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Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
Want to learn more? Speak with an admissions counselor.
Caldwell University’s B.S.N. program provides an exceptional curriculum to prepare professional nurses for modern practice. The program is structured to provide a strong liberal arts foundation that is further developed in nursing course work, which includes clinical and laboratory activities. Clinical experience is provided in a variety of healthcare agencies and community centers in the region. Simulation activities are integrated throughout the program to provide students with opportunities to further develop essential clinical skills.
Why Caldwell?
Our program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, ensuring high standards of quality. The university’s collaboration with the Healthcare Foundation of NJ further enhanced the program by offering advanced simulation opportunities. Graduates of the program are equipped to deliver safe and effective care to diverse populations in various healthcare settings.
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funding through the Healthcare Foundation of NJ.
Three Entrance Tracks
Our B.S.N. program offers three entrance tracks: a second-degree track for those with a prior degree, a traditional track for incoming freshmen, and a transfer track for students moving from other institutions. The program requires completion of 124-125 credits, including nursing prerequisites, core courses, and nursing-specific courses. Students must also complete a criminal history background check before clinical placement.
Track I – 2nd degree
Track I (Second degree: Students with B.A./B.S. degree)
This track is for students who have a non-nursing baccalaureate degree and seek a career in professional nursing. Second degree students complete 25 credits of prerequisite course work before taking the 62 credits of nursing major course work.
Admission of Second Degree Students
Students applying to Caldwell University with a B.A./B.S. degree must send the following to the University:
- A completed Nursing Transfer and Second Degree Application from the Caldwell website;
- Official transcript(s) from every school in which you have earned college credit;
- Personal essay addressing why you would like to be a nurse;
- Letter of recommendation from a college professor;
- Résumé.
Second Degree Student Admission Policies
Selection of Second Degree Students is based on:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5;
- Nursing prerequisites accepted with a grade of B- or higher;
- Nursing prerequisites may be repeated only once and a passing grade achieved to be considered for admissions
- Science courses must be five years old or less to be accepted for transfer;
- Applicants with transcripts documenting pre-requisite course completion will be given higher ranking in admission decision making;
- All Nursing (NU) courses must be completed at Caldwell University.
Second Degree Student Filing Date
April 1st for completed application submission with supporting documents
Curriculum for Second Degree Students (88 Credits)
Nursing Prerequisites* (25 credits)
The nursing program requires all admitted students to have completed the prerequisite courses listed below prior to the start of nursing classes.
- BI 203 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4)
- BI 204 Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4)
- CH 110 Principles of Chemistry with Lab (4)
- BI 315N Microbiology with Lab (4)
- PS 101 General Psychology I (3)
- SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
- MA 207 or PS 208 Statistics (3)
Nursing Courses (62 credits)
- NU 219 The Professional Nurse: An Introduction to Practice (2)
- NU 301 Fundamentals of Nursing (6)
- NU 303 Health and Cultural Assessment Across the Lifespan (5)
- NU 305 Pathophysiology (4)
- NU 306 Adult Health I (8)
- NU 308 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- NU 310 Pharmacology (3)
- NU 409 Maternal-Child Nursing (3)
- NU 410 Pediatric Nursing (3)
- NJ 412 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (4)
- NU 415 Leadership, Finance and Healthcare Policy (4)
- NU 416 Adult Health II (8)
- NU 418 Transition to Professional Nursing (3)
- NU 420 Community and Public Health (5)
Track II – Traditional
Track II (Traditional Students: High School Graduates )
Admission Requirements
Selection of the freshman student is based on:
- An official high school transcript, class rank and activities
- Completion of four units of English, two units of modern language, four units of math and three or more units of science courses that include Biology and Chemistry, one unit of history and other college preparatory courses
- Three years of Math at a Cumulative Math GPA of 3.0 or Higher. Must have taken Algebra 2 or higher
- Three years of Science at a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Must have taken Biology and Chemistry
- Overall GPA must be a 3.0 or higher
- If student opts to submit SAT/ACT: 2.75+ GPA overall and in all math and science courses with SAT of 1080 (minimum 500 math), or ACT 21
- Two letters of recommendation
- A personal essay
- Advanced Placement scores. Caldwell University offers advanced placement credits to students who qualify by earning a score of 3 or higher.
