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2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

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Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Second Degree

The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) second degree (SD) Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is for individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university and wish to pursue a B.S.N. degree. KCON's accelerated SD B.S.N. Program is designed for full-time study and is delivered in a hybrid format. KCON accepts applications and admits students to the SD B.S.N. program three times a year (winter, summer, and fall).

Admissions Requirements

  • Acceptance into Grand Valley State University as a degree seeking undergraduate student.
  • The applicants first bachelor's degree must be earned and officially verified by the first day of the professional nursing program.
  • Overall GPA: Applicants must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 for admission consideration. This overall GPA includes grades in all college-level courses (graduate and undergraduate).
  • Prerequisite GPA: Applicants must also achieve a minimum GPA of 2.7 in the required prerequisite courses with a grade of 'C' (2.0) or better in each course. Only the courses specified as prerequisites will be used to calculate this GPA.
    • Applicants must adhere to the KCON course repeat policy, which allows students to repeat a maximum of three prerequisite courses, two of which can be BMS, CHM, or BIO. No prerequisite course may be repeated more than once.
  • In addition, BMS 305, BMS 310, and STA 215 must be completed with a minimum grade of "C" before starting the professional nursing program.

Admission to the SD B.S.N. Program is highly competitive and a student may not be admitted if only meeting the minimum requirements. Additional information about the admissions process, including application deadlines, can be found on the KCON website at https://www.gvsu.edu/kcon/baccalaureate-program-admissions-process-sd-402.htm

Prior to beginning KCON clinical courses, students must complete comprehensive health compliance requirements including, but not limited to, a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and drug screening. It is the responsibility of the student to establish and maintain all compliance requirements. Clinical sites can refuse to accept students who have not successfully completed all GVSU health requirements as well as those who have received exemptions through GVSU. Because clinical sites have the right to refuse a student's placement based on their health compliance status this may negatively impact a student's ability to progress in the B.S.N. program and subsequently graduate. Please note: If there is illegal activity in the background check/fingerprinting or if there is evidence of one or more prohibited substance(s) in the drug test, the clinical sites have the right to refuse a student's placement, which may negatively impact a student's ability to progress in the B.S.N. program and subsequently graduate.

In addition, all State Boards of Nursing review records of all graduates who have completed a nursing program to determine eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN). All State Boards of Nursing retain the right to deny a B.S.N. graduate permission to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination if convicted of a crime.

States/Jurisdictions Where KCON's Prelicensure B.S.N. Curriculum Meets State Educational Requirements for Professional Licensure:

The prelicensure (Traditional and Second Degree) nursing programs at Grand Valley State University's Kirkhof College of Nursing (GVSU KCON) position you to earn your Bachelor of Science in nursing (B.S.N.) degree and thereby gain eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) in the State of Michigan. Upon successfully passing the NCLEX-RN, the KCON nursing graduate achieves legal authority to practice under the protected title of registered nurse (RN) in the State of Michigan.

KCON B.S.N. prelicensure graduates seeking to practice as an RN in a state other than Michigan must meet the requirements of that state. GVSU KCON has not made a determination on whether its curriculum meets the educational requirements of all states/jurisdictions. To view board of nursing professional licensure requirements by state of interest, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing at https://ncsbn.org/membership/us-members/contact-bon.page.

All courses listed as follows must be completed by SD B.S.N. students with a minimum grade of C (2.0). In addition, continued progression through the nursing major requires a minimum grade of C (2.0) in corequisite and nursing courses. All required courses for the nursing major must be taken for graded credit, with the exception of some clinical nursing courses that are designated as credit/no-credit.

Prerequisite Admission Courses

Admission prerequisite courses that must be completed before applying to the SD B.S.N. program (21 credits).

Courses to be completed prior to the start of the SD BSN nursing program (9 credits).

Required Courses (53-55 credits)

Suggested Order of Coursework

Semester One (14 credits)

Semester Two (12.5-14.5 credits)

Semester Three (13.5 credits)

Semester Four (13 credits)

To progress in the B.S.N. program, a minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in the prerequisite, required, corequisite, and all nursing courses.

A grade less than a C (2.0) is considered a failure in all required B.S.N. courses. Students who fail more than one required course will not be allowed to remain in the program. Withdrawal from a course when "not in good standing" will be considered a course failure regardless of when the withdrawal occurs.

Minimum Number of Hours for Graduation: Completion of 55 credits in the SD nursing curriculum is required for the B.S.N. degree or 53 credits if approved to take NUR 356 instead of NUR 352.

Nursing Program Description

Click here for the program description.


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