Department website: https://www.atu.edu/nursing

Arkansas Tech University: Elevate Your Nursing Career

Arkansas Tech University’s nursing program is designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience needed for success in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. Whether you’re starting your nursing journey or advancing your career, our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program provides the foundation for professional excellence and future graduate study.

Why Choose ATU Nursing?

• Comprehensive Education – Our curriculum blends rigorous coursework with real-world clinical experience to prepare students for diverse healthcare settings.
• Pathways for Every Student – We welcome high school graduates, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs) from accredited programs.
• NCLEX-RN Readiness – Graduates are well-prepared to take the national licensure exam (NCLEX-RN), a critical step in becoming a registered nurse.
• Clinical Experience – Gain hands-on training in top healthcare facilities, ensuring you're workforce-ready upon graduation.
• Dedicated Nursing Faculty – Our experienced and supportive faculty bring strong and varied clinical backgrounds, providing mentorship and guidance to help students succeed in their nursing careers.

Important Information

All nursing students must complete general education, prerequisites, and upper-division nursing courses to earn their BSN. A criminal background check is required for licensure, and students with prior convictions should consult an advisor before enrolling. 

Invest in Your Future

Our nursing program is continuously evolving to meet industry demands and maintain the highest standards in professional nursing education. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to update curriculum and program requirements to ensure student success, with all changes communicated through official channels.

Take the next step toward a rewarding nursing career with Arkansas Tech University. Join a program committed to excellence, innovation, and your success!

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.  All programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

ADMISSION

PRE-LICENSURE ADMISSION

Admission to the prelicensure program is competitive and subject to evaluation by the Nursing Department’s Admission and Progression Committee. Students are considered for admission the spring and fall preceding the semesters they plan to enter upper division nursing courses. All transcripts and entrance exam scores are due with the Application to Upper Division. Pre-licensure application deadlines are February 15 for fall admission and September 15 for spring admission. 

Minimum requirements for acceptance into the upper division (Level 0) nursing courses are:

1. Prerequisite grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. 
2. Completion of the following courses with a grade of “C” or better in each:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Hours
   ENGL 1013	Composition I	3
   ENGL 1023	Composition II	3
   MATH 1113	College Algebra	3
   BIOL 2014	Human Anatomy	4
   or BIOL 2404	Human Anatomy and Physiology I
   BIOL 3054	Microbiology	4
   or BIOL 2054	Microbiology for Health Sciences
   BIOL 3074	Human Physiology	4
   or BIOL 2414	Human Anatomy and Physiology II
   CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1111	A Survey of Chemistry and Survey of Chemistry Laboratory	4
   PSY 2003	General Psychology	3
   SOC 1003	Introductory Sociology	3
   NUR 2303	Nutrition	3

3. Completion of the following General Education courses (See General Education Requirements for specific course alternatives):
   • Option 1: Social Sciences 6 hours; Fine Arts/Humanities 6 hours; Communication 3 hours
   • Option 2: Social Sciences 6 hours; Fine Arts/Humanities 9 hours
   • Option 3: Social Sciences 9 hours; Fine Arts/Humanities 6 hours
   • TECH 1001 Orientation to the University or TECH 1013 Introduction to the University (1 hour only) or 1-hour Elective (ATU requires TECH 1001 Orientation to the University or TECH 1013 Introduction to the University unless student is a transfer student not coming in as a freshman) 
4. Completion of entrance exam with a score of proficient or higher. 

The Admission and Progression Committee uses the following criteria to rank applicant for admission to upper division nursing courses.

CATEGORY 1

Student has all general education and nursing prerequisite courses completed with GPA > 2.75 at time of application (and at the end of semester of application); and score of proficient or higher on the entrance exam.

CATEGORY 2

Do not admit at this time. 

Admission of college freshman who obtained Advanced Placement/Concurrent hours while attending high school: 

ATU Nursing Department wishes to offer these specific high school students the opportunity to complete their courses within a timely manner.

Criteria for consideration (Failure to meet items 4 and/or 5 will result in loss of position in Upper Division):

1. GPA > 3.50
2. Proficiency score > 70.0 on Entrance Exam
3. No more than 8 hours of courses to complete in the summer before entry into Level 0
4. Outstanding courses must be completed during summer session between spring and fall. All prerequisite courses to be complete prior to the start of Level 0
5. Grade of C or better on summer courses completed to meet prerequisite requirements. 

