START YOUR NURSING CAREER WITH A BACHELOR’S. THE BSN MAJOR FEATURES HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES
TO PREPARE YOU FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF NURSING CAREER PATHS.
Build Your Nursing Career with a BSN
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Fairmont State University prepares you
to be an entry-level professional nurse through building clinical judgement skills
and professional role development.
In this 120-credit hour degree program, you’ll develop nursing skills through coursework,
clinical applications, and simulation experiences. You’ll learn about evidenced based
healthcare practices, health promotion in all life stages, physical examination, nursing
ethics, nursing leadership, healthcare technologies, and more from expert clinical
faculty. With Fairmont State’s Rusty and Kimberly Hutson Family BEACON Simulation Center, you’ll be able to complete up to 50% of your clinical requirements without leaving
campus.
West Virginia’s healthcare industry is one of the largest in the state, and with 189,100
projected job openings annually in nursing positions nationwide, Fairmont State’s
program positions students for meaningful careers as critical care nurses, pediatric
nurses, trauma nurses, emergency room nurses, and more.
With expert faculty who care about your success, and world class support staff, you
will discover why Fairmont State University is such a Great Place to Learn.
The BSN features an interdisciplinary curriculum that provides a broad base of learning.
It prepares you for a variety of Nursing career goals, whether you want to become
a Critical Care Nurse, Staff Nurse, Nurse Manager, or Pediatric Nurse
Health Promotion and Communication
Students will learn about health promotion, risk reduction, teaching/learning, disease
prevention, and communication with the community.
Nutrition
This course is a study of nutrients, their sources, and their relationship to body
processes. Students will review reference values for the nutrients so that they can
then compare their own dietary intake. The different stages of life will be explored
as they relate to changes in nutritional status and factors that can affect food choices.
Mother/Baby and Women’s Health
Students taking this course will focus on the nurses’ care of mothers and babies during
normal and high-risk pregnancy, labor/childbirth, postpartum, newborn care, and women’s
health issues.
PHED 1180 - Medical Terminology (Credit Hours: 3)
CHEM 1101 - General Chemistry (Credit Hours: 4)
BIOL 1180 - Human Anatomy and Physiology (lecture) (Credit Hours: 3)
BIOL 1181 - Human Anatomy and Physiology (lab) (Credit Hours: 1)
NURS 3380 - Evidence Based Practice (Credit Hours: 3)
NURS 3400 - Foundations of Nursing (Credit Hours: 6)
NURS 3401 - Pharmacology (Credit Hours: 3)
NURS 3410 - Dosage Calculations (Credit Hours: 2)
NURS 3600 - Adult Health I (Credit Hours: 6)
NURS 3610 - Mental and Behavioral Health (Credit Hours: 4)
NURS 3700 - Adult Health II (Credit Hours: 6)
NURS 3701 - Mother/Baby and Women’s Health (Credit Hours: 4)
NURS 4401 - Child and Adolescent Health (Credit Hours: 3)
NURS 4420 - Community and Public Health (Credit Hours: 3)
NURS 4430 - Nursing Leadership (Credit Hours: 3)
NURS 4442 - Complex Healthcare (Credit Hours: 3)
NURS 4444 - NCLEX-RN Prep (Credit Hours: 1)
NURS 4450 - Healthcare Delivery: Political, Social and Economic Influences (Credit
Hours: 3)
NURS 4452 - Clinical Capstone (Credit Hours: 5)
Free elective (Credit Hours: 3)
Careers
Did you know that the healthcare sector in West Virginia is the largest employer in
the state? Nationally, nursing supports more than 4.4 million jobs. Nursing graduates
are prepared for high-demand careers that foster connection, care for others, and
wellness.
Here are just a few of the dozens of careers you might pursue with a BSN:
Critical Care Nurse - $139,048/Year
Critical Care Nurses are registered nurses that work in the intensive-care units of
hospitals. They provide care for patients with serious, complex, and acute injuries
and illnesses requiring close monitoring and treatment of the patient. They may combine
their critical care specifications with another area of practice such as pediatrics
or geriatrics.
