California State University-Long Beach
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – Second Bachelor's Degree pathway · Long Beach, CA · school's own site (opens the school's website in a new tab)
Activelast verified Oct 2026
Prerequisites
The courses Cal State Long Beach says you need before you start, as published on its own pages. Credits, labs, and minimum grades are shown where the school states them.
- 01Anatomy (standalone)Human Anatomy Lecture and Lab · BIO 208
source · csulb.edu
“Human Anatomy Lecture and Lab (4 semester units minimum) - CSULB BIO 208”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeC - 02Physiology (standalone)Human Physiology Lecture and Lab · BIO 207
source · csulb.edu
“Human Physiology Lecture and Lab (4 semester units minimum) - CSULB BIO 207”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeC - 03General ChemistryChemistry Lecture and Lab · CHEM 111A, 111B, 112A, 112B, 140, 220A or 220B4-5 semester or 6-10 quarter units. Introductory/preparatory chemistry is not accepted. AP Chemistry score of 4+ accepted.
source · csulb.edu
“Chemistry Lecture and Lab (4-5 semester units /6 -10 quarter units): An introductory or preparatory chemistry course is not acceptable.”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeC - 04MicrobiologyMicrobiology Lecture and Lab · BIO 201
source · csulb.edu
“Microbiology Lecture and Lab (4 semester units minimum) – CSULB BIO 201”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeC - 05StatisticsStatistics or AP Statistics · STAT 108, STAT 118, HDEV 190, PSY 110, SOC 170AP Statistics score of 3+ accepted.
source · csulb.edu
“Statistics or AP Statistics - CSULB STAT 108, STAT 118, HDEV 190, PSY 110, SOC 170. AP stats score of 3 or higher.”
labnomin gradeC - 06Communication / Public SpeakingOral Communication
source · csulb.edu
“Oral Communication (any communications course that meets GE requirements)”
labnomin gradeC - 07English CompositionWritten Communication/College CompositionAP English score of 3+ accepted.
source · csulb.edu
“Written Communication/College Composition (any composition course that meets GE requirements, including AP English). Applicants must have a score of 3 or higher for AP credit.”
labnomin gradeC - 08OtherCritical Thinking · GE A3
source · csulb.edu
“Critical Thinking (any critical thinking course that meets GE A3 requirements)”
labnomin gradeC
Minimum prerequisite grade
C
source · csulb.edu
“Each course must be completed with a "C" or better grade”
Prerequisite completion timing
All eight prerequisites must be completed before applying
The second bachelor's page says that for Fall admission, coursework must be completed no later than the prior Spring term.
source · csulb.edu
“There are eight prerequisite courses to be completed prior to application.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Do prerequisites expire?
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
GPA and grades
Prerequisite GPA
3.0 across the prerequisite courses
The 2024 student handbook (historical section) describes separate science and GE GPAs of 3.0 each and a B or better in prerequisite sciences. The current info sheet requires a C or better per course.
source · csulb.edu
“when all prerequisites are completed the GPA for the prerequisite courses must be "B" or better (3.0 or better).”
Minimum cumulative GPA for admission Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Is there an entrance exam?
Entrance exam
Casper Situational Judgment Test required (no TEAS/HESI mentioned)
Casper deadlines: Fall – Feb 1; Spring – Sept 21. The test is given online on specific dates.
source · csulb.edu
“All applicants must take the Casper Situational Judgment Test prior to the application deadline”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Where can courses be taken?
Community college courses
Accepted when they articulate to CSULB courses (see assist.org)
source · csulb.edu
“Chemistry courses from community colleges that articulate to CSULB CHEM 111A, 111B, 112A, 112B, 140, 220A or 220B are acceptable”
AP credit
AP accepted: Chemistry score 4+, Statistics 3+, English 3+
source · csulb.edu
“Chemistry courses from community colleges that articulate to CSULB CHEM 111A, 111B, 112A, 112B, 140, 220A or 220B are acceptable or an AP Chem score of 4 or greater.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Application deadlines and start dates
Upcoming cycles Cal State Long Beach publishes. A date without a year on the school's page is noted rather than guessed.
Fall admission (Cal State Apply) · Long BeachDue November 30 each yearnext Nov 30, 2026 · opens August 1From the 9-9-25 BSN info sheet. The second bachelor's page says the fall application 'becomes available on August 1, and applications may be submitted starting October 1'. The older 10-1-2024 info sheet listed October 1 – November 30. The Casper test must be taken before the Fall deadline of Feb 1. A separate School of Nursing BSN application is also required; its deadline is not stated.
source · csulb.edu
“Fall Admission applications open Aug 1 st – November 30 th”
Spring admission (Cal State Apply) · Long BeachDeadline not publishedopens July 1From the 9-9-25 BSN info sheet. The second bachelor's page also says spring 'application period begins on July 1'. The older 10-1-2024 sheet listed August 1 – August 31. The Casper test must be taken before the Spring deadline of Sept 21.
source · csulb.edu
“Spring admission applications open July 1 st – August 31 st”
Application route
Cal State Apply plus a School of Nursing BSN application; NursingCAS not used
source · csulb.edu
“Submit School of Nursing BSN Application (www.csulb.edu/nursing).”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Cost
Tuition and fees as the school publishes them. Living costs vary; the source link has the full table.
