The pre-licensure program consists of two components: the pre-nursing curriculum in which the student enrolls in the prerequisite courses for the nursing program and required GE; and the prelicensure curriculum (“nursing program”), in which the student is admitted on a competitive basis to take the courses required for R.N. licensure and complete requirements for the bachelor of science in nursing degree (B.S.N.).
The prerequisite and lower division courses may be taken at either Sonoma State University or another university or community college. For admission to the pre-licensure option of the B.S.N. program, SSU students must submit a supplemental application to NursingCAS during the posted application period. Transfer students must submit an application to SSU and a supplemental application to NursingCAS.
Admission to Pre-Nursing Status
(for the prelicensure option)
Students applying directly from high school must meet the following criteria:
- Standard SSU admission criteria;
- High school chemistry and biology with a grade of B or better in all semesters;
- Overall high school GPA of 3.5 or better; and
- Eligibility Index (www.nursing.sonoma.edu)
- Students who do not meet the criteria listed above will automatically be listed as “undeclared” if a second major choice is not selected.
Admission to the Pre-Licensure Program / Nursing Major
(final two years of degree program)
Nursing is an impacted program and therefore requires a supplemental application to NursingCAS in addition to the application to Sonoma State University. Students applying for admission to the prelicensure program must upload to NursingCAS:
- Transcript verification of completion of GE categories A (Written and Oral Analysis, Fundamentals of Communication, and Critical Thinking) and B (Natural Sciences and Mathematics [Statistics required for Nursing]);
- Overall GPA of 3.00 or higher;
- Grade of “B” or better in all the following prerequisite courses at SSU or equivalent:
| Course |
SSU Offering |
| Anatomy |
BIOL 220 |
| Critical Thinking |
Category A3 |
| Integrated Chemistry |
CHEM 105 |
| English Composition |
Category A2 |
| Oral Communication |
Category A1 |
| Physiology |
BIOL 224 |
| Microbiology |
BIOL 240 |
| Statistics |
MATH 165 |
-
Results of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS); and
- Essay (criteria are included in the application packet).
Community college transfer students must meet the following criteria:
- Standard SSU transfer criteria;
- B or better in all nursing prerequisite science courses; and
- Overall college GPA of 3.00 or higher
- SSU only accepts transfers into the nursing major
- Preference is given to applicants in local service area of surrounding counties of Sonoma, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, and Solano, pre-nursing SSU students and veterans
*Admission requirements, policies and other information related to the pre-licensure BSN program in Nursing can be found on the program website.
