Program Overview
Thank you for your interest in the nursing program of Oakland Community College (OCC).
The nursing program at OCC is rigorous and incorporates a variety of experiences.
A typical week for a student might include 3-4 hours of theory lecture, two 8-hour
clinical shifts in an agency setting (day or evening; some weekend rotations may be
required), and three hours of lab on another day of the week. More information about
the nursing program, including required immunizations, is available in the nursing
student handbook.
Students interested in nursing should meet with a counselor for an unofficial checklist
(at the Highland Lakes or Southfield Campus) and attend an information session as
early as possible.
In order to be eligible to apply, students must meet minimum admission requirements.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants
are considered for admission based on the selection process outlined in this guide.
The nursing department does not maintain a waiting list. Therefore, students who are
not accepted must reapply.
The OCC Department of Nursing offers the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum. The
program leads to an Associate Degree in Applied Science and prepares graduates to
provide direct nursing care at a novice level in a variety of health care settings.
Successful completion of the program requirements qualifies students to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse
(NCLEX-RN). Satisfactory achievement on this exam qualifies graduates for state licensure as Registered Nurses (RN).
The associate degree nursing program contains two tracks: The Traditional track (ADN)
and the Transitional LPN to ADN track (TPN).
Associate Degree Nursing Program Tracks
ADN (Traditional Track)
The ADN Traditional track leads to the Associate in Applied Science, Nursing degree and is intended for students who have no background in nursing.
TPN (Transitional LPN to ADN Track)
The TPN track leads to an Associate in Applied Science, Transitional LPN to ADN Track degree. This track is intended for graduates of a practical nurse program Applicants must
hold current Michigan LPN licensure and have a minimum of 1500 hours work experience
as a licensed practical nurse.
Nursing Curriculum
For the nursing curriculum and course descriptions, refer to the college catalog and nursing student handbook.
Program Costs
Once admitted to the program, the average OCC in-district nursing student will pay
approximately $6,985 for tuition and fees (out-of-district tuition and fee for nursing
courses are approximately $13,076). Pre-program costs (books, background check, immunizations,
uniform, etc.) are estimated at $1,500 - $1,900. These estimates do not include the
costs of any prerequisite, general education, or required supportive courses taken
at OCC or transferred from other institutions. Your actual costs for tuition, fees,
and other expenses may be higher or lower depending on your individual circumstances.
The program tuition cost is calculated based on the current tuition rate of $99 per
billable contact hour for in-district and $192 for out-of-district, plus a $100 student
support fee per semester, for 65.5 billable contact hours of NUR courses over five
semesters. If all seven general education and required supportive courses are taken
at OCC, you will incur an estimated 27-30 additional billable contact hours for these
courses (hours vary depending on chosen electives). Upon graduation from the program,
you will incur additional costs for licensure and graduation of approximately $400
- $500.
In addition, the nursing program requires use of a lap top computer for all exams.
Nursing students are also required to purchase Nursing Program software in incremental
payments over the two years of the program.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice by action of the Oakland Community
College Board of Trustees.
Accreditation and Approval
United States Department of Education:
This program prepares you to take the
NCLEX exam in the State of Michigan.
Graduates who want to practice in other
states should review those requirements
via that Board of Nursing |
Background Check & Criminal History Policy
Conditional Admittance
After selection is completed, those students who have been invited to the nursing
program will be granted conditional admittance upon a satisfactory criminal background
check, including FBI fingerprint results and drug screen, at the student’s expense.
American Databank is the current company used by the nursing department for background
checks.
In addition to the above requirements, all admitted nursing students are required
to provide proof of immunizations and other requirements for clinical as outlined
in the Nursing Student Handbook. Students not in compliance with the clinical requirements
will forfeit their seat in the nursing program.
Criminal History Policy
Conviction of a felony, or any attempt to commit a felony, within fifteen years OR
conviction of a misdemeanor within ten years immediately preceding the date of the
criminal history check will preclude eligibility for admission. No exceptions will
be made to the criminal history policy.
Licensing
Upon successful completion of the nursing program, the Michigan Board of Nursing will
obtain a new criminal background check and drug screen. For more information, visit Michigan Board of Nursing.
Applying to the Program
Basic Eligibility Requirements
Meeting with a Counselor for help with selecting the required general education and supportive courses. Complete
the required supportive and general education courses with a grade of “B-” or better
in each. Advanced Placement or AP courses must score a 4 or 5 in order to equate to
a B- or better. BIO courses must be current within five-year expiration period. For
priority consideration, all courses must be completed.
- Attend the mandatory Nursing Information Session early—dates and times for upcoming
sessions are available to view on the nursing department web page at oaklandcc.edu/health/nursing.
