Lisa Levinson, Assistant Professor and Chair, Undergraduate Nursing Department
Health & Life Sciences Building, Office 155, (540) 665-5504, llevinso@su.edu

Fall Entry

The Traditional Four-Year Track in Nursing at Shenandoah University is designed for students beginning the BSN program as freshmen. These students are interested in the full, traditional college experience that includes living on campus and fully participating in campus life. Nursing courses begin in the second semester of study as a freshman. Students have the opportunity, and are encouraged to work in health care during summers. Technology in the nursing program is integrated throughout the curriculum; therefore, all nursing students participate in the computer technology program offered through the university.

Applicants seeking admission to the Traditional Four-Year Track must meet the following guidelines:

1. Meet all requirements for admission to Shenandoah University.
2. Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0.
3. Submit official transcript(s) from their high school.
4. Minimum combined SAT score of 950 on SATs taken prior to March 2016. For SATs taken in March 2016 or after, the minimum score must be 1030.
5. Science requirements: Biology and Chemistry a grade of “B” or higher in each course. Three science courses total are required and four science courses total are recommended.
6. Non-Native English Speaking (NNES) applicants must submit official copies of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Applicants should request official scores be sent to the Shenandoah University Undergraduate Admissions office; the SU code is 5613. More information about TOEFL can be found at www.ets.org/toefl. The date of taking the TOEFL should not be more than 24 months prior to the date of enrollment. The minimum score acceptable for admission to the School of Nursing is 83 or higher for the Internet-based TOEFL. NOTE: applicants with successful completion of a higher education degree in the U.S. may not be required to take the TOEFL. Please consult with the Office of Admissions.

Admitted freshmen must complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) by the end of the freshman year and must achieve a minimum overall score of 65 percent (may be subject to change) to continue in the nursing program. Candidates may retake the exam only once.

After admission, the traditional 4-year BSN student must attain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on all pre-requisite science courses (BIO 121 , BIO 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I  and BIO 232 Human Anatomy and Physiology II , BIO 260 Microbiology , and CHEM 121 ) and a 3.0 GPA in the remaining prerequisites for nursing in order to progress to the nursing 200-level courses.

Students are strongly advised to limit employment to 10-12 hours per week during the academic year.

Science Policy for School of Nursing: Effective for January 2016 admissions, a student enrolled in the university or under consideration for admission to the undergraduate nursing program may attempt no more than two science courses a maximum of two times each to be considered for matriculation into the School of Nursing. An attempt is any enrollment in a course that results in completion, withdrawal or an incomplete. Students currently enrolled in the university may repeat one science course originally taken at SU at an outside institution. Quality points for the repeat course will be used to calculate SON required science GPA. Pluses and minuses recorded on the student transcript are not included when calculating the science GPA. Science courses taken more than 10 years prior to matriculation are not considered because they must be repeated.

Current Shenandoah University students seeking transfer to the undergraduate nursing track will be considered internal transfer students. Applicants must meet the following guidelines:

1. Meet with a School of Nursing associate or assistant dean.
2. Meet all SON admission requirements of the Traditional Four-year Track, including high school GPA, SAT score and TOEFL policy.
3. Adhere to the SU Academic Change in Curriculum Policy, including that current GPA must be 3.0 in prerequisite sciences and must be 3.0 in overall prerequisite requirements.

Upon approval of a change of major, a nursing academic advisor will be assigned. In order to progress to nursing 200-level courses, Traditional Four-year Track progression and TEAS requirements must be met.

Current SU students who are interested in the nursing major but do not presently meet the requirements for internal transfer are encouraged to meet with their current academic advisor and a SON associate or assistant dean.