Applications are ranked according to GPA and the entrance exam with preference given to ATU students. Admission will be determined by the resulting rank order and proficiency or better on entrance exam.

Applicants completing prerequisite requirements at an institution other than ATU must have official grades submitted to ATU prior to start of the semester.

Any student transferring from another nursing program must submit a letter of good standing to the Admission and Progression Committee with the application to upper-division nursing.

A student position may be filled in a discretionary manner for exceptional reasons as determined by the committee and approved by the department head.

Minimum requirements for continuation into clinical nursing courses (all initiated during upper division nursing courses)

1. Acquisition of professional/student liability insurance through ATU
2. Satisfactory criminal background check
3. Current certification of BLS-CPR through the American Heart Association
4. Proof of current immunization required by ATU and the ATU Affiliation Agreements with clinical facilities.
5. Proof of two of three vaccinations of the Hepatitis B series. The third Hepatitis B vaccination must be completed before the end of the first clinical semester. Alternatively, proof of a positive Hepatitis B titer is accepted.

LPN ADMISSION

The LPN to BSN program is offered in a traditional (face-to-face) or hybrid format.  LPNs who have met all general education and nursing pre-requisite course requirements and have a GPA >2.75 are eligible to apply. Applications are due by February 15 for fall admission and September 15 for spring admission. Eligible applicants are evaluated by the ATU Department of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee.

The LPN must:

1. Have a current unencumbered LPN or LPTN license in Arkansas.
2. Have graduated from an accredited or state board of nursing approved LPN/LPTN program at the time of graduation.
3. Document work history if applying for admission >12 months after graduating from an LPN program or pursuing the hybrid LPN to BSN track. The work requirement is >1,000 hours nursing employment as an LPN in the 12-24 months preceding admission. 

LPN/LPTNs who do not meet the defined criteria for admission will be evaluated on an individual basis. 

Upon admission, LPNs must maintain an unencumbered LPN license, pass a criminal background check, and comply with the minimum requirements for continuation into clinical nursing courses.

REGISTERED NURSE (RN) TO BSN ADMISSION

The RN to BSN program is online and accepts applications until all student positions are filled. Coursework begins in the fall and spring semesters. Priority application deadlines are May 1 for fall admission and November 1 for spring admission. 

Application to the RN to BSN Program

An RN who has completed all prerequisite and general education courses (or has less than six hours remaining) and has a GPA above 2.5 is eligible to apply for the RN to BSN program. Applicants may opt to take NUR 3303 and NUR 3803 during the program.

The RN to BSN applicant must:

1. Have a current unencumbered U.S. RN license in the state where they are practicing.
2. Have graduated from an accredited or Arkansas State Board of Nursing approved diploma or associate degree nursing program.
3. Document work experience as applicable:
   1. <12 months after RN graduation - no work experience required.
   2. >12 months after RN graduation - documentation of at least 1000 hours of nursing employment in the preceding 12-24 months.

RNs who do not meet the defined criteria for admission will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Criteria for consideration into the RN to BSN program:

• Category I - GPA ≥ 2.50 all general education and nursing major prerequisites complete or enrolled in at time of application.
• Category II - GPA ≥ 2.50 up to six hours of general education outstanding, and/or NUR 3303 and/or NUR 3803 at time of application.

Category I students are admitted prior to category II.  Admission decisions are made until all positions are filled.

Upon admission, students must submit and maintain proof of current unencumbered RN licensure and submit to and pass a background check and drug screen. These requirements must be completed through the ATU DON approved vendor. 

ARTICULATED CREDIT

ARTICULATED CREDIT FOR LICENSED NURSES (LPN/LPTN)

Arkansas Tech University Department of Nursing complies with the Arkansas Nursing Education Progression Model for admission and progression of licensed practical (LPN/LPTN) and registered nurses (RN) to the baccalaureate degree. 

​LPNs progression to the ATU bachelor's degree in nursing will be awarded the below 17 hours of credit at the completion of the last semester of all course work.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NUR 3103	Nursing Skills I	3
NUR 3204	Concepts in Nursing I	4
NUR 3213	Care of the Older Adult	3
NUR 3404	Clinical Nursing I	4
NUR 3513	Nursing Skills II	3
Total Hours		17

ARTICULATED CREDIT FOR REGISTERED NURSES (RN)

​RNs progression to the ATU bachelor's degree in nursing will be awarded the below 38 hours of credit at the completion of the last semester of all course work.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NUR 2023	Introduction to Professional Nursing	3
NUR 2303	Nutrition	3
NUR 3103	Nursing Skills I	3
NUR 3204	Concepts in Nursing I	4
NUR 3213	Care of the Older Adult	3
NUR 3402	Pharmacology I	2
NUR 3404	Clinical Nursing I	4
NUR 3513	Nursing Skills II	3
NUR 3606	Concepts in Nursing II	6
NUR 3802	Pharmacology II	2
NUR 3805	Clinical Nursing II	5
Total Hours		38

RNs who do not meet the defined criteria for admission will be evaluated on an individual basis.

