The following steps may be taken in any order, but all must be completed prior to application for admission into the nursing major.

• Submit an application to Augsburg College. All applicants must present a high school diploma or equivalent and a 2.2 GPA. 
• Graduation from a nationally accredited nursing program: Applicants must have graduated from an NLN-accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program with a 2.5 overall GPA. 
• Unencumbered RN licensure: The applicant must be a registered nurse who is licensed and currently registered to practice in Minnesota prior to beginning the nursing major. 
• Current clinical practice: Applicants must give evidence of current clinical nursing practice (within the past five years). This may include graduation from a school of nursing, work experience, completion of a nursing refresher course, or an acceptable equivalent. 
• Applicants must have their own malpractice insurance, and an updated immunization record.

Seven courses including:

• NUR 305 Communication 
• NUR 306 Paradigms in Nursing 
• NUR 330 Trends and Issues in Nursing 
• NUR 403 Families and the Life Cycle
• NUR 410 Community Health Nursing I 
• NUR 411 Community Health Nursing II: Practicum 
• NUR 490 Leadership/Management

A minimum grade of 2.0 in each nursing course and cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the completion of Level I and Level II courses of study are required. Students also must complete Augsburg’s residence and general education requirements. The program has been planned so that the major can be completed within two academic years; however, students may pursue their studies at a slower pace. Courses in the nursing major are offered on weekday evenings and on some weekends with practicum courses requiring additional weekday time. More time may be required to complete the total baccalaureate degree requirements depending on the number of credits transferred from other colleges or universities. Students in nursing may take non-nursing courses in both day school and Weekend College. Students interested in pursuing the nursing major should consult with academic advising for program planning.

Optional courses include:

• NUR 495 Topics in Nursing
• NUR 499 Independent Study/Research 

Departmental Honors

Admission to the honors major requires:

• a GPA of at least 3.6 in the major and 3.3 overall
• application to the department chair by Nov. 1 of the senior year
• recommendation by nursing faculty
• and honors thesis to be presented before a faculty committee by April 15. 

Candidates register for NUR 499 to complete the honors requirement.

Note regarding Latin honors: To be eligible for Latin honors, a student must meet minimum GPA standards as well as complete a minimum of fourteen traditionally graded credits at Augsburg and have no more than two elective pass/no pass graded credits at Augsburg (classes offered only as P/N by the department will not be counted, nor will “N” grades). For further information, see the Latin honors section on page 90 of the student catalog.

Augsburg recognizes that nurses have a variety of time schedules, personal responsibilities, and work demands that must be taken into account in any decision to work toward a college degree. For this reason, Augsburg offers full- and part-time sequential alternatives for pursuing the BSN degree.

Nursing courses at Augsburg are available evenings and weekends through Weekend College. Nursing classes usually meet on alternate weekday evenings for one three-and-one-half-hour time block. Clinical practicum requirements usually occur on weekdays.

It is recommended that most liberal arts courses be taken before starting the nursing major. Nursing majors can complete courses toward the baccalaureate at the Minneapolis campus; at United, Mercy, Unity and Children’s Hospitals in St. Paul, Coon Rapids, and Fridley, MN; and in Rochester, MN.