Nursing, B.S.

Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing offers students a direct-entry bachelor of science in nursing program with state-of-the-art classrooms and clinical labs, study abroad opportunities, excellent clinical experiences in a wide variety of settings and a low student-to-faculty ratio for all clinical courses.  

SLU's undergraduate nursing students can begin their nursing curriculum during their very first semester on campus with NURS 1400 Introduction to Nursing. Later, you’ll learn to respond to the most common events nurses encounter, including chest pains, congestive heart failure, dehydration, confusion and asthma, in our innovative simulation lab. You’ll begin these practice lab experiences in the fall semester of your sophomore year and begin clinical experiences in the spring. You’ll also complete clinical experiences across all major nursing specialties throughout the program.

The Trudy Busch-Valentine School of Nursing is renowned for excellence in nursing education. In 2020, 91% of our graduates passed the NCLEX on their first try. In 2021, Niche ranked Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing as the No. 8 best college in the country for nursing. Additionally, U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks our MSN-NP program as a top 50 program in their Best Graduate Schools survey.

Curriculum Overview

In order to complete all required courses for SLU's B.S.N. degree within four undergraduate years, curriculum guides are provided to students, along with the assistance of academic advisors and faculty mentors. The curriculum consists of science and nursing courses as well as the core curriculum courses required by the Valentine School of Nursing and Saint Louis University, providing students with a well-rounded liberal arts education background.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

SSM Health and other St. Louis-area hospitals offer internships and fellowship programs for students enrolled in SLU's B.S.N. program. Through these programs, our students work in a clinical specialty area with a nurse preceptor. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital also recruits SLU's B.S.N. students at all levels to work as patient care technicians while enrolled in the nursing program. You may also choose to intern at hospitals in your hometown.

Careers

Nursing graduates are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN, an exam that measures the competencies needed to perform as an effective entry-level nurse. The Valentine School of Nursing expects its graduates to be successfully hired after graduation or accepted into graduate programs.

Admission Requirements

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to our University’s and school’s mission and goals. While we do consider academic metrics we also look at applicant experiences, attributes, potential for success, and how applicants may contribute to the school’s learning environment and to the profession.

Licensure Disclosure

The curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Missouri.  Note that the Missouri Board of Nursing may impose additional requirements on candidates prior to granting a license; we encourage you to investigate these requirements.

The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing has not determined whether the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for nursing licensure in any other states or territories. We encourage you to investigate the requirements in your state or territory prior to accepting an offer of admission at the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.

Freshman Applicants

High school seniors applying for admission are reviewed on a competitive, holistic and individual basis. The best-qualified students are selected from the application pool with a required minimum high school GPA of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale, with an emphasis on math and science. Standardized test scores are optional but are preferred. 

Please note that all nursing students sit for multiple exams throughout the course of their studies at SLU, culminating in the state board of nursing NCLEX exam at the end of the program. All applicants to nursing should be aware that while a standardized test score is not required for admission to the program (international applicants may be required to submit proof of English proficiency), standardized tests (during your undergraduate experience and NCLEX) are required to become a practicing nurse.

Strong applicants will have: 

• Four years of math (with math courses equivalent to algebra or advanced algebra) ​
• Four years of science (including one year of biology; one year of chemistry)
• Activities demonstrating leadership, community service and community involvement 
• If you choose to submit a test score, please note that the minimum requirement for admission consideration is a 24 ACT/1160 SAT and our ACT/SAT average for students entering the program in Fall 2020 was a 28 ACT/1310 SAT.

The deadline for completed Nursing applications for all freshmen is Dec. 1.

An official high school transcript must be submitted. Students must earn a high school diploma from an accredited school or have an acceptable score on the General Education Development Test (GED) prior to starting classes. Extracurricular activities are considered in the admission decision.

Transfer Applicants

Entry into the traditional nursing program for external transfer students is extremely limited and is wholly dependent on space availability in the program, which in some years results in no external transfer students being admitted. In years where space is available, there are more applicants than spots available, so entry is not guaranteed.  Please contact the Valentine School of Nursing recruitment specialist at slunurse@slu.edu regarding the availability to transfer.

4-Year BSN Transfer Requirements

• GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Successful completion of Human Anatomy and Human Physiology or Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 and Human Anatomy and Physiology 2, Chemistry, and Lifespan Human Growth and Development is recommended.
• Extracurricular activities are considered in admission decisions. The transfer application deadline for fall is April 1.

1-Year Accelerated BSN Transfer Opportunity

All undergraduate students who have earned at least 77 credit hours and completed specific course prerequisite requirements may be eligible to apply for the junior entry accelerated option. This program would begin in the summer semester directly after the junior year. Please contact the Valentine School of Nursing recruitment specialist at slunurse@slu.edu regarding this opportunity.

Current Students

Students who enroll as new freshmen at Saint Louis University in a college or school other than nursing and wish to change their major to nursing will be the second group considered for admission after the students who enrolled as new freshmen in the Valentine School of Nursing and must fulfill the following requirements for consideration:

• A 3.20 GPA or higher on a 4.00 scale.
• Ability to demonstrate successful completion of science courses, preferably at Saint Louis University.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit www.slu.edu/financial-aid.

1. Graduates will be able to relate to people as unique individuals possessing worth, dignity, and potential for self-actualization.
2. Graduates will be able to synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from the humanities and natural, social, behavioral, and nursing sciences to provide safe, effective nursing care.
3. Graduates will be able to establish relationships based on an understanding of self and others, and of interpersonal and group dynamics.
4. Graduates will be able to practice in a variety of settings with clients of all ages and diverse sociocultural backgrounds.
5. Graduates will be able to utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills, in the application of the nursing process, to achieve optimal client adaptation.
6. Graduates will be able to assist clients, at any point on the health-illness continuum, to mobilize and use adaptive resources for promotion, maintenance and restoration of health.
7. Graduates will be able to collaborate with interprofessional colleagues, community representatives and consumers to enhance health care.
8. Graduates will be able to apply evidence-based knowledge as the basis for safe, effective nursing practice.
9. Graduates will be able to apply the professional code of ethics and professional standards to clinical practice.
10. Graduates will be able to demonstrate personal and professional responsibility, accountability and self-direction.
11. Graduates will be able to demonstrate leadership principles in professional and interprofessional practice.
12. Graduates will be able to demonstrate understanding of health care policy issues, trends and strategies as they influence accessibility, accountability and affordability in health care delivery.
13. Graduates will be able to utilize appropriate information and health care technologies to enhance the delivery of client care.

Continuation Standards

The Valentine School of Nursing requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

†

5 credits can be general education electives, IPE courses, or additional nursing electives.  Students who choose IPE 2100 Interprofessional Collaboration and Healthcare in Global Context (3 cr) will earn a concentration in IPE.

University Core Curriculum

Beginning in Fall 2022, all incoming SLU undergraduates—regardless of major, program, college or school—will complete the University Core curriculum. You can find more information about the Common Core here.

Licensure Examination

Per section 335.066 RSMo of the Missouri Nursing Practice Act: Completion of the nursing program does not guarantee eligibility to take the licensure examination.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact the Valentine School of Nursing's recruitment and enrollment staff:

Undergraduate Inquiries
314-977-8995 
slunurse@slu.edu 

Graduate Inquiries
314-977-8976 
gradnurse@slu.edu