Admission Information
Georgia Highlands College (GHC) offers an Associate of Science degree in Nursing (ASN). This allows graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam to become a registered nurse (RN). There are two programs of study. In addition to the RN Program, GHC offers a Career Mobility Program for LPNs and paramedics to obtain an ASN degree. For more information on each of the programs of study, click on the following links.
RN ProgramCareer Mobility Programs:
LPN-RN Bridge
Paramedic-RN Bridge
Career Mobility Program Hybrid Option
The Nursing Application must be submitted to the Nursing Department for admission consideration:
Nursing Application
Admissions
Students are admitted to the RN program twice a year. The largest admission is in the fall. A smaller class of 40 students is admitted in the spring. Admission is highly competitive. Applicants are ranked according to an admission score that is based on SAT score and GPA in the core courses.
Because the nursing program is a time consuming, challenging program with both theory and clinical components, students are encouraged to complete as many of the general academic requirements as possible prior to beginning the program in order to maximize success. The required nursing courses are nine (9) semester hours each which is the equivalent of 3 general academic courses. It is difficult to schedule additional classes with the nursing courses unless they are atnight.
Courses that students are encouraged to complete prior to entering the nursing program include English, Math, the Biologies and PSYC 2103 Human Growth and Development. The completion of additional core courses prior to beginning the nursing courses varies depending on point of entry into the nursing program. Students who enter the RN program in the fall have the opportunity to take additional courses during the summer semester between the first and second year of nursing courses. Students who enter the RN program in the spring go straight through the summer and into the second year of nursing courses in the fall. Therefore, these students are required to complete the general academic courses prior to beginning the nursing courses. The point of entry for paramedics is Maymester and the point of entry for LPNs is the summer. It is reasonable for LPNs and paramedics to take additional courses with their transition course (NURS 1103 or NURS 1104) prior to beginning the remaining two nursing courses (NURS 2204 and NURS 2205).
Admission to the nursing program is a two part process. Students must be accepted to the college prior to applying for admission to the nursing program. Please refer to the application to the college. Once admitted to the college, students are encouraged to meet with the Nursing Advising Specialist. Click on the Advising link for information on contacting the Nursing Advising Specialist. The Advising Specialist can review which courses have been accepted from other institutions and can help students map out a plan for completing the nursing program.
Applications
Deadlines for applications vary by program of study and admission semester. Please refer to the Nursing application form.
A $20 non-refundable application fee (different from the application fee to the college) is required.
On the application form is a checklist of items that must be received by the Nursing Department or turned in with the application prior to the application being reviewed.
An application worksheet will be completed from this information in order to determine your admission score that is then ranked for acceptance.
Be sure to provide all information requested on the application form in order for an accurate admission score to be determined. You can view the Nursing application worksheet to see how the admission score is calculated.
Deadlines for Application
RN Program:
- Fall Admission - Deadline is April 1st each year
- Spring Admission - Deadline is September 15th each year
- LPN-RN Bridge - Deadline is March 1st each year
- Paramedic-RN Bridge - Deadline is March 1st each year
- Currently, a Hybrid Option for the transition courses (NURS 1103 and NURS 1104) is being offered in an effort to address the working needs of LPNs and Paramedics. Because the Hybrid Option starts in the spring semester, if you are interested in the Hybrid Option the deadline for admission is November 15th each year.