Application

Traditional BSN Program Prerequisites:

• Bio 205: Anatomy and Physiology I with lab, taken within the last 6 years
• Bio 206: Anatomy and Physiology II with lab, taken within the last 6 years
• Chem 105: Chemistry of Life (Organic and Biochemistry), taken within the last 6 years
• Bio 201: Microbiology with lab, taken within the last 6 years
• Psych 320: Developmental Psychology — Lifespan (Psych 101: Introduction to Psychology is a prerequisite for this course)
• Stat 231: (acceptable at PLU as an alternative: Stat 232 or 233)
• Nursing 120: Nutrition

Transfer Students – Comparable Course Guides: » View the Comparable Course Guide The Comparable Course Guide lists equivalent courses at Washington State community colleges, 4-year colleges, and many out-of-state colleges which fulfill nursing prerequisite requirements for the PLU School of Nursing.

Complete the Prerequisite Review Form if you have taken a prerequisite course that is not listed on the Comparable Course Guide above. You will need to upload a copy of the course syllabus (not just a course description) to this form in order to have your nursing prerequisite course evaluated for equivalency.

The PLU Registrar’s office offers complete Transfer Equivalency Guides for all Washington State community colleges at their website. These guides show all courses at state community colleges that are accepted for general undergraduate transfer credit to PLU. Applicants can also contact PLU Admissions at 253-535-7151 to request an evaluation of transcripts for transfer credit. Learn more about applying as a transfer student at the PLU Admissions Office website.

Minimum Criteria for Consideration for Admission to the School of Nursing:

• Formal admission to Pacific Lutheran University. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the School of Nursing.
• Completion, or pending completion of specified prerequisite course work at PLU, a community college or another accredited university.
• Intended completion of at least 60 semester credits (at least 90 quarter credits) at the college level, which is equivalent to junior status. Strongly preferred for transfer applicants: Completion or intended completion of a Direct Transfer Associate Degree (DTA) from a Washington, Oregon, or California community college, or a completed Bachelor’s Degree from any accredited university.
• A minimum of 2.5 (“B-“) grade in each prerequisite course.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in nursing prerequisite coursework.
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Completion of the university math entrance requirement (two years of college preparatory math with average grades of “C” or higher, or one semester of intermediate algebra at the college level with a grade of “C” or higher).
• Physical health and emotional stability sufficient to meet the demands of nursing and provide safe patient care.
• Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing college-level English.
• Civil, administrative, and criminal history clearance in all states, as well as any applicable territory or country.
• Submission of all documents to the School of Nursing by the designated deadlines.

Admission to the University neither implies nor guarantees admission to the School of Nursing. All materials submitted become the property of Pacific Lutheran University; please keep a copy for your records. All application materials submitted to and/or communications with PLU and/or the School of Nursing may be considered by the nursing admissions committee when making final determination of admission. Please be aware that we do not provide copies of any submitted application materials to the applicant. Applicants who receive an offer of admission will be requested to order a required criminal background check as a condition of admission. Background checks are run at the applicant’s expense.

All nursing students at Pacific Lutheran University are expected to communicate effectively on their own behalf, with professionalism and courtesy, and to demonstrate the ability to make independent decisions and think critically. This expectation extends to the application process. Please provide accurate contact information and respond in a timely manner to communication from the School of Nursing. Applicants are expected to be capable of meeting all admission requirements and completing both the university and the School of Nursing applications without the need for excessive individual advisement or assistance. Information about our programs and the application process is available on our website (plu.edu/nursing), in this application, in the PLU catalog, and at regularly scheduled information sessions. If questions remain after reviewing all available information, you are encouraged to email the School of Nursing (nurs@plu.edu). Lastly, the School of Nursing does not discuss individual applications or admission decisions with third parties and generally views such communications as a hindrance to the establishment of good communication with the applicant. All reasonable accommodations will be made for applicants with disabilities.

We encourage applicants to review the minimum criteria for admission and to keep in mind that admission is competitive; consequently, meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Historically, successful applicants far exceed the minimum criteria for admission. Please do not contact the School of Nursing to determine the rationale behind any individual admissions decision.

Use this application if you are currently enrolled in classes at PLU, or are a former PLU student without a PLU degree. If you have graduated from PLU, please complete the application for transfer students above.

All materials should be submitted by the priority deadline of February 15th.  Please email questions to your PLU Academic Advisor.

This application will ask you to provide the following:

• Two Essays (essay prompts can be found in the application, plus the option to include additional statements)
• Two complete recommendation forms are required and one must be a college-level faculty whose course you have taken. (You will enter the name, title, and email address for each recommender in your online application. The application system will send them a form to complete with the option to add a letter of recommendation.) If your recommender does not receive the automatic email, forward them this link: https://www.plu.edu/nursing/recommendation-form-for-plu-bsn-program-applicants/
• $73 application fee, payable by check or money order to the School of Nursing
• Optional Resume
• English proficiency test scores, if applicable (see our English Proficiency Policy)
• Nursing Addenda (questions related to nursing licensure and your ability to meet the Essential Qualifications for Nursing)
• Former PLU students are required to submit unofficial transcripts from any college attended since leaving PLU to our Registrar’s Office, as well as complete a PLU Re-Entry Application, found at plu.edu/registrar

Application Priority Deadline

All application materials must be received by February 15th to receive consideration.