadership experience
  • Reflect on your interview and access Career Development resources to assist with future interviews

  • Complete any remaining general education classes
  • Consider adding a minor
  • Finalize top choice in alternate major and meet with that major advisor(s)

  • Admissions to the BSN Program is conditional upon completing academic and clinical compliance requirements
  • Applicants who do not meet requirements by a specific deadline may have their admissions rescinded
  • Those who have their admissions rescinded will not be able to enter their program in the coming semester and will need to reapply to the program in a future admissions cycle to be reconsidered for admissions
  • Applicants must note that admissions from one cycle does not carry over to the next.  Previous admissions does not guarantee admissions in a future cycle.

Cost and Financial Aid

  • Yes! They are available to current BSN students only. Please see our Costs & Financial Aid page for more information.

  • Knowing how much the program costs is a good way to start. Please visit the Costs & Financial Aid page to see how much your program is so you have an idea. Then, we recommend contacting OSFA as they would have the best tips and tricks for you.

Clinical Rotations/Compliance Questions

  • The College of Nursing identifies clinical sites and assigns students to rotations.

  • Level 1: Long Term Care (LTC)
  • Level 2: Pediatric, Obstetrics, Medical Surgery
  • Level 3: Psychiatric Mental, Health Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
  • Level 4: Community/public health, Preceptorship

  • Over 1000 hours of clinical experience.

  • The University and College of Nursing (CON) do not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but most of CON’s clinical sites require that students training at their sites be vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • A small number of clinical sites do not have vaccination requirements and/or may allow students to request an exemption or accommodation from their COVID-19 vaccination requirement. However, it may not be possible for CON to place unvaccinated students at these sites.
  • Because COVID-19 vaccination is required at most clinical sites, and clinical sites that do not require vaccination and/or allow for exemptions may change their vaccination policy at any time, unvaccinated students must understand that there could be situations where CON will not be able to place an unvaccinated student in a required clinical rotation, even if the student has requested an accommodation.
  • More information is available at COVID-19 Vaccine and Clinical Rotations

Contact Information

Office of Student & Academic Affairs
College of Nursing, Room 112
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Phone: 520-626-3808 or 1-800-288-6158
Email: CON-OSAA@arizona.edu