Applicants entering the university as a 1st year student who are interested in the nursing major have additional requirements (in addition to the admission requirements listed here) to meet in order to be considered a direct-entry nursing major student. Please refer to the Undergraduate College: Admission Policy for Direct-Entry and Transfer Nursing Students. During the first and second years, students take liberal arts and sciences, general education requirements, and program requirements for the nursing major.

Admission to NDMU does not automatically ensure progression to the junior year of the nursing program; however, all students who meet the minimum academic criteria will be able to progress to the junior year.

Acceptance Criteria for Transfer Students to Junior Year

Students may apply for admission to Notre Dame of Maryland University and can subsequently apply as a nursing major. Students who meet the criteria for acceptance are welcomed on a space available basis. Students interested in transferring into the Nursing program must:

  • Submit an application which includes a writing sample and official transcripts from all institutions attended. 
  • Complete the Supplemental School of Nursing Application and submit to the Notre Dame of Maryland University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
  • Submit nursing applications by February 15th to receive priority consideration for each fall semester. However, we will accept late applications if all required information is submitted.
  • Meet the transfer criteria
    • Cumulative grade point average of 3.0  
    • Complete each of the following required courses with a minimum grade of “C”
      • Applied Algebra (unless waived)
      • Basic Statistics
      • College Writing
      • Ethics
      • Fundamentals of Biology
      • General Microbiology
      • Human Anatomy and Physiology I
      • Human Anatomy and Physiology II
      • Human Growth and Development
      • Nutrition
      • Survey of General, Organic & Biochemistry
    • Applicants cannot withdraw from or repeat any more than one (1) required/pre-requisite science course.
    • Students are waived from Fundamentals of Biology if they have already completed Anatomy and Physiology I and II successfully.
    • Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Microbiology must be taken no more than five years prior to NUR-301 Holistic Health Assessment and NUR-305 Foundations of a Caring Profession.
  • Complete the following additional courses; select courses may be completed during the junior and senior year if the remaining courses are compatible with the schedule of the nursing courses. It is strongly recommended that these General Education Requirements are completed prior to entering into the Junior and Senior year.

Nursing requirements:

              Introduction to Sociology

General Education requirements:

    • Beginning Spanish for Health Professions
    • Fine Arts*
    • History
    • Introduction to Philosophy
    • Introduction to Psychology
    • Literature
    • Oral Communication*
    • Religion and the Big Question*

*These courses are required for transfer students beginning in Fall 2022.

  • Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam with a score of 65% or greater; this is required and included as part of the admissions process. Applications will not be reviewed without the ATI TEAS exam results. The score received on the test will be included in the admissions process. Register for ATI TEAS at ATI Testing www.atitesting.com.  
    • TEAS EXEMPTION: A student applying for admission is EXEMPT from the TEAS requirement if they have 30 or more college transfer credits completed, have not repeated any required courses, AND have a transfer GPA of 3.3 or above.
  • Recommendation letters (2)
    • Letters from previous educators are required, but letters from professional officials may be accepted. They should provide evidence regarding the applicant’s knowledge, work ethic, and performance. Letters may be on institutional letterhead or from the institution’s official email and include the writer’s official title, address, and contact information.
  • Interview per request by Admission and Progression Circle members.

The School of Nursing does not accept nursing courses completed at other institutions. If an applicant is accepted into the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing, they must repeat previously completed nursing coursework. If an applicant previously attempted/started a nursing program the Admission's Circle may request a letter from the prior institution.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse. Graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to practice as licensed registered nurses.

Definition of a Transfer Student

Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing defines a transfer student as:

  • Any student who has attempted or completed 18 or more credits at a regionally accredited college or university following graduation from high school (or GED credential), before applying for admission to the NDMU School of Nursing. The admission decision is based on the transfer criteria.

School of Nursing - Transfer Credit Statement

Generally, college-level courses completed at regionally-accredited institutions will be evaluated and awarded transfer credit if approved, provided the course is similar in level, scope, content and expected learning outcomes to courses offered at Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing and a grade of "C" or higher is earned. Regional accrediting bodies include:

•           Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;

•           New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

•           North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

•           Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;

•           Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and

•           Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing typically does not award undergraduate transfer credit for pre-collegiate, remedial, vocational, technical, or professional (e.g., nursing) courses. Other transfer courses that usually are not awarded transfer credits are independent study, internship, externship, practicum, or co-op work experiences that Notre Dame of Maryland University faculty does not supervise. In addition, transfer credit is not awarded for these types of experiences completed through other institutions. Finally, Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing does not grant undergraduate transfer credit for courses completed at online educational companies, including but not limited to Straighterline and Study.com.

