RN - Associate Degree in Nursing
Program Description
The two-year registered nursing program at College of the Canyons is designed to prepare
the student with the knowledge required to assume the responsibilities of an entry
level registered nurse. Upon graduation the student receives an Associate Degree in
Nursing and is eligible to take the national licensure examination to become a registered
nurse.
The College of the Canyons Registered Nurse Program is approved by the California
State Board of Registered Nursing.
Prerequisites
- English 101 (3 semester units or 5 quarter units)
- Anatomy (4 semester units or 6 quarter units)
- Physiology (4 semester units or 6 quarter units)
- Microbiology (4 semester units or 6 quarter units)
- Eligibility for Intermediate Algebra
NOTE: There is no recency policy for prerequisites.
Other Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) Requirements
Communication 105 or 120 and Psychology 101 or equivalents (calculated for GPA)
Selection Criteria Including, But Not Limited To, the Following
To be considered for entrance, all prerequisites must be completed with a 2.5 GPA
or higher. Completing the prerequisites, however, does not assure admission into the
program.
Students will be admitted to the program based on their scholastic eligibility and
placement on a nursing assessment test as per SB 1309.
SCHOLASTIC ELIGIBILITY: Scholastic eligibility is determined through the California Community College Chancellors
Office approved formula which calculates the students probability of successfully
completing the ADN program. The formula uses the following criteria:
- Core Biology GPA all Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology courses taken at the college level.
- Core Biology repetitions the number of times a student has repeated a Core Biology course including withdrawals.
- English GPA all credit English course grades regardless of the level of the course.
- Overall GPA the college GPA as it appears on college transcripts excluding non-credit and not-for-credit courses.
- Students must have a minimum required score of 70 to be eligible for admission.
To be more competitive for admission, students are encouraged to:
- Complete all courses without repeating or withdrawing
- Minimum of a 3.5 GPA in all Biology courses
- Minimum of a 3.5 GPA in all English courses
ASSESSMENT TEST: Qualified applicants will be required to take a state approved nursing assessment
test. Students must rank at the required level to be eligible for admission into the
program. Currently, this is a 62% composite score based on the California Community
College Chancellors Office recommendation. Valid photo ID must be presented at time
of test.
Final selections are made using both multi-criteria screening for ranking and random
selection. Qualified applicants not selected must reapply in order to be considered.
The School of Health Professions and Public Safety does not retain applications.
Students not meeting eligibility criteria are offered a remediation plan. After successful
completion, students are eligible to reapply for random selection. If the remediation
plan is not complete by the deadline, the student is no longer eligible to apply to
the program.
Students who have been previously enrolled in the COC or another RN program will only
be allowed one entry into the COC RN program.
Application Procedures
Follow Application Procedures Step by Step, here.
- Submit College of the Canyons application and obtain a student identification number.
Submit the following documents to Admissions and Records:
1.) Current official transcripts from all colleges attended, except COC (must include
all coursework regardless if nursing prerequisite or not, including accredited, non
accredited and technical schools - ALL COLLEGES);
2.) For transcripts from other countries, an official sealed foreign transcript evaluation
from a NACES approved agency;
3.) Official military transcripts;
4.) Math placement test results if needed for eligibility;
5.) Official College Board AP Transcripts - ALL SUBJECTS (only if received a 3 or
higher). Since Advanced Placement is given college credit, it is considered a college transcript.
6.) Official College Board CLEP Math score.
7.) Make sure all submitted transcripts are current and have grades posted with no
"IN PROGRESS" noted (this may require ordering updated transcripts before applying
to the RN program)
8.) If yo uhave LACCD transcripts, make sure your official transcripts are not electronic
copies. must have overall GPA on transcripts submitted.
- Submit the online Nursing Program Application and all required documents (accepted twice a year for spring and fall semesters; check website for timelines). Applications will also be evaluated based on documents submitted to Admissions and Records by the deadline.
- Applicants who submit incomplete applications or who are missing any required documents will automatically be ineligible.
Nursing Courses
Upon acceptance into the program the following courses will be completed. Students
must be prepared for day, evening, and weekend clinical assignments.
FIRST SEMESTER
- Nursing 112 Foundations of Nursing
- Nursing 114 Fundamentals of Nursing
- Nursing 124 Beginning Medical/Surgical Nursing
- Nursing 126 Psychiatric Nursing (Psych 101
prerequisite)
- Nursing 234 Intermediate Medical/Surgical Nursing
- Nursing 236 Maternal Child Nursing
- Nursing 240 Advanced Medical/Surgical Nursing and Leadership
Students are responsible to meet all degree requirements for COC.
Cost of Program
In addition to the purchase of textbooks, supplies and uniforms, students will pay a college enrollment fee, health fee and student body fee. Students accepted into the program are required to have a physical examination, drug screening, required immunizations, current CPR card, current Fire Card, malpractice insurance, and background check. Students must provide their own living expenses and have transportation to off-campus sites. Limited educational grants and loans are available.
Transfer Process
Students may apply to the RN program by transfer or challenge. Students are not allowed
to transfer into the first semester; students must enter first semester as a generic
student. Students are only eligible to be considered for transfer if they have been
in a nursing program within 12 months of the day their application is accepted and
are clinically safe and are eligible to re-enter their previous program. Students
who have been out of a nursing program for more than 12 months must apply as beginning
students.
The Director of Nursing has the right to accept or deny any transfer.
The Director of Nursing determines how the applicant's previous courses correlate
with the COC Nursing Program curriculum and accepted applicants are notified as to
which portions of the curriculum must be taken in order to complete the nursing program
at COC. Note: Check with college counselor for associate degree requirements.
Selected applicants must attend a mandatory orientation and complete Transitions into
Nursing, Nursing 109. Upon completing Nursing 109, the student will be placed on a
waiting list until an opening in the appropriate course becomes available.
To apply for transfer, follow application procedures outlined previously.
FOREIGN RN APPLICANTS:
Students advised by the BRN to take specific courses to obtain licensure must:
- Submit College of the Canyons application and obtain a student identification number.
- Submit online Nursing Program Application and letter from the BRN and letter from the BRN.
- Accepted applicants will be notified as to which portions of the curriculum must be taken to complete the BRN requirements.
- Selected applicants must attend a mandatory orientation and complete Transitions into Nursing, Nursing 109. Upon completing Nursing 109, the student will be placed on a waiting list until an opening in the appropriate course becomes available.
NOTE: Students advised by the BRN of a deficiency in Medical-Surgical Nursing, must
apply to the RN Program. To apply, follow application procedures outlined previously.
LEGAL LIMITATIONS:
Record of any felony is subject to review by the Board of Registered Nursing before an RN license may be granted. This is in accordance with legal requirements.
Anyone wishing clarification or further information may contact the Board of Registered
Nursing, 1030 13th St., Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 322-3350.
INFORMATION:
Students are advised to make an appointment with a COC counselor each semester for
advisement of Nursing/Associate of Science requirements. For further information,
contact Counseling at (661) 362-3288. Students may also contact the School of Health Professions at (661) 362-3557.
SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Nursing Department
Bonelli Hall, Room 243A
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, California 91355
(661) 362-3557
Approved by Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)
P.O. Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100
(916) 322-3350