Nursing, AS

The Associate in Science in Nursing Program is offered at two sites - at the Main Campus in Columbia, Missouri, and at the Lake of the Ozarks Campus in Osage Beach, Missouri. The program is open to individuals who have no prior nursing education and to individuals who hold a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) license.

The program is designed to prepare the graduate for a nurse generalist role. Graduates are awarded an Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) degree and are eligible to take the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) upon completion of the program.¹

The curriculum consists of general education, mathematics and science courses, and specific nursing courses. Students are required to complete all of the general education, mathematics, and science courses before entering the Nursing Course Sequence.

Admission to the nursing program is on a selective basis. Cohort sizes and selection deadlines vary by location:

1. Lake of the Ozarks campus in Osage Beach selection are made each September. For students starting in the nursing program in May, selections are made in March. Deadline for program application due by February 28th.
2. Main Campus in Columbia, Missouri selections are made each March and June. The application deadline is February 28th for students who plan to start in the nursing program in May. The application deadline is June 15th for student who plan to start in the nursing program in August. Class cohorts consist of non-LPNs and LPNs. 

Selection criteria for the Nursing Course Sequence:

1. Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in the general education and prerequisite courses listed below, and be in good academic standing with Columbia College. A minimum grade of C is required for all prerequisite courses. All pre-requisites need to have been taken within seven years of the start of the cohort being applied to.
2.  Possess the necessary functional abilities to provide safe and effective patient care.²
3. LPN students must submit a copy of their LPN license (current and undisciplined) for the state of Missouri.
4. Minimum score of 67% on the Kaplan admission test. The test can only be taken two times.

Additional requirements for those selected for the nursing program:

• Urine drug test
• Physical forms, including documentation of immunizations/titers
• Current CPR certification by the American Heart Association, Health Care Providers course, or the American Red Cross
• Criminal background check

Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Provide safe, compassionate, and competent patient-centered care across the lifespan in various healthcare settings, while demonstrating cultural sensitivity and recognizing cultural diversity.
2. Utilize sound clinical judgment and critical thinking skills to make evidence-based decisions in nursing practice.
3. Effectively communicate and collaborate with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team to promote positive patient outcomes.
4. Incorporate information technology and informatic principles to promote patient safety.
5. Adhere to ethical, legal, and professional standards in nursing practice.
6. Implement strategies to promote health and prevent disease at the individual and community level.
7. Understand the nurse’s role within the healthcare system, identify opportunities for leadership at the ASN level.
8. Engage in activities which promote professional development and lifelong learning.