Traditional Student Filing Dates
December 1 – Completed application due if interested in Early Action.
After December 1 , applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Requirements for the Nursing Major
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Liberal Arts Foundational and Enriched Core 37 credits
Nursing Prerequisites 25 credits
Nursing Courses 62 credits
Total 125 credits
B.S.N Curriculum
Liberal Arts Core 37 Credits
Communication Arts (3)
English Literature & Writing (6)
Fine Arts (3)
Modern Language (3)
History (3)
Mathematics (3)
Philosophy (3)
Theology (3)
Catholic & Dominican Tradition (3)
Global Awareness & Cultural Understanding (3)
Ethical Inquiry & Applications (3)
Freshman Seminar (1)
Nursing Prerequisites (25 Credits)
The nursing program requires all admitted students to have completed the prerequisite courses listed below prior to the start of nursing classes.
BI 203 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4)
BI 204 Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4)
CH 110 Principles of Chemistry with Lab (4)
PS 101 General Psychology I (3)
SO 101 Introduction To Sociology (3)
BI 315N Microbiology with Lab (4)
MA 207 or PS 208 Statistics (3)
MA 118 Analytical Math for Nursing (3)*
*Although a nursing prerequisite course, credits are applied to the Liberal Arts Core.
Nursing Courses (62 credits)
NU 219 The Professional Nurse: An Introduction to Practice I (2)
NU 301 Fundamentals of Nursing (6)
NU 303 Health and Cultural Assessment Across the Lifespan (5)
NU 305 Pathophysiology (4)
NU 306 Adult Health I (8)
NU 308 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
NU 310 Pharmacology (3)
NU 411 Parent Child/Pediatric/Mental Health (8)
NU 412 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (4)
NU 415 Leadership, Finance and Healthcare Policy (4)
NU 416 Adult Health II (8)
NU 418 Transition to Professional Nursing (3)
NU 420 Community and Public Health (5)
Track III – Transfer
Track III (Transfer Students)
This track is for students with some college credits earned. Caldwell University staff members are dedicated to assisting transfer students during the transfer process and can answer questions about transfer evaluations. Transfer students complete 61 credits of liberal arts core and prerequisite course work before taking 62 credits of nursing major course work.
Admission Requirements
Students applying to Caldwell University with some college credits must send the following to the University:
- A completed application;
- Official College transcript(s) from all institutions attended;
- An official high school transcript if less than 24 college credits earned;
- SAT/ACT test scores optional
- Personal essay addressing why you would like to be a nurse;
- Letter of recommendation and resumé recommended.
Nursing Transfer Admission Policies
Selection of Transfer Students is based on:
- Admission GPA of 3.0;
- Nursing pre-requisites accepted for transfer credit with a grade of B- or higher;
- Science courses may be repeated only once and a passing grade achieved to be considered for admission.
- Science courses must be five years old or less to be accepted for transfer;
- All Nursing (NU) courses must be completed at Caldwell University.
Admission to the nursing program is competitive due to limited number of seats.
Transfer Student Filing Dates
May 15 – application submission
June 1 – supporting document submission
Curriculum for Transfer Students
Liberal Arts Core/ 36 Credits
- Communication Arts (3)
- English Literature & Writing (6)
- Fine Arts (3)
- Modern Language (3)
- History (3)
- Mathematics (3)
- Philosophy (3)
- Theology (3)
- Catholic & Dominican Tradition (3)
- Global Awareness & Cultural Understanding (3)
- Ethical Inquiry & Applications (3)
Nursing Prerequisites (25 Credits)
The nursing program requires all admitted students to have completed the prerequisite courses listed below prior to the start of nursing classes.
- BI 203 Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4)
- BI 204 Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4)
- CH 110 Principles of Chemistry with Lab (4)
- PS 101 General Psychology I (3)
- SO 101 Introduction To Sociology (3)
- MA 207 or PS 208 Statistics (3)
- MA 118 Analytical Math for Nursing (3)*
*Although a nursing prerequisite course, credits are applied to the Liberal Arts Core.