Tuition (graduate rate, CA resident, 2026-2027)
$5,231 per semester full-time (7+ units); $3,437 part-time, for California residents
Second bachelor's students pay the Graduate rate. Non-residents add $471 per unit.
source · csulb.edu
“Total Tuition & Mandatory Fees Per Semester | $3,437.00 | $5,231.00 |”
Application fee Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“$70 nonrefundable; no fee waivers for second bachelor's applicants” vs “$70 (Cal State Apply)”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Other requirements
What the school asks for beyond courses and scores.
Prior bachelor's degree
Bachelor's from an institutionally accredited school, conferred by end of summer (fall entry) or end of fall (spring entry)
source · csulb.edu
“Complete a four-year college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university by the end of the summer term prior to Fall enrollment or the end of the Fall semester for Spring enrollment.”
Interview
Phase-two interview by invitation, including a writing exercise and an oral exercise
source · csulb.edu
“If selected to move into phase two, applicants are invited for an interview focusing on written and oral communication skills.”
- After admission: background check, drug test, immunizations, AHA BLS certification, health insurance, and a mandatory orientation.
source · csulb.edu
“Students must also submit a criminal background check and drug testing as part of the initial process.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Good to know
What the school says about the program that is not a requirement: how it selects, how many it admits, what to expect.
Start terms
Fall and Spring
source · csulb.edu
“For spring admission, the application period begins on July 1. For fall admission, the application becomes available on August 1, and applications may be submitted starting October 1.”
Cohort size
Top 75-80 applicants admitted
source · csulb.edu
“The top 75-80 applicants are then admitted to the program.”
Second-degree priority
Second-degree applicants are considered after eligible transfer students
source · csulb.edu
“Eligible applicants will be offered admission on a space available basis after considering all eligible transfer students.”
Provisional admission
Allowed with a 2.7 cumulative GPA or 2.5 in the last 60 semester units
This is a university-level rule.
source · csulb.edu
“Students in the process of completing a baccalaureate degree may be admitted on a provisional basis, subject to proof of degree completion, if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.7 or if the GPA in their last 60 semester or 90 quarter units are calculated at a 2.5 or higher.”
No major change
Admitted second bachelor's students cannot change major or add majors or minors
source · csulb.edu
“Due to the special admission requirements for second baccalaureate programs, students admitted to these programs cannot change their degree objective or declare additional majors or minors.”
Format Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Sources
Every page we read for Cal State Long Beach, with when we last checked it. Tier 1 is the program's own pages; tier 2 the nursing school's general pages; tier 3 university-wide pages.
- Steps for Newly Admitted Second Bachelor Students | California State University Long Beachtier 1 · program page · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Second Bachelors Degree | California State University Long Beachtier 1 · program page · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Prospective Students | California State University Long Beachtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Applicant Self-Service | California State University Long Beachtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Tuition and Fees | California State University Long Beachtier 1 · tuition · checked Oct 23, 2026
- University Policies | California State University Long Beachtier 3 · policy · checked Oct 23, 2026
- California State University, Long Beachtier 3 · catalog · checked Oct 23, 2026
- https://www.csulb.edu/sites/default/files/2026/documents/BSN%20Program%20Information%20Sheet.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 23, 2026
- https://www.csulb.edu/sites/default/files/2024/documents/BSN%20Information%20Sheet%2010-1-2024.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 23, 2026
- https://www.csulb.edu/sites/default/files/2024/documents/Undergraduate%20Student%20Handbook%205.2024_0.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 23, 2026PDF text truncated (105 pages)
Open questions we're still checking
- CSULB has no separate accelerated second-degree BSN: second-bachelor's applicants enter the same 5-semester pre-licensure BSN, with an optional 5-consecutive-semester track.
- The School of Nursing BSN application deadline and the exact program start dates are not published on these pages.
- Prerequisite timing differs: the info sheet says complete before application, while the university page says by the prior Spring term for Fall entry.
- The delivery format (in-person vs. online didactic) is not stated.
- It is unclear whether the Enrollment Services supplemental application applies to second-bachelor's applicants.
- CSULB has no separately named accelerated program; second-degree applicants enter the regular 5-semester BSN (with a 5 consecutive semester option). The program length in months is not stated.
- Feb 1 / Sept 21 are labeled as the Casper deadline 'prior to the application deadline'; the exact School of Nursing application deadline is unclear.
- The 2024 handbook (B in prerequisite sciences; separate science and GE GPAs) conflicts with the current information sheet (C minimum; overall prerequisite GPA 3.0).
- Delivery format (in person vs. online) is not stated.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on application_fee: $70 nonrefundable; no fee waivers for second bachelor's applicants | $70 (Cal State Apply).
Something wrong here? Report an error
ABSNcheck summarizes requirements that schools publish on their own websites, with a link to each source and the date we last verified it. Schools change requirements, sometimes contradict themselves, and make individual decisions. Results show whether you meet published minimums; they are not an admission decision or a guarantee, and are not official advice from any school. Always confirm requirements with each program before you apply or enroll in a course.
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