The Michigan State University College of Nursing's Traditional BSN program is designed to develop highly qualified, caring professionals to meet the healthcare needs of individuals, families and populations.
This is a full-time, six-semester, upper-division BSN program for students who have completed 28 credits and prerequisite coursework.
Graduates qualify to take the NCLEX-RN, the licensure examination for eligibility to become a registered nurse.
Instructions on applying can be found on the Apply Now page.
Students from any major are able to apply as long as they have met the eligibility requirements. Pre-Nursing students are not given any preference during the admissions process.
Admission to the program is highly competitive, with most candidates exceeding the minimum BSN admission requirements; therefore, roughly only 120 of the most qualified candidates are selected from the pool of candidates meeting the minimum criteria each academic year.
The cumulative GPA of admitted students has ranged from 3.4–4.0, with an average of approximately 3.89 in recent semesters. The cumulative GPA is calculated using the grades earned in coursework prior to attending MSU, plus the grades earned for credits completed at MSU.
Applicants are invited to apply as many times as they wish, however, each attempt will require a new application to be completed in full.
Applicants are highly encouraged to attend a virtual application information session. These sessions will be held each semester ahead of the application deadline. Dates and times will be found on our Events page.
Transfer students can apply to both MSU and the TBSN program at the same time by completing the university application and the supplemental application to the TBSN program. Please note that students are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are received by MSU, including updated transcripts. Transfer students must also verify that the coursework completed outside of MSU has been approved for transfer credit to satisfy the prerequisite requirements, which can be done by utilizing the Transfer MSU website.
International students are welcome to apply. The College of Nursing does not set any additional requirements for international applicants beyond those required of all students. However, the MSU Office of Admissions establishes specific requirements for international students, such as documentation, language proficiency, and visa eligibility. We encourage you to work closely with the Office of Admissions to learn about these requirements and how to meet them. For questions about your university application or visa process, you may also contact the Office for International Students and Scholars. Please note that all international applicants must meet U.S. visa requirements.
CEM 141: General Chemistry
BS 161: Cell and Molecular Biology
ANTR 350: Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals
WRA 101: Writing as Inquiry
MTH103: College Algebra
Applicants are able to satisfy prerequisite courses through credits earned by exam as recognized by the university.
Prerequisite coursework can be completed outside of MSU; however, applicants must verify that the coursework has been approved for transfer credit by MSU for the prerequisite(s) listed above as of the application deadline.
The Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a full-time, six semester option combining classroom and clinical learning. Students begin clinical courses in the second semester.
The traditional BSN program's curriculum is designed for students who have completed a minimum of 28 credits and prerequisite coursework. It is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Graduates qualify to take the NCLEX-RN, the licensure examination for eligibility to become a registered nurse.
Traditional BSN Course Requirements for Students Starting Fall 2025 and Later:
University Requirements (all 4 credits each):
ISS 2xx Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science
ISS 3xx Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science
IAH “lower level” between 201-210 Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts & Humanities
IAH “upper level” between 211-241 Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts & Humanities
Courses required for major but are not prerequisite courses:
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology (4 credits)
HNF 150 Human Nutrition (3 credits)
PSL 250 Introductory Physiology (or PSL 310) (4 credits)
CEM 161 Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
HDFS 225 Lifespan Human Development in the Family (3 credits)
MGI 201 Fundamentals of Microbiology (3 credits)
MGI 302 Microbiology Lab (1 credit)
STT 200 Statistical Methods (or STT 201) (3 credits)
Nursing Requirements:
NUR 101 Nursing Study Skills Seminar (1 credit)
NUR 204 Introduction to Professional Nursing (3 credits)
NUR 206 Health Assessment (2 credits)
NUR 208 Clinical Nursing Skills (2 credits)
NUR 210 Foundations of Nursing Practice (5 credits)
NUR 306 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Genomics I (4 credits)
NUR 308 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Genomics II (3 credits)
NUR 310 Nursing Care of Adults I (5 credits)
NUR 312 Nursing Care of Adults II (5 credits)
NUR 314 Scholarship of Nursing Practice (3 credits)
NUR 371 Behavioral Health Nursing (4 credits)
