Pre-licensure BSN Track

Program Description:

The Department of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This type of BSN program is often called a 2+2 program because applicants must complete 59 semester hours of lower division coursework which includes university general education requirements and specific nursing prerequisites prior to enrollment in the upper division nursing curriculum. Both the lower division and upper division typically take two years apiece, hence the name 2+2. 

Upon admission to the upper division, pre-licensure students then complete an additional 61 semester hours of nursing coursework, as well as approximately 900 hours of clinical experience spread over the 4 semesters. The nursing major focuses on the knowledge, values and skills needed for professional nursing practice.  Students gain clinical experience with patients of all ages, as well as with families and communities in a wide variety of settings.

Department of Nursing students have the opportunity to study with highly qualified and skilled faculty.  In addition, students are assigned a faculty adviser to assist them with academic advising and schedule planning, and to serve as a student advocate.

Upon graduation from the program, pre-licensure students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam given by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

 Admission Requirements: 

Preferred applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all prerequisite coursework and SAT I scores acceptable to Francis Marion. The student should also demonstrate strong academic performance in the core science prerequisites (human anatomy, physiology, and microbiology) by maintaining an overall GPA of 2.6 on a 4.0 scale for those courses.  A minimum grade of C must be earned in all prerequisite courses. If the student is interested in starting the program during the Fall semester, all courses must be complete by the end of the Summer I term.

 Application Process:

The first step towards a BSN degree at FMU is to fill out an FMU Application and have all official transcripts sent from any previous schools attended, including high school. 

Once the student has been officially accepted to the university and is one semester away from being ready for the upper division, an application for the upper division should be submitted.  One can be obtained by downloading the Nursing Application or emailing the Student Service Coordinator: Ms. Devin Cribb at dcribb@fmarion.edu.  

The priority deadline for fall semester upper division applications is March 1st, the priority deadline for spring is October 1st.  

General Education and Nursing Prerequisites for students without previous bachelors:

All numbers listed below are Francis Marion University course numbers.  Course descriptions can be found in the FMU Catalog.  Please reference the Transfer Guide to see if courses taken at South Carolina technical colleges transfer as needed courses.

• English 112
• English 200**
• Speech Communication 101
• Political Science 101 or 103
• Psychology 334 - Life Span Development
• Social Science Elective
• Literature
• History
• Art 101, Music 101, or Theater 101
• Humanity Elective
• Mathematics 111
• Mathematics 134 - Probability and Statistics
• Biology 105
• Chemistry 101
• Chemistry 102
• Biology 205 - Human Anatomy
• Biology 311 - Microbiology
• Biology 236 - Human Physiology

**Class must be taken at FMU. This class is specific to Francis Marion and there are no English classes that will transfer in as English 200.

(Sample plan of study)