Nursing, B.S.

Saint Louis University offers a direct-entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing program featuring cutting-edge classrooms and clinical labs, study abroad opportunities, diverse clinical experiences, and a low student-to-faculty ratio in all clinical courses.

Undergraduate nursing students at SLU start their nursing coursework in their first semester with NURS 1400: Introduction to Nursing. As the program progresses, you will develop the skills to handle common nursing scenarios — such as chest pain, congestive heart failure, dehydration, confusion, and asthma — through hands-on training in our advanced simulation lab. Practice lab experiences begin in the fall of your sophomore year, followed by clinical experiences across all major nursing specialties.

Curriculum Overview

In order to complete all required courses for SLU's B.S.N. degree within four undergraduate years, curriculum guides are provided to students, along with the assistance of academic advisors, faculty mentors and a retention specialist. The curriculum consists of science and nursing courses as well as the core curriculum courses required by the School of Nursing and Saint Louis University, providing students with a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Madrid Campus

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

The St. Louis area offers a wide range of settings for healthcare learning and student employment opportunities.  Many local hospital systems recruit B.S.N. students to work as patient care technicians while completing their studies. Numerous St. Louis area hospitals offer internships and fellowship opportunities for students in SLU’s B.S.N. program, providing hands-on experience in a clinical specialty under the guidance of a nurse preceptor. Students may also explore opportunities for internships at hospitals in their hometowns.

Careers

Nursing graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), a national exam that measures the competencies needed to perform as an effective entry-level nurse. The School of Nursing expects its graduates to be successfully hired after graduation or accepted into graduate programs.

Admission Requirements

The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to our University’s and school’s mission and goals. While we do consider academic metrics, we also look at applicant experiences, attributes, potential for success, and how applicants may contribute to the school’s learning environment and to the profession.

Freshman Applicants

High school seniors applying for admission are reviewed on a competitive, holistic and individual basis. The best-qualified students are selected from the application pool with a required minimum high school GPA of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale, with an emphasis on math and science. Standardized test scores are optional but are preferred. 

Please note that all nursing students sit for multiple exams throughout their studies at SLU, culminating in the NCLEX-RN at the end of the program. All applicants to nursing should be aware that while a standardized test score is not required for admission to the program (international applicants may be required to submit proof of English proficiency), standardized tests (during your undergraduate experience and NCLEX-RN) are required to become a practicing nurse.

Strong applicants will have: 

• Four years of math (with math courses equivalent to algebra or advanced algebra) ​
• Four years of science (including one year of biology; one year of chemistry)
• Activities demonstrating leadership, community service and community involvement 
• If you choose to submit a test score, please note that the minimum requirement for admission consideration is a 24 ACT/1160 SAT.

The deadline for completed nursing applications for all freshmen is Dec. 1.

An official high school transcript must be submitted. Students must earn a high school diploma from an accredited school or have an acceptable score on the General Education Development Test (GED) before starting classes. Extracurricular activities are considered in the admission decision.

Transfer Applicants

Entry into the traditional baccalaureate nursing program for external transfer students is extremely limited and is wholly dependent on space availability in the program, which in some years results in no external transfer students being admitted. In years where space is available, there are more applicants than spots available, so entry is not guaranteed. Contact the School of Nursing recruitment specialist at slunurse@slu.edu regarding the availability to transfer.

Four-year B.S.N. Transfer Requirements

• GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Successful completion of Human Anatomy and Human Physiology or Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 and Human Anatomy and Physiology 2, Chemistry, and Lifespan Human Growth and Development is recommended.
• Extracurricular activities are considered in admission decisions. The transfer application deadline for fall is April 1.

One-year Accelerated B.S.N. Transfer Opportunity

All undergraduate students who have earned at least 77 credit hours and completed specific course prerequisite requirements may be eligible to apply for the junior entry accelerated option. This program would begin in the summer semester directly after the sophomore year. Please contact the School of Nursing recruitment specialist at slunurse@slu.edu regarding this opportunity.

Current Students

Students who enroll as new freshmen at Saint Louis University in a college or school other than nursing and wish to change their major to nursing will be the second group considered for admission after the students who enrolled as new freshmen in the School of Nursing and must fulfill the following requirements for consideration:

• A 3.20 GPA or higher on a 4.00 scale.
• Ability to demonstrate successful completion of science courses, preferably at Saint Louis University.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certificate program at Saint Louis University's Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 665 K Street N.W., Suite 750, Washington, D.C., 20001. The commission's phone number is 202-887-6791.

Licensure Disclosure

For information about whether this program meets any state board of nursing's educational requirements for eligibility to take a state licensure exam, please see our Professional Licensure Disclosure page.

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Integrates an understanding of nursing’s distinct and shared disciplinary perspectives and applies theoretical and empirical knowledge from the humanities and natural, social, behavioral and nursing sciences to form the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.

2. Person-centered Care: Engages in nursing care through the relational lens, which fosters caring relationships, mutuality, active participation, and individual empowerment in the delivery and communication of compassionate person-centered nursing care through cura personalis.

3. Population Health: Collaborates with diverse stakeholders for the advancement of effective partnerships, health policy and improvement of equitable population health outcomes related to the social determinants of health.

4. Scholarship for Nursing Discipline: Applies, translates and implements best evidence and client values into clinical decision-making.

5. Quality and Safety: Enhances quality of care while minimizing risk of harm to clients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance.

6. Interprofessional Partnerships: Collaborates across professions with care team members, clients, clients, families, communities and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience and strengthen outcomes.

7. Systems-Based Practice: Effectively and proactively coordinates resources to provide safe, quality and equitable care to diverse populations within complex healthcare systems to address social and structural determinants of health.

8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies: Utilizes information processes and technologies to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services.

9. Professionalism: Cultivates a sustainable professional nursing identity, accountability, perspective, collaborative disposition and ethical principles that reflect nursing’s characteristics and values.

10. Personal, Professional and Leadership Development: Participates in activities and self-reflection through Ignatian pedagogy that foster personal health, resilience and well-being while supporting the acquisition of nursing expertise, lifelong learning and the leadership continuum.

A grade of C- or better is required for all prerequisite, required and Interprofessional Education (IPE) courses.  A grade of C or better is required in nursing courses to complete the degree. 

†

Transfer students will be required to take an additional Nursing Elective in place of NURS 1400 Introduction to Nursing (1 cr).

‡

Eight credits of electives (of which a minimum of 4 credits are nursing electives) are required to graduate. NURS 1400 Introduction to Nursing (1 cr) counts as 1 credit of nursing elective and NURS 4400 Synthesis of Nursing Concepts (1-2 cr) counts as 1 credit of nursing elective. The other 6 credits can be general education electives, non-required IPE courses, or additional nursing electives. 

Continuation Standards

The School of Nursing requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

†

Eight credits of electives (of which a minimum of 4 credits are nursing electives) are required to graduate. NURS 1400 Introduction to Nursing (1 cr) counts as 1 credit of nursing elective and NURS 4400 Synthesis of Nursing Concepts (1 cr) counts as 1 credit of nursing elective. The other 6 credits can be general education electives, non-required IPE courses, or additional nursing electives. 

Licensure Examination

Per section 335.066 RSMo of the Missouri Nursing Practice Act, completion of the nursing program does not guarantee eligibility to take the licensure examination.

Saint Louis University-Madrid's baccalaureate nursing degree with international preparation allows students to complete the first two years of the nursing degree in Spain. The final two years of study will be completed on the campus in St. Louis. 

More Information

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, contact the School of Nursing's recruitment and enrollment staff:

Undergraduate Inquiries
314-977-8995 
slunurse@slu.edu