NUR 404 Kaplan NCLEX Review Seminar (1 credit)
NUR 416 Informatics, Analytics and Innovation (2 credits)
NUR 418 Transformational Leadership (3 credits)
NUR 420 Transitions to Professional Nursing (3 credits)
NUR 426 Preceptorship Immersion Experience with EBP Capstone (4 credits)
NUR 430 Population and Global Health (4 credits)
NUR 440 Nursing Care of Children and their Families (4 credits)
NUR 444 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Beyond (4 credits)
Traditional BSN Course Requirements for Students Starting Before Fall 2025:
University Requirements (all 4 credits each):
ISS 2xx Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science
ISS 3xx Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science
IAH “lower level” between 201-210 Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts & Humanities
IAH “upper level” between 211-241 Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts & Humanities
Courses required for major but are not prerequisite courses:
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology (4 credits)
HNF 150 Human Nutrition (3 credits)
PSL 250 Introductory Physiology (or PSL 310) (4 credits)
CEM 161 Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
HDFS 225 Lifespan Human Development in the Family (3 credits)
MGI 201 Fundamentals of Microbiology (3 credits)
MGI 302 Microbiology Lab (1 credit)
PHM 350 Human Introductory Pharmacology (3 credits)
STT 200 Statistical Methods (or STT 201) (3 credits)
Nursing Requirements (* indicates clinical requirements)
NUR 205* Introduction to Professional Nursing (4 credits)
NUR 301 Clinical Pathophysiology (3 credits)
NUR 323* Nursing Care of Acute and Chronically Ill Patients I (5 credits)
NUR 333* Health Promotion (4 credits)
NUR 337* Nursing Care of Acute and Chronically Ill Patients II (6 credits)
NUR 342 Research, Ethics, and Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
NUR 371* Behavioral Health Nursing (4 credits)
NUR 434* Complex Care of Acute and Chronically Ill Patients (4 credits)
NUR 438* Nursing Care of Children and Their Families (3 credits)
NUR 439* Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (3 credits)
NUR 442 Senior Scholarly Capstone Project (3 credits)
NUR 460* Leadership in Clinical Practice (6 credits)
NUR 471* Public Health Nursing (3 credits)
* Clinical Courses
Start New Application
Continue Existing Application
TBSN Personal Reflection
Please visit the Apply Now page for more instructions on how to apply for this program. Admissions decisions typically go out 2-3 weeks after grades have been posted.
TBSN Spring Application Deadline: November 1
TBSN Fall Application Deadline: April 1
Admissions decisions typically go out 2-3 weeks after grades have been posted. Applicants will receive a notification to their MSU email address through the Office of the Registrar.
Students without a bachelor’s degree who want to become professional registered nurses.
Yes, students admitted to the College of Nursing are eligible for college-specific scholarships. More information is available on the Scholarships page of the College of Nursing website, which also includes links to external funding resources. Prospective students can also contact the Office of Admissions for information about university-wide scholarships available as part of the admissions process.
Students will complete approximately 756 clinical hours over the duration of the program. Clinical experiences take place in a variety of settings throughout southeast, west, and mid-Michigan—including hospitals, early childhood development centers, and assisted living facilities. Clinical groups consist of 8 students at each placement site, accompanied by a BSN-prepared Clinical Instructor.
The Clinical Placement Coordinator assigns placements, and flexibility is encouraged. Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites, though many choose to carpool.
In person; schedule can vary but is typically 4-5 days a week. This is a six-semester program, or three years after university pre-requisites are taken.
Answers to questions about cost for any BSN program should always come from the Office of the Controller, as it is subject to change, but in-state residents can expect to pay anywhere from approximately $8,600-$9,600 per semester for 12-18 credits.
Additional anticipated university costs and aid figures can be found on the Office of Admissions website.
Lastly, nursing students also have additional costs, such as equipment, scrubs and other fees, which can be found here.
Financial Aid
Students enrolled in our undergraduate degree programs qualify for College of Nursing scholarship funds: https://nursing.msu.edu/student-resources/scholarships/undergraduate-scholarships.
MSU has hundreds of scholarships available to undergraduate students: https://scholarships.msu.edu
Outside funding resources for students: https://nursing.msu.edu/undergraduate/tuition-funding
Acute Care Setting: emergency care, trauma care, acute medical and surgical care, critical care, urgent care, pediatrics, labor/delivery, oncology, and palliative care
Community Setting: health promotion, disease prevention, primary care, population health, home health, and community development
Additional roles: Hospice nurses, intensive care nurses, emergency care nurses, pediatric nurses adult acute care nurses, public health nurses, home care nurses, school nurses.