Accreditation

The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Cal State LA Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 

Program Overview

The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing (PACSON) offers 4 options for attaining the B.S.N. degree that include:

1. The Basic Pre-Licensure B.S.N. Option (Pre-Licensure BSN)
2. The RN to B.S.N. Transfer Option (RN BSN)
3. The Associate Degree in Nursing to B.S.N. Community College Collaborative Option (ADN to BSN)
4. The B.S.N. Accelerated Option (ABSN)

Each option has specific admission requirements and application procedures. The corresponding admission and graduation requirements are listed below.

Admission Requirements

All students who wish to be accepted into the BS nursing major must submit an application to the School of Nursing between September and January of each academic year. Applicants to the Nursing major are screened competitively based on the following indicators:

1. Test of Essential Academic Skills exam score
2. Cumulative & Prerequisite GPA
3. Volunteer or work experience within the last 2 years (optional)

1. The Basic Option

The Basic Pre-Licensure B.S.N. Option is for students who do not have an RN license. There are two paths for entrance to this program:

- Cal State LA Freshmen Students:  Must have been admitted to the Pre-Nursing program as entering freshmen. See Freshmen Admission for details of the current requirements. Pre-nursing students must then follow a prescribed course plan and meet specific requirements to continue in the Pre-Nursing program. See Major-Specific Criteria for Cal State LA Students for details of these requirements.

- New Transfer Students:  Must meet specific minimum application requirements to be considered. See Major-Specific Criteria for Transfer Admission for details.

Note: Students can only apply once to the Cal State LA nursing program and must either be a Cal State LA Pre-nursing student or a new transfer applicant.  Students admitted to a major other than Nursing, will not be able to change their major to Nursing during their tenure at Cal State LA.

2. The RN to BSN Option

This option is for students who possess a California R.N. License, and an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Nursing from an accredited program or an NLNAC Accredited diploma.

Minimum requirements for admission consideration are indicated below.

- An application to Cal State LA (CSU Apply);

- A second application to PACSON (NursingCAS);

- Proof of a California R.N. License attached to the second application;

- Completion of the Major-Specific Criteria courses with required grades;

- The minimum cumulative GPA from all transfer institutions is 3.0;

- All LD GE courses are graded C or higher, and are certified at the community college;

- One year of experience as a Registered Nurse recommended

Refer to the RN to BSN FAQ for current application deadlines and more information.

3. The ADN to BSN Option

This option utilizes a collaborative model for academic progression in nursing that links Cal State LA with designated CA Community College (CC) partners to facilitate seamless progression to Cal State LA for ADN collaborative program students. This collaboration enables the ADN RN to earn a B.S.N. degree in approximately 12 months after graduating from the CC.

Students who are interested in applying to this program should meet with their CC academic advisor. Students accepted into this option must

- Maintain dual enrollment at their CC and Cal State LA.

- Have successfully completed their first and second semesters at the CC,

- Completed all prerequisite courses at their respective CC,

- Have all lower-division GE courses certified at the CC.

- Have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Admission selection is based on academic achievement in the prerequisite courses and in the ADN program. If there are more qualified students than there are available spaces, students may be selected via lottery.

4. The ABSN Option

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) is for students who already possess a baccalaureate degree in another field, but do not possess an RN license, and are interested in a full-time intensive accelerated program to earn a B.S.N. degree as second baccalaureate. The courses are offered through special sessions via College of Professional and Global Education. Students in this option are required with a minimum 3.0 GPA and no less than a C in each course.

Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

- Submit an application to Cal State LA;

- Completion of a second application to PACSON;

- Completion of bachelor’s (or higher) degree in another field from an accredited institution;

- Minimum GPA 3.0 in last 60 semester / 90 quarter units;

- Completion of prerequisite science courses at grade of B or better;

- Completion of all other prerequisite courses at grade of C or better;  and

- Meet the supplementary admission criteria listed on https://www.calstatela.edu/page/accelerated-bachelor-science-nursing

A selected test of basic academic skills administered by PACSON will be required prior to consideration for admission into the program. Top ranking applicants will be invited for an interview and on-site writing sample. Admission decisions will be made after this process.