Ranked among the top nursing school in the country. The University of Washington, Seattle, offers students the Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The BSN program is completed in two years. However, applicants must have a college level GPA of 2.0. They must complete ninety quarter credits of prerequisite courses, including three natural world courses, including chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology and nutrition. Additionally, applicants must complete one hundred hours of volunteer or paid health care experience within a three-month period. In order to graduate, students need to complete 180 credits total, 91 in the nursing program. Sample courses include Basic Skills of Nursing Practice, Care in Illness, Advanced Fieldwork Community Health Nursing and Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Neonatal Nursing.
Also ranked among the top BSN programs in the country, the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania admits students straight out of high school or transfer students from other high educational institutions. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Penn nursing students have the ability to pair their BSN degrees with others, including Wharton's Nursing Healthcare Management degree. The BSN program offers several minors, study-abroad opportunities and chances to study courses in one of eighteen master's degree programs in nursing or at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. Sample nursing courses include Cell Biology, Concepts in Nursing, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Social Problems in Health and Medicine.
Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the school of nursing at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has a two-year BSN program. However, students can also opt for an accelerated degre option for those who already have Bachelor's degrees. Additionally, registered nurses who have an associate's degree, or those with a diploma in nursing can opt for an R.N.-B.S.N degree. Admission is highly competitive. The minimum GPA is 2.5. Additionally, there is no guarantee that students who have completed their first two years at the university will be admitted to the nursing program. Students must have all of their prerequisites completed before entering the program.
Located in Chicago, the BSN program at the University of Illinois offers two tracks that lead to the BSN. Students can attend the traditional, on-campus BSN program. This program is for those who want to become nurses. Students can also take an online "RN to BSN Completion" program. This program is only for licensed Registered Nurses. The traditional BSN option is highly competitive. Students must have a minimum 2.75 out of 4.0 GPA in all college coursework, and a minimum 2.5 GPA in all five natural science course prerequisites. Students complete the BSN in two years, after completing two years of general education courses. Sample courses include Pathophysiology and Applied Pharmacology I, Clinical Concepts and Processes in Adult Health and Issues in Nursing Practice.