Academic Progression
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ACADEMIC PROGRESSION
Progression in each course is essential for success in the academic program as each course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in prior courses. Students may be placed on a Goal Setting Plan for Student Improvement by their course faculty/ faculty adviser/ program director/specialty director if they perform poorly in a required course, if there is concern about the student’s progression, or if there is concern about a student’s professional behavior. A Goal Setting Plan for Student Improvement may be initiated at any time during the course/program as determined by the course faculty, academic adviser or program director.
The Goal Setting Plan will list specific areas in which the student is failing to meet course objectives, clinical competence, or professional behavior and will specify required and recommended steps the student must take to resolve the issue. A copy of the Goal Setting Plan for Student Improvement will be sent electronically to the student, academic adviser, and the course faculty.
Progression in each academic program requires meeting all program expectations. Progression policies are unique to programs. Differences in progression policies by program are noted below. If you are unclear of progression within your program of study, please contact your specialty or program director.
GPA/Semester & Program GPA Requirements
BSN
Students are expected to:
Maintain a 2.5 GPA each semester
Hold a 2.5 cumulative GPA to graduate
MN Fall Start and Spring Start
Maintain a 2.75 GPA each semester
Hold a 2.75 cumulative GPA to graduate
MN Pathway
Students are expected to:
Maintain a 2.75 GPA each semester
Hold a 2.75 cumulative GPA to graduate from the pre-licensure portion of the program
An MN Pathway student is eligible to matriculate to the MSN or DNP program if they have completed 4 consecutive semesters in the pre-licensure program, graduated, and have met the criteria specified below. Students who do not complete the prescribed plan of study in 4 consecutive semesters (does not apply to students who have taken and returned from a medical leave of absence) must re-apply to the MSN or DNP program. Admission will be competitive with the pool of candidates applying for admission.
MN Pathway students expecting to matriculate to the MSN program at the end of the pre-licensure program:
Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater
Must have MN degree completion GPA of 3.0 or greater
A student with a cumulative GPA below a 3.0 during the pre-licensure portion of the program must re-apply for admission to the MSN program
MN Pathway students expecting to matriculate to the DNP program at the end of the pre-licensure program:
Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or greater
A student with a cumulative GPA below a 3.2 during the pre-licensure portion of the program must apply for admission to the DNP program
Note: All MN students matriculating to the MSN or DNP program in Fall semester must hold a valid Georgia Nursing license or compact state license by October 1st. A student matriculating in Spring semester must hold a valid Georgia license or compact state license by February 1st to enroll in subsequent semesters of coursework.
MSN
Students are expected to:
Maintain a >3.0 GPA each semester
Hold a >3.0 cumulative GPA to graduate
CARDIOVASCULAR PERFUSION (CVP)
Students are expected to:
Maintain a >3.0 GPA each semester
Hold a >3.0 cumulative GPA to graduate
DNP (POST BSN, POST MN, & POST MSN)
Students are expected to:
Maintain a >3.0 GPA each semester
Hold a >3.0 GPA to graduate
Time to Degree Completion
Time to degree completion is defined as the specified period of time from enrollment in the first course of a program to graduation from that program. Time to degree completion for all programs in the School of Nursing is five (5) years. A student may submit a formal petition with supporting documentation to the Associate Dean for Education for a one (1) year extension.
Course Failure Policy
Students who are not successful in passing a course are required to meet with the Program/Specialty Director to develop a revised plan of study. Considerations for repeating a course will include the sequencing of subsequent courses, space availability, the next semester a course is being offered, and an evaluation of factors leading to course failure.
BSN, MN, MN Spring Start, MN Pathway
A course failure is defined as follows:
A final course grade below a C- (< 70%).
A rating of unsatisfactory in a clinical course regardless of achievement on tests, papers, or other written assignments in the course. The student will be assigned a course grade of “F.”
A student failing a course is required to repeat the course. Most required nursing courses are sequential, and a student who fails to pass a course will require an individualized plan of study that may alter their plan of study and graduation date.
MN Pathway students failing a pre-licensure course will not automatically matriculate to the MSN or DNP program and must re-apply for admission to the post-licensure portion of the program.
Course Grade Calculation for Pre-Licensure Students
Testing by examination (tests only, not quizzes) will comprise a minimum of 60% of the course grade in Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Health Assessment, and clinical-related courses, e.g., Ambulatory Care & Community Health Nursing, Behavioral & Mental Health Nursing, Adult/Older Adult Health Nursing, Pediatric & Young Adult Nursing, Reproductive Health & Gender Related Care etc. Students must earn a weighted average on tests of 70%. In courses with ATI proctored assessments, the earned ATI grade is considered a test grade and will be included in the weighted average calculation. Refer to the ATI Grade Scale. Once the minimum weighted average of 70% is met, quizzes, papers and other assignments will be included in the calculation for the final course grade. A student failing a course may repeat the course only once.
Nursing courses may be repeated only once. If a student makes below the required grade in the repeated course, the student will be dismissed.
