
Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College admits qualified students regardless of race, color, creed, gender, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin or handicap that does not interfere with the performance of
professional nursing, as defined by law. Applicants must meet the Technical Standards listed below, have successfully completed one year each of high school algebra, biology, and chemistry and attain an ACT of 20 or higher. Transfer students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
Applicants who have English as a Second Language are required to take the TOEFL and achieve a score of 550, unless satisfactory SAT/ACT scores are available.
Credentials required for admission to the nursing program are submitted for
processing to the Mount Mary College Enrollment Office or the Center for Educational and Professional Advancement (CEPA).
Direct Admission: Traditional Freshman
Freshmen students admitted to Mount Mary College are eligible for direct admission to the nursing major having demonstrated:
- One year of high school biology with a course grade of C or better
- One year of high school chemistry with a course grade of C or better
- One year of algebra with a course grade of C or better
- ACT of 20 or greater (SAT composite 960 or higher)
- Ability to meet the technical standards for nursing
See our online 2004-2005 Academic Catalog for more details.
Direct Admission: Transfer Students
Transfer students are eligible for direct admission to the nursing major based upon:
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Cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a four point scale)
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If fewer than 24 credits are transferred, having demonstrated criteria for direct admission for freshmen students.
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If more than 24 credits are transferred, demonstrating:
- Completion of two college level science courses with a minimum grade of C in each course, e.g., biology and chemistry.
- Ability to succeed in nursing major coursework based upon complete academic record.
- Ability to meet the technical standards for nursing.
*Overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If an applicant has attended more than one college, the GPA earned at each institution will be figured into the cumulative transfer GPA.
In order to receive transfer credit for nursing course work taken at other colleges and universities, students must submit a copy of the course description and syllabus to the Columbia College of Nursing faculty for review. Course credits as well as course content and experiences are carefully evaluated for equivalency to the CCON curriculum.
See our online 2004-2005 Academic Catalog for more details.
Declared Admission: Other Students
Students who do not meet the direct admission requirements to the nursing program but meet the general admission requirements to Mount Mary College can pursue the nursing curriculum and reapply for admission to the nursing program after meeting the following criteria:
- Completion of 24 college credits with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater.
- Completion of at least two college level
biology and/or chemistry courses required for the nursing major with a
minimum grade of C in each course.
- Ability to meet the technical standards for nursing.
See our online 2004-2005 Academic Catalog for more details.
Direct Admission: Registered Nurses
Registered nurses who have graduated from accredited diploma or associate degree nursing programs are admitted to
the nursing program as transfer students. These students may receive transfer credit for applicable college courses provided they were completed in an accredited junior or senior college and are accompanied by an official transcript from the institution(s).
Registered nurses who wish to enter the nursing program to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree must meet the following requirements:
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Graduation from an accredited
associate degree or diploma program.
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Current RN license, or eligibility for
license, in Wisconsin.
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Overall grade point average of 2.5 on
a 4.0 scale.
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Grades of C or better in all required
science courses.
Applicants considering advanced placement will be expected to follow the policies of Columbia College of Nursing and Mount Mary College.
There are 60 nursing credits. Progression students may earn 30 nursing credits from previous nursing coursework upon successful completion of Columbia College of Nursing courses, NUR206M, Pathophysiology, and NUR302M, Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse, with a C or better. The College reserves the right, in special circumstances, to require the student to successfully complete the NLN Mobility Profile II. Special circumstances include, but are not limited to, a GPA below 2.5 and/or no recent work history as a registered nurse. See Technical Standards for admission to, and progression in, the Nursing Program.
The following additional nursing courses are open to challenge by examination for progression students:
- NUR206M - Pathophysiology
- NUR302M - Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse
For information on challenging a course, contact Columbia's Office of Academic Affairs.
The student must contact the Academic Affairs Office at Columbia College of Nursing to make arrangements to take the nursing challenge exams. Special fees are assessed for challenge of nursing courses. For information on other challenge exams, the student needs to contact the registrar's office at Mount Mary College.
In addition to required nursing courses, registered nurses must take a minimum of 16 credits at Mount Mary College in the general education program and support course requirements. If the student has fewer than 16 credits to take in the above-mentioned areas, then all of those remaining courses must be taken at Mount Mary College.
See our online 2004-2005 Academic Catalog for more details.
Technical Standards for
Admission to and Progression in the Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College Nursing Program
Final acceptance into the nursing program is contingent upon the positive evaluation of the applicant's ability to fulfill the Technical Standards of the nursing program. Successful participation in the Columbia College-Mount Mary College nursing degree program requires that a candidate possess the ability to meet the requirements of the program. Though Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College may modify certain course requirements in order to provide a handicapped person with an equivalent opportunity to achieve success equal to that of a non-handicapped person, there are no substitutes for the following essential skills. The applicant/ candidate must initially meet these requirements to gain admission to the program, and must continue to meet them throughout participation in the program.
The Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College Nursing Program is committed to the utilization of technological advances, which provide opportunities for disabled persons to perform the essential skills outlined above. A disabled applicant/ candidate shall not, on the basis of his or her disability (except those which would preclude performance of the essential skills outlined above) be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, nor be subjected to discrimination at the Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College Nursing Program.
- Physical requirements: The applicant/candidate must be willing to
and capable of performing physical
examinations and venipuncture, administer medications and demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to use sundry kinds of medical equipment. The applicant/candidate must also be able to differentiate among the full spectrum of colors. All applicants/candidates are expected to successfully complete and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Communication: An applicant/candidate must be able to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture. An applicant/candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and members of the health care team using oral, written and non-verbal modalities.
- Intellectual abilities: Problem solving, an essential skill demanded of nurses, requires abilities in measurement and calculation as well as the capability to synthesize, categorize, and apply data based on conclusions arrived at through critical thinking.
- Behavioral and social attributes: An
applicant/candidate must possess the
emotional health, maturity and self-discipline for successful participation and completion of the program. The applicant/candidate must exercise good judgment in caring for patients. The applicant/candidate must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. Lastly, the applicant/candidate must possess and demonstrate integrity, honesty, and concern for others.
- Evaluation: The Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College Nursing Program may require that an applicant/student undergo a physical examination and/or an occupational skill evaluation. Columbia College will endeavor to evaluate the applicant/ candidate in a manner that accurately reflects aptitude and/or or level of achievement.
- Criminal Background Check: The applicant/candidate/student must be willing to complete a Background Information Disclosure Form, prior to enrollment in the program or prior to clinical placement in the program. The Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College Nursing Program intends to fully comply with the requirements of the Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check Law which requires hospitals and other health care and treatment entities to perform background checks on all persons who have direct, regular contact with patients. Certain convictions may prevent or significantly limit the ability of the College to place a student in a particular clinical setting. This may result in the inability of the student to meet the College's graduation requirements. The Columbia College of Nursing - Mount Mary College Nursing Program reserves the right to reject the application of a candidate or remove a student from the program if the College determines that the results of the criminal background check demonstrate that the applicant/student does not exhibit behavior and social attributes consistent with the College's Technical Standards.
See our online 2004-2005 Academic Catalog for more details.
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The nursing program admits both women and men as freshmen, transfers, RN to BSN degree completion and second-degree students. Columbia College of Nursing does not discriminate in any manner contrary to law or justice on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or veteran's status in administration of their educational, admission, financial aid, athletic or other college polices and programs or in the employment of their faculty and staff.
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