School of Nursing - CSU, Chico
Prospective Pre-Nursing Students
Congratulations! You've decided to be part of an exciting and rewarding career. The field of nursing is one that offers job diversity with thousands of positions available in hospitals, physician offices and clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health, public health, occupational health, and more.
By choosing to participate in the baccalaureate nursing degree program at CSU, Chico you will find that the curriculum is comprehensive and the program will prepare you for positions both in the hospital and in community settings. Many employers favor the BSN degree, and you will be prepared for advancement opportunities and be well on the road to your advanced degree when you're ready.
As you progress through the nursing curriculum you can explore many aspects of nursing. Discover what it's like to become a critical care nurse, an ob/gyn nurse, a psychiatric nurse, or a nurse in other specialty areas.
As you begin the challenging pre-nursing curriculum, study hard and get good grades so you will be competitive as you apply for acceptance into the nursing program. Go to the admissions page to see important dates and details about admission.
Because of high student demand, nursing has been declared an impacted area of study, therefore, special requirements for application to our program apply. You must first apply to the university during the first month of the initial filing period. A supplemental nursing application is required. Special selection criteria are used to determine which students will be admitted.
Be sure you've declared nursing as your major so you are assigned a nursing advisor who will guide you through the application process. By declaring the major you will also receive application materials and information in the mail so you will be fully informed about how to enter the nursing program.
Curriculum Overview
Education for the practice of professional nursing demands a substantial foundation in the behavioral and biological sciences. The School of Nursing is part of a statewide initiative that has standardized the pre-nursing curriculum within the California State University System. This criteria is outlined in our application procedures.
The nursing component includes lectures, laboratory, and clinical courses.The nursing courses include coursework relevant to professional practice, delivery of nursing care, systems for care delivery, and leadership skill development appropriate to current dynamic and diverse health care settings. Clinical courses, offered in both hospital settings and the community, provide students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
At the completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) for entry into practice. Students are also eligible to apply for a California Public Health Nursing Certificate.