Undergraduate Programs

The baccalaureate program offers courses that prepare the student to become a professional nurse.

Our nursing programs prepare nurses to function as generalist practitioners with the knowledge and skill necessary to practice nursing in a variety of settings. Graduates are expected to have acquired foundations for continuing professional development.

The curriculum is formulated to help the student develop an understanding of self and others, stimulate intellectual curiosity and to develop an ability to work with colleagues to identify and resolve the health problems of individuals and families in a changing society. The professional nurse is committed to the role of maintaining health and preventing illness in self and others and is able to assess and intervene where health deviations exist.

The School of Nursing offers:

  • Over 50 years of experience in nursing education
  • A nationally-recognized, diverse faculty
  • A faculty available for counseling and support to help you reach your academic goals
  • An opportunity to interact with a diverse student population
  • On-site Learning Center with Simulation labs, complete nursing library, and computer resources
  • Free assistance to improve reading and writing skills
  • Opportunities to take elective classes from any department in the university
  • University resources such as counseling, support groups, and social organizations

BSN Graduate Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) the graduate will demonstrate competence and the ability to:

  • Integrate knowledge, skills and values from the liberal arts, sciences, humanities and nursing theories to provide holistic, competent and safe care; and to serve as advocates for individuals, families, communities within a multicultural society; and to promote social justice. 
  • Accurately assess, diagnose, plan, intervene and evaluate evidence-based, ethical nursing practice, in caring for individuals, families, communities and populations from diverse backgrounds, across the life-span and in continuum of health care environments; integrate and apply knowledge related to wellness, health promotion, acute and chronic illnesses, disease management, end-of-life care management; incorporate current and future psychomotor and technical skills into other nursing responsibilities and apply them in diverse context of health care delivery; and conduct self in a professional manner.
  • Use effective organizational and systems leadership skills, quality improvement skills, patient and safety measures and communication skills with all members of the health care team to improve patient care outcomes.
  • Implement scholarship for evidence- based practice by identifying practice issues, appraisal and integration of evidence and evaluation of outcomes.
  • Use information management and patient care technology to support nursing and delivery of patient-centered care.
  • Articulate the broader context of healthcare delivery, including how patient care services are organized, financed and how reimbursement is structured; how regulatory agencies determine the scope of nursing practice; how health policies are developed and changed; how that process can be influenced through efforts of nurses, other health professionals and advocacy groups; and the advocacy role of the nurse for the vulnerable populations with the goal of promoting social justice.
  • Develop collaborative relationships with other members of the healthcare team by working dependently, independently and interdependently to deliver evidence-based patient-centered care to individuals, families, and communities.
  • Provide health promotion, disease and injury prevention across the life span, including helping individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations to prepare for and minimize adverse health-related consequences of emergencies, and mass casualty disasters.

Licensing, Certification, and Employment Opportunities of our BSN Graduates:

  • Be eligible to take the Registered Nurse (RN) licensing examination (National Council Licensing Examination—NCLEX) in the State of California.
  • Be recommended for the California Public Health Nurse (PHN) Certificate.
  • Be able to function and provide evidence-based, culturally sensitive therapeutic interventions (care) as a generalist professional RN in any of the following clinical settings: in any acute care hospitals:  medical, surgical, women’s health, pediatrics, psychiatric/mental health neonatal nursery, adult/geriatric, and rehabilitation nursing.
  • Be able to practice in critical care and neonatal intensive care units.
  • Be able to practice as an entry-level public health nurse and provide community-focused care and promote the health and well-being of communities.
  • Be able to practice in collaborative or leadership roles as team leaders, care coordinators, and head nurses in hospitals, clinics, and community health care agencies.
  • Be eligible to apply to any graduate nursing school to pursue advanced nursing degrees.

CSULB School of Nursing's Board of Registered Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates

 

The basic baccalaureate program is the traditional track designed for students who enter the Nursing program with no prior nursing knowledge, experience, or skills. Following the prerequisite courses, completion of this program requires 5 semesters of full-time study.

Students complete the BSN through either the Semester or Trimester option. The admission requirements and the curriculum are exactly the same. The Semester BSN program requires 5 semesters of full-time study in the Fall and Spring semesters. The Trimester BSN Program requires 5 year-round semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer). The Trimester BSN program is financially supported through a generous grant from Long Beach Memorial Medical Center/Miller Children’s Hospital and CSULB.

Following acceptance into the BSN program, students are assigned by lottery at admits’ mandatory orientation to either the Semester or Trimester options. While every effort will be made to give students their preference, the department cannot guarantee the outcome of the assignment.

Basic Nursing BSN -Recommended Plan (PDF)

CSULB Catalog - Nursing BSN

All requirements contained on these pages are superseded by the official information published in the University Catalog of the current academic year.

Current CSULB Undergraduate Pre-Nursing Majors: Degree Progress Guidelines (PDF). For more information, visit CHHS Academic Advising.

 

The RN-to-BSN program is a 2-year upper-division program designed for students who have graduated from an Accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program (or evaluation of diploma program for equivalency by an Accredited Associate Degree program), and hold a current California Registered Nurse (RN) license (or be eligible for license). During their first year in the program, students are able to attend classes on a part-time basis. In their second year, the RN-to-BSN students merge with the Basic BSN students and attend classes on a full-time basis to complete the program.

Nursing RN-to-BSN Recommended Plan (PDF)

CSULB Catalog - Registered Nurse BSN

All requirements contained on these pages are superseded by the official information published in the Course Catalog of the current academic year.