• Fall Admission to the University of South Florida
  • Submit an undergraduate application to USF through the Office of Admissions.
  • Apply directly to the university for the Fall semester. The Freshman Nursing Pathway (FNR) only admits students for Fall. If you apply for Summer or Spring admission, or if USF Admissions redirects you to those semesters, you will not be considered for this program.
  • Select nursing as your major and choose either Tampa or St. Petersburg as your campus as a degree-seeking student.
  • If you apply to the university for Summer or Spring admission and select nursing as your major, you will be redirected to the Health Sciences program.
• Minimum standardized test scores (one of the following):
  • ACT: 24
  • SAT: 1180
  • CLT: 81
• Weighted high school GPA of 3.9 or higher (as calculated by the USF Office of Admissions)
  

  Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee a spot in the Freshman Nursing Pathway (FNR), as seats are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If selected, you will receive an email from the USF College of Nursing Admissions Office with instructions to secure your seat.

• Communication: ENC 1101, ENC 1102
• Humanities: 6 credits:  3 credits State Core, 3 Credits USF Enhanced Gen Ed credits
• Mathematics: 6 credits: 3 credits State Core, 3 credits USF Enhanced Gen Ed credits (Statistics typically covers one of these)
• Natural Sciences: 6 credits- satisfied through nursing prerequisites
• Social Sciences: 6 credits satisfied through the nursing prerequisites
• Choose 2 courses from any gen-ed discipline above- 6 credits- satisfied through nursing prerequisites
• Civic Literacy: AMH 2010, AMH 2020 -or- POS 2041
• FLENT: 0-8 credits

Students who have earned an AA degree from a public Florida College System institution automatically satisfy the general education requirements. However, FLENT and the Civic Literacy exam are not fulfilled by the AA degree and must be completed separately.

Students must earn a grade of B- or better on their first attempt for all state-mandated prerequisite courses; a grade of C+ or below will result in ineligibility.

Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/ Lab – 4 credits

• BSC X085C or (BSC X085 and BSC X085L) or BSC X093C or (BSC X093 and BSC X093L) or APK 2100C or ZOO 3733C or ZOO 3731 and 3731L

Human Anatomy and Physiology II w/ Lab – 4 credits

• BSC X086C or (BSC X086 and BSC X086L) or BSC X094C or (BSC X094 and BSC X094L) or APK 2015C or PCB 3703C or PCB 2099 and PCB 2099L

Microbiology w/ Lab – 4 credits

• MCB X010C or (MCB X010 and MCB X010L) or MCB X013C or (MCB X000 and MCB X000L) or (MCB X004 and MCB X004L)

Introduction to Statistics – 3 credits

• STA X014 or STA X023 or STA X122
• Research based courses with a statistics component will not satisfy this requirement, such as Research Methods.

Human Growth and Development – 3 credits

• DEP X004 or DEP X054 or DEP X000
• Must cover the development of an individual from birth to death in one course.

Human Nutrition – 3 credits

• HUN X201
• Special topics nutrition courses will not satisfy this requirement, such as Sports Nutrition, Nutrition & Drugs, etc.

Any Psychology or Sociology Course – 3 credits

• PSY XXXX or SOP XXXX or SYG XXXX

Any Chemistry, Biology, or Physics – 3 credits

• CHM XXXX or BCH XXXX or BSC XXXX or PCB XXXX or PHY XXXX
• CHM 2045 General Chemistry preferred
• No lab required

If you have taken a prerequisite at a different university and it is not populating in your DegreeWorks, please contact the FNR advisor.

• GPA Requirement
  • Students must have a 3.6 overall GPA and 3.0 prerequisite GPA by the end of the Fall semester of their sophomore year as this is the requirement for admission to the Upper Division program.
  • Dual enrollment CAN cause ineligibility of FNR status.
  Complete all state-mandated nursing prerequisites with a minimum grade of B- or better
  • Five of the eight prerequisite courses must be completed before the Fall semester of the sophomore year; the remaining three must be successfully completed during that Fall semester.
  • Students must earn a B- or better in all eight courses on their first attempt (a grade of C+ or below is not acceptable).
  • Prerequisites can be satisfied with exam credit.
  • Grade Forgiveness cannot be used for prerequisites, and dual enrollment may result in ineligibility for Freshman Nursing Pathway (FNR) status.
• Complete mandatory semesterly appointments with FNR advisor
  • FNR students must meet with their academic advisor every semester before registration. This ensures they are completing the necessary credits and courses to stay on track for matriculation into the Upper Division program.
• Complete all general education requirements including FLENT and Civic Literacy
  • These requirements must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the sophomore year:
    
    • General Education
    • FLENT
    • Civic Literacy
  • Students may satisfy these requirements with exam credit.

  • Students who have earned an AA degree from a public Florida College System institution automatically meet the general education requirements; however, FLENT and the Civic Literacy exam are not fulfilled by the AA degree and must be completed separately.

• Successfully complete NUR 3825 - Introduction to the Profession of Nursing
  • FNR students can take their first nursing course before entering the Upper Division program. Please consult the nursing student handbook for the minimum passing score required for undergraduate nursing courses at USF.

Failure to meet these requirements will make you ineligible to matriculate into the Upper Division and require you to select a different major.