Nursing Courses (62 credits)
- NU 219 The Professional Nurse: An Introduction to Practice I (2)
- NU 301 Fundamentals of Nursing (6)
- NU 303 Health and Cultural Assessment Across the Lifespan (5)
- NU 305 Pathophysiology (4)
- NU 306 Adult Health I (8)
- NU 308 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- NU 310 Pharmacology (3)
- NU 411 Parent Child/Pediatric/Mental Health (8)
- NU 412 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (4)
- NU 415 Management and Leadership (4)
- NU 416 Adult Health II (8)
- NU 418 Transition to Professional Nursing (3)
- NU 420 Community and Public Health (5)
Requirements Upon Entering Nursing (NU) Major Courses
Admission to the fall nursing class is not a guarantee for students who need to complete prerequisites.
Prior to beginning the nursing major, students must:
- Meet all health requirements
- Comply with CDC recommended immunization guidelines
- Complete the approved criminal background check and urine drug test
- Obtain professional liability insurance
- Complete American Heart Association CPR certification, Basic Life Support for the healthcare provider
- Complete standardized testing
- Complete interview with faculty
Probation and Dismissal
All students in the nursing major must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Students will be placed on probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.75. A student will be dismissed from the nursing program if his/her cumulative GPA falls below 2.75 for two consecutive semesters.
Once dismissed, a student may not apply for reinstatement in the nursing major.
In addition, nursing students will be placed on probation if they receive a grade of “C” or lower in any nursing course with the exception of NU 219, NU 301, NU 303, and NU 305. Students who receive a grade of “C” or lower in NU 219, NU 301, NU 303, and NU 305 will be dismissed from the nursing program.
Further, students taking nursing (NU) courses will be dismissed from the nursing program for the following circumstances:
- An earned grade of less than “C+” (2.75) in NU 219, NU 301, NU 303, and NU 305.
- Two NU course grades of less than “C+” (2.75). Excludes NU 219, NU 301, NU 303, and NU 305.
- More than one withdrawal from NU courses
- Unsafe clinical practice as evaluated by a faculty member
- Violation of Nursing and/or University policies
- A cumulative GPA of less than 2.75 for two consecutive semesters
A student dismissed from the nursing major cannot apply for reinstatement in the major.
Career Outlook
The career outlook for nursing in New Jersey is strong and continues to improve. Key factors contributing to the positive career outlook for nurses in New Jersey include:
- High Demand for Nurses: The state is experiencing a shortage of registered nurses (RNs), especially in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health care. This shortage is expected to continue in the coming years, driven by an aging population, increased chronic health conditions, and the retirement of older nurses.
- Strong Job Growth: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 6% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations. In New Jersey, the demand for nurses is even higher due to the state’s population demographics.
- Competitive Salaries: Nurses in New Jersey enjoy competitive wages. The average salary for a registered nurse in New Jersey is higher than the national average. As of 2023, the average annual salary for an RN in New Jersey is around $85,000 to $95,000, depending on experience, location, and healthcare setting.
- Diverse Career Opportunities: Nurses in New Jersey have a wide variety of career paths to choose from, including roles in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, home health care, and long-term care facilities. Specialized nursing roles such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse educators are also in demand.
- Advancement Potential: New Jersey offers various opportunities for career advancement. Nurses who pursue advanced degrees or certifications (such as becoming a nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or nurse manager) can further enhance their career prospects and earning potential.
- Workforce Diversity: New Jersey’s diverse population increases the demand for nurses who are culturally competent and can provide care to a wide range of communities, making it an ideal state for nurses looking to work in diverse settings.
In conclusion, nursing in New Jersey offers promising job security, career advancement opportunities, and competitive salaries, making it a strong field for current and future nursing professionals.
Accreditation
Caldwell University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
The affiliated Clinical Agencies of the School of Nursing and Public Health are accredited by nationally recognized accrediting bodies; the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Caldwell University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
The Caldwell University Baccalaureate Nursing Program is also fully accredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
For any comments or concerns regarding the program, please contact the New Jersey Board of Nursing at 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07101, or (973) 504-6430.