Governors State University and Prairie State College are proud to present the GSU /PSC Nursing Pathway. This blended degree program offers all the benefits of earning both Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing without the mystery of having to navigate course or transfer requirements between programs at different schools. GSU and PSC have designed this partnership so that obtaining your desired educational outcome is easier than it has ever been. This partnership is for freshmen only. Admitted freshmen would complete their first 4 semesters at GSU completing General Education courses required for the RN program at Prairie State College. GSU does not offer an RN program.
Who is eligible ? Freshman admitted to GSU for Fall semester start.
What happens next?
1. Students
will need to attend ""New Student Orientation"" and register for the
courses required for the Nursing Pathway program.
2. Students will be required to attend a Nursing Pathways informational meeting during the Fall semester of freshman year.
3. Students will be required to apply to Prairie State College during the Spring semester of freshman year.
4. Students must continue meeting the benchmarks of the Nursing Pathways program to stay in the Nursing Pathways program.
Highlights of the program
include:
First Year: You’ll take general education and
prerequisite courses for both the AAS Nursing and BSN.
Second Year: You’ll complete the seven credit
hour course to become a Certified Nursing Assistant — being a CNA is a
requirement for admission for the AAS Nursing program. Credit is awarded by PSC
and taught by PSC faculty. However, through the GSU / PSC Nursing Pathway, you’ll
have an exclusive opportunity to complete the CNA course. * Apply for the PSC AAS-Nursing program by February 1st of your second year at GSU.
Third and Fourth Years: As you start PSC Nursing program, you’ll
take coursework to complete the general education and elective requirements at
GSU. Prior to the fall of the fifth year of students
take the NCLEX-RN examination while transitioning into the GSU's BSN program.
Prairie State AAS-Nursing program students have a 90% first time NCLEX-RN pass
rate. Students successfully completing the AAS Nursing degree at PSC and
earning the RN are guaranteed admission to the GSU BSN program.
Fifth Year: The final year is completed fully online to allow students to start working as a Nurse. Additionally you attend full time and move
through the program as it is designed, you will earn your Bachelor’s Degree in
Nursing from GSU in the summer semester of your fifth year.
Important Things to Know about Nursing Pathways?
1. Nursing Pathways is a daytime / full-time lock step program. Schedules are locked and may not have flexibility.
2. Completing the Nursing Pathway requirements does not guarantee admission into Prairie State College's Nursing program.
3. Students may continue to live on-campus at GSU once they start the Prairie State College's Nursing program.
4. Governors State University will work with each student to make sure they know their funding options while they are in the Nursing Pathways program.
Benchmarks for Continued Participation
Note to Nursing Pathway students: Students must have the following by Feb 1 of the application year.
| | Governors State Advisor | Prairie State Advisor | Governors State Nursing Department | Prairie State Nursing Department |
| GPA | Must maintain 2.5 or greater GPA each semester. |
| Course Requirements | • Must pass ENGL-1000 by the end of year one/ freshman year with a "C" or better. • Must pass MATH-2100 by the end of year one/ freshman year with a "C" or better. • Must pass Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (Biology 2200 & Biology 2201) earn a "C" or better by the end of the Spring semester year one/freshman year. At GSU, General Biology 1500 and General Biology Lab 1501 must be completed and passed with a "C" or better prior to enrolling in Anatomy and Physiology I BIO 2200 & BIO 2201 w/Lab. Must also complete Prairie State College's CNA course by the end of Fall semester year two/ sophomore year with a "C" or better. • Must pass BIOL 211-Microbiology at Prairie State College with a "C" or better year one/ Summer semester. At GSU, General Biology 1500 and General Biology Lab 1501 must be completed prior to enrolling in BIOL 211 at Prairie State College. • Must Pass Anatomy and Physiology II w/lab (Anatomy and Physiology II- BIO 2210 & BIO 2211) with a C or better. • Must be admitted into Prairie State College's Nursing program by the end of Spring semester year two/ sophomore year. |
Standards of Conduct
| • Adhere to the GSU Student Code of Conduct. Any infraction including disciplinary and criminal infractions, may be cause for dismissal from the Nursing Pathway program. • Adhere to ethical and behavioral standards of GSU's & PSC's Nursing programs |
Degree Completion Requirement
| Students must complete their AAS in
Nursing from Prairie State College and pass their NCLEX Exam to be fully
admitted into Governors State University's BSN program. |
Students may voluntarily withdraw from the Nursing Pathways program at any time by notifying the Governors State Advisor in writing. Voluntary withdrawal is binding.
Other
benefits of this program include:
- Supplemental instruction opportunities and mentoring by PSC and GSU nursing faculty.
- Studying with fellow students and future nurses — beginning in your freshman year — who will become lifelong colleagues and treasured friends.
- Eligibility to live in GSU’s dynamic residential community, Prairie Place, which offers academic and personal support, faculty-in-residence, friends, and access to classrooms and nursing laboratories just a few steps away.
- Assistance from GSU and PSC Financial Aid Advisors to navigate the consortium agreement that allows you to take classes at two colleges/universities at the same time.
How to apply:
Please note:
In anticipation of high demand for this program, GSU recommends applying by the
November 1st early action deadline. Applications are reviewed on a rolling
basis and will be considered until the Pathway program reaches capacity.
- Apply for freshman admission at GSU.
- Select “Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing” as your intended major.
- When completing the admission application, use code NURSPSC to waive your application fee.
- Once admitted to GSU, you’ll pay a $50 deposit and then our staff will guide you through enrollment and ROAR (Resources, Orientation, Advising, and Registration) processes.
Students who
wish to live in Prairie Place are advised to submit a housing
contract early. Prairie Place fills quickly, and space is assigned in the order
that contracts and prepayments are received. For more information, visit www.govst.edu/housing.
For more
information, visit https://www.govst.edu/admissions/, call 708.534.4490, or email the GSU Admissions
office at Admission@govst.edu.
* Students currently
listed on the Illinois CNA Registry and who have worked as a CNA within the
last two years are not required to repeat the CNA course in this program.
GSU NURSING PATHWAY ADVISOR
Noreen Heidelberg
nheidelberg@govst.edu
708.235.7606
Office C-3385
Undergraduate Advising Office 708.534.8043