Nursing Major

Our nursing program emphasizes critical thinking, clinical judgment and service to others. A nursing student can expect to be engaged in both theoretical and practical learning. You will spend time in the classroom studying the sciences, humanities and the fundamentals of nursing and health care delivery, and you will also apply this knowledge in the lab and during clinicals. Direct patient care experience is an essential component of a Stritch nursing degree that prepares students for career success.

Why Stritch Nursing

Hear from two Stritch students.

Why now is a great time to earn your BSN

With more than three times as many RNs in the United States as physicians, nurses deliver an extended array of healthcare services. Primary and preventive care is provided by nurses and nurse practitioners with specialized training or education in areas including emergency departments, pediatrics, family health, women's health and gerontological care. The scope of the profession also includes cardiac, oncology, neonatal, neurological and obstetric/gynecological nursing and other advanced clinical specialties.

A shortage of registered nurses is projected to grow throughout the United States through 2030, according to the United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast: A Revisit published in the May/June 2018 issue of the American Journal of Medical Quality.

Source: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

Learn more about becoming a nurse, industry information and great scholarship opportunities at the AACN website.

Learn more about becoming a nurse

Program Details

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pre-licensure program offers direct admission and is designed for students seeking a nursing degree with a liberal arts foundation in a university environment. The program is delivered in a semester format with classes meeting in the daytime. Students are admitted directly to the program if selected after completing admission requirements. Once admitted, students are guaranteed required program courses so that they may complete the degree in four years if academic requirements are met. The curriculum includes foundation courses in the arts and sciences as well as nursing courses designed to guide students in achieving expected student outcomes.

Students receive classroom, lab and clinical learning experiences which emphasize evidence-based decision-making and application of knowledge. Students who complete the BSN program are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Program Coursework

The specific degree requirements on the website are for illustrative purposes and may change at any time. Please contact the Registrar's Office, Academic Advising or refer to the course catalog for detailed program requirements.

Liberal Arts Core

The Liberal Arts Core Curriculum is rooted in the Liberal Arts and our Franciscan heritage. It is designed to create a framework to develop knowledge, skills, and responsibilities necessary to educate students so that they will be prepared to contribute to the world guided by a concern for issues of justice and ethical behavior.

LEADERSHIP: 4 credits

Freshman Seminar (1 cr.)
Spiritual & Ethical Literacy (3 cr.)

FOUNDATIONAL LITERACIES/SKILLS: 12 credits
*For ‘Writing for the 21^st Century’ (English) and ‘Quantitative Problem Solving’ (Math), you may need additional courses depending on your placement.

Personal Branding Communication (3 cr.)
Writing for the 21^st Century (3 cr.)
Quantitative Problem Solving (3 cr.)
Language & Culture (3 cr.)

CORE LITERACIES: 16 credits – Choose one (1) course from each broad theme. Course options can be found in the course catalog or on the academic advising page.

Narratives of Identity (3 cr.) - PL 102: Bioethics
Science, Environment & Culture (4 cr.) - BL 111: Anatomy & Physiology I
Social Tensions (3 cr.) - PS 190: Life Span Human Development
The American Experience (3 cr.)*
Approving the Better Things (3 cr.)*

*Course options can be found in the course catalog or on the academic advising page.

Freshmen Admission Requirements

Direct Entry

minimum 2.75 (based upon 4.00 scale) cumulative high school grade point average
completion of high school biology and chemistry classes with a minimum grade of C
completion of a minimum of two years of mathematics including advanced algebra with a minimum grade of C
minimum ACT score of 21
submission of a one-page double spaced essay addressing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in nursing and describing the actions the applicant will take to ensure success at Cardinal Stritch University
ATI TEAS V test recommended (although not required)

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences may offer selected freshman applicants who do not meet all direct entry requirements an opportunity to enroll in the following courses during Fall Semester I to demonstrate their ability to be considered for enrollment in the BSN Program:

SEM 110 Stritch Seminar
BL 111 Anatomy and Physiology I
CH 107 Fundamental Chemistry
CA 108 Personal Branding
EN102 Research Writing

Students must earn a minimum of a B- in BL 111, CH 107 and EN 102 and have a semester GPA no less than 2.75 to progress into the BSN program.

Transfer Admission Requirements

There are multiple ways to successful transfer and earn entry into Cardinal Stritch University’s BSN program. Transfer applicants are reviewed on an onging, individual basis following general holistic guidelines for admission.

Option 1 – Direct Entry (Recommended):

Required Prior to Admission Review:

Have earned a 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from all prior coursework with a minimum of 12 completed hours
Achieve a score of “Proficient” or higher on the ATI TEAS V (Test of Essential Academic Skills)
Submission of a one-page double spaced essay addressing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in nursing and describing the actions the applicant will take to ensure success at Cardinal Stritch University
Submission of a letter of good standing from the current Nursing program the applicant is enrolled in (if applicable).

Supplemental (may be provided prior or requested as part of the Admission Review):

Submission of two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
Interview with the College
Additional testing documentation

Option 2 – Direct Entry Holistic Review

Required Prior to Admission Review:

Have earned a 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from all prior coursework with a minimum of 12 completed hours
Submission of a one-page double spaced essay addressing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in nursing and describing the actions the applicant will take to ensure success at Cardinal Stritch University
Submission of two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
Submission of a letter of good standing from the current Nursing program the applicant is enrolled in (if applicable).
F1Visa students where English is a second language are also required to submit a TOEFL (minimum score of 79) or IELTS (minimum score of 6.5) if they have not taken the TEAS V

Supplemental (may be provided prior to or requested as part of the Admission Review)

Interview with the College (strong recommended)
Additional testing documentation – the TEAS V is highly recommended, but may also accept/recommend prior Nursing entrance exam scores, ACT/SAT scores, University placement test, etc.

Sample BSN Graduation Plan

Download a Sample BSN Plan

A Nurse's Prayer

Give to my heart, O Lord… Compassion and understanding. Give to my hands, skill and tenderness. Give to my ears, the ability to listen. Give to my lips, words of comfort.

Give to me, O Lord… Strength for this selfless service. And enable me to give hope To those I am called to serve.

AMEN