Bachelor of Science in Nursing Transfer (BSN)
BS in Nursing-Transfer Program
Transfer Students from Universities and Colleges External to SDSU Imperial Valley
Students attending a regionally accredited college or university external to San Diego State University (SDSU) in pursuit of obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are Transfer Students. Additionally, graduates of regionally accredited colleges and universities in the United States, and alumni of SDSU who are seeking a second bachelor’s degree in Nursing, are also considered Transfer Students.
Admission to the pre-licensed BSN program is highly competitive due to the high volume of applications received and the limited number of seats available. Transfer applicants must meet admissions criteria for both the University and the School of Nursing to be eligible for admission consideration to the School of Nursing. This program is accelerated over 2 years (fall, spring, summer, fall, spring, summer).
Current Admission Criteria - Fall 2025
- Eligible for Admission to SDSU Imperial Valley as Transfer or 2nd Bachelor’s Degree
- Admission Criteria Outlined Below: 80 Points Possible
- Preference is given to Imperial County applicants
IMPORTANT! Students admitted to SDSU as undeclared, or as a major other than Nursing, will not be able to change their major to Nursing during their tenure at SDSU.
Completion of 8 Prerequisite course requirements
Chemistry (General, Organic, Inorganic, or Integrated) with Lab (CSU GE Foundations) (Minimum grade of C)
Microbiology with Lab – equivalent to SDSU BIOL 211/211L - 4 semester units (Minimum grade of B-)
Human Anatomy with Lab - equivalent to SDSU BIOL 212 - 4 semester units (Minimum grade of B-)
Human Physiology with Lab - equivalent to SDSU BIOL 261 - 4 semester units (Minimum grade of B-)
Oral Communication - CSU GE Foundations (Minimum grade of C)
Written Communication - CSU GE Foundations (Minimum grade of C)
Critical Thinking - CSU GE Foundations (Minimum grade of C)
Statistics - (one 3-unit course required) (Minimum grade of C)
- Applicants must complete all nursing prerequisites by the end of the fall 2024 semester to be eligible for fall 2025 admission consideration.
- Prerequisite courses may not be in progress during winter or spring 2025; no exceptions will be granted.
- Equivalency questions for the four science courses may be directed to the School of Nursing, while all other equivalencies are determined by the SDSU Office of Admissions. Virtual lectures and labs for the transferable science courses are acceptable, if the course material remains comprehensive.
Prerequisite Course GPA (30 points possible)
The following 5 courses will be used by the School of Nursing to calculate a Prerequisite Course GPA:
Human Physiology, Human Anatomy, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Oral Communication.
| GPA | Points | GPA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.96 - 4.00 | 30 | 3.49 - 3.54 | 14 |
| 3.91 - 3.95 | 28 | 3.43 - 3.48 | 12 |
| 3.85 - 3.90 | 26 | 3.37 - 3.42 | 10 |
| 3.79 - 3.84 | 24 | 3.31 - 3.36 | 8 |
| 3.73 - 3.78 | 22 | 3.25 - 3.30 | 6 |
| 3.67 - 3.72 | 20 | 3.19 - 3.24 | 4 |
| 3.61 - 3.66 | 18 | 3.00 - 3.18 | 2 |
| 3.55 - 3.60 | 16 | Below 3.00 | 0 |
If prerequisite courses are repeated, a maximum of two courses will be used to score the application. For any repeated course, applicants who do not receive the minimum qualifying grade by the second attempt will not be eligible for admission. The School of Nursing will use the highest grade of the two attempts to compute the Prerequisite GPA. The grades for the two attempts will not be averaged. Prerequisite courses may not be taken Credit/No Credit, unless satisfied by the appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) score. The School of Nursing does not implement a recency policy for the four science prerequisites (i.e., completed coursework
does not expire).
