Nursing Program FAQs

How do I apply?

You must complete an submit an application to Skagit Valley College and an application to the Nursing Department.

Applying to Skagit Valley College
To begin your application to Skagit Valley College, you must submit a State of Washington Uniform Community College Admission form or a Skagit Valley College Application, available from the Admissions Office and on the SVC website at www.skagit.edu. Visit the SVC website Enrollment -Getting Started & Applying for Admission site for detailed information on applying to Skagit Valley College.

Applying to RN Nursing Program
To apply for admission into the RN Nursing program, see Entry Into the Program located under Program Information.

What are the graduation requirements?

All graduates are encouraged to attend graduation ceremonies scheduled for the end of Spring Quarter each year (see Catalog inside cover). Students can complete their degrees at the end of any quarter and should follow Number 1 and Number 2 below for Summer, Fall, Winter graduation, as well as spring. Graduation is administered by the Office of the Registrar. To prepare for graduation from SVC you must:

Apply for an evaluation of credits after you have earned 60 college credits, including any credits transferred to SVC.
Apply for graduation diplomas and pay graduation fees before you enroll for your last quarter. . No entries will be made on your permanent transcript until application is complete, graduation fees are paid, and degree requirements are met.
Students may participate in graduation ceremonies who are within 10 credits of completing their degree requirements by the end of Spring Quarter of that school year.

Diplomas take approximately 12 weeks to be mailed after the end of the quarter.

Nursing Program Graduation Requirements
These courses are required of all Professional/Technical graduates of Skagit Valley College. Students are urged to complete these requirements prior to the final quarter of the RN program. These could be completed prior to entering the program.

Each course must be completed with a grade of “C” or above.

Speech 123 or 125 - 5 or 3 credits Interpersonal Communications.
Social Science 125 - 2 credits Employer/Employee Roles and Perspectives.
Social Science 113 - 1 credit Job Search.

Please refer to the annual schedule for availability of courses.

The following courses are offered online through SVC: English 101, Math 100, Psychology 100, Psychology 110, Speech 123, Social Science 125 and 113.

What resources are available to help me to succeed?

Skagit Valley College offers a wide range of services and programs that are available for students to access to help with their learning while at Skagit Valley College. An example of services available are Counseling, Tutoring, Disability Support Services, Veteran's Education Services and Women's Programs.

For a complete list of services available, visit Counseling/Advising on the SVC website homepage.

How can I finance my education?

Mount Vernon: (360) 416-7666
Whidbey Island: (360) 679-5320

Toll Free: 1-877-385-5360

As a student at Skagit Valley College, financial aid in the form of grants, loans, and employment may be available to assist you with educational expenses. Financial aid is given according to policies set by the Congress of the United States and the state of Washington. To determine your financial need, you must first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit this application either electronically or through the mail. This form is available in the Financial Aid Office or on the SVC website, www.skagit.edu.

The information provided on the FAFSA will allow the federal processor to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC will then be subtracted from the budgeted "cost of education" to determine your financial need. Financial aid is awarded based on unmet need. After the FAFSA is processed, additional information will be requested of you to assist in verifying the information provided and to assist in an equitable distribution of available funds. No awards of financial aid will be made until all information has been submitted. Students who have not been awarded financial aid are responsible for the payment of their tuition and fees.

There are a limited number of scholarships available to nursing students only. Scholarship information is available from the Financial Aid Office or the Nursing Department.

How do I earn college credits?

The regular college year is divided into three quarters of approximately 11 weeks each plus a summer session. One credit is allowed for each lecture period or two hours of laboratory per week. The laboratory period may consist of two or more clock hours. For each period of lecture or discussion, the average student should allow two hours of outside preparation.

A carefully planned course of 15 or more credits per quarter will give you sufficient credits to graduate in two years. These credits should be chosen according to an organized curriculum developed under the guidance of an advisor.

If you are a degree-seeking student, you are strongly encouraged to have your schedule of classes reviewed by your advisor. The following course credit loads require the listed approvals:

1. Through 20 credits (academic courses) - advisor only.

2. Through 21 credits (professional-technical courses) - advisor only.

3. 21 or more credits (academic courses) - advisor and Dean of Student Services or designee.

4. 22 or more academic or professional-technical credits - advisor and Dean of Student Services or designee.

What courses must be completed prior to entering the Nursing Program?

Prerequisites for the first quarter (Nurs 161) of the program:

Each course must be completed with a grade of "C" or above.

English 101- 5 credits Composition I (prerequisite is Engl 99 with a C grade or better or appropriate placement test score).
Math 100 - 5 credits Survey of Applied Mathematics (prerequisite is Math 96 with a grade of C or better or appropriate placement test score). A higher-level math class can be used. If you plan to get your BSN, take Math 107.
Chemistry 131 - 5 credits Principles and Applications of Inorganic Chemistry (prerequisite is Math 97).
Biological Science 242 - 5 credits (with lab). Human Anatomy and Physiology I (prerequisite is Bisc 101).
Biological Science 243 - 5 credits (with lab). Human Anatomy and Physiology II (prerequisite is Bisc 242).

Prerequisites for the fourth quarter (Nurs 201) of the program:

These courses must be completed before you can enter the fourth quarter of the nursing program. It is strongly recommended that you complete these courses before you begin the first quarter of the Nursing Program as it is difficult to schedule required clinical experiences around these class times, especially Bisc 215.

Each course must be completed with a grade of "C" or above.

English 101- 5 credits Composition I (prerequisite is Engl 99 with a C grade or better or appropriate placement test score).
Biological Science 215 - 5 credits (with lab). General Microbiology (prerequisite is Bisc 101).
Biological Science 242 - 5 credits (with lab). Human Anatomy and Physiology I (prerequisite is Bisc 101).
Biological Science 243 - 5 credits (with lab). Human Anatomy and Physiology II (prerequisite is Bisc 242).
Chemistry 131 - 5 credits Principles and Applications of Inorganic Chemistry (prerequisite is Math 97).
Math 100 or above - 5 credits Survey of Applied Mathematics (prerequisite is Math 96 with a grade of C or better or appropriate placement test score). A higher-level math class can be used. If you plan to get your BSN, take Math 107.
Psychology 100 – 5 credits General Psychology.
Psychology 110 – 5 credits Developmental Psychology (prerequisite is Psyc 100).
Nursing 161, 162, and 163.

Grade in each course must be "C" or above

If transferring into the program at NURS 201 as an LPN, NURS 165 is also a prerequisite to Nursing 201.