Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare system, and they are in high demand. The U.S. Department of Labor projects the field of nursing will grow 15 percent through 2026, much faster than the average for all other occupations.
Our two-year nursing program is designed for students who have completed their general education and prerequisite courses at another institution. So when you begin at SMU, you’ll be ready to participate in hands-on learning experiences sooner. Your clinical courses will take you into hospital and community settings, giving you plenty of opportunities to put theory into practice.
In addition to acquiring the medical knowledge and technical skills necessary to practice as a nurse, you’ll develop the leadership, communication, and teamwork skills you’ll need to thrive as part of an integrated health care team.
Samuel Merritt College Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Prerequisite Courses
Information based on the 2001 – 2003 Merritt College catalog
Samuel Merritt College Merritt College
Chemistry Chem 30A1
Anatomy Biol 22
Physiology Biol 42
English Composition Engl 1A
English Literature Engl 1B or Engl 5
General Psychology Psych 1A
General Sociology or
Cultural Anthropology Soc 1 or Soc 5 or Anthr 3
1-2 Humanities Please see footnote3
Algebra Math 2014
Geometry Math 202 or any UC transferable math
course4
Foreign Language Please see footnote5
This articulation agreement is not a legally binding contract and is subject to change without
notification.
For more information, please call Anne Seed at Samuel Merritt College at (510) 869-6610.
1 Chemistry 30A alone is acceptable, but the chemistry sequence of Chem 30A and Chem 30B
is preferred. Chem 1A is also acceptable.
2 Bio 2 and Bio 4 are the preferred courses. The sequence of Bio 20A and Bio 20B is also
acceptable.
3 Suggested courses include Art History (not Studio Art), Speech, additional English courses,
Classical Languages, Modern Languages, Performing Arts (history and theory, not activity),
Philosophy and Religious Studies. All courses should be transferable to the UC system.
4 Not required of those with previous baccalaureates or if one year (of each) successfully
completed with a grade of “C-“ or higher in high school. Math 201 and Math 202 are not
transferable courses and will not be included in the transfer GPA.
5 While not an admission requirement, foreign language is a graduation requirement from the
BSN program. This requirement can be fulfilled in the following ways:
• Three years of high school language with grades of “B” or higher.
• A score of three or higher on an Advanced Placement Language examination.
• A passing score on the Saint Mary’s College Language examination.
• A passing score on the TOEFL examination for international students.
• Completing courses through the third level (i.e., Spanish 2A) at Merritt College.
Courses which are taken to fulfill the language requirement may not be used to meet the
BSN Requirements & Info
Admission to the BSN program is competitive. Applicants are considered for admission based upon the following criteria:
- A minimum of 60 semester/90 quarter units of transferable coursework, including the completion of all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better by the time of entry into the program
- A recommended minimum 3.0 GPA in all prerequisite coursework
- A recommended minimum 3.0 GPA in the four science prerequisite courses
- At least one term with a minimum of nine semester or 14 quarter units of academic courses completed in the past two years
- Acceptable scores on the HESI A2* or TEAS
- Two letters of reference: one from a faculty member, preferably a math or science instructor, and the other from a healthcare professional. References from family and friends will not be considered.
- Short answer responses submitted with the application
2020 BSN Admitted Student Profile
| Applications Submitted | 570 |
| Accepted Applicants | 147 |
| HESI Math Range (middle 50% of admitted students) | 88-96% |
| HESI Reading Range (middle 50% of admitted students) | 86-92% |
| HESI Anatomy & Physiology Range (middle 50% of admitted students) | 84-92% |
| Prerequisite GPA Range (middle 50% of admitted students) | 3.32-3.86 |
| Science Prerequisite GPA Range (middle 50% of admitted students) | 3.00-3.81 |
Prerequisites Click to Close
The information below outlines the prerequisite requirements for entry to the BSN program. The courses are a combination of the general education necessary to award a bachelor’s degree, as well as those that are common to nursing programs as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Transfer students will find many similarities in our requirements and those of other nursing programs in the Bay Area. We believe these are the courses that lead to successful careers in nursing.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better by the start of the program. Although it is acceptable to have courses planned or in progress, it is in the students best interest to have as many courses completed as possible at the time of application. It is not possible to complete any prerequisites concurrently with the BSN program. Courses may only be repeated once.
Pass/Fail courses
Pass/Fail courses are acceptable prerequisites because of changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these courses will not be factored when calculating grade point averages.
