Traditional BSN Admission Criteria

To be considered for admission into the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, you must meet the following university and program criteria.

University criteria

1. You must be admitted to Central Michigan University and have a CMU email and password.

Program criteria

Each of the following are required for an application to be reviewed for admission into the traditional BSN program. Each criterion has a designated maximum number of points with 100 points being the maximum total number of points possible upon completion of the review.

1. Prerequisite courses 
   • The courses that must be completed and the minimal course grade required are listed in the table below. If a prerequisite course is repeated, the highest of the first two courses completed will be used. Equivalent course substitutions are accepted upon our approval.
     
     

   Prerequisite general education and other courses* with a grade of "C" or higher
   ENG 101 (Introductory Composition) or ENG 103 (First Year Writing) or CLEP
   HSC 201 (Medical Terminology)
   MTH 105 (Intermediate Algebra) or higher
   ENG 201 (Intermediate Composition)

   Prerequisite science courses*  with a grade of "B" or higher
   BIO 101 (General Biology)
   CMH 120 (Survey of Chemistry)
   CHM 127 (Introductory Chemistry Lab)
   HSC 214 (Human Anatomy)
   HSC 215 (Human Physiology)

   *Prerequisite courses in effect for applications submitted for review for 2025-2026 admission.

2. Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) 
   • The TEAS exam is a standardized test that assesses your readiness for the nursing program. The overall general score and the score for each of its four subsections (reading, math, science, and english) are required. The TEAS is a proctored exam that can be repeated but it can only be taken twice in an academic year. There are three ways you can take the TEAS exam:
     1. TEAS at the Park Library.
        • You can take the TEAS exam on-campus in the Park Library. The testing center staff oversees the TEAS testing process. Register to take the TEAS at the Park Library. 
     2. TEAS online proctored by ATI.
        • You can take the TEAS exam online while proctored by ATI. You must use a laptop or desktop that is equipped with a webcam and microphone. Register to take the TEAS online proctored by ATI.
     3. In-person and proctored by a Professional Service Industry (PSI) testing center.
        • You can take the TEAS exam at any PSI testing location. If you choose to take the test at a PSI testing center, it is your responsibility to ensure the results are sent to CMU.  Register to take the TEAS at a PSI testing center.
3. Extracurricular/community service activities 
   • Provide information (including location, date, and brief description in 2-3 sentences) for up to five extracurricular activities engaged in and the role each played in influencing your interest in a nursing career. This may include, but is not limited to, experiences in volunteer or service programs, sport activities, and work or leadership projects. List the activities in rank order with the first being the most influential to your interest in a nursing career.
4. Reflective essay 
   • Write a reflective essay, responding to the following question:  "How do you see yourself personifying the role of a registered nurse in the 21st century?"
   • Your reflective essay must be 300 words or less and can only be accepted in the designated box space in only 12-point Aptos font; no attachments are allowed. The space between words is not included in the total word count. You can use our Writing Center for assistance in writing your essay.
   • The reflective essay will be evaluated for the following components: accurate understanding of the role of the nurse, personal connections to the nursing role, and writing quality. The focus is on your personal reflection and writing; you should avoid the use of language learning models and artificial intelligence in writing.

Admission points

The table below lists the possible points earned in each admission criteria.  

The number of students accepted per semester depends on the space available. Admission to the traditional BSN program is highly competitive. Students who meet minimum requirements may not be admitted. If you are not selected for admission, you will need to reapply during the next qualification cycle if you wish to be considered again. 

Traditional BSN application

The traditional BSN program application will open March 1, 2025. 

EMAIL THE NURSING PROGRAM FOR MORE INFORMATION