Nursing, Pre-Licensure

Introduction

Students who are interested in obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing can choose from two-degree programs. Four-year BSN and Accelerated BSN. Both degree programs are pre-licensure. 

BSN: Four Year Pre-Licensure Baccalaureate Nursing Program

This entry-level, generic baccalaureate nursing program (BSN) is designed for the student who wishes to become a registered nurse (RN) while completing the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. 

The program focuses on the acquisition of the knowledge and skills necessary to practice as a professional RN. Developing an understanding of theories and concepts from the physical, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities is emphasized. Concepts such as ethics, altruism, and communication are integrated throughout the curriculum. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning experience with guidance from faculty preceptors. The program prepares graduates to participate in a culturally diverse and evolving global society. 

The program encourages critical thinking and independent decision making. The roles of advocate, educator, and healthcare provider/coordinator are emphasized. Health promotion and disease prevention within a global society are stressed in the program. The program prepares the graduates to successfully pass the NCLEX-RN examination and provides a foundation for graduate education and clinical specialization. 

Program Organization

The curriculum implements the philosophy, purposes, and objectives of the program. Roy’s Adaptation Model serves as the organizing framework. The sequencing of courses allows the student to progress from basic nursing skills to the level of the professional nurse generalist. The program includes 64 credits in Nursing Science, 20 credits in applied science, 12 credits At- Some-Distance, and 32 credits in general education. Students complete six courses that include off-campus clinical experiences. 

Required Courses:

First Year

• Chemistry I for Life Science w/ lab (4 credits)

• Chemistry II for Life Science w/ lab (4 credits)

• Anatomy and Physiology I w/ lab (4 credits)

• Ethics and Professionalism (4 credits)

• Introduction to Psychology ( 4 credits)

• Statistics (4 credits)

Sophomore Year

• Life Span Development (4 credits)

• Nutrition for Health (4 credits)

• Foundations of Professional Nursing w/ lab (5 credits)

• Anatomy and Physiology II w/ lab (4 credits)

• Health Assessment w/ lab (5 credits)

• Pathophysiology (4 credits)

• Pharmacology for Life Science (4 credits)

• Microbiology for Life Science (4 credits)

Junior Year

• Care of the Adult I w/ clinical (6 credits)

• Psychosocial Nursing w/ clinical (6 credits)

• Nursing Research Methods (4 credits)

• Care of the Childbearing Family w/ clinical (3 credits)

• Care of the Childbearing Family w/ clinical (3 credits)

Senior Year

• Population Health w/ clinical (6 credits)

• Care of the Adult II w/ clinical (6 credits)

• Professional Issues in Nursing (4 credits)

• Care of the Adult III w/ clinical (8 credits)

Admission to the Pre-Licensure BSN Program

Applicants should have completed four years of English, three years of a laboratory science one of which should be Chemistry, two years of a foreign language, two years of mathematics, three years of history and one additional academic unit prior to enrollment. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT is required (minimum SAT scores of 1190 with at least a 570 in Math, or an ACT composite score of 24). An overall GPA 3.5 or higher is desired. Two letters of recommendation from high school teachers or advisors must be submitted. Special attention will be given to the strength of the high school curriculum (for example taking honors or advanced placement courses). Admission to the program is highly competitive. 

Internal and external transfer applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis if seats are available. Transfer applicants will not be considered when there are no available seats in the program. Nursing courses taken at another institution will not be accepted in transfer. 

All students must successfully pass a criminal background check and urine drug screen prior to enrollment and as required or requested while enrolled, as well as adhere to all health and safety program mandates. In addition, students must meet Technical Standards and Functions outlined by the program upon admission and throughout the program. 

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete a total of 128 credits: 64 credits in Nursing, 20 credits in applied science, 12 credits At-Some-Distance and 32 credits in General Studies. A student must earn a C+ in all required clinical nursing courses and must earn at least a C in all non-clinical nursing courses. Clinical courses may be repeated only once if the student has an overall GPA of 2.0 or greater. Students must meet all general education requirements. 

Graduation with Distinction

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing with distinction will be awarded to students whose work in senior level courses is of outstanding quality; both classroom and clinical courses will be included. Students considered for graduation with distinction must have a minimum GPA of 3.5; all decisions for distinction are made by a vote of the Nursing faculty.

BSN: Accelerated Nursing Program

This accelerated, generic baccalaureate Nursing program (BSN) is designed for the student who has earned a baccalaureate degree or higher in another discipline who wishes to become a registered nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. 

The program focuses on the acquisition of the knowledge and skills necessary to practice as a professional RN. Students build on previously learned theories and concepts from the physical, social and behavioral sciences and the humanities. Concepts such as ethics, altruism, and communication are integrated throughout the curriculum. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning experience with guidance from faculty preceptors. The program prepares graduates to participate in a culturally diverse and ever-changing global society. 

The program encourages critical thinking and independent decision making. The roles of advocate, educator, and healthcare provider/coordinator are emphasized. Health promotion and disease prevention within a global society are stressed in the program. The program prepares the graduates to successfully complete the NCLEX-RN and provides a base for graduate education and clinical specialization. 

