1. BSN Curriculum Course Order Matters!
Created by Academic Advising Services
of Northwestern State University of Louisiana
updated July 2019

2. Sequencing YOUr Courses
Due to strictly enforced prerequisites for nursing courses taken prior to clinical, skipping courses in the first semesters will delay your progression and formal admission to clinical.
BSN curriculum checklists are available at this link:

3. NURB 3030 & 3050 Prerequisites
Students must complete all courses listed in the first two semesters of the curriculum pattern and must earn a grade of “C” or better in all math, biology and chemistry courses to be eligible for NURB 3030 and Students also must have a 2.7 GPA (or above in the first two semesters) to qualify for enrollment in 3030 & 3050.

4. NURB 3030 and 3050 are the first required nursing courses and are listed in the third semester of the BSN curriculum pattern.

5. NURB 3030 & 3050 Prerequisites
Additional requirements for registration:  Students must complete all courses listed in the 1st year and have completed or be concurrently enrolled in other courses listed in the 3rd semester.  Students must have a 2.7 or higher GPA on all BSN courses pursued (see how to calculate your nursing GPA PowerPoint on the Academic Advising Services website).

6. What are your options if your 1st year GPA is less than 2.7?
1. Take required non-nursing courses listed in the last five semesters of the curriculum checklist to improve your BSN GPA:
2. Take a different course for requirements with options if grade is lower than a “B” since course with higher grade will be used in GPA calculation. i.e. Take GEOG 1010 to replace “C” in ANTH 1510
3. Consider repeating required courses with grades lower than “B”.
Behavioral Science (see set of options)
3 hrs.
Nutrition 1030 (General Nutrition)
3 hrs
Psychology 4400 (Statistics)
Fine Arts 1040 (Exploring the Arts)
History 1010, 1020, 2010 or 2020

7. What are other options?
If taking extra courses or repeating courses is not sufficient enough to bring nursing GPA above 2.7 ? Some students have considered alternative career paths/major options such as: Social Work Psychology Health & Exercise Science Child Development & Family Relations