Nursing Major

The regular concentration is a traditional four-year, on-campus concentration that prepares graduates for entry into professional nursing practice as a generalist to provide, design, manage coordinate, and evaluate healthcare for individuals, families, groups, and communities across the lifespan in both structured and unstructured healthcare settings.

Students completing the baccalaureate nursing program and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination.

You will begin the five-semester clinical study in your second year with an introduction to basic nursing concepts and health care appraisal courses. In the third year, your clinical courses include medical-surgical adult health courses, psychiatric nursing, pediatrics, and research. In the fourth year, your clinical courses include nursing of the childbearing family, community health, medical-surgical nursing, critical care, leadership and management, and transition to practice seminar.

If your future plans include a master’s degree or doctoral work, the baccalaureate nursing program is an excellent precursor.

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This accelerated concentration allows you to complete your degree in three years rather than four. As a student, you will receive the same high-quality instruction and real-world learning opportunities as our four-year concentration. Students admitted to the university as incoming matriculating students will sign a Degree in 3 contract during undergraduate orientation. The Degree in 3 is an on-campus concentration that prepares graduates for entry into professional nursing practice as a generalist to provide, design, manage coordinate, and evaluate healthcare for individuals, families, groups, and communities across the lifespan in both structured and unstructured healthcare settings.

Students completing the baccalaureate nursing program and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination.

You will begin the five-semester clinical study in your second year with an introduction to basic nursing concepts and health care appraisal courses, medical-surgical adult health courses, psychiatric nursing, pediatrics, and research. In the third year, your clinical courses include nursing of the childbearing family, community health, medical-surgical nursing, critical care, leadership and management, and transition to practice seminar.

If your future plans include a master’s degree or doctoral work, this accelerated program is an excellent precursor.

Download Plan of Study

Do you already have a bachelor’s degree and want a condensed, accelerated pathway to earn a second bachelor’s degree in nursing? Consider our 19-month track

Students completing the accelerated (second) baccalaureate nursing concentration and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination. .

This accelerated program will prepare you to succeed whether you are looking at moving into a nursing career or onto graduate-level work.

Students entering this program may start in the Fall or Spring.

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If you’re already a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and want to take the next step to become a Registered Nurse (RN), then Ball State has the perfect pathway for you.

Our LPN to BS concentration allows you to apply your existing experience toward completing your bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Students completing the LPN to BS baccalaureate nursing concentration and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination.

Whether your plans include expanding your nursing role in a hospital or other medical setting, or moving on to pursue graduate-level work, this program is an excellent precursor.

Download Plan of Study

Progress through the Program

The assigned Upper Division Advisor will work with you on an individual basis to develop a plan of study, including outlining the prerequisites you need and assisting you in determining the best way to progress through the nursing sequence and complete university Core Curriculum requirements.

The LPN transition concentration allows you to use previously earned science and general studies credits for the baccalaureate program. Other required courses and some elective credits can be transferred from other institutions.

Ball State Core Curriculum courses (general studies courses) may be taken on campus or as independent learning courses (by correspondence) through the School of Extended Education.