For more information, please visit www.atu.edu/nursing

PROGRESSION POLICY

PRE-LICENSURE AND LPN TO BSN PROGRESSION POLICY

In order to progress in the pre-licensure and LPN to BSN nursing programs, the student must meet the following guidelines. 

Students must achieve a “C” or better in all nursing courses excluding electives.  Students who make less than a “C” in any upper division nursing course may not progress into courses for which that course(s) is a prerequisite or level requirement.

A student in upper division nursing courses may only repeat one nursing course. Following a second failure (excluding NUR 4903), the student will be dismissed from the program.  A student may appeal to the Department Head for extraordinary circumstances.

Any student who attempts any nursing course twice (2 times) and does not achieve a final grade of "C" or better in the course, will automatically be withdrawn from the Arkansas Tech University Nursing Program and will not be eligible for readmission. An attempt is defined as "any enrollment in any course and dropping it (or changing it to an audit) after the first day of the 10th week of the semester during the Fall or Spring semester, or after the third week of either summer session for any reason, or failure (grade of "D" or "F") of the course."

Any student who withdraws from a clinical nursing course (NUR 3404 Clinical Nursing I, NUR 3805 Clinical Nursing II, NUR 4405 Clinical Nursing III, NUR 4804 Clinical Nursing IV must have a passing grade at the time of withdrawal in order to withdraw passing. Students failing (“D” or “F”) at the time of withdrawal will receive an “F”.  A grade of “F” will count as a failure (“F”) for progression purposes.

Students must achieve a passing grade “C” in both the Concepts and corresponding Clinical Nursing courses in order to progress within the program. Students who repeat a Concepts course are required to show clinical competency in order to progress. Students who repeat a clinical course are required to show concepts competency in order to progress.

Clinical competence can be attained by:

1. Taking for credit the corresponding clinical course
2. Completing NUR 3892 Clinical Competency I or NUR 4892 Clinical Competency II with a grade of “C” or better.

Concepts competency can be attained by:

1. Taking for credit the corresponding Concepts in Nursing course. Students must maintain a 75% average on all exams.
2. Completing NUR 3792 Concepts Competency I or NUR 4792 Concepts Competency II with a grade of "C" or better. 

RN TO BSN PROGRESSION POLICY

RN to BSN students must achieve a "C" or better in all nursing courses. Students who make less than a "C" may not progress into courses for which that course is a prerequisite. A second failure in any RN to BSN course may result in withdrawal from the program. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on an individual basis.

READMISSION POLICY

PRE-LICENSURE AND LPN TO BSN READMISSION

Any student who fails an Upper Division nursing course (excluding nursing electives), withdraws, or has a break in enrollment (including medical emergencies/complications) must reapply for readmission and progression in the nursing program. Reapplications must be submitted by the date immediately following the last day of end of semester final exams. To reapply, the student must meet with the level coordinator or program director to request readmission. The student is required to write a letter of intent addressing reasons for past failure or break in enrollment including a plan of action for future success within the nursing program.  Completion of the reapplication process is the responsibility of the student. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Reapplication decisions will be based on the availability of positions within the repeating level. Should several students reapply for the same level and positions are limited, GPA ranking and letter of intent will guide the committee's decision-making process. 

Students who have not attended Arkansas Tech University during the past year must apply for readmission to the University.

The nursing program must be completed within four years of entry into upper-division nursing.

RN TO BSN READMISSION

RN to BSN students are required to reapply to the program in the event of two course failures or a break in enrollment. The student should contact the RN to BSN program director to complete the reapplication process. The process requires the program director to complete the reapplication form and the student is required to submit a letter addressing reasons for past failure or break in enrollment. The letter should also include a plan of action for future success in the nursing program.  The reapplication process is the responsibility of the student. The due date for RN to BSN reapplications is immediately following the last day of end of semester final exams.  The completed reapplication documents are submitted to the Admission and Progression Committee for consideration.  Exceptions to this policy will be considered on an individual basis.