The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program prepares graduates to assume entry-level positions in a variety of health care settings. The program is divided into two components; entry as a pre-nursing major focused on meeting course pre-requisites, and entry as a nursing major focused on the clinical and didactic portions of the nursing curriculum. Required pre-nursing courses provide a broad background in general education and form the foundation for the professional nursing component of the program. Courses taken in the last two years of the program provide the theoretical and practical basis for nursing practice in an increasingly complex health care system.

In addition to focusing on the essentials of nursing in the hospital, the curriculum also emphasizes community based and primary care. Opportunities to provide care to diverse clients are provided. Use of technology is integrated throughout the program.

The program prepares graduates for professional positions immediately after graduation and provides a firm foundation for graduate study. Students who earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

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All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C or better.

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Final responsibility for satisfying degree requirements as outlined in the USC Upstate academic catalog rests with the student.

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Required science courses have a 5-year age limit. Students are allowed two attempts to earn a "C" or better in each course. Attempts include a W, WF, and AUD. Students who make below a "C" two times in any required science courses or any nursing courses or any combination, will be ineligible for the program. All applicants must have a 2.5 or higher GPA on at least three required sciences to be eligible to apply.

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The minimum acceptable level of competency is completion of the 101 level of a language. 

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If the student places at the 102 level or higher, the foreign language requirement has been fulfilled and the student will not be required to take an additional course and can graduate with 123 credit hours.

Admission Policies

Admission as a Freshman

Entering USC Upstate freshmen interested in nursing as a career must meet general entrance requirements of the university.  Each student declaring nursing as a major are noted as “pre-nursing students” and are advised in the Office of Nursing Student Support Services. Students enrolled in the lower division of the college should meet with an advisor in planning an appropriate program of study.  The program of study will ensure that each student registers for the correct prerequisite courses for the upper division courses.  Students must meet with a nursing advisor each semester prior to registration.  Students must complete all prerequisites prior to enrolling in the upper division of nursing.  For information or assistance, call the College of Nursing (864) 503-5441.

Admission into the nursing major is competitive. A separate application for the final two years of the nursing major must be submitted by published dates on the forms available on the University website. The College admits applicants for the non-licensed portion of the upper division twice a year for the fall and spring semesters.  Each semester’s junior class is selected from all applicants who meet all the minimum requirements.

Admission to the Upper Division

The final two years of the nursing curriculum are considered to be the upper division and are composed of professional nursing courses. In order to be considered for admission to the professional nursing major, students enrolled at USC Upstate must complete a separate application form which is available through the College of Nursing website. Transfer students must first apply to USC Upstate through the Office of Admissions and also complete a separate application available through the College of Nursing website.

Applications for admission for non-licensed students must be submitted to the College of Nursing by published dates for Fall and Spring semesters. Students typically apply for admission into the upper division during the first semester of their sophomore year. Applicants are not required to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing applicants should meet the following criteria:

Admission into the upper division, or final two years of study, in the nursing program is competitive. All applications are carefully reviewed. Minimum admissions criteria for Bachelor of Science in Nursing applicants are listed below.

General Admission Requirements¹

• Applicants must be admitted to the University of South Carolina Upstate and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Minimum GPA requirements must be maintained through the completion of all prerequisite courses.
• Applicants must earn a C or better in all prerequisite courses to be considered for admission.
• Applicants must have a minimum required science GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • The five courses included in the science GPA are:
    • BIOL U243 Human Anatomy and Physiology I/BIOL U243L Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab and BIOL U244 Human Anatomy and Physiology II/BIOL U244L Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
    • CHEM U109 Chemistry of Living Things/CHEM U109L Chemistry of Living Things Lab
    • BIOL U370 Pathophysiology
    • BIOL U250 Principles of Microbiology/BIOL U250L Principles of Microbiology Lab
  • These courses must be successfully completed in 2 attempts (W, WF, and AUD count as one attempt) to remain eligible for admission.
• An applicant who fails two required science courses, any two nursing courses², or a combination of the two, by earning a grade less than a C will be ineligible for admission.
• If a student is required to complete the BIOL U143 Foundations of Human Physiology. course before progressing to BIOL U243 Human Anatomy and Physiology I/BIOL U243L Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, the Foundations course will count as a required science course and must be successfully completed in 2 attempts (W, WF, and AUD count as one attempt) to remain eligible for admission. The Foundations course will not count towards the required science GPA.
  • Examples that would cause ineligibility include, but are not limited to:
    • A grade below a C in Chemistry twice
    • A grade below a C in Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) I and Medical Terminology
    • A grade below a C in Anatomy and Physiology II and Microbiology
    • A student withdraws and receives a W for A&P I. Then in a second attempt, earns a grade below a C in A&P I. The student has exhausted the attempts for the course.
  •  Retaking a course for a passing grade does not negate a previous failure.
• The College of Nursing does not recognize the grade forgiveness policy of USC Upstate or any other school.
• Applicants must have completed all prerequisite requirements prior to beginning upper-division nursing courses. All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the previous major semester (fall or spring). If applying for fall term, one course may be taken over the previous summer at a USC system campus only.
• If a student has an academic integrity violation on record, their eligibility will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Upon tentative acceptance to the program, students must successfully complete:
  • a criminal background check
  • a drug screening
  • American Heart Association Healthcare Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
  • clinical requirements as mandated by our clinical settings

Science and Nursing Course Policies

In addition to the science and nursing² course notes above:

• Applicants must have completed two of the five required science courses and be enrolled in a third required science at the time of application.
• All science and nursing² courses must be completed within the last five years.
• If an applicant has two nursing failures from any school within the last 5 years, they would be ineligible for the program.
• Science and Nursing policies are not an option for student appeal.

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Applicants that meet two of the three following admission criteria are encouraged to apply (3.0 Cumulative GPA, 2.5 Science GPA, and successful completion of pre-admissions exam). These students will be considered on a case by case basis when seats are available.

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Nursing courses are defined as any USC Upstate course with a prefix of NURS or any course that is accepted as a NURS course for our program.

1. Apply critical reasoning in nursing judgment and ethical decision-making using a broad knowledge base, to make evidence-based decisions grounded in standards of nursing practice. 
2. Demonstrate effective communication using various modalities and technologies to provide caring, competent, and holistic nursing care to diverse populations across the lifespan. 
3. Practice competent nursing care that is evidence-based, safe, holistic, and therapeutic to individuals, families, and communities in a variety of clinical settings. 
4. Operate as a professional role model and assume responsibility of accountability for personal and professional behaviors, ethical practice, and client advocacy.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Suggested Course Sequence Outline: Four-Year Track

Other course sequences are also possible; students should seek guidance regarding prerequisites.  MATH U121 College Algebra or higher is the required prerequisite for PSYC U225 Psychological Statistics. Part-time study in nursing is available but nursing courses must be completed within a maximum of 8 semesters; students should consult with their advisor for proper course sequencing.

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Admission to the BSN program is required to enroll in all NURS U306 Introduction to Professional Nursing courses and higher, except the support course NURS U308 Pathophysiology Topics in Health Care.