BSN Program
The BSN program is designed for students who enter the Nursing program with no prior nursing knowledge, experience, or skills. Following the prerequisite courses, completion of this program requires 5 semesters of full-time study. Students complete the BSN through taking courses Fall and Spring or year around. The admission requirements and the curriculum are the same.
Fall Admission
- Cal State Apply: October 1st - December 2nd
Important: The degree objective is "Nursing BS” (NOT "Nursing BS - RN"). This program is for students seeking their first nursing degree. After completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to be licensed as Registered Nurses. If you apply for the Nursing BS-RN program, you application cannot be processed.
2. CSULB Enrollment Services Supplemental Application (for Transfer applicants only): February
3. School of Nursing BSN Program Application: October 1st - February 1st.
4. All Fall applicants must register for and take the Casper Situational Judgement test by the School of Nursing BSN Program Application deadline of February 1st. Please indicate CSU Long Beach as the university to send your results—results are automatically forwarded to the school. The Casper tests are administered only on specified dates—please check the Casper drop down menu for more information.
Spring Admission
- Cal State Apply: August 1st - August 31st
Important: The degree objective is "Nursing BS” (NOT "Nursing BS - RN"). This program is for students seeking their first nursing degree. After completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to be licensed as Registered Nurses. If you apply for the Nursing BS-RN program, you application cannot be processed.
2. CSULB Enrollment Services Supplemental Application (for Transfer applicants only): September
3. School of Nursing BSN Program Application: August 1st - September 21st.
4. All Spring applicants must register for and take the Casper Situational Judgement test by the School of Nursing BSN Program Application deadline of September 21st each year. Please indicate CSU Long Beach as the university to send your results—results are automatically forwarded to the school. You do not need to submit the Casper test results to us. The Casper tests are administered only on specified dates—please check the Casper drop down menu for more information.
Instructions
There are three categories of applicants for the BSN Program:
- Current CSULB undergraduate students (pre-nursing majors),
- Transfer Undergraduate Applicants (students without a BA or BS),
- Second Bachelor's Degree Applicants (students with a BA or BS degree in other fields).
All applicants are required to complete Casper as part of their application for the 2024/25 admissions cycle. Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test that takes 90-110 minutes to complete.
Casper measures different personal and professional skills that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. It will complement the other tools we use for applicant review and evaluation, and we require Casper as part of our efforts to enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.
Visit takecasper.com to create an account, register to complete Casper, and learn more about this assessment, including important dates and technical requirements.
You will register for Undergraduate Health Sciences (CSP-10106) exam.
General Information
- All application materials are online. All communication is via email. Due to the volume of inquiries, we are not able to answer questions about the communication exercise, your submitted application, and/or admissions status.
- Please note: the School of Nursing does not offer transcript review, counseling, or advising for prospective students - we can only answer questions about the nursing program and/or the application process.
- Prospective students and applicants should read the information below thoroughly.
- Admissions notices will be sent via email in late April (for Fall applications)/late November (for Spring applications).
- If you have any questions about the program or application process that are not answered below, please email nursing@csulb.edu.
Applications Required based on Applicant Category:
CalState Apply | CSULB Supplemental Application | SON BSN Application | Casper Test | |
| Current CSULB Undergraduate Students | You have already completed this as a pre-nursing | You have already completed this as a pre-nursing | REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
| Transfer Undergraduate Applicants | REQUIRED (Apply for Nursing BS program) | REQUIRED | REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
| Second Bachelor’s Degree Applicants | REQUIRED (Apply for Nursing BS program) | NOT REQUIRED | REQUIIRED | REQUIIRED |
Current CSULB Undergraduate Students (Pre-Nursing majors):
- Current CSULB Undergraduate Pre-Nursing Majors should reach out to CHHS Academic Advising for more information.
- CSULB students with fewer than 75 Timely Graduation Units may apply - if you are a CSULB student with more than 75 Timely Graduation Units, please see your current college advisor for further guidance (CHHS Academic Advising).
Transfer Undergraduate Applicants and Second Bachelor’s Applicants
- More information is available from CSULB Admissions.
