A: Yes. Through a partnership with the University of South Carolina College of Nursing in Columbia, USC Salkehatchie is able to offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to our top 16 students each year. At the conclusion of the program, successful participants earn a USC Columbia BSN degree and are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
A: Program participants are USC Salkehatchie students for the first 2 years while completing prerequisite courses, then become a USC Columbia student once accepted into the Upper Division to complete the last 2 years of the program. While a USC Salkehatchie student, participants pay USC Salkehatchie’s tuition, yet once accepted in the Upper Division and become a USC Columbia student, participants pay USC Columbia’s tuition rates and fees. Students remain physically on the USC Salkehatchie campus (Allendale or Walterboro) to complete Upper Division course work and clinical experiences in the Salkehatchie region.
A: Currently, we accept up to 16 students each year into the Upper Division portion of the program. The number of applicants varies each year and progression is based solely on GPA in designated courses as outlined by the USC College of Nursing (see bolded courses on the Sample BSN Curriculum Plan). Competitiveness varies from year to year and is based on the number of applicants and the GPA of each applicant.
A: Upper Division courses are taught by USC Columbia College of Nursing professors via various methodologies. The most common form of course delivery is online, via Adobe Connect. Students must be present and online for these classes at a designated day and time. Students sign in to class via a specified website and communicate with professors via a real-time, online method. Several Upper Division courses are solely online, where students complete coursework at their own pace, yet within specific time frames designated by the professor. Live labs accompany several of the Upper Division courses (such as Assessment), where students have an opportunity to practice skills and apply information learned in class. Tests for Adobe Connect classes are completed on the student’s campus of choice (Allendale or Walterboro) with a proctor present.
A: One of the objectives of the USC Salkehatchie Rural Nursing Initiative is to provide local students the ability to gain the same educational experiences and degree opportunities as students attending and living on the USC Columbia campus with as little travel as possible. Students in the USC Salkehatchie cohorts of the Upper Division attend the majority of clinical and clinically-related experiences within the Salkehatchie region (Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, and Hampton counties). A small amount of travel to Columbia is necessary for the pediatrics specialty, but this may vary from semester to semester. We strive to keep students’ travel outside of the Salkehatchie region to a minimum.
A: There is one Upper Division application process each year. The application becomes available via the USC College of Nursing website in November each year and is typically due by the first week of December. The time in which the Upper Division application becomes available and the link to the application are communicated to students by Rural Nursing Initiative Administration via email.
Students who remain on the nursing curriculum are eligible to apply to the Upper Division in the first semester of their sophomore year, and are eligible to progress to the Upper Division when required pre-nursing courses have been completed and the student’s GPA is >3.0 in courses designated by the USC College of Nursing (see BSN Curriculum Plan). Participants must earn a grade of C or better in all required courses to count toward the BSN degree and cannot earn more than one below C grade in any science or nursing course (this deems a student ineligible to progress in the nursing curriculum). Please refer to the USC College of Nursing undergraduate student handbook for more information at http://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/nursing/internal/current_students/index.php
A: Oftentimes, courses from other colleges do transfer into the USC system, however this cannot be guaranteed by the student’s advisor until an official transcript has been provided to the USC Salkehatchie Admission office. For further information on transfer credits, students can visit the following websites:
http://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/registrar/transfer_credits/course_equivalency.php
A: Students may choose to be part-time while completing pre-nursing courses yet must be enrolled full-time and complete courses in a pre-determined sequence while in the Upper Division.
A: If a student is enrolled at USC Salkehatchie as an intended nursing major and his/her USC and/or overall GPA falls below a 3.0 , he/she will be placed on probation for one major semester or 12 credit hours. If by the end of the probationary semester, the student’s USC and/or overall GPA is >3.0, the student will be removed from probationary status. If the student does not raise his/her USC and/or overall GPA to a >3.0 by the end of the probationary semester, it is recommended that the student change his/her major. Nursing advisors, however, will work one-on-one with students to map out a plan of action, whether it is to remain on the nursing curriculum and attempt to raise his/her GPA, transfer to another institution, or change his/her major.
A: This is a traditional BSN program and is not intended as an RN-BSN option. If you are currently an RN looking to advance your education and obtain a BSN degree, please contact our Palmetto College advisor, Melissa Hooks.
(803) 812-7429 or (843) 782-8670
acone@mailbox.sc.edu
April Williams – Administrative Assistant
(803) 812-7435
akcapers@mailbox.sc.edu