School of Nursing

Department Head: Dr. Elizabeth Gulledge, Chief Nursing Administrator

JSU South Complex

Accredited by: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street, NW Suite 750
Washington, DC, 20001
(202) 887-6791

The Jacksonville State University School of Nursing is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing, which entitles its graduates to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). 

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Jacksonville State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Students begin the nursing program by taking core requirement courses. A separate application is filed to request assessment into the clinical portion (upper division) of nursing. The school assesses students for eligibility for the upper division nursing program in the spring and fall of each year. The deadline for submission of applications for assessment to the upper division program of nursing is June 1st for fall and October 1st for spring. Late applications are not accepted. Only students who have been admitted to Jacksonville State University and who meet eligibility requirements may apply for assessment into the upper division nursing program. Those planning to apply for assessment into the upper division nursing program should contact the Senior Lead Advisor/Director of Academic Services in the College of Health Professions and Wellness well in advance of the application deadline in order to confirm eligibility.

Entry into the upper division of nursing requires completion of all core requirement courses with a core requirement grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or above and a minimum grade of “C” in each core requirement course. Once a passing grade of “C” or above has been earned in a course, that course cannot be repeated for a higher grade. Students who do not meet the above standards are not eligible to apply for assessment into upper division. Each student’s record will be assessed for completion of core requirements and as a basis for approval to enter the upper division. The review process may include a personal interview with the candidate, a background check, contact with personal references, and, if the student has been enrolled in other nursing programs, contact with previous nursing faculty. The assessment process may also include evaluation of essential academic skills and critical thinking. Students must have a current ACT score of 20 (within five years). Students who have English as a second language must present a minimum score on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam taken within four years. To be eligible for assessment into upper division, minimum scores are: 560 for TOEFL Written (paper based), 220 for TOEFL CBT (computer based), or 83 for iBT (internet based). Students native to countries where English is a commonly used language and/or those who have been living in a country for many years where English is a primary spoken language may request a waiver of this requirement. A student who has been enrolled in any upper division nursing program (RN or LPN) and was unsuccessful in progressing satisfactorily in that program is not eligible to apply. The School of Nursing reserves the right to limit the number of students enrolled in nursing courses in order to make the most effective use of the educational resources available. Because of limited resources, eligibility for the program is competitive; all students who qualify may not be selected. Students must comply with all School of Nursing policies for entrance into and continuation in the nursing program, which include, but are not limited to, a clear criminal background check and drug screen.

The student is advised to review qualifications for licensure as well as grounds for denial of licensure before beginning the nursing major. Qualifications for RN licensure by examination in Alabama include:

• high school graduation or the equivalent, as determined by the Board
• good moral character
• successful completion of requirements for graduation from a Board-approved registered nurse program.

While an applicant may meet the above qualifications, final approval to take the licensure examination and become licensed in Alabama is subject to action by the Board of Nursing.

Nursing