Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Nursing

College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing

School of Nursing

School of Nursing  Office: (310) 243-3596
Email:  SONdepartment@csudh.edu

For more complete information about all aspects of the SON and the nursing programs, go to the SON website at: https://www.csudh.edu/son/

Pre-Admission Disclosure for Academic Programs Leading to Licensure or Credentialing

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements is available from the School of Nursing: Dr. Terri Ares (310) 243-2644.

Program Descriptions

The School of Nursing's (SON) Nursing Program began in the spring of 1981 with two major commitments:

  1. To make quality higher education in nursing more accessible to employed registered nurses and
  2. To ultimately improve healthcare in California.

The undergraduate and graduate programs are designed for registered nurses who wish to further enhance their professional nursing practice, expand their nursing career opportunities, and/or prepare themselves for leadership roles. The curriculum and theory courses utilize the latest, evidence-based approaches to online learning and are specifically designed to address the unique needs of adult learners whose time, personal life commitments, or work schedules make it difficult to complete traditional face-to-face, campus-based courses of study.

The SON offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as post-masters/graduate certificate programs:

  1. The RN-BSN program is designed for Registered Nurses possessing an Associate Degree in Nursing and wishing to continue their studies to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
  2. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is for Registered Nurses possessing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree who wish to specialize in an advanced area of nursing. Selection of a degree option of Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Family Nurse Practitioner is required at the time of application.
  3. Post-Masters/Graduate Certificate programs are offered for nurses already possessing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree who wish to pursue further graduate study for the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Administrator, or Nurse Educator role.

The Baccalaureate degree, Masters degree, and Clinical Nurse Specialist Post-Masters Certificate programs at California State University Dominguez Hills are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

A. Key Program Features

  • Classes designed to meet the needs of adult learners
  • Opportunities to meet students with similar goals
  • Access to faculty with a strong track record in education, research, management, and clinical practice
  • Over 25 members of the faculty prepared at the doctoral level
  • Highly experienced preceptors and prestigious community affiliations
  • All theory courses are offered online (minimal on-site skills requirement for physical assessment and FNP courses)
  • Professional skill development and networking with a diverse group of nursing professionals.
  1. Preceptorships/Clinical Affiliations- The SON maintains many affiliation agreements with prestigious healthcare agencies and other institutions for student clinical placements. Students participate in performance courses (clinical practice/skills laboratory experiences) with supervision by faculty instructors and agency preceptors. Required clinical hours vary according to the course, program, or role option. FNP role performance courses must be completed in the State of California however arrangements for other courses requiring clinical placement can many times be arranged in other states.
  2. Out-of-State Students- Students are required to reside in a state in which the School of Nursing at California State University, Dominguez Hills is permitted to deliver online education.

Academic Advisement

The School of Nursing Programs provide student advisement, beginning with general information sessions for prospective students and orientation for newly admitted students. The Director, Associate Directors, Role Option Coordinators and faculty provide ongoing support and advisement to students throughout the program of study. Much of the information needed by students can be found on the SON website, in handbooks, and in other documents. Special advisors are available for undergraduate students in the  Student Service Center (SSC).  These advisors can provide information and answer questions related to the general aspects of the undergraduate nursing programs, registration and enrollment, and the class schedule. The SSC advisors may be reached at 1-800-344-5484 (choose option #1) or bsnmajoradvising@csudh.edu. These advisors are dedicated to giving students the information and assistance they need to make a smooth transition into CSU Dominguez Hills and the SON programs.

The Associate Director for Undergraduate Program serves as the advisor for BSN students and will answer questions and provide guidance upon request.  Graduate student advisement is provided by the Associate Director for Graduate Program and Role Option Coordinators. Students are urged to seek advice and communicate with faculty and Student Service Center advisors as soon as issues or problems arise. If required, all persons offering advice will refer students to the appropriate person to offer advice or deal with concerns as necessary.

Preparation

All MSN and post-graduate certificate applicants/students must possess an active, unencumbered, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse with no probation or disciplinary actions pending or imposed. It is preferred that RN-BSN students possess their RN license prior to application for admission to the University. However, students actively enrolled in regionally accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs may apply for admission prior to completion of their ADN program so long as they can demonstrate graduation from the ADN program before starting the RN-BSN program. Students in the RN-BSN program are required to have an active, unencumbered, unrestricted RN license with no probation or disciplinary action pending or imposed prior to entering any clinical courses. It is the student's responsibility to immediately report in writing any change in licensure status to the Director of the School of Nursing.

  1. Students are responsible for obtaining (at their own expense) clinical clearance items as required by the School of Nursing and/or an affiliating clinical agency where the student is placed. Examples include: health exams, immunizations, titers, COVID testing and vaccination, Basic Life Support (BLS) training, universal precautions and HIPAA training.  Additionally clinical agencies often require criminal background checks, drug screening, and other tests. If students are not able to meet all agency requirements, they may be barred from entering the clinical area. The SON cannot guarantee alternative clinical placements. If students are not able to meet clinical course objectives, they may be subject to disqualification from the program.
  2. Patient confidentiality and other professional ethics must be respected.
  3. Students must obtain the course syllabus and course materials by logging into the online classroom for each course.  Required textbooks are posted in advance of the semester in the university's online bookstore.

Undergraduate students must satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) prior to completing 84 units.