Pre-Licensure Nursing Bachelor Degree Pathway (BSN)
This program is now offered at Adena Health’s PACCAR Medical Education Center, giving southern Ohio students a flexible, affordable path to healthcare education. Learn More
If you're starting your nursing career from scratch, the four-year BSN at Shawnee State prepares you for the NCLEX-RN and for the broad range of work that follows — through small classes, expert faculty, and clinicals at the hospitals where many of our graduates end up working.
Program Overview
Whether you’re beginning your college journey or pursuing a new career in healthcare, Shawnee State University’s Pre-licensure Nursing Program program equips you with the skills and experience to become a registered nurse and leader in patient care. Designed for students who haven’t yet earned RN licensure, our four-year BSN degree is structured to prepare you for the NCLEX exam and for immediate entry into the vast field of nursing.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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Send Admissions your ACT/SAT scores
If you have a copy of your report, email it to admissions@shawnee.edu. Your high school counselor may also be able to include your ACT/SAT score on your transcript. You may also contact ACT or College Board to have your scores officially sent to Shawnee State. If you listed Shawnee State at the time that you took your test, we will receive your scores automatically.
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Submit the Selective Admission Application
Submit before the deadline to be considered.
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
Admission & Requirements
Now offering rolling admission.
Apply early for accelerated consideration.
Admission to the Baccalaureate Nursing Program is determined on a competitive basis. The total number of students admitted to the program is based upon available facilities and faculty. Qualified applicants are admitted to the Baccalaureate Nursing Program annually in the Fall semester.
The Baccalaureate Nursing Program curriculum will meet the requirements for licensure in most states, but will not meet the requirements for licensure in Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, and Mississippi.
To complete the admission process, you must present
- Completion of health physical.
- Current CPR Healthcare Provider certification.
- State and Federal criminal background check.
- Current negative urine drug screen (a ten-panel screen).
Admission Requirements for Selective Degrees
Questions
Selective Admissions Team
Phone: (740) 351-3187
Email: chhs@shawnee.edu
Dr. Kimberley Dinsey-Read
Title: Director, School of Nursing
Email: kdinseyread@shawnee.edu
Phone: (740) 351-3446
New Requirements Beginning for Fall 2026 applicants
Level One Pathway is designated for students who need to complete the first-year pre-requisite courses in preparation for application to the Level Two pathway.
- Official high school transcript denoting high school graduation or official GED test score transcript
- A GPA of 2.5 or higher in high school, or for those with a minimum of 12 college credit hours, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- To be considered for admission, non-native English-speaking students must demonstrate a minimum TOEFL score of 84 with an English-speaking score of 26 or higher or a minimum Duolingo score of 120.
- Students in the Pre-BSN program must complete the prerequisite courses for the Prelicensure
nursing bachelor’s degree (BSN) program at a grade of C or higher.
- Required prerequisite coursework:
- UNIV 1100: First Year Experience: University Foundations
- ENGL 1101 or 1102: Discourse and Composition
- PSYC 1101: Introduction to Psychology
- BIOL 1130: Anatomy and Physiology I
- GEP: Suggest Oral Communication GEP
- STAT 1150: Principles of Statistics
- PSYC 1130: Lifespan Development
- ENGL 1105: Composition and Argument
- BIOL 1131: Anatomy and Physiology II
- SOCI 1101: Introduction to Sociology
- BIOL 3750: Microbiology
- Required prerequisite coursework:
- All science courses (BIOL 1130, BIOL 1131, BIOL 3650, BIOL 3750, and CHEM 1121) must be completed within seven years of starting the Prelicensure BSN program with a grade of “C” or higher. The sciences of applicants who have earned a degree and currently work in the healthcare field may be considered at the discretion of the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee or the Director of the School of Nursing.
- It is recommended that students consider taking the TEAS exam by the end of the Spring
semester in the level one pathway to ensure they meet the July 1st deadline, should
remediation and retesting be required.
- The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) entrance exam from the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) measures the applicant’s level of performance in Math, Science, Reading, and English/Language to ensure applicants are prepared to begin nursing courses. All Prelicensure Bachelor’s Degree Nursing (BSN) program applicants must achieve a composite score of 58.7% (Proficient) or higher on the TEAS exam and a minimum of 58.7% (Proficient) in each of the four subjects. Applicants are responsible for the cost of the exam. Applicants who do not pass the exam must complete the remediation and may retake the exam up to two additional times within one year. A minimum of 14 days is required between each attempt
- Learn more about TEAS (PDF)
- Applicants who have been dismissed from an external nursing program will be considered for admission two years from the date of dismissal.
