FAQs Regarding the 2018 Accelerated Nursing Program at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota

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Felicity Alexander
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1 FAQs Regarding the 2018 Accelerated Nursing Program at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota What is an accelerated nursing program? The accelerated nursing program is for graduates who have completed a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing major and who intend to pursue a major in nursing. Do I obtain a second baccalaureate degree after I have completed the accelerated program? No. Concordia College does not confer a baccalaureate degree since the degree has already been earned. Upon completion of the accelerated nursing program, the individual will have acquired another major at the baccalaureate level. For example, the individual will have a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing major from a college/university where the degree was earned with a major in nursing. Do I need to be admitted to the college before applying for the accelerated nursing program? No. The general application for admission to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota is not completed until the applicant has been accepted into the nursing program. If I am an LPN or have my associate degree in nursing or in a non-nursing major, can I apply to the accelerated nursing program? No. This program is only for individuals who have already acquired a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing major. This is not a ladder program for LPN to BSN students. I completed my baccalaureate degree outside of the United States. What do I need to know to apply to the accelerated nursing program at Concordia College? Our nursing program is State Board approved to build on an earned baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing major from an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States. Individuals who do not meet the criteria are encouraged to discuss interest in application with the Nursing Department Chair. Am I eligible to sit for the professional registered nurse (RN) licensure examination to practice as a baccalaureate-prepared RN? Yes. Successful completion of this program with an existing baccalaureate degree results in the equivalent of baccalaureate preparation in nursing. When does this program start and how long does it run? Admitted students begin the major in July, the summer of application. Coursework is completed over approximately 16 months to finish in the following December. Students complete the coursework and clinical requirements in a sequential, lock-step fashion. When can I apply? Application materials will be accepted in the Nursing Department between January 9 th and June 30 th. Applicants are considered based on a rolling admission basis that begins in January and closes when the cohort fills, or on June 30 th, if unfilled. This means that qualified applicants who complete the process earlier in the application timeframe will have a better chance of being admitted since decisions are made as application reviews are completed. Students are admitted only once a year. 1

2 How do I apply to the accelerated nursing program? Complete and submit the online application. After receiving confirmation that your application was received, you may then submit all remaining materials to the Nursing Department at Concordia College. *Note: Sealed transcripts (with an official signature or stamp across the seal) are to be mailed directly to the Nursing Department from all institutions of higher learning that you have attended. References are to be sent directly to the Nursing Department from your evaluators. Applications are revised annually. Submit the current 2018 Application for the Accelerated Nursing Program. Applications will be available on the website in December 2017 for rolling admission between the January 9, 2018 and June 30, 2018 timeframe. What are the requirements for admission to the accelerated nursing program? Baccalaureate degree must be completed to be eligible to apply to the nursing program. The minimum GPA to be considered for application is a 2.5 cumulative GPA which includes all completed post high school course work and a 3.0 selective GPA for all prerequisite courses. (See prerequisite courses below). All prerequisite coursework must be completed by the time of application to the nursing program. All prerequisite courses must be a minimum of 3 semester credits each. All biology and chemistry prerequisite courses must include labs. Labs must be noted on the transcript or verified by a) a course syllabus, b) a college catalogue, or c) a letter from the college s Registrar s office. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better (not pass/fail). Online college-level courses are acceptable from accredited institutions. It is highly recommended that prerequisite coursework is completed within 5 years of application to provide a strong foundation for coursework in the major. Preference will be given to those who have completed coursework within the last five years. Applicants MUST meet all of the criteria for admission to be considered for acceptance. What are the college-level prerequisite course requirements for the nursing program that are included in the selective GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)? Psychology Nutrition Human Anatomy and Physiology, including a lab (must cover all body systems) Microbiology, including a lab Chemistry (Introductory Chemistry or higher, including a lab; Allied Health or Survey of Chemistry courses are accepted; a course that addresses organic and/or biochemistry content is highly recommended in preparation for coursework in the major) Mathematics (College Algebra, Statistics, or a higher level math) 2