- Successfully complete the HESI-A2 exam (HESI-NUR taken at OCC, Auburn Hills Campus).
- Complete any OCC incomplete marks by the application deadline, if applicable.
- Obtain written approval of any course substitutions by the application deadline, if
applicable. Requests are initiated through the Highland Lakes or Southfield Counseling
departments, with final approval from the Dean of Nursing.
- Update your OCC record through the Enrollment Services office at any campus using
the Student Update Information Request form:
- Designate the nursing program curriculum (ADN or TPN)
- Update address and phone number for accuracy, if necessary
- Submit evidence of high school graduation (high school transcript or diploma from
an accredited or state-approved U.S. high school) or GED to Counseling. International
high school transcripts must be translated by an approved service, which can take
several weeks.
- Transfer students only: OCC transcript evaluation of any transferred college-level
courses. Send official transcripts, CLEP, AP Scores, or DD214 to: Registrar’s Office,
Oakland Community College, 2480 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-2266. Allow
up to six weeks for evaluation. (International students must have college transcripts—including
course descriptions—translated first by an approved international evaluation service,
which can take several weeks—World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators.
- TPN applicants only: Provide evidence of valid Michigan license as a
- Practical Nurse.
- Submit a completed Verification of LPN Employment form validating 1500 hours minimum
work experience as a licensed practical nurse.
- Complete application/checklist at Highland Lakes or Southfield Counseling Department
by the deadline. (Completion of requirements and application to the program does not
guarantee admission.)
HESI TEST
This HESI-A2 exam is a computer-based timed test that consists of a math section and
a reading comprehension section. You must pass both sections within the same testing
session. One retake of the exam is permitted. If your second attempt is unsuccessful,
you will NOT be eligible to apply to the nursing program at Oakland Community College.
No exceptions. Additionally, HESI scores from other colleges will NOT be accepted.
The cost of the test, registration information, and other information about testing
is available on the MTEC testing center web page.
To prepare for the exam, you should attend one of the free HESI prep seminars that
are offered through the Academic Support Center. Information about these seminars is available on the ASC web page. HESI review books may be available
at campus libraries or bookstores.
Important Dates
ADN (Traditional Track)
Students who apply to the nursing program by the December 15, 2021, deadline will
be included in the ADN selection process. The nursing department will mail notification
letters on March 15, 2022. The letters will be either a conditional admission or a
letter of declination including the reason.
If admitted, you will begin the program in either fall 2022 or winter 2023 based on
random selection. You will receive more information about your start date in the admission
letter. Students who begin in the fall 2022 semester are expected to complete the
program in winter 2024. Students who begin in the winter 2023 semester are expected
to complete the program in fall 2024.
- For the 2021 application deadline, required biology courses taken in summer 2017 or
earlier are expired by the end of summer 2022 and are older than five years prior
to the program start. Expired biology courses will not be accepted.
- Fall 2021: Final semester to complete prerequisite courses and any “I” marks, if applicable
- December 15, 2021:
- Deadline to Apply
- Deadline to complete any course substitutions, if applicable
- Deadline for official transcript evaluation for non-OCC courses (allow 4-6 weeks),
if applicable
- January 15, 2022: Deadline for official transcript received for any non-OCC courses taken in final
semester, if applicable
No exceptions to deadlines; all items must be completed on time.
TPN (Transitional LPN to ADN Track)
The nursing department will complete the next TPN selection and mail letters of notification
on April 15, 2022. If you apply by March 1, 2022, you will receive this notification
letter in April, which will be either a letter of conditional admittance or a letter
to inform you that you have not been selected, including the reason.
If admitted, you will begin the program in May 2022, with an expected completion of
the program in December 2024.
- For the 2022 application deadline, required biology courses taken in winter 2017 or
earlier are expired by the end of winter 2022 and are older than five years prior
to the program start. Expired biology courses will not be accepted.
- Fall 2021:
- Final semester to complete prerequisite courses
- Final semester to complete any “I” marks, if applicable
- March 1, 2022:
- Deadline to Apply
- Deadline to complete any course substitutions, if applicable
- Deadline for official transcript evaluation for non-OCC courses (allow 4-6 weeks),
if applicable
- Deadline for official transcript received for any non-OCC courses taken in final semester,
if applicable
No exceptions to deadlines; all items must be completed on time. Program tracks must
have a sufficient number of eligible applications to run.
Selection Process
Overview
Each year, there are a limited number of seats available for new students. The number
of seats available is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and limited by school
resources and clinical availability. Qualified applications will be rank-ordered and
selected according to the following steps.
Step 1: Priority I & II
Applications that meet the minimum admission requirements are ranked according to
priority. Priority I (P1) applications are considered first, followed by Priority
II (P2).