Level Two Pathway is designated for students who have completed the Level One Pathway pre-requisite courses.
- Official high school transcript denoting high school graduation or official GED test score transcript.
- College credit, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Any science courses considered for application toward their degree must have been completed within the last seven years with a minimum grade of C. The SSU School of Nursing requires the following science courses for degree completion: BIOL 1130, BIOL 1131, BIOL 3650, BIOL 3750, and CHEM 1121. The sciences of applicants who have earned a degree and currently work in the healthcare field may be considered at the discretion of the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee or the Director of the School of Nursing.
- An acceptable TEAS score is required by July 1st to be considered for Autumn admission
to Shawnee State University School of Nursing.
- The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) entrance exam from the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) measures the applicant’s level of performance in Math, Science, Reading, and English/Language to ensure applicants are prepared to begin nursing courses. All Prelicensure Bachelor’s Degree Nursing (BSN) program applicants must achieve a composite score of 58.7% (Proficient) or higher on the TEAS exam and a minimum of 58.7% (Proficient) in each of the four subjects. Applicants are responsible for the cost of the exam. Applicants who do not pass the exam must complete the remediation and may retake the exam up to two additional times within one year. A minimum of 14 days is required between each attempt.
- Learn more about TEAS (PDF)
- Completion of Level One Pathway (Pre-BSN) courses at a grade of C or higher.
- To be considered for admission, non-native English-speaking students must demonstrate a minimum TOEFL score of 84 with an English-speaking score of 26 or higher or a minimum Duolingo score of 120.
- Applicants who have been dismissed from an external nursing program will be considered for admission two years from the date of dismissal.
At A Glance
Pre-Licensure Nursing Bachelor Degree Pathway (BSN)
Degree
B.S.N.
Format
On campus, full-time
Length
4 years
Credits
81 required nursing and non-nursing credits, plus general education
Why Study Pre-Licensure Nursing Bachelor Degree Pathway (BSN) at Shawnee University
Face-to-face teaching from faculty who bring clinical practice and judgment into every lesson.
Clinical rotations through strong partnerships with Southern Ohio Medical Center (a Magnet-recognized hospital) and Adena Health, starting early in the program.
Approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Shawnee State is one of two public universities in Ohio designated an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Foundation.
Qualifying students may receive free tuition. A clear runway into graduate study and advanced practice nursing if that's where you want to head.
The BSN curriculum runs 81 credit hours of required nursing and non-nursing coursework, on top of general education. Each year layers more clinical responsibility on top of stronger scientific foundations.
- Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Adult, pediatric, and maternal health nursing
- Mental health nursing
- Leadership, community health, and evidence-based practice
- Clinical rotations every year
From the first semester on, the BSN emphasizes learning by doing. You'll complete clinical rotations at Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health, working with real patients in real units. Skills labs, simulations, and guided clinicals build the hands-on experience and clinical judgment you need to step into your first RN role.
By graduation, you'll be ready to:
- Deliver safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care
- Demonstrate clinical judgment across diverse settings
- Collaborate effectively as part of a healthcare team
- Advocate for patients and advance health equity
- Integrate leadership and professional accountability into practice
- Sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam
This program is now offered at Adena Health’s PACCAR Medical Education Center, giving southern Ohio students a flexible, affordable path to healthcare education.
BSN graduates work as RNs in:
- Acute-care hospitals (med-surg, ICU, ED, OR, L&D, peds)
- Public and community health
- Outpatient clinics and physician offices
- School and occupational health nursing
- Specialty roles in oncology, behavioral health, and beyond
- Graduate study toward an MSN or DNP
Many employers prefer or require a BSN for specialty units and leadership roles, and a BSN is the standard prerequisite for graduate nursing education.
Free Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State's tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
See if you Qualify for Free Tuition
Ohio students can apply to receive a $1,500 scholarship up to full-tuition when you apply and are accepted.
Learn More about Choose Ohio FirstPre-Licensure Nursing Bachelor Degree Pathway (BSN) Frequently Asked Questions
Applications are accepted once a year. Most students apply during their first year of college, after finishing prerequisite coursework.
Nursing courses are taught in person. Some general education courses may be available online.
Four years of full-time study, from prerequisites through NCLEX-RN preparation.
You'll be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and work as a registered nurse in hospitals, clinics, public health, schools, and many specialty settings. A BSN also opens the door to graduate study and advanced practice.
Program handbook
Refer to the most current Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook (PDF) on the School of Nursing site for policies, clinical procedures, and academic requirements.
Accreditation
The BSN is fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Shawnee State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
