Advance Your Skills as a Coppin Nurse

A career in nursing can be personally fulfilling and lucrative. Pursuing graduate nursing education can create more opportunities to not only provide excellent primary health care, but to also become a leader and teacher in the field.

The Helene Fuld School of Nursing (HFSON) offers 3 graduate programs focused on advanced nursing education. These programs continue our longstanding tradition of excellence in nursing education, practice, and research. Program graduates stand ready to practice as nurse practitioners, educators, leaders, and administrators.

Learn more about the Helene Fuld School of Nursing

How to Apply to Graduate Nursing at Coppin 

Graduate admission is a little different from the undergraduate admissions process. Any student applying to our master's, post-master's, or doctorate program must submit all application materials to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). 

Required Application Materials

• Coppin State University online application (select graduate studies)
• Application fee
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Copy of current license to practice nursing
• Typed personal essay of your goals and objectives (also called Statement of Intent)
• Proof of satisfactory completion of a course in elementary statistics and/or nursing research
• Proof of satisfactory completion of a course in physical assessment in the last 5 years, or proof of a successful challenge exam
• International students must also submit official English proficiency scores. Minimum score is 550. 

Next Steps

Your next step after applying is to contact the School of Graduate Studies to schedule a meeting with a graduate faculty member. We recommend all applying students keep copies of all documentation submitted for admission consideration. 

Modern Facilities to Learn, Study, and Practice

Our state-of-the-art facilities provide space for our undergraduate and graduate nursing students to research, study, and put theory into practice. The HFSON manages the Coppin Clinic at St. Frances and the CSU Community Health Center, a primary care facility that offers licensed, low-cost health care to the local Baltimore community.

Become a Coppin Nurse

Welcome to the Helene Fuld School of Nursing (HFSON)! We are so excited you’re considering becoming a Coppin nurse! Step into our rich legacy of nurturing potential and transforming the lives of our students and communities. Our students are transforming the healthcare delivery system across acute care, ambulatory care, and community settings.

We encourage our students to be active participants in the teaching-learning environment. Our students get access to clinical and community experiences throughout the greater Baltimore region, including:

• Take a Love One to the Doctor Day
• Power to End Stroke
• World AIDS Day
• Pythias A. Virginia I. Jones African American Community Forum on Memory Loss.

Upon graduation from the HFSON, our students are equipped to pursue lifelong learning master’s and/or doctorate-level nursing education. Our program continues to prepare professional nurses who go on to work locally and around the world. Further expansion of our program focuses on global outreach in Barbados and Quito, Ecuador.

Learn more about the Helene Fuld School of Nursing

Our Programs

Rooted in all of our programs is the foundation that nursing is a scientific and clinical practice discipline. We train our students to use evidence-based interventions to promote, maintain, and restore adaptive responses in patients. 

There is such a critical need for nursing professionals today—and this need is growing. In addition to this shortage, there is a need for nurses committed to continual growth and serving underserved urban and global communities. Each of our undergraduate and graduate programs speak to this need for culturally sensitive education.

As undergraduates, students begin to demonstrate analytical skills, and increased abilities to incorporate emerging information systems and technology to improve and transform healthcare. Our master’s and doctoral programs continue to build on these undergraduate foundations. Graduates incorporate advanced theory, research, advocacy, leadership and clinical skills with an emphasis on independent and interprofessional practice required to assume responsibility and accountability for the health promotion, assessment, diagnosis, and management of culturally diverse clients' problems across settings. 

Nursing Departmental Honors Program

The Nursing Departmental Honors Program is an adjunct of the University Honors Program. To be eligible for any Departmental Honors Program, you must be a current nursing student and meet one of the following criteria:

• Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average
• Have earned at least 60 credits
• Have successfully completed the General Studies Honors Program.
• Have demonstrated outstanding ability in your field of study

Upon completion of the first 2 years of matriculation in the General Studies Honors Program and with the Dean's approval, nursing students may earn departmental honors through participation in the Honors program.

Admission Process

If you're here, you're probably interested in one of our renowned nursing programs!

• BSN, Traditional
• BSN, RN to BSN
• BSN, Accelerated 2nd Degree

You've probably already started to get a lot of information, and you'll definitely be getting more. On this page, we've gathered resources and information to get you started, and help you find your way around.

