School of Nursing & Health Sciences · Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Become the nurse patients and families count on.
Ready to care for people when they need it most? MVU’s BSN combines a strong science and liberal arts foundation with two years of nursing courses and clinical experience in hospitals, community health centers, and other settings.
120+
credit hours to graduate
84–85
credit hours of prerequisites and nursing
Clinicals
in hospitals and community settings
CCNE
accredited nursing program
Why nursing at MVU
A strong start in nursing
Build on the sciences and liberal arts, then learn nursing in the classroom, lab, and clinic.
Choose your track
Start as a traditional student, or come in as an LPN or RN through MVU’s LPN to BSN or RN to BSN tracks.
Clinical experience
Practice in adult health, mental health, pediatric, obstetric, community, and gerontologic nursing, then finish with a senior practicum.
Accredited and approved
The program is CCNE-accredited and fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
Is this program for me?
This program may be a great fit if you want to…
- Care for patients and families.
- Work in hospitals, clinics, schools, home health, or public health.
- Thrive in a hands-on, science-based field.
- Build a foundation for graduate study, such as an MSN.
What will I learn to do?
Skills you’ll practice and grow
- Provide compassionate, person-centered care.
- Use clinical judgment and evidence-based practice.
- Promote health and prevent disease across the lifespan.
- Improve quality and safety for patients and providers.
- Work with interprofessional teams.
- Lead with professionalism, accountability, and empathy.
How the degree works
Your path to a BSN
The traditional BSN is a 2+2 program: two years of core and prerequisite courses, then two years of nursing.
01
Pre-nursing years
Complete the general education core and nursing prerequisites with a B or higher.
02
Apply to nursing
Apply to the nursing program in your sophomore year. Traditional applications are due February 1.
03
Nursing courses and clinicals
Two years of nursing courses, skills labs, and clinical rotations.
04
Senior practicum
Finish with a senior seminar, a senior practicum, and NCLEX preparation.
Accreditation and approval: MVU’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through the 2027–2028 academic year and has full approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Completing the program doesn’t guarantee licensure or eligibility to take the NCLEX. Review the eligibility rules before you test.
Explore the curriculum
What you’ll study
Here are the courses in the major. Your advisor helps you plan the order.
Nursing prerequisites (B or higher required)
- NURS 105 Introduction to Nursing (1 credit)
- BIOL 275 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- BIOL 285 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- BIOL 320, HLTH 320, or CHEM 111 Microbiology or General Chemistry I (4–5)
- EXSI 385 or NURS 385 Human Nutrition, or Nutrition for Healthcare Professionals
- HLTH 280 Pathophysiology for the Health Professions
- PSYC 225 Developmental Psychology
- PHIL 125 or PHIL 150 Ethics and Contemporary Moral Issues, or Biomedical Ethics
Nursing courses
- NURS 300 Fundamentals of Nursing
- NURS 301 Fundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab (1 credit)
- NURS 302 Fundamentals of Nursing Clinical (1 credit)
- NURS 303 Health Assessment
- NURS 304 Pharmacology (4 credits)
- NURS 305 Medication Administration (2 credits)
- NURS 310 Mental Health Nursing
- NURS 312 Mental Health Nursing Clinical (1 credit)
- NURS 320 Adult Health Nursing (5 credits)
- NURS 322 Adult Health Nursing Clinical
- NURS 332 Pediatric Nursing Clinical (1 credit)
- NURS 340 Nursing of Families
- NURS 342 Obstetric & Women’s Health Clinical (1 credit)
- NURS 350 Community and Public Health Nursing
- NURS 352 Community and Public Health Nursing Clinical (1 credit)
- NURS 365 Evidence Based Practice
- NURS 410 Nursing Management & Law
- NURS 440 Gerontologic Issues in Nursing (2 credits)
- NURS 450 Adult Health II (4 credits)
- NURS 452 Adult Health II Nursing Clinical (1 credit)
- NURS 460 NCLEX Success
- NURS 480 Senior Seminar in Nursing
- NURS 482 Senior Practicum in Nursing (5 credits)
How to apply to the nursing program
- Be admitted to MVU (this doesn’t guarantee admission to nursing).
- Complete the TEAS exam within the last five years at the Proficient level (58.7%).
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in core and prerequisite courses, with a B or higher in every nursing prerequisite.
- Complete science courses within seven years of applying.
- Send official transcripts from every college you’ve attended, and complete a transcript review and plan of study with nursing.
- Submit the nursing program application with references. Preference goes to students who have finished (or are finishing) their core and prerequisite courses.
General education core (at least 42 credit hours)
- Social and behavioral science (9 hours) from at least two subjects, including one constitution course: HIST 104, HIST 105, or POLS 100
- Written communication (6 hours): ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition, plus ENGL 160 or HONR 190
- Oral communication (3 hours), such as COMM 100 Public Speaking & Introduction to Communication
- Natural science: 7 hours from at least two subjects, including a lab (BS); 3 hours (BA and BFA)
- Mathematics (3 hours)
- Humanities and fine arts: 9 hours (BS) or 12 hours (BA and BFA) from at least three subjects, covering the arts and creativity, ethics, and culture and society
- Additional general education from any area, to reach at least 42 hours
- Plus one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Service Learning (SL) course, which can overlap with other requirements
Graduation requirements
- Complete at least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Earn a major GPA of 2.0 or higher, with no grade below C and no pass/fail grades in the major.
- Complete at least 36 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses.
- Complete your last 30 credit hours, and at least 12 hours of your major, at MVU.
- Complete the major assessment requirement.
- Apply for graduation and pay the $100 graduation fee.
Getting started
Three steps to nursing
Start by applying to MVU. You’ll apply to the nursing program later, during your sophomore year.
02
Take your prerequisites
Complete the general education core and nursing prerequisites with a B or higher.
03
Apply to nursing
Take the TEAS and submit the nursing application by February 1 (applications are accepted through July 1 if seats remain).
When do I apply to the nursing program?
During your sophomore year. Traditional applications are due February 1 (or the next Monday if it falls on a weekend). Review starts after the deadline, and applications are accepted through July 1 if seats remain.
I’m already an LPN or RN. Is there a faster path?
Yes. See LPN to BSN or the online RN to BSN track.
Does finishing the program make me eligible for the NCLEX?
Not automatically. Under Missouri law, completing a nursing program doesn’t guarantee eligibility to take the licensure exam. Review the Missouri State Board of Nursing’s eligibility rules before your testing date.
I’m an international student. What English scores do I need?
Non-native English speakers educated abroad can show proficiency with a TOEFL score of 540 (paper) or 83 (internet), a TOEIC score of 725 (Listening and Reading), or an IELTS academic score of 6.5 with a Spoken Band score of 7.
Can I add a minor or a second major?
Yes. A minor is optional and appears on your transcript; it must be in a different subject than your major. You can also double major by completing all the requirements for both majors. You’ll receive one diploma.
What do I need to graduate?
- At least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- A C or higher in every major course.
- At least 36 upper-division credit hours.
- Your last 30 credit hours at MVU.
- An application for graduation and the $100 graduation fee.
Talk with an Associate Dean
Have questions about courses, the nursing application, or how to plan your degree? Reach out. We’re happy to talk through your goals.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
