Admission to the baccalaureate degree in nursing major does not guarantee admission to the upper division.
Progression is competitive, based on progression GPA and interview score. Progression to upper division is limited to a set number of qualified students based on available clinical faculty and clinical placement sites. Factors considered in the progression decision include:
- A progression GPA (which consists of all designated (*) courses below) of 3.000 or higher.
- Institutional GPA of 3.000 or higher.
- Grade forgiveness will not be recognized in the GPA calculation.
- No more than 1 science course or lower division nursing course with a grade of below C.
- A grade of “C” or better is required in all designated (*) courses by the end of the term in which application is made to upper division.
- A completed Parallel Plan on file with your nursing advisor by the application deadline.
- Completion of all designated (*) general education and lower division courses by the end of the term in which application is made to upper division.
- An application must be submitted by the application deadline.
- Completion of interview process by the application deadline.
Progression Decision Factors
- A progression GPA (which consists of all designated (*) courses below) of 3.000 or higher.
- Institutional GPA of 3.000 or higher.
- No more than one science course or lower division nursing course with a grade of below "C".
- A grade of "C" or better is required in all designated (*) courses by the end of the term in which applicaiton is made to upper division.
- The BSN program recognizes the University grade forgiveness policy. Details on the grade forgiveness policy can be found here.
- A completed Parallell Plan on file with your nursing advisor by the application deadline.
- Completion of all designated (*) general education and lower division, pre-nursing, courses by the end of the term in which applicaiton is made to upper division.
- An application must be submitted by the applicaiton deadline.
- Completion of interview process by the applicaiton deadline.
Progression Courses (Effective Fall 2024 and beyond)
- BIOL 243* & BIOL 243L*
- BIOL 244* * BIOL 244L*
- BIOL 250* & BIOL 250L*
- CHEM 102*
- NURS 112*
- NURS 216*
Course descriptions are listed in the undergraduate academic bulletin.
Upper Division Application Process
Meeting the minimum admission criteria (GPA of 3.000) does not guarantee admission to upper division.
- Students accepted to upper division will begin upper division courses in the summer or fall following their second spring semester in lower division (pre-nursing). Students should be prepared to start upper division in the summer term. There is no guarantee students will be placed in their preferred term.
- Students are encouraged to investigate their financial aid/scholarship/funding sources in preparation for their upper division start, specifically investigating available funding sources for starting upper division in the summer term.
- Approximately 270 competitive admission seats may be available each progression cycle based upon clinical availability.
- Smart Start Nursing Honors Program students who meet eligibility requirements are automatically accepted into the upper division but are still required to complete the application process.
- ROTC students who meet eligibility requirements are automatically accepted into the upper division but are still required to complete the application process.
- All accepted upper division applicants are notified no later than early February via email.
- The average nursing progression GPA of admitted applicants into upper division for the last (3) progression cycles was 3.696.
- A complete application must be submitted by the published deadline.
- A complete interview must be submitted by the published deadline.
Students who are not accepted into the upper division should speak with USC Exploratory Advising if interested in another major. If a student chooses to reapply to the upper division, it is recommended the student speak with their assigned nursing advisor regarding the feasibility of reapplication. Students who plan to reapply to upper division must submit a new application during the next admission cycle and will enter the new admission cycle applicant pool.
Accepted Students
All accepted upper division students must attend a College of Nursing upper division orientation held on a Saturday in March. This session will provide an overview of the upper division BSN curriculum, clinical information, review of required clinical health information, scrubs, equipment ordering, and advisement. Details regarding the mandatory upper division orientation session will be included in the acceptance notification email. The upper division orientation session is restricted to students only.