Advising for Prospective Students

Academic Success Center staff and the First Year Experience (FYE) staff both help advise students interested in applying to admission for one of our undergraduate nursing programs. We encourage students to contact both offices and schedule an appointment for academic advisement/counseling before applying.

Connect with First Year Experience:

Suite 133, Health and Human Services Building

(410) 951-3970 or by email

Connect with the CHP Academic Success Center:

2nd Floor, Grace Jacobs

(410) 951-3555 or by email 

Admission Requirements

Every person interested in a Coppin nursing program must first apply to Coppin State University and submit additional documentation. There are 3 different undergraduate nursing programs, and some may have specialized requirements. The general admissions process for all nursing programs includes:

• Coppin State University online application
• Official transcripts
• Personal Essay
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Interview

The next sections explains nursing-program specific admission requirements in more detail. Still have questions? Reach out to the School of Nursing by email or phone or the CHP Academic Success Center. 

If granted admission to a nursing program, Accelerated 2nd Degree students may also need to return a signed Acknowledgement Form.

Online Application

Prospective students interested in any Coppin nursing program must first apply for admission to Coppin State University. Nursing applicants must receive admission to Coppin and receive Pre-Nursing advisement before completing the Admission to Baccalaureate form for admission to a Nursing program.

There is a competitive admissions process (Fall only) for admission for any Helene Fuld School of Nursing (HFSON) program. Please note, just because you receive admission to Coppin State University does not mean you are also granted admission to a nursing program.

HFSON Decision Dates

Official Transcripts

To be eligible for admission, all applicants must submit official transcripts from each college and/or university attended. Nursing applicants must submit official transcripts to the Office of Admissions and also the CHP Academic Success Center.

Transcripts for International Education

Students who have completed any coursework or education outside of the United States or territory must submit a coursework evaluation. Visit our International Student Admission page for more information on our transcript evaluation partners.

Letters of Recommendation

All Coppin nursing programs require 3 letters of recommendation as part of your admission application. When requesting letters from your references, be sure to provide them with the Undergraduate Nursing Recommendation Form.

In order for your references to complete the form they will need you to provide this information:

• Your full name
• Your Coppin State University ID#
• Semester you're applying for (i.e. Fall 20_, Spring 20_, etc.)
• Your desired program
  • Traditional BSN
  • Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN
  • RN to BSN

Your references will not be able to complete the form without the listed information. Once they have your information, completing the recommendation form should take about 15 minutes.

TEAS Assessment

Students applying to the Traditional BSN and Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN must submit official TEAS Assessment to the CHP Academic Success Center.

Students applying to the RN to BSN program do not need to submit TEAS Assessment.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

• 3.00 on a 4.0 scale is the minimum cumulative GPA for the Traditional BSN and RN to BSN programs
• 3.00 on a 4.0 scale is the minimum cumulative GPA for the Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN

Application Essay

The Coppin State University application includes an essay. For students applying to the Accelerated 2nd Degree and RN to BSN programs, make sure your essay of goals and objectives includes the following:

• Your reason for choosing a career in nursing
• Details on how your desired nursing program will help you accomplish your professional goals
• Factors that prompted your career change
• Your reasons for choosing Coppin for your nursing education
• Your long-term goals
• Brief summary of significant professional experience, from high school to present
• How your previous work and academic experiences relate to nursing
• Our nursing programs are academically intense. Also include how you'll handle academic demands as well as other responsibilities.

Interview

Students applying to the Accelerated 2nd Degree and RN to BSN programs may be asked to sit for a virtual or in-person interview.

Transfer Admissions

Interested in bringing your community college or previous college credits to Coppin? Transfer Admissions is your resource to get started.

Transfer Evaluations

Getting your Final Transfer Evaluation Report

A student will receive their transfer evaluation report once they receive their acceptance notification and the Office of Admissions receives all required documents. Students can access the final report in EagleLINKS before the end of their first semester enrollment. Be sure to set up your EagleLINKS account with your User ID and password, so you can access your admissions, academic, and financial aid information.

Appealing Your Final Transfer Evaluation Report

Any student who feels they've been denied credits, or that credits were articulated inaccurately can file a written appeal. The appeal must be submitted to the Office of Records and Registration within 30 business days before the end of the first semester of the student's enrollment. 

Send all written appeals to:

Office of Records and Registration
Coppin State University
2500 West North Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21216
Attn: Transfer Coordinator

Cost to Attend

Questions about tuition and fees for the 2021-2020 academic year? Check out our resources on the costs to attend Coppin State University. 