Program Organization

The curriculum implements the philosophy, purposes, and objectives of the program. Roy’s Adaptation Model serves as the organizing framework. Sequencing courses allows the student to progress from basic nursing skills to the level of the professional nurse generalist. The program includes 64 credits in Nursing Science and is the same curriculum as the four-year BSN program but offered in a compressed time frame. Students complete six courses that include off-campus clinical experiences. There are two entry points to the accelerated program: fall-entry and spring-entry. The curriculum organization and sequence are the same. 

Required Courses 

Fall-Entry Cohort

First Semester - Fall:

• ABSN Foundations of Professional Nursing w/ lab (5 credits)

• ABSN Health Assessment w/ lab (5 credits)

• ABSN Pathophysiology* (4 credits)

• ABSN Pharmacology for Life Science (4 credits)

Second Semester - Spring:

• ABSN Care of the Adult I w/ clinical (6 credits)

• ABSN Psychosocial Nursing w/ clinical (6 credits)

• ABSN Nursing Research Methods (hybrid) (4 credits)

Third Semester - Summer:

• ABSN Care of the Childbearing/Childrearing Family w/ clinical (6 credits)

• ABSN Care of the Adult II w/ clinical (6 credits)

Fourth Semester - Fall:

• Population Health (6 credits)

• Professional Issues in Nursing (4 credits)

• Care of the Adult III (8 credits)

Spring Entry Cohort

First Semester - Spring:

• ABSN Foundations of Professional Nursing w/ lab (5 credits)

• ABSN Health Assessment w/ lab (5 credits)

• ABSN Pathophysiology* (4 credits)

• ABSN Pharmacology for Life Science (4 credits)

Second Semester - Summer:

• ABSN Care of the Adult I w/ clinical (6 credits)

• ABSN Psychosocial Nursing w/ clinical (6 credits)

• ABSN Nursing Research Methods (hybrid) (4 credits)

Third Semester - Fall:

• ABSN Care of the Childbearing Family w/ clinical (3 credits)

• ABSN Care of the Childrearing Family w/ clinical (3 credits)

• ABSN Care of the Adult II w/ clinical (6 credits)

Fourth Semester - Spring:

• ABSN Population Health w/ clinical (6 credits)

• ABSN Professional Issues in Nursing (4 credits)

• ABSN Care of the Adult III w/ clinical (8 credits)  

Admission to the Accelerated Program

Students with earned baccalaureate degrees or higher must have a GPA of 3.5 or better and must have earned credits in the following courses: English I & II, Intro to Psychology, Life Span Development, Statistics, Nutrition, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Ethics. Non-science courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited institution, must have been taken for a letter grade (A-F; a grad of P will not be accepted), and the grade earned must be a C or higher (where the C grade has the numerical equivalent of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale). Stockton University accepts the transfer of credits earned on the basis of course equivalency, which is the determination that a course taken at another college or university is comparable to a course offered by Stockton in terms of objectives, learning outcomes, and educational level. The pass/no credit option will not be accepted for Stockton University ABSN prerequisite courses. Please note that we no longer accept CLEP scores, Advanced Placement, or ACE credits for pre-requisites for the program. 

Science courses: Science courses must be 5 years old or less for transfer. The Nursing Entrance Exam (NEX) will be required for admission for those students whose science courses are more than 5 years old. All prerequisite science courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited institution, must have been taken for a letter grade (A-F; a grad of P will not be accepted), and the grade earned must be a C or higher (where the C grade has the numerical equivalent of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in all required science courses taken at Stockton.  Required science courses taken at schools other than Stockton should be a letter grade of B or higher. The required Ethics course is waived for Stockton University Health Science graduates. Nursing courses taken at another institution will not be accepted for transfer. Transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis. 

Students must successfully pass a criminal background check and urine drug screen prior to enrollment and as required or requested while enrolled, as well as adhere to all health and safety program mandates. In addition, students must meet Technical Standards and Functions outlined by the program upon admission and throughout the program. 

* Pathophysiology is a recommended pre-requisite course for the accelerated program. Students who do not take Pathophysiology prior to admission into the accelerated nursing program will be required to take the course during their first semester in the program. 

Graduation Requirements

Students who enter the program with earned baccalaureate degrees or higher must complete a total of 64 credits in Nursing. A student must earn a C+ in all required clinical nursing courses and must earn at least a C in all non-clinical nursing courses. 

Graduation with Distinction

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing with distinction will be awarded to students whose work in senior level courses is of outstanding quality; both classroom and clinical courses will be included. Students considered for graduation with distinction must have a minimum GPA of 3.5; all decisions for distinction are made by a vote of the Nursing faculty. 

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Stockton University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. 

The BSN and the ABSN Nursing Programs at Stockton University were reaccredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing for the period of 2023-2031.

Full details about the curriculum can be accessed on the 4-year BSN website and the Accelerated BSN website.