Cumulative GPA (30 points possible)
SDSU defines the Cumulative GPA as: “An average based on all courses attempted at SDSU and transferable courses at other universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges.”
| GPA | Points | GPA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.96 - 4.00 | 30 | 3.49 - 3.54 | 14 |
| 3.85 - 3.89 | 28 | 3.45 - 3.49 | 12 |
| 3.80 - 3.84 | 26 | 3.40 - 3.44 | 10 |
| 3.75 - 3.79 | 24 | 3.35 - 3.39 | 8 |
| 3.70 - 3.74 | 22 | 3.30 - 3.34 | 6 |
| 3.65 - 3.69 | 20 | 3.25 - 3.29 | 4 |
| 3.60 - 3.64 | 18 | 3.20 - 3.24 | 2 |
| 3.55 - 3.59 | 16 | Below 3.20 | 0* |
*Not Eligible for AdmissionMinimum admission criteria is 3.2 GPA
Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Score (15 Points Possible)
| Score | Points | Score | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98.7 - 100 | 15 | 87.8 - 89.0 | 7 |
| 97.3 - 98.6 | 14 | 86.65 - 87.7 | 6 |
| 95.9 - 97.2 | 13 | 85.2 - 86.4 | 5 |
| 94.5 - 95.8 | 12 | 83.9 - 85.1 | 4 |
| 93.1 - 94.4 | 11 | 82.6 - 83.8 | 3 |
| 91.7 - 93.0 | 10 | 81.3 - 82.5 | 2 |
| 90.4 - 91.6 | 9 | 80.0 - 81.2 | 1 |
| 89.1 - 90.3 | 8 | Below 80.0 | 0* |
A minimum Individual Score of 80.0% is required to apply. Scores earned after the Supplemental Application deadline in January will not be accepted. The School of Nursing will not round up a score percentage to the nearest whole number to meet the minimum score requirement (e.g., an individual score of 79.7% will not be rounded up to 80.0%). The School of Nursing will accept the higher of the first two attempts occurring within three years. Both attempts must be reported on the application. Send TEAS scores to [email protected]. The deadline to submit is December 15. No exceptions will be granted. The School of Nursing does not conduct TEAS testing and does not require the TEAS to be taken at SDSU. However, you can find information about testing at SDSU on the SDSU Testing Services website (http://studentaffairs.sdsu.edu/STAAR/). ATI Testing oversees all aspects of the exam itself, information for which can be found at http://atitesting.com/. HESI is not accepted in lieu of the TEAS.
Paid Certified Health Care Work Experience (5 points) - not required for admission
The School of Nursing will allocate 5 points to applicants with 100 hours or more of paid certified work experience in a clinical/healthcare setting coupled with one or more of the valid licenses/certifications listed below. Volunteer work is not accepted in lieu of the paid work experience. Applicants must have the valid license/certification at the time the hours are earned, and the hours must be completed by the Supplemental Application deadline.
If an applicant is offered, and accepts, admission to the program, documentation must be provided on the employer’s letterhead verifying the hours earned. In addition, applicants must also provide a copy of the valid license/certification (front and back, if appropriate). Students must be licensed or certified as one of the following to be eligible to receive points for paid work experience (no other licensure/certification is accepted):
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
- Medical Assistant (MA)
- Military Experience as a designated Corpsman
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
- Psychiatric Technician
For a complete timeline of due dates for application materials, TEAS scores, and documentation for certified healthcare work experience, visit the School of Nursing website for Transfer Admissions, at https://nursing.sdsu.edu/programs/bs-in-nursing/admissions/transfer-students/.
The School of Nursing makes initial admission decisions based on data self-reported on the Supplemental Application. Failure to provide accurate information may result in an applicant’s admission being rescinded
Please Note:
Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by, or affiliated with, the CSU, and requirements can change without notice. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements before admission to the SDSU BSN program.Licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g,Social Security Number [SSN] or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number[ITIN]). It can also include successfully passing a criminal background check (pertinent information for the California Board of Registered Nursing [BRN] can be found on their License Discipline and Convictions website: https://www.rn.ca.gov/enforcement/convictions.shtml)
Additionally, admission to SDSU’s BSN program does not guarantee placements at clinical facilities. Facilities partnering with our program are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for all healthcare workers, including nursing students engaged in a clinical rotation. Our students are required to complete 742.5 in-person clinical hours at facilities, thus unvaccinated students will not be able to attend clinical hours and satisfy requirements for graduation. Many of the facilities with whom we partner also require evidence of the right to work in the United States.
The majority of healthcare facilities require that nursing students have a clear criminal background check in order to participate in clinical hours at the respective facilities. Background checks will be required of all students. Failure to pass a background check may result in dismissal from the BSN program.