3 What do I need to submit for application to the nursing program? Application materials to be submitted include the following: o Application form o One-page resume o Two references o Official sealed transcript(s) (with an official signature or stamp across the seal) must be submitted to verify completion of a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing major and to confirm completion of all prerequisite coursework. These are required by the deadline or the applicant is not eligible. The transcripts must be mailed DIRECTLY to the NURSING DEPARTMENT at Concordia College or they may not be received. Electronic copies from Clearinghouses must be sent directly to the nursing department as well. Non-refundable application fee of $50.00 made payable to Concordia College Department of Nursing. When all application materials have been received in the Nursing Department, the applicant will receive an to schedule completion of the essay, which is the final step in the application process. How do I know when my application is reviewed? The date the essay is completed is the date the application is posted for review in the admission process. Applications will be reviewed only after all materials have been received in the Nursing Department and the essay is completed. It is the applicant s responsibility to make sure all application materials are received in the Nursing Department. When do I find out if I have been admitted to the program? Applicants will be notified of admission to the nursing program within four to five weeks of review of the completed application process. Upon acceptance, students will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of $250. This fee is applied towards programmatic expenses for resources based on the number of students who have accepted their offer of admission. How many students are admitted each year? How many applicants are there for the cohort each year? A cohort of up to 12 students is admitted to the accelerated nursing program each year. Specific data regarding number of applicants to the program are not shared as the number varies each year. The program is competitive for admission based on application criteria and the rolling admission process. When does the program start? The program begins mid-july, 2018 and runs through December, Is this an on-line program? No. None of the courses in the nursing program are offered on-line at Concordia College. Students attend classes on a "traditional" student schedule during the academic year and during summer sessions. Do I need to complete my prerequisite coursework at Concordia College? 3

4 No. Prerequisites may be completed at any accredited academic institution of higher learning and must be taken for a passing letter grade of C- or better (pass/fail grading is not accepted for prerequisite courses). Can my transcripts be reviewed before the application period? No. We are not able to review transcripts of individuals who inquire about the major due to the large number of requests. Transcripts will be reviewed as a part of the actual application process. Guidelines specific to prerequisite coursework are provided on the website. Is it difficult to get into the nursing program at Concordia College? Admission to the accelerated nursing program is competitive and based on GPA and the other application requirements (references, word processed essay, and resume). Does my experience in the health care field or a related major improve my chances of being admitted? We do not require students to be Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Baccalaureate-prepared nurses function under a completely different scope and standard of practice. Experience in these areas does not improve or decrease an applicant s chances of admission to the program. The type of major completed with the earned baccalaureate degree does not have any influence on the chance of being admitted to the program. We do not give preference to applicants based on the school in which their baccalaureate degree was conferred. References that provide evidence of strength across all listed applicant evaluation criteria are important indicators of relevant experience for the program. What is the tuition? Is there financial aid available? It is the applicant s responsibility to be aware of program tuition and financial aid availability prior to application to the program and submitting the application affirms that the applicant is able to meet the financial requirements of the program. Please see our website. Refer to the CC Catalog online for information regarding tuition and programmatic fees at: Questions related to tuition and financial aid are addressed through the Business and Financial Aid Offices on campus. They can be contacted by calling the Enrollment Office at and by requesting a transfer to the Business or Financial Aid Office. Direct calls may be made to the Business Office at and the Financial Aid Office at Scholarships may be available through regional health systems but they are provided independent of the Nursing Department or Concordia College. It is the applicant s responsibility to seek out these scholarship opportunities on their own. Is transportation provided to and from clinical sites? No. While students commonly ride-share to reduce the number of vehicles parked at clinical sites for group events, students also have clinical experiences that will require individual transportation. Transportation is not provided by the nursing department. In addition, students should not rely on the use of Uber, taxis, or public transportation as a dependable means of transport. Who do I contact if I have additional questions about the accelerated nursing program? 4

5 Contact Kristi Jarolimek (Nursing Department Office Assistant) at for questions regarding the application or essay. Contact Dr. Jean Bokinskie (Chair of the Nursing Department) at for other program-specific questions. 5

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