FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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1. What are the admissions requirements for the Nursing Science major at UCI as a freshman?
Students who wish to be considered for the major must first be admitted to UCI. Students interested in entering as freshmen must complete two years of high school laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three core disciplines: biology, chemistry and physics. Advanced laboratory science classes that have biology, chemistry or physics as prerequisites and offer substantial additional material may be used to fulfill this requirement. The final two years of an approved three-year integrated science program (ISP) may be used to fulfill this requirement. Students must earn Cs or higher in order to fulfill their subject requirements. Students with the highest combination of overall grade point average (GPA), GPA in science courses, and scores on the SAT or ACT examinations will be given priority during the admission process.
2. What are the admissions requirements for the Nursing Science major at UCI as a transfer?
The number of transfer students that can be admitted to the Nursing Science major is limited and selective. In addition to satisfying University requirements for admission with advanced standing, eligible applicants seeking admission to the major from colleges other than UCI must complete a year of general chemistry with laboratory and a year of biological sciences equivalent to Biological Sciences 93 and 97 with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Applicants must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered. Ideally, students will complete all courses prerequisite to junior standing as well as UCI general education requirements. Students with the highest overall GPA and satisfactory completion of course prerequisites will be given priority.
3. What is the minimum GPA for a transfer?
We expect transfers to have completed the University requirements for admission with advanced standing along with the appropriate prerequisite courses with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
4. What facilities are used for the clinical practicums?
Clinical practicum components will be completed at the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange as well as regional hospitals and health care centers in the Orange County area. Also, the Student Training Center, located in the School of Medicine on the UCI campus, serves as a simulation center for clinical care. Students are responsible for transportation to off-campus clinical sites.
5. Is the program a degree completion program?
The undergraduate program is a four-year undertaking, culminating with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Nursing Science. While we hope to offer a degree completion program in the future, the undergraduate program is a pre-licensure endeavor.
6. Can I take classes at UCI as an LVN?
The Program in Nursing Science has designed a 45 unit option for LVNs interested in attaining Registered Nurse status. Please note that completing the required courses will allow LVNs to sit for the National Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), but students will not receive an academic degree. Contact the Student Affairs Officer to discuss completion of the required courses.
7. Can you attend the program part time?
Completion of the required courses in four years requires full-time study. Required classes for the major are rigidly sequenced and demand a full-time schedule; because most classes follow a steadfast order of prerequisites, completion of each course during the quarter assigned is necessary for a timely graduation. Both lecture and laboratory hours and requirements are scheduled around a full-time course load. Students must take a minimum of 12 units per quarter to achieve full-time status.
8. Do I graduate as an RN?
Students who have completed all courses required for the major in good academic standing will receive the BS degree in Nursing Science. Students will be eligible to take the National Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to attain RN status in California.
9. If you are not accepted into the nursing program, are you accepted into UCI?
Students interested in applying to the program must first be accepted to UCI. Those who choose to apply to the program should have a back-up major planned if they are not accepted to the program. The first quarter course load gives prospective students flexibility in determining electives that can serve as prerequisites for other non-selective majors. Transfer students must also meet the University requirements for admission; not being accepted into the nursing program will not bar one’s entrance into UCI.
10. Can I apply to the program as a baccalaureate student?
Due to strict limits on the number of students who can be admitted to the program and rigid sequencing of upper division curriculum, major changes for baccalaureate students will ordinarily be considered only in the summer immediately preceding the sophomore and junior years. Major change students must satisfy the minimum University requirements (minimum 2.0 GPA and a minimum quarterly GPA of 2.0 in the quarter immediately preceding the change of major) to be considered for a major change. Students entering as sophomores must complete all first-year prerequisite courses for the Nursing Science major with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Students entering as juniors must meet these requirements as well as satisfy the second year prerequisite course load. Please refer to the admissions section for further information.
11. How do I apply to the program?
All applicants are required to submit a supplemental application that includes a brief personal statement and one letter of recommendation. Students must first be accepted to the University of California, Irvine to be considered for the Program in Nursing Science. Application information for the University of California, Irvine is available at http://www.admissions.uci.edu/ . The supplemental application for the Program in Nursing Science is available on this website.
12. Is financial aid available for Nursing Science students?
All students are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid. Many programs are available specifically to nursing science students, including scholarships, grants, loans, and loan repayment options. Awards may be need-based or merit-based. Please contact the University Office of Financial Aid at www.ofas.uci.edu for detailed information and listings of financial aid availability.
