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.
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.