Prerequisite Requirement, Semester Units (except as otherwise specified)
- English Composition (Equivalent to English 1A), 3.0
- English Literature/Critical Thinking (Equivalent to English 1B or 1C; courses in Philosophy are not acceptable), 3.0
- Interpersonal Communication (Courses in public speaking are not acceptable), 3.0
- Introduction to Sociology OR Cultural Anthropology (Biological anthropology is not acceptable), 3.0
- General Psychology, 3.0
- Lifespan Developmental Psychology (Content must cover birth to death), 3.0
- Fine Arts Theory (Art history, music appreciation, history of jazz, etc. are examples of acceptable theory-based courses. In contrast, courses focused on “how to do” or “how to play” something (e.g. intro to painting, intro to piano) are not acceptable), 3.0
- Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics or Bioethics (Only one course is needed. Critical Thinking courses are not acceptable), 3.0
- U.S. History (Any time period), 3.0
- Diversity Elective (One course in culture, race or ethnicity. Generally taught in a social science department), 3.0
- Humanities Elective (One course in humanities, such as religious studies, foreign language, theory courses in art, music or theatre, or an additional philosophy course), 3.0
- Nutrition (General, broad-based course), 3.0
- Statistics (Research methods courses are unacceptable), 3.0
- Human Anatomy with Lab [A combined course in Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) can be used to meet the requirement only if two combined A&P courses are completed, e.g. A&P I and A&P II], 4.0
- Human Physiology with Lab [A combined course in Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) can be used to meet the requirement only if two combined A&P courses are completed, e.g. A&P I and A&P II], 4.0
- Chemistry with Lab, 4.0 semester or 6.0 quarter units
- Microbiology with Lab, 4.0
New Prerequisite Course Articulation Tool
Wondering if you took the right courses as a local CSU, UC or community college student? Use our new Prerequisite Course Articulation Tool to see which courses meet the prerequisite requirements for ABSN, BSN and ELMSN programs
AP and IB Credit
AP exam scores of 3 or higher and IB exam scores of 5 or higher may be used to meet prerequisite requirements, but are only acceptable if the exam scores are clearly noted on official university transcript.
HESI Admission Assessment (A2)
HESI A2 scores must be available at the time you submit your application for admission. You will be asked to self-report your HESI A2 scores and upload a copy of the score report in the application.
Applicants must submit scores from the following exams: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Grammar, Math, and Anatomy & Physiology. Additionally, applicants must take the Learning Style and Personality Profile assessments.
More information about taking the HESI A2
TEAS option
Samuel Merritt University’s prelicensure nursing programs are now accepting the TEAS as an alternative to the HESI A2 to fulfill the entrance exam requirement. Applicants should note that the University will not be administering or hosting the TEAS exam on any of its campuses.
When registering for the TEAS, applicants should select the TEAS at ATI(online remote proctored by ATI) option. Register for the TEAS at http://www.atitesting.com/teas/register.
The minimum recommended exam score for competitive applicants is 80 percent for each individual section and overall. For registration or technical assistance with the TEAS, click here.
Official Transcripts
Applicants must request that their official transcripts be sent directly to NursingCAS from their college or university’s registrar’s office. Applicants should follow instructions provided in NursingCAS, and may reference SMU’s Application Process for additional details.
TOEFL
The need for the TOEFL will be assessed based on information provided by the applicant on the application for admission. If the TOEFL is required, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 100 (Internet Based Test). Scores must be submitted during the application process.
Military Education and Experience Review for Nursing Program Admission
Students who apply to the nursing programs at SMU and have military based health care training and/or experience will be evaluated on an individual basis. All classes and experience previously obtained will be evaluated for equivalency to the desired program requirements. A program completion plan will be implemented based on this evaluation. Students will be required to complete the HESI A-2 exam.
Samuel Merritt Nursing Ranking
Nursing at Samuel Merritt University
529BACHELOR’S DEGREES242MASTER’S DEGREES15DOCTOR’S DEGREESThe Nursing major is part of the health professions program at Samuel Merritt University.
We’ve pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. We’ve also included details on how Samuel Merritt University ranks compared to other colleges offering a major in nursing.
Nursing Degrees Available at Samuel Merritt University
- Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
- Master’s Degree in Nursing
- Doctorate Degree in Nursing
Samuel Merritt University Nursing Rankings
Ranked at #2 in College Factual’s most recent rankings, Samuel Merritt University is in the top 1% of the country for nursing students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. It is also ranked #1 in California.
| Ranking Type | Rank |
|---|---|
| Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools | 1 |
| Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools | 1 |
| Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools | 4 |
| Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 17 |
| Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 22 |
| Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 39 |
| Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 56 |
| Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 69 |
| Most Popular Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 161 |
| Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 340 |
| Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 548 |
| Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing | 633 |
Popularity of Nursing at Samuel Merritt University
During the 2019-2020 academic year, Samuel Merritt University handed out 529 bachelor’s degrees in nursing. Due to this, the school was ranked #37 in popularity out of all colleges and universities that offer this degree. This is an increase of 0% over the previous year when 527 degrees were handed out.
In 2020, 242 students received their master’s degree in nursing from Samuel Merritt University. This makes it the #27 most popular school for nursing master’s degree candidates in the country.
In addition, 15 students received their doctoral degrees in nursing in 2020, making the school the #153 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.
How Much Do Nursing Graduates from Samuel Merritt University Make?
$102,400BACHELOR’S MEDIAN SALARY$130,700MASTER’S MEDIAN SALARY
Salary of Nursing Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree
Nursing majors who earn their bachelor’s degree from Samuel Merritt University go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $102,400 a year. This is great news for graduates of the program, since this figure is higher than the national average of $61,050 for all nursing bachelor’s degree recipients.
Salary of Nursing Graduates with a Master’s Degree
Graduates of the master’s nursing program at Samuel Merritt University make a median salary of $130,700. This is a better than average outcome since the median salary for all nursing graduates with a master’s is $93,100.
Leave a Reply