Pediatric Nurse - $94,598/Year
Pediatric Nurses focus on providing medical care for children and teenagers. They
are specially trained to know how illnesses and injuries impact children’s bodies.
They work with Pediatricians and Family Doctors and know how to communicate with children
of all abilities and developmental levels.
Charge Nurse - $64,875/Year
Charge Nurses are registered nurses who oversee the other nurses in their ward or
unit during their shift. They assess their group’s ability to care for patients and
make changes when needed, such as providing training or ordering supplies. They also
provide support for nurses through challenges they may face when treating patients.
Psychiatric Nurse - $101,233/Year
Psychiatric Nurses work with patients seeking treatment for mental health struggles
and issues. They provide medication for patients according to doctor’s orders and
educate patients and families on mental health issues and treatments. They may collaborate
with other health professionals and respond to emergency psychiatric situations.
Trauma Nurse - $77,646/Year
Trauma Nurses treat patients who are in need of emergency medical attention. They
triage patients to determine order of care and work with emergency physicians and
trauma surgeons to stabilize patients' vitals. They must be knowledgeable in trauma
protocols, dedicated to saving lives, and effectively communicate with other medical
staff to quickly provide emergency care.
Staff Nurse - $38,875/Year
Staff Nurses provide direct care to patients in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics,
and other medical facilities. They examine patients and assess their needs to inform
other medical professionals for developing treatment plans. They educate patients
and their families and must have strong organizational skills when working with multiple
patients at a time.
Nurse Care Managers - $66,321/year
Nurse Care Managers ensure that every patient in their facility receives the best
care possible. They communicate with patients and their families about medical procedures,
healthcare options, and available assistance to continue and finish their personalized
treatment plans. They may also work to provide proper care for the nurses on their
staff.
Salary information reflects the pay averages in West Virginia according to Indeed.
Admission Requirements
All applicants seeking admission to the BSN Program are required to:
Meet Fairmont State University's general admission requirements.
Submit an application to Fairmont State University, selecting Bachelor of Science
in Nursing as their major.
Submit official high school and/or college transcripts, as applicable.
Meet the minimum GPA requirement:
3.0 high school GPA for applicants with 8 or fewer college credits.
2.5 college GPA for applicants with 9 or more college credits.
Meet one of the following standardized testing requirements:
ACT composite score of 21 or higher
SAT score of 1060 or higher
TEAS composite score of 70 or higher
Apply by January 15 if currently enrolled in high school with 8 or fewer college credits.
Standardized Testing: Qualifying ACT, SAT, or TEAS scores must be from within 24 months of application.
Effective November 1, 2025, TEAS examinations must be completed in person.
Admission to the Traditional BSN program is competitive and based on established admission
criteria and available program capacity.
The Traditional BSN degree can lead to dozens of meaningful, well-paying careers. You can become a nurse practitioner, a critical care nurse, a pediatric nurse, a
trauma nurse, an emergency room nurse, and more.
Yes, you can add a minor to your BSN.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are an estimated 189,100 registered
nurse openings per year from 2024 to 2034.
The deadline for applying to the Traditional BSN program at Fairmont State University
is January 15th to start the following fall semester.
Yes, you need to apply to the BSN program at Fairmont State. You must submit an application
for admission to Fairmont State University, designating the major as Bachelor of Science
in Nursing to the Office of Admissions.
You can earn your BSN after completing the ASN if you meet the RN to BSN admission
requirements:
Meet the general admission and course placement requirements of Fairmont State University.
Hold an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse as a prerequisite
for NURS 3370 and above.
Submit an application for Fairmont State admission designating the Bachelor of Science
in Nursing as the major field of study
Submit official college or diploma program transcripts.
Have and maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and a “C” or above in all courses counted
toward the BSN.
Costs for undergraduate tuition and fees vary, depending on your state residency status
and what program you’re pursuing. For in-state nursing majors, tuition and fees are
around $4600 per semester. You may refer to the most up-to-date schedule of tuition and fees.