- If admitted or waitlisted, follow up with CSULB Admissions to submit documents before their deadlines. Please note that admission into the School of Nursing is contingent on being offered admission by the University, therefore, applicants must also meet the admission eligibility requirements for CSULB.
All applicants are required to complete Casper as part of their application for the 2024/25 admissions cycle. Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test that takes 90-110 minutes to complete.
Casper measures different personal and professional skills that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. It will complement the other tools we use for applicant review and evaluation, and we require Casper as part of our efforts to enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.
| Casper Test Dates: | |
| October 17, 2024 | 5:00PM PDT |
| November 14, 2024 | 5:00PM PDT |
| December 5, 2024 | 5:00PM PDT |
| January 14, 2025 | 5:00PM PDT |
Casper is administered by Acuity Insights.
How to sign up for Casper
- Go to takecasper.com to create an Acuity Insights account and register to complete Casper.
- You will register for Undergraduate Health Sciences (CSP-10106) using your student identifier and a piece of government-issued photo ID.
- Please register with the email address you are using for your application and check it regularly, as there may be updates to the test schedule.
- Select a Casper test date from the available testing dates and times, which have been approved in line with our admissions timelines.
- These are the only testing dates for applying to our program and no additional tests are likely to be scheduled.
- Register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time to allow time to perform a system requirements check and take the sample test in your account. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
- Ensure you have selected <insert program name> for distribution before the distribution deadline listed on the Dates and Fees page.
Technical requirements for Casper
To take the assessments, you will need a:
- Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application).
- Desktop or laptop computer, ideally using Windows or macOS.
- Smartphones and tablets are not supported.
- Working webcam and microphone.
- Wired inputs or your computer’s built-in microphone are recommended.
- Reliable high-speed internet connection with download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 2 Mbps.
Learn more about technical requirements.
Accommodations
Applicants requiring testing accommodations to complete Casper should submit an Initial Request Form (Part 1 and 2) at least four (4) weeks prior to your scheduled Casper test date.
Learn more about the accommodations policy.
Help with Casper
If you have any questions, please contact the Acuity Insights team via the chat bubble on the bottom right of your Acuity Insights account or on takecasper.com. You can also review their collection of Frequently Asked Questions.
The basic baccalaureate program is the traditional track designed for students who enter the Nursing program with no prior nursing knowledge, experience, or skills. Applicants with an Associate's Degree in Nursing, please review the information for ADN/RN-to-BSN Program "Nursing BS - Registered Nurse."
Important: The degree objective is for this program is "Nursing BS" (NOT "Nursing BS - Registered Nurse"). The School of Nursing can only evaluate applicants under the major they applied for and cannot edit incorrect applications.
- Prerequisites and program information can be found on the University Catalog.
- Applications are reviewed, scored, and ranked based upon the following information.
- Please note that admission into the School of Nursing is contingent on being offered admission by the University, therefore, applicants must also meet the admission eligibility requirements for CSULB.
| Application Component | Criteria and Minimum Requirements |
| Natural Science Prerequisites GPA | There are four natural science prerequisite courses to be completed prior to application. Each course must be completed with a "C" or better grade; when all prerequisites are completed the GPA for the prerequisite courses must be "B" or better (3.0 or better). Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
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| General Education Prerequisites GPA | There are four general education prerequisite courses to be completed prior to application. Each course must be completed with a "C" or better grade; when all prerequisites are completed the GPA for the prerequisite courses must be "B" or better (3.0 or better). Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
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| General Assessment (Casper Test) | All applicants must register for and take the Casper Situational Judgement Test and have results reported out to CSU Long Beach on or prior to the program application deadline—no exceptions will be made for deadline extensions.
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| Communication Exercise | After applications are submitted, applicants with the highest-ranking cumulative scores will be contacted (via email) and must participate in a mandatory School of Nursing Communication Exercise.
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All application materials are online. All communication is via email. Please do not call the School of Nursing regarding the Communication Exercise, your submitted application and/or admissions status.
Please note: The School of Nursing does not offer transcript review, counseling, or advising for prospective students. We can only answer questions about the nursing program and/or the application process. Students who would like more assistance prior to completing their Cal State Apply application can contact University Outreach and School Relations for more information. Once you have applied to Cal State Apply and have questions about your application to the university, please reach out to Beach Central for assistance.
