BS Nursing, Accelerated | Extended Learning (2024)

What is a cohort?

A cohort is a group of students who work through a curriculum together to achieve the same academic degree. Because they are accepted into the same program, take their classes together and graduate together, students in cohorts tend to form a strong support system and professional network that benefit them during their degree program and beyond.

What services do you offer to active military, veterans and dependents?

Please visit our military and veteran services page to learn how we can help.

Am I eligible to receive financial aid as a second bachelor degree student?

Yes. Anyone seeking financial aid must submit a FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA between January 1 and March 2 for the following academic year to receive priority consideration for funds. FAFSA Applications are accepted after March 2; however, funding options may be limited. Applications are available in the CSUSM Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and other colleges or local high schools. Be aware that in order to apply for any type of financial aid, all males between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register with the Selective Service. CSUSM’s Title IV School Code is 030113. Please visit CSUSM Financial Aid for more information.

Do I have to wait to apply for the program?

No. If you feel you have completed many of the required courses and may be eligible to enter the program, we recommend that you submit the program application, the application fee, and official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you’ve attended. Each applicant will receive an individualized advising worksheet showing course requirements completed and outstanding requirements that need to be met.

Can I apply even if I have not completed all of the Pre-Nursing Core coursework?

Yes, you can apply to this program at any time. However, we encourage you to wait and apply when you have started your final semester of prerequisite courses. Because we operate on a rolling admissions process, your application will stay on file with us for one calendar year from the date you apply. Once your file is complete you can be ranked for admission and you will be considered for all cohorts we admit for during the 12 month period in which your file is active. If you do not complete your prerequisites or are not accepted within the 12 months, you may choose to reapply. When you reapply you will only need to complete a new application and pay the application fee. You do not need to resend transcripts unless you have completed additional coursework. Please be aware that any pre-nursing core courses for which you earn less than a grade of C (2.0) may be repeated only once.

Is there a time limit on how long ago science prerequisite courses have been taken?

No, there is no time limit. We will accept courses regardless of how long ago they were taken.

What chemistry courses will articulate, or be equivalent, to your CHEM 105 and CHEM 105L?

Articulation agreements with local community colleges for the pre-nursing core are available on the Assist Website. Select Cal State San Marcos from the first drop-down menu, select the community college you wish to attend from the second drop-down menu, choose Select By Major, and then select Nursing from the list of majors. If an integrated chemistry course with a lab that covers inorganic, organic and biochemistry is not available at your institution, ideally we are looking for a general chemistry course with lab (not an intro to general chemistry) or an organic chemistry course with lab.

Will you accept separate anatomy and physiology courses?

Yes. We will accept these courses for the pre-nursing core as long as each human anatomy or human physiology course is taken separately as a four-five semester unit course that includes a lab. We will not accept a single semester of combined anatomy/physiology intended as a stand alone course. It must be a two semester sequence of anatomy and physiology I and anatomy and physiology II, or separate semesters of human anatomy and physiology, both with labs.

Can I meet with a counselor or advisor at CSUSM to review my transcripts?

Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to meet individually with all prospective students to review transcripts. If you feel you have completed many of the required courses, we recommend that you visit the Extended Learning website, submit the School of Nursing Application, the application fee, all official transcripts and your TEAS scores. Once we receive the application, transcripts and TEAS scores you will be evaluated and we will be able to help you develop your educational plan.

I have completed college coursework or a degree outside of the United States. How will I know which of these credits will be accepted at CSUSM?

You will need to have your coursework evaluated by an independent evaluation company. You must use a CSUSM approved foreign transcript evaluation agency. You may choose any evaluation company on this list. Once you receive the official evaluation, please send a photocopy of the evaluation to:
Cal State University San Marcos
Office of Admissions and Recruitment
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road
San Marcos, CA 92096
Attn: ABSN
*The university will not accept Area A courses (A1, A2, and A3) from institutions outside of the country.

Do I need to take the TEAS exam?

Yes. The TEAS Exam, or Test of Essential Academic Skills, is one of the admissions criteria and is required for a complete application. The TEAS Exam is designed as a predictor of success for nursing program applicants. Applicants must score a minimum composite score of 71.0% on this exam in order to be eligible for being admitted into the ABSN program. Points are awarded from composite scores ranging from 71.0% to 100%, as part of the Supplemental Admission Criteria for admission to the program. Please see ATI Testing for information about review books and online practice exams. Please note the current version of the TEAS exam is version 6.

Do all bachelor’s degree students at the university have to complete a Language Other Than English?

No. A graduation requirement for all bachelor degree students at the university is the Language Other Than English Requirement. However this requirement DOES NOT apply to the second bachelor degree students.

Since I already have a bachelor’s degree, will I be required to complete any other classes aside from nursing courses at CSUSM?

Yes. Students admitted to the ABSN program are required to complete the THREE CSU upper division GE courses in residence at CSUSM. These courses are considered part of the ABSN program and will be scheduled through Extended Learning for the cohort. Each cohort will begin the ABSN program during fall semester by taking the required upper-division courses listed below:
BB BIOL 323 The Physiology of Nutrition & Disease (3)
CC PHIL 345 Bioethics and Medical Ethics (3)
DD ANTH 301 Culture & Medicine Healers & Healing Practices (3)

Is acceptance to the program based solely on GPA?

No. Acceptance to the program is based on a number of items:

Completion of the Pre-Nursing Core
Completion of the Additional BRN, lower division GE coursework and Additional
GPA in the Pre-Nursing Core
GPA in the last 60 units
Score on TEAS Exam
Grades for science courses

Please see the Point System for more information regarding the admissions point system.

I still have biology and chemistry courses to complete. Can I start the program and finish these classes later?

No. The pre-nursing core must be completed prior to being admitted into the program. Furthermore, we anticipate that students will have completed the Additional BRN, lower division general education and additional graduation requirements prior to being accepted into the program.

Will you accept a degree from Maric College?

The CSU campuses only accept units from institutions which are regionally accredited through WASC (Western Association of Schools & Colleges), or other associated regional accrediting agencies such as Middle States, North Central, etc. We do not recognize any academic units earned through Maric College for the pursuit of any Nursing Licensure, to be applied toward a BSN degree at Cal State San Marcos, until such time as the institution achieves WASC accreditation. Furthermore, if Maric College obtains WASC accreditation in the future, only those units completed by a student after the date of accreditation will be accepted.

When does the program begin?

At this time, the ABSN program acceptstwo cohorts (60 students) to ourSan Marcos location in the fall (August) and spring (January) and one cohort (60 students) in Temecula each summer.

May I continue to work during the program?

No. The Accelerated BSN is a full-time program and will require a major commitment of time to complete. You will be required to complete 74 semester units of study within the five-academic-term program. Approximately 25 units of the program consist of clinical study, which begins as early as 7:00 a.m. or extends as late as 11:00 p.m. Prospective students should take into consideration the demanding nature of this program prior to submitting an application for admission. Clinical rotations may vary by day and time each month; therefore, you should not plan on working while enrolled in this program.

Are classes offered during the day or evening?

Depending on the semester class schedule and clinical rotations, courses will be held during the day and in the evening.

What professional organizations are available to students?

What are the NCLEX pass rates?

To view CSUSM’s passing rates for the NCLEX, please visit the California Board of Registered Nursing website and look for CSU San Marcos.