Your application will be considered Priority I if you have completed all of the seven
required supportive and general education courses with a grade of “B-” or better:
- BIO 1570 Microbiology of Health and Disease, 3 credits, or BIO 2710 Microbiology,
4 credits (BIO 2710 is recommended for transferring to some BSN programs; see counselor
for details.)
- BIO 2630 Human Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 credits
- BIO 2640 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 credits
- ENG 1510 Composition I, 3 credits
- ENG 1520 Composition II, 3 credits (ENG 1520 is recommended for transferring to a
BSN program) or ENG 2200 Professional Communication, 4 credits
- Fine Arts/Humanities Elective from the General Education list, 3 credits (PHI 1610 or PHI 1710 is recommended for transferring to a BSN program)
- PSY 2510 Introduction to Psychology, 3 credits
Your application will be considered Priority II if you have completed the BIO, ENG,
and PSY courses as listed above (6 courses) with a grade of “B-” or better, but you
have not yet completed the Fine Arts/Humanities course.
Step 2: Calculated Score
Applications are next ranked by the calculated score, with the highest score ranked
first and the lowest score ranked last. A cutoff score will be established based on
the number of applications and seats available. The cutoff score varies and cannot
be determined until all applications are received and all scores are calculated for
a given selection.
Your total score will be calculated using the three required biology courses and the
two required English courses. To arrive at the total score, three calculations are
made and then summed: a weighted GPA of the five courses, points earned based on the
number of times these five courses have been repeated, and points earned based on
the number of transfer courses of the five. The maximum score possible is 17.
Weighted GPA
For BIO 1570 or 2710, BIO 2630, BIO 2640, ENG 1510, and ENG 1520 or 2200, the highest
grade achieved in each will be used in the calculation. For BIO 1570 or 2710 and ENG
1520 or 2200, if both courses are taken, then the course with the earliest date of
completion will be used in the calculation. Expired biology courses will not be counted
or used in calculations.
Each grade will be converted to the equivalent OCC GPA: A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3,
B = 3.0, B- = 2.7. (Only grades of B- or better are eligible to apply for the nursing
program.) The sum of the five GPA’s will be divided by five to calculate the average
GPA of the five courses. The average will then be multiplied by three in order to
weight the GPA. The maximum possible score for the weighted GPA is 12.
Repeated Courses
For BIO 1570, BIO 2710, BIO 2630, BIO 2640, ENG 1510, ENG 1520, and ENG 2200, the
number of times the courses have been repeated will be summed. Each time a course
is repeated, the repeat will count separately—for example, a course taken three times
will count as two repeats, and so on. For BIO 1570 or 2710 and ENG 1520 or 2200, if
both courses are taken, then the additional course will be counted as a repeat. Expired
biology courses will not be counted or used in any calculations.
The maximum score possible is three points if none of these courses have been repeated.
Two points will be awarded for one repeat. One point will be awarded for two repeated
courses. No points will be given if there are three or more repeated courses.
Transfer Courses
All transfer courses from BIO 1570, 2710, 2630 and 2640, and ENG 1510 and 1520, will
be used in the calculation. The number of credits from these transfer courses will
be summed. (Expired biology courses will not count.)
The maximum score possible is two points for 0 – 8 credits transferred from another
college. One point will be awarded for 9 – 16 credits transferred and no points will
be given if 17 or more credits have been transferred.
Step 3: Tiebrakers
There may be some applications with equal scores that fall above and below the cutoff
score (the score of the application that falls on the last available seat). In this
case, tiebreakers will be used.
a. First Tiebreaker: Earliest completion date of the required supportive and general
education (GE) courses
b. Second Tiebreaker: Number of required supportive and GE courses completed at OCC
Resources
OCC Student Services & Contact Information
Auburn Hills Campus,
MTEC Testing Center
2900 Featherstone Road,
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Phone: 248.232.4168
FERPA
Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), college personnel cannot
release a student’s personal or academic records to a third party, including other
students, without prior written consent. Refer to the college catalog for details.
ADA Notification
Students requiring special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with
Disabilities Act) should contact the ACCESS office, which will inform the appropriate
parties of any special conditions pertaining to their learning.
Equal Opportunity/Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedure
Oakland Community College, pursuant to the requirements of applicable law and these
policies, does not discriminate against applicants, employees or students on the basis
of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, sex, age,
height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,
disability or handicap, nor will sexual harassment or harassment based on other classifications
mentioned herein, be tolerated, in its employment practices and/or educational programs
or activities.
Concerns about the above should be communicated to:
Equal Opportunity Compliance Officer
Oakland Community College
2480 Opdyke Road,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-2266
Phone: 248.34.2027