Nursing students may also have additional costs that are not included in University tuition estimates. Students must purchase and wear nursing uniforms, and might also be required to undergo background checks for on-site clinical placements.

Plan Your Campus Visit

There is no free parking on campus. There is visitor parking in several on-campus parking lots. Students who have been admitted, but don't yet have a parking permit can also use visitor parking.

See visitor parking options

Recruitment

Our focus is to recruit students who have the potential to become experts and professionals in their fields. The Helene Fuld School of Nursing (HFSON) works with Coppin students, faculty, staff, and administration of CSU to increase our use of Best Practices for recruiting and retaining regional, national, and international candidates for our undergraduate nursing programs. We also get excited to meet new prospective students through social media and in-person at our many local and national recruitment events.

Welcome Nursing Students!

Congratulations on getting accepted into one our renowned nursing programs for the Fall 2024 semester! If you're here that means you're in one of the following programs:

• BSN, Traditional
• BSN, RN to BSN
• BSN, Accelerated 2nd Degree

You've probably already started to get a lot of information, and you'll definitely be getting more. On this page, we've gathered resources and information to get you started, and help you find your way around.

Pre-Orientation

Coppin State University and the Helene Fuld School of Nursing hold a New Student Orientation for students admitted to our undergraduate nursing programs. Orientation covers a variety of topics, including:

• Academic overviews
• Clinical overviews
• Policies and procedures for various aspects of campus

The Pre-Orientation will be held virtually and/or in person. The date is June 24, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The location will be updated closer to the date. The College of Health Professions will send the meeting link/call-in number to all new admits' student emails.

Dean's Forum/Boot Camp

The Dean's Forum/Boot Camp is an orientation for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students enrolled in programs within the College of Health Professions (CHP). This includes students in programs in the Helene Fuld School of Nursing (HFSON) and the School of Allied Health (SAH).

Attendance is mandatory—there are no exceptions. The date of the Dean's Forum/Boot Camp will be on August 20, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and will be held in Physical Education Complex (PEC) room 108.

Goals

The Dean's Forum focuses on helping students:

• Enhance cognitive skills
• Develop positive academic behaviors
• Begin learning health care knowledge
• Promote retention and academic success

During this event, all CHP undergraduate students have the opportunity to meet CHP Faculty and learn about various student success resources.

Nursing Students

The Dean's Forum/Boot Camp provides nursing students valuable information related to achieving success. During the "Boot Camp", nursing students have the opportunity to learn success strategies including: 

• Study skills
• Test-taking skills
• Time management.

Students get an introduction to the foundational nursing curriculum, such as the nursing process and medical terminology.

Campus Parking

There is no free parking on campus. Students need a parking permit to park on any of the campus parking lots. Students who don't have a permit yet can pay to park in visitor parking spots on some campus lots. There are parking options for residential and commuter students.

See student parking options

New Student Campus Orientation

All new College of Health Professions (CHP) students who enroll in Fall Term must attend New Student Orientation (NSO). The Office of Student Activities and Leadership hosts NSO, which is open to all new undergraduate students. During these orientations, students receive information about University policies and procedures, as well as additional information about available student resources. All new undergraduate students must register for NSO. 

Register for New Student Orientation

Eagle Card - Your Key to Campus

The Eagle Card is your official University ID. It is your access card to campus events and activities, as well as buildings and facilities. You can use to check out library resources and materials, purchase items in the campus Bookstore and even load money onto it to use for campus dining vendors. If you need a parking permit, you'll need to get your Eagle Card first. 

Get your Eagle Card

Required Forms and Documentation

The College of Health Professions uses the Maryland Hospital Association's designated vendor, CastleBranch, to manage student immunizations, compliance documents, background checks, and drug screenings. YourCastleBranch profile includes:

• A list of all program and clinical requirements
• Immunization Assistant
• Record Scan
• Student Immunization Records
• Document Management

How to Create a CastleBranch Profile and Ordering Your Package

1. Start at the CastleBranchwebsite
2. Click on the Place Order button on the middle of the page
3. Enter package code:
   • For Trad. BSN enter CQ49
   • For RN to BSN enter CQ50
   • For Accelerated BSN enter CQ51
   • For MSN/POST MSN enter CQ52
   • For DNP enter CQ53
   • For BSN to DNP enter VG40
   • For HIM enter CQ54
4. Set up your CastleBranch account with Background Check, Drug Test, and Document Tracker
5. Select "This is my first time preparing for clinicals in my College of Health Professions plan of study"
6. On the following screen, please review the contents of your package, and check the box that appears at the bottom of the screen to show that you have read, understand, and agree to the terms and conditions.