The USF College of Nursing offers a Living Learning Community called the Nursing Trailblazers LLC. For more information about the Nursing Trailblazers LLC and the application process, please click here.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact the Living Learning Community Coordinator.

Admissions

What scores and GPA are required for admission to the Freshman Nursing Pathway?

• Admission criteria for the Freshman Nursing Pathway (FNR) may vary each year based on the competitive freshman profile compiled by the Office of Admissions. For Fall 2024, the requirements include a minimum ACT score of 24, SAT score of 1180, or CLT score of 81, along with a weighted high school GPA of 3.9 or higher (as calculated by USF Admissions).

Can I apply to the Upper Division nursing program before my junior/third year?

• No, students in the Freshman Nursing Pathway cannot apply to the Upper Division program early. If you wish to apply before your junior year, you must exit the FNR pathway and apply to the nursing program from a different major after completing all general education requirements and nursing prerequisites.

If I am admitted to USF as a Pre-Nursing (PNR) major, am I automatically admitted to the Freshman Nursing Pathway?

• Admission as a Pre-Nursing (PNR) major does not guarantee acceptance into the Freshman Nursing Pathway. If selected for the pathway, you will receive a separate email from the USF College of Nursing Admissions Office with instructions on how to confirm your seat. Please check your email regularly for updates.

FNR Progression

What happens if I don’t meet the FNR progression requirements?

• If you do not meet the progression requirements for the Freshman Nursing Pathway, you will be required to change your major to a non-nursing program to continue working toward a degree at USF within the four-year timeframe. However, you may still complete nursing prerequisites while in the new major and later apply to the Upper Division nursing program as a transfer applicant in a competitive admissions process.

Major Eligibility

I am a current USF student. Can I change my major to nursing?

• You cannot change your major to the Freshman Nursing Pathway (FNR). However, you can complete your general education requirements and nursing prerequisites, then apply to the Upper Division nursing program once you meet the eligibility criteria.

I am an incoming freshman at USF. Can I change my major to nursing?

• You may change your major to nursing only if you meet the freshman admission criteria and have not applied or been admitted for the spring or summer semesters. Major changes to FNR are not allowed after the first week of classes. Please contact the FNR advisor if you qualify and wish to request a major change.

I am a transfer incoming student at USF. Can I change my major to nursing?

• Transfer students are not eligible to enter the Freshman Nursing Pathway. Please reach out to our College of Nursing Admissions Team to explore other options for completing your BSN.

Nursing Prerequisites

Can I use exam credit to satisfy prerequisite courses?

• Yes. You can find the list of accepted exam equivalents here.

I received below a ‘B-’ in a prerequisite course taken through dual enrollment. Can I still remain in the Freshman Nursing Pathway?

• If you earned below a B- in a dual enrollment prerequisite, you must retake the course at USF and earn a B- or better. If you have more than one prerequisite below a B-, you will be ineligible to remain in the FNR major. You would then need to complete nursing prerequisites and general education requirements in another major and apply competitively to the Upper Division program when ready.

I received below a ‘B-’ in a prerequisite course taken through AP/IB/AICE credit. Can I still remain in the Freshman Nursing Pathway?

• Yes. Test credit is based solely on your exam score, not your course grade. If you did not pass the exam, you can remain in FNR but will need to take the course at USF to earn the prerequisite credit.

Can I use Grade Forgiveness if I earn below a ‘B-’ in a nursing prerequisite?

• Grade Forgiveness can improve your overall GPA but does not affect FNR eligibility. The program only considers first-attempt grades for nursing prerequisites, so earning below a B- initially makes you ineligible.

I took a prerequisite course at another university, but it isn’t showing in DegreeWorks under my nursing prerequisites. What should I do?

• Please contact the FNR advisor for assistance.

Registration

How do I register for courses?

• Please watch the videos provided by the Office of the Registrar to learn how to find and register for courses.

Can I enter the nursing program early if I finish all the requirements ahead of time?

• No. To enter the Upper Division program before your third year on campus, you must exit the Freshman Nursing Pathway and apply competitively to the Upper Division program from another major.

What if I brought in dual enrollment or exam credit but want to stay in the Freshman Nursing Pathway?

• You may pursue a concurrent degree or minor, participate in the Honors College, or study abroad. How you use this time is up to you.

Do I have to take the math placement test? 

• No. Nursing requires only College Algebra and Statistics, so no specific math placement test is needed.

Do I have to take summer courses prior to entering the nursing program? 

• No. Summer courses required for graduation will be completed during the nursing program.

If I took the Civic Literacy exam in high school, do I still need to take the Canvas Civic Literacy exam?

• Please contact Undergraduate Studies to verify if your exam qualifies as a transfer equivalent.

What should I do if I am registered for a course I have already taken or am currently taking?

• Contact the FNR advisor for guidance.

My dual enrollment or exam credit is not showing in DegreeWorks. How do I fix this?

• Contact admissions@usf.edu. If you haven’t already, be sure to send your final transcripts and test scores to USF Admissions.

Why should I add or drop a course?

• Drop a course if you already have credit for it. Add courses if you need more credits per semester to maintain scholarships or financial aid eligibility.

Where can I find courses to satisfy my general education requirements?

• A complete list of courses that satisfy general education requirements can be found here.