B.S. with a major in nursing
Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE) program requirements
- All students admitted to the OHSU School of Nursing B.S. with a major in nursing program, must have completed 45 quarter/30 semester credits of lower division prerequisites at an accredited institution prior to matriculation. Although students may apply while in the process of completing admissions prerequisites, 30 quarter/20 semester credits must be completed by the end of Fall term. The 30 quarter credits must include Anatomy and Physiology I and Intermediate Algebra/Math 95 or higher. Students who are selected for admission to the nursing program must complete the remaining credits to a total of 45 quarter credits prior to matriculation.
- A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.00 is required for all applicants to be eligible for application review. Only prerequisite courses will be used in the GPA calculation. The general prerequisite standard is that all prerequisites must be taken for a grade of C or higher rather than pass/no pass, must be taken at an accredited institution, and must be college level (100 level or higher).
Prerequisite courses - Applicants must complete the following coursework with a grade "C" or better in each course:
Anatomy and Physiology - 12 quarter credits: A full sequence of human anatomy and physiology with laboratory, inclusive of all body systems. This sequence must be taken in its entirety. The first term of A&P must be completed prior to application to the nursing program; the full sequence must be taken prior to matriculation into the program. Note: Chemistry or Biology may be required prior to the A&P sequence at some colleges/universities; please check individual college requirements.
Nutrition - 3 quarter credits: Class should cover biological functions, dietary sources of essential nutrients and the relationship of diet to health.
Written English/English Composition (WR 121 & 122 or equivalent) - 6 quarter credits: Class should involve the development and support of ideas through the medium of written English. Remedial English such as sentence structure and punctuation will not be accepted as sufficient to meet the prerequisite. These courses are preparation for scientific or technical writing, which will be required later in the nursing program. Applicants who have completed a non-nursing bachelor's degree in an English speaking country can use it to meet this requirement. However, additional elective credit may be needed for graduation.
Humanities Electives - 3 quarter credits (recommended for the B.S. degree): Any humanities course that meets the general prerequisite standard can meet this requirement. Specific options include courses from the following departments: History of Art, Art Appreciation, History of Music, Music Appreciation, English Literature, Linguistics, Philosophy, Communication, Journalism, Religion, Speech and Theater Arts, Foreign Language, & Women's Studies.
Social Science Electives - 6 quarter credits: Selection of these electives may serve as a foundation for a focused area of study. Specific options include courses from the following departments: Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Business, Criminology, and Sociology.
Human Development - 3 quarter credits: The developmental process of human life covering the full life span. Courses that cover only a part of the life span will not be accepted.
Other Electives to meet 45 total quarter credits of prerequisites - as needed: These courses can be any course(s) that meet the general prerequisite standard.
Go to Oregon prerequisites guide and Washington prerequisites guide.
Required competencies:
Intermediate Algebra/Math 95 or higher: Competency for Intermediate Algebra/Math 95 or above must be demonstrated prior to application. Minimum requirements include coverage of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of rational expressions, long division of polynomials, solution of fractional equations, applications involving linear equations, fractional equations, inequalities, literal equations, variations, negative and fractional exponents, radicals, solution of quadratic equations, and complex numbers, Cartesian coordinates, graphs of linear equations and inequalities, distance formula, slope, equations of lines, and solutions of systems of linear equations in two unknowns and inequalities. Competency may be demonstrated by a math placement test or by successful completion of Math 95 or higher (at applicable schools). Note: Math 95 credits are not applicable to credits for the Bachelor's degree; however, math courses that are 100 or higher may be included in the credits that are applied to the prerequisites and to the degree. The student is advised to consider taking the prerequisite for Statistics in choosing a math course, which is required later in the nursing program.
Basic Computer Literacy: College credit work and or life experience can meet this competency. To determine your skill level, please refer to our minimal Computer Literacy Skills Assessment. No courses required.
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement: Language proficiency is a baccalaureate graduation requirement that can be met by 1) two years of high school language, 2) two quarters or one semester of the same college level language, or 3) a language proficiency examination. College level (100 and above) credits in the foreign languages can count toward the 45 prerequisite credits as well as the baccalaureate degree credits. Neither high school course work nor proficiency examination as a means of meeting the language requirement, count in the credits for prerequisites or for the degree. American Sign Language is an accepted language to meet this requirement.
Additional requirements if accepted into the program:
Expected Proficiencies:
Nursing is an exciting and demanding profession. Nurses must possess the physical and mental capacity to practice nursing safely. Individuals entering school to pursue a career in nursing must:
- be able to learn to think critically; analyze with diagnostic and therapeutic judgments
- have enough self reflective ability to acknowledge evaluation and respond appropriately
- possess sufficient interpersonal skills to develop rapport and positive relationships with a wide range of diverse clients
- possess enough perseverance, diligence and consistency to complete the school of nursing curriculum
- be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and function in the face of uncertainties in the clinical situations of many clients
- possess sufficient sensory, visual, hearing, and psychomotor agility to independently perform clinical skills
- be able to learn to respond with precise, quick, and appropriate action in emergency situations, and be able to learn to perform under stress when confronted with emergency, critical or unusual situations in which working speed and sustained attention are critical
- be able to speak and write with accuracy, efficiency, sensitivity, and clarity
If you are accepted you may be asked to verify that you meet these expected proficiencies.
Transcript Evaluation Service
Please go to the transcript evaluation section
Application packet:
- Applications are accepted online only at the application start page. This online application will include a prerequisite coursework form, as well as a printable signature page which should be printed and turned in with your application packet.
- Official transcripts: Request each college you have attended to send the official transcript(s) to you showing completions of all academic work. Do not open the envelopes in which transcripts are received. For our purpose they are official only if the seal is intact. Include all transcripts in your application packet.
- Proctored essay sent to the Office of Admissions directly by your proctor.
- A $120.00 nonrefundable application fee made payable online by credit or debit card.
- Applications are available online at www.ohsu.edu/son once a year:
October 1 – February 15 for Fall entry
This Web page is a guide; final decisions regarding the acceptance of prerequisite course work is made by the OHSU Registrar's Office. The OHSU School of Nursing reserves the right to make changes to the academic program structure.
Please send questions about program information to proginfo@ohsu.edu.
