Application Process

Applying to CSUSB for Pre-Nursing

Submitting an application to CSUSB is the first step in becoming a Coyote! To make sure that your application will be successful, you should understand what admission requirements you will be asked to meet. You can find general information about applying to CSUSB on the CSUSB Admissions website.

Importantly, you should apply as a Pre-Nursing student if your goal is to eventually apply to the Bachelor's in Nursing Program. We also highly recommend selecting an alternative back up major in the event that you are not admitted into our competitive Bachelor's in Nursing Program. Popular alternative majors include: Kinesiology (concentrations in health promotion, allied health, or exercise science), Nutritional Science and Dietetics, Health Service Administration, Public Health, Psychology, Natural Science (concentrations in Biology or Science & Society), Biology, and Chemistry.

Pre-Nursing is considered an impacted major for first year college students and transfer students at CSUSB. This means that CSUSB continues to have more qualified applicants than available new student spaces to be admitted as a Pre-Nursing student. As such, specific criteria have to be met to be admitted to CSUSB as a Pre-Nursing student above and beyond the general admission requirements to CSUSB. High School students can learn more about the admission requirements into Pre-Nursing on the Admissions First Year Students website and Transfer Students can learn more about the admission requirements into Pre-Nursing on the Admissions Transfer Students website. 

Acceptance From Pre-Nursing to Nursing Application

Pre-Nursing students must go through an application and acceptance process before becoming official nursing students at CSUSB. This process involves several steps:

• Take 8 specific prerequisite courses plus other GE coursework while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater, a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or greater, and earning a minimum of a C in every prerequisite course. You are eligible to apply if at least 2 of the 4 prerequisite science courses AND at least 2 of the 4 prerequisite non-science courses have been completed with a minimum grade of C or higher, as long as the remaining pre-requisite courses are in progress
• Take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) within 12 months of application period with a score of at least 70%
• Be a California resident
• Attend a CSUSB Nursing Information Session during valid Information Session Dates
• Submit a formal application to the BS in Nursing Program at CSUSB via the Nursing Application website after all of the steps above are complete

Prerequisites

The following 8 prerequisite support courses are required for consideration into the BS in Nursing program:

• PSYC 1100 or equivalent and PSYC 2201 or equivalent are not a required prerequisite course to be considered for admission to the Nursing program; however, PSCY 2201 or equivalent is a prerequisite course for each of the first semester nursing courses (NURS 2602, NURS 2821, NURS 3016). Thus, PSYC 2201 or equivalent should be taken as soon as possible after PSYC 1100 and before taking NURS 2601, NURS 2821, and NURS 3016
  • Your grades for PSYC 1100 or equivalent and PSYC 2201 or equivalent will be used in the cumulative GPA calculation, NOT in the prerequisite GPA calculation
• The Department of Nursing (DON) will accept credit/no-credit grades for prerequisite courses, but encourages applicants to receive letter grades for all prerequisite classes. If a Credit grade is received for a prerequisite course, this will be considered similar to an AP credit course which has no value in calculating GPAs
• At least 2 of the 4 prerequisite science courses AND at least 2 of the 4 prerequisite non-science courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher to be considered
  • All prerequisite courses for Fall semester admission must be completed by the end of the previous CSUSB Spring term
  • All prerequisite courses for Spring semester admission must be completed by the end of the  previous CSUSB Fall term

Difficulty of Admission

The CSUSB BSN program is known to be competitive, with a significant number of applicants vying for a limited number of spots each year. As with many nursing programs, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission, due to the high volume of qualified applicants and the selective nature of the admissions process. Students may apply to the BS in Nursing a maximum of 3 times.