After completing your profile setup, you are ready to start your order. Click the Continue Order button to place your order.

Here is a tutorial video you may find useful in completing your Castle Branch process: Watch myCB Student Tutorial

Compliance Document Collection

Every admitted full-time and part-time student must satisfy University immunization requirements to be eligible for enrollment. In addition to these University requirements, students may also be required to adhere to more program-specific compliance documentation to complete your admission as well as comply with policies of the State of Maryland, Coppin State University, and the Helene Fuld School of Nursing.

The Student Immunization Tracker facilitates the storage and management of students' records. Once you have created your profile on CastleBranch, you will be prompted to submit your records via digital upload, mail, or fax.

The Document Manager lets you securely upload and store documentation required for admission and compliance:

• CPR Certification 
  
• Flu Vaccine (fall semester only)
• US RN license (RNs only)
• Health Clearance Form
  File

  HFSON Health Clearance Form.pdf

Background Check and Drug Screen

The HFSON does not require you to undergo a background check and drug screen. However, the hospitals our students and clinical programs work with require criminal background and urine drug screen checks for incoming students. This policy ensures the safety of the patients treated by students in the program. A review typically takes 1-3 business days to complete.

CastleBranch conducts the reviews. The HFSON administrators, faculty, and staff do not receive any information of the student's criminal background or drug screen report. If you have any concerns regarding your background check, please contact CastleBranch directly and not Coppin State University or the Helene Fuld School of Nursing.

Uniforms (Traditional BSN and 2nd Degree BSN Students)

All students must wear the Coppin State University regulation uniform. We recommend students order uniforms no later than August 1, 2024. You may try on the uniform Tuesday – Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. beginning Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Other times may be available by appointment.

Questions about uniforms? Visit the Learning Resource Center (LRC) in HHSB Suite 433, call (410) 951-6208, or email Ms. Shirley Means at shmeans@coppin.edu.

Ordering Your Uniforms

1. Start at the Dove Uniforms Website
2. Click on Ordering
3. Next, click on Custom School Web Pages
4. Once you're on the Coppin page, decide if you want to order online or download order forms

To Order Online

• Enter COPPIN as the school code in the Order Online section (at the top)
• Click submit

To Download Order Forms

• Enter COPPIN as the school code in the To Download Copies of Forms section (at the bottom)
• Click submit
• Print form (note: print in portrait form)

For the purposes of ordering your uniforms, please enter September 9, 2024 as the date your clinicals will begin.

Cost to Attend

Questions about tuition and fees for the current academic year? Check out our resources on the costs to attend Coppin State University. 

The Highest Standards

The Helene Fuld School of Nursing is nationally renowned for graduating some of the country's top nurses. We insist on high standards, and continuously push all of our students to excel. All of the nursing programs include academic coursework, and clinical elements. Some programs may even have assessments, portfolios, a well as other means of assessment. 

Grading Clinical Performance

Any student in a Nursing program must earn a final grade of "C" in all nursing courses. For any clinical practice components, faculty grade student performance on a Pass/Fail basis. Each clinical nursing course has a syllabus that outlines the criteria for acceptable performance. To earn a passing grade in a clinical course, a student must demonstrate satisfactory clinical performance to earn a passing grade based on the criteria defined in each clinical course. A passing grade requires a student to pass both clinical and didactic components to pass the course. At the halfway point of each course, faculty advise any student who is not performing at a satisfactory level.

Additional Requirements for RN to BSN Students

Students enrolled in the RN to BSN program must also submit a Portfolio as a part of the Graduation clearance.

Grading Scale for Nursing Courses

Remember, Clinical Courses are graded PASS/FAIL. Depending on your program you may also have additional requirements for graduation. Be sure to regularly meet with your advisor so you can stay on top of all of your graduation requirements.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation from any undergraduate nursing program, all nursing students must meet these minimum requirements:

• Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Successfully complete all prerequisite and major nursing courses
• Pass a standardized comprehensive assessment examination which predicts the students probability of passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)