Application Process

The admissions process for Biola University's nursing program has two phases:

Nursing Pathway

at Biola University

Phase 1

Apply to the Healthcare Management Major

In the application, select Nursing in "Academic Plans"

The first two years are focused on prerequisites:

• Core Curriculum Courses
• Bible and Theology Courses
• Four Science Courses

Phase 2

Apply to the 2 1/2 year Nursing Program

Minimum requirements*

• 70 on the comprehensive TEAS test
• Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Total science GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Completed 3 of the required sciences
• A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) in all required courses

*please refer to the Clinical Nursing Program Student Selection Guidelines for complete details

General Information

The Biola University nursing program is a four-and-a-half-year program that consists of two distinct phases. Students are first admitted to a nursing program pathway major — the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management — before ultimately applying to, being accepted to and changing their major to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Nursing Program Prerequisites

• This is the “first phase” of your nursing program pathway, consisting of two years of instruction.
  • Please note for transfer students, the timeline may vary depending on the number of courses transferred to Biola. To find out how courses transfer, refer to the first step under Steps to Apply.
  • The “second phase” of your nursing program pathway begins after you apply and are admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. This consists of two and a half years of instruction and training.
    • Note: The two and a half years of instruction is required and non-negotiable, even for transfer students.

    Admission Requirements

    • Students who apply to Biola University with a desire to ultimately enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program must meet the university’s general admission requirements. Additional requirements apply to transfer students, as indicated below.

    • Transfer Students (25 college credits or more):
      • The student must have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.2.
      • The student must have no repeated science courses.
      • The student should have no more than one C (U.S. letter grade or equivalent) in any science prerequisite courses.
        

      Steps to Apply

      1. Apply to Biola, selecting “Nursing (BS)” within the “Academic Plans” section of the application. Upon admission to the university, you will be placed in a nursing pathway major: the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management.

      • Complete the online application for Biola University.
      • Admission to Biola with a desire to pursue clinical nursing stipulations:
        • Admission to the university and declaring an interest in clinical nursing does not guarantee later admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The program is competitive, so be sure to review the Clinical Nursing Program Student Selection Guidelines below.
        • Transfer students, like other students, are required to begin in a nursing pathway major: the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management. After one semester of studies (minimum) at Biola, transfer students will be able to apply to the BSN program.
          • Review the Nursing, B.S. Course Sequence page and check how courses transfer from your current institution by using the Transfer Course Equivalency Tool (TES).

          2. Complete the nursing major’s core curriculum prerequisites, including Bible courses.

          • In the nursing program pathway major, you will take core curriculum courses, Bible and theology courses, and science courses that will prepare you for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
          • Prior to applying for the BSN program, you will also take the clinical nursing prerequisite course, Introduction to Professional Nursing. In this class, you will review the specific instructions for applying to clinical nursing, including the application deadline.

          3. Apply to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

          • During your time as a healthcare management major, you will meet regularly with an advisor who will support you in determining your eligibility to apply for the BSN program. Three of the four required science courses and Introduction to Professional Nursing must be completed before applying to the BSN program as outlined in the Nursing Catalog. **Transfer students will also be required to take the Introduction to Professional Nursing course at Biola.**
            • Submit — through an online Centralized Access System (CAS) — a complete application package by the stated deadline by the Department of Nursing, including general information, resume/experience, satisfactory personal references and a well-written biographical sketch meeting the criteria described on the application form. ** Application is an additional fee.**
            • Student selection into the BSN program is exclusively determined by the full-time nursing faculty members within the Department of Nursing.
            • The TEAS exam is required for the BSN program application.
            • Please refer to the Clinical Nursing Program Student Selection Guidelines below for more information.

            4. Be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

            • The Department of Nursing will notify you of their admission decision. You will receive an email from the Department of Nursing, which serves as notification that you will be able to pick up your decision letter from the department.
            • Once you are admitted, the healthcare agencies the Department of Nursing has contracts with will require you to:
              • Pass a criminal background check and physical examination
              • Pass a 10-panel drug test
              • Submit documentation of having received all required immunizations and titer results. The current immunizations are based upon requirements from clinical agencies utilized throughout the clinical program including: MMR, TB screening, Hepatitis B, Tdap, Varicella, Covid-19 (including required boosters) and Flu. Students must have these prior to the start of the clinical program and remain current throughout their program. These are subject to change based on information received from facilities.
              • Have a current American Heart Association CPR/AED certification for the Health Care Professional Rescuer, valid driver's license and proof of personal car insurance turned in by the stated required submission date. A current passport is recommended.

              Clinical Nursing Program Student Selection Guidelines

              The table below outlines the standards used to admit nursing pathway majors into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Note that admission to the program is exclusively determined by the full-time nursing faculty members within the Department of Nursing.
              

              • Allow the Assistant Director of Nursing Advising and Admissions to contact the Student Care and Conduct Department and NURS 112 faculty to acknowledge that there are no known conduct concerns that could inhibit successful engagement in a nursing clinical setting. Examples include reports of substance use, academic dishonesty, inappropriate conduct on campus, disciplinary problems, or unprofessional behaviors in the classroom (excessive tardiness, missed appointments, late assignments, etc.)
              • Submit — through an online Centralized Access System (CAS) — a complete application package by the stated deadline, including satisfactory personal references and a well-written biographical sketch meeting the criteria described on the application form.
              • Demonstrate adequate English language oral and writing skills, and effective communication and motivation fit during an interview with the nursing faculty.
              • Receive a grade of B or higher in NURS 112: Introduction to Professional Nursing.
              • The maximum number of times a student can apply to the BSN is two times.
              • Understand that a gap semester is allowable for some students who have completed their prerequisites and general education courses, but the Nursing Department does not recommend taking a gap year.
              • Perform at or above 70 on the comprehensive TEAS nursing pre-admission test. Preparation for the exam is highly encouraged.
              • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher from all colleges attended.
              • Have a total science GPA of 2.5 or higher on all required prerequisite sciences.
              • Have completed 3 of the required sciences by the time of application review.
              • Have earned a minimum grade of "C" (2.0) in all required prerequisite courses.​ Special circumstances: If an applicant has to repeat any one required prerequisite course for a grade of C- or lower, and then successfully repeats the required course with a grade of B or higher by the time of application review, the failure grade will not be calculated in the cumulative GPA.
              • Work experience of any kind. Employment in health care settings preferred.
              • Volunteer experiences. Volunteer experience in health care settings preferred.
              • Leadership activities in church, high school, or college.
              • Missions and other cross-cultural experiences.
              • Biola student extra curricular activities.