If a student is not meeting all criteria, but believes that their grades and/or TEAS score do not accurately reflect their abilities, it is recommended that the student submit two letters of recommendation. An educator must submit the requested letter. The Nursing Admission and Progressions Circle will carefully review this information and consider admission on a case-by-case basis.

Junior Year Progression Criteria

Students will meet the following criteria year-to-year for progression to the junior year:

Freshmen Year

  • Cumulative grade point average of 2.8
  • Science courses with a BIO or CHM designation may be repeated one time each for a grade less than C or for a course withdrawal. Students repeating a BIO or CHM course must meet with the Academic Success and Advising Coordinator for additional academic support.
  • Students who are placed into BIO-110 Exploring Concepts of Biology must receive a grade of C or better to advance to all subsequent Biology courses. BIO-110 Exploring Concepts of Biology is a non-repeatable course. If a student withdraws from BIO-110 or does not receive a C or better in BIO 110, she/he must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 by the end of the spring semester freshman year in order to enroll in BIO-111 Fundamentals of Biology the following fall semester. This can ultimately delay progression in the nursing major.

Sophomore Year

  • Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to progress to junior year
  • Science courses with a BIO or CHM designation may be repeated one time each for a grade less than C or for a course withdrawal. Students repeating a BIO or CHM course must meet with the Academic Success and Advising Coordinator for additional academic support.
  • Over the course of freshmen and sophomore year, each of the following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C”
    • BIO-111          Fundamentals of Biology
    • BIO-201         Human Anatomy and Physiology I
    • BIO-202         Human Anatomy and Physiology II
    • BIO-253         General Microbiology
    • CHM-108       Survey of General, Organic & Biochemistry
    • ENG-101       College Writing
    • MAT-100        Algebra Applications or MAT 103 Applied Algebra (unless waived)
    • MAT-215        Basic Statistics
    • NUR-250       Nutrition for Wellness
    • PHL-330        Ethics
    • PSY-233        Human Growth and Development
  • The following prerequisite courses must be completed; select courses may be completed during the junior and senior year if the remaining courses are compatible with the schedule of the nursing courses.
    • NDMU-100     Perspectives on Education and Culture
    • COM-106       Oral Communication
    • LSP-150         Beginning Spanish for Health Professions
    • PHL-101         Introduction to Philosophy
    • PSY-101         Introduction to Psychology
    • RST-105         Religion and the Big Question
    • Literature        General education requirement
    • History            General education requirement
    • Fine Arts         General education requirement
       
  • Academic records of all students are reviewed every semester by the Admissions and Progression Circle. A student will be placed on program probation when her/his record reveals:
    • Overall cumulative GPA below 2.8 at the end of freshmen year
    • Overall cumulative GPA below 3.0 during the sophomore year
    • Received one grade below a C in a science course (BIO or CHM designation). Receiving a second grade below a C in a science course would make the student ineligible to progress to junior year in the nursing major.
  • Students placed on Nursing program probation due to a GPA below the requirement must re-establish overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for progression to junior year.
  • If a student is not meeting all criteria, but believes that their grades do not accurately reflect abilities, it is recommended that the student submit two letters of recommendation. The letters must be submitted by previous educators. An interview may be requested. The Nursing Admission and Progressions Circle will carefully review this information and consider progression on a case-by-case basis.
  • Students in the Traditional BSN program who are unsuccessful in a course may not retake that course in the Accelerated BSN curriculum, nor may they transfer into the Accelerated BSN program. Students in the Accelerated BSN program who are unsuccessful in a course may opt to join the Traditional BSN program for the remainder of their studies. Once an Accelerated BSN student moves to the Traditional BSN program, the student may not transfer back to the Accelerated BSN program.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse. Graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to practice as licensed registered nurses.

NDMU Student - Change of Major to Nursing

Currently enrolled NDMU students may request to change their major to Nursing. Students interested in transferring into the Nursing program must:

  • Submit a Declaration of Major Form 
  • Complete the Supplemental School of Nursing Application and submit it to the Notre Dame of Maryland University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
    • Submit nursing applications by February 15th to receive priority consideration for each fall semester. Late applications will be accepted if complete and based on space availability. 
  • Meet the change of major criteria
    • TEAS Assessment total scaled score > 65
    • Cumulative grade point average > 3.0
    • Any completed Nursing pre-requisite or general education course must be completed with a minimum of a "C" grade.
    • Applicants cannot withdraw from or repeat any more than one (1) required/pre-requisite science course.