Two (2) course failures within the program of study will result in dismissal from the School of Nursing. This includes a second failure in a repeated course or failure in two (2) different courses.
This policy does not distinguish between core and clinical course failures. A second course failure within a program will result in dismissal from the School of Nursing.
MSN & DNP
The following course failure policies apply to post-licensure, MN Pathway students matriculated to the MSN or DNP program, MSN, Post BSN DNP, Post MN DNP, and Post Graduate Certificate students. MSN or DNP students enrolled in an APRN specialty track require a solid foundation in each course to progress. The following course policy defines the course failure policy.
Specialty Track Course Failure Policy
A course failure is defined as follows:
A final course grade less than 83% (B).
A clinical rating of unsatisfactory regardless of achievement on other assignments within the clinical course. The course grade assigned will be the letter grade “F.”
Testing by examination occurring in specialty courses (didactic) will require the student earn a minimum weighted average of an 83% when the grades from all course tests and assignments are averaged at the end of the course.
MSN & DNP Specialty Track Course Failure Policy
A grade of B (83%) or above is required to pass a course in both the MSN and DNP program. Students who fail a course will follow a revised program plan of study which may delay graduation.
Students failing a clinical course may not enroll in a subsequent didactic and clinical specialty course until they have successfully repeated the failed course with an earned grade of 83% and a clinical rating of satisfactory.
Two (2) course failures within a program of study will result in dismissal from the School of Nursing. This includes a second failure in a repeated course or failure in two (2) different courses.
In addition, a student must maintain a GPA at or above a 3.0 each semester. The student may only be on probation once during the program and is subject to dismissal if placed on probation a second semester for any reason (e.g. didactic or clinical performance).
DNP NURSE ANESTHESIA (CRNA)
Nurse anesthesia students will follow the DNP course failure policy for core DNP courses. DNP courses are identified for this program to have a ‘D’ at the end of the course number. DNP course failure is defined as a final course grade less than a B (<83%).
For Nurse Anesthesia specialty courses, course failure is defined as a course grade less than a B- (<80%). A student who fails a nurse anesthesia course will not automatically be eligible to repeat the course and restart/continue the program. In the case of a course failure, a decision to repeat the course and continue in the program will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Nurse Anesthesia Program Director in collaboration with the Office of Education. In addition, a student must maintain a GPA at or above a 3.0 each semester. The student may only be on probation one time during the program and is subject to dismissal if placed on probation a second semester for any reason (e.g. didactic or clinical performance).
Students beginning in the CRNA DNP Program on or after January 1, 2026 are required to complete the Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) at two points during the Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Second Year Requirement:
Students must take the SEE during the second year of the program and achieve a minimum passing score within no more than three attempts. All examinees will have a 60-day waiting period between each SEE examination attempt per the NBCRNA testing policies and procedures.
The minimum score requirement is based on data published in the Annual NCE and SEE Report from the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) for the previous calendar year.
By the conclusion of Semester 5, students must achieve the minimum passing score on the SEE. Failure to obtain a passing score may result in failure of NRSG 851 - Nurse Anesthesia Application I and inability to progress in the program.
Students are responsible for the cost of each SEE administration.
Third Year Requirement:
In Semester 8, students must take the SEE one time in preparation for the National Certification Examination (NCE).
A percentage of the student’s grade in NRSG 855 - Nurse Anesthesia Application IV will be determined by their SEE score.
Failure to take the SEE will result in failure of NRSG 855 - Nurse Anesthesia Application IV and inability to progress in the program.
Students who began the CRNA DNP Program before January 1, 2026 are required to complete the Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) at two points during the Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Students must take and pass the Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) at two points during the Nurse Anesthesia Program. It is the student’s responsibility to pay for each sitting of the SEE. In order to pass the SEE, student SEE scores must meet or exceed the required program benchmark for test takers within their respective year in the program (i.e. 2nd year in the nurse anesthesia program test takers; 3rd year in the nurse anesthesia program test takers). During semester 5 of the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program, students enrolled in NRSG 851 “Nurse Anesthesia Application I” are required to achieve a passing score on the SEE. Failure to obtain a passing score on the SEE may result in failure of the NRSG 851 course and inability to progress in the program. During semester 8 of the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program, students enrolled in NRSG 855 “Nurse Anesthesia Application IV” are required to achieve a passing score on the SEE. Failure to obtain a passing score on the SEE may result in failure of the NRSG 855 course and inability to progress in the program. There is no limit to the number of attempts for students taking the SEE during the designated testing period in order to obtain a passing score, however, all examinees will have a 60-day waiting period between each SEE examination attempt per the NBCRNA testing policies and procedures.
CARDIOVASCULAR PERFUSION (CVP)
For Cardiovascular Perfusion students, a grade in a perfusion course less than 80% will require the student to repeat the course. A student must maintain a GPA of or above 3.0 each semester. The student may only be on probation once during the program and is subject to dismissal if placed on probation a second semester for any reason (e.g., didactic, or clinical performance).
Two (2) course failures within the CVP program of study will result in dismissal from the School of Nursing. This includes a second failure in a repeated course or failure in two (2) different courses.