Currently, one of the most in-demand jobs in America is nursing, and at Missouri Southern, it’s also one of the most popular majors.

Recently, students learned who was accepted into the pre-nursing program and dental program.

“It’s a competitive admission,” said Dr. J. Mari Beth Linder, director of nursing.

Fifty-one spots are open for the nursing program, and students are accepted based on their cumulative GPA after freshmen and sophomore courses. Coincidently, there are only 30 spots available in the dental program. Students must complete five natural and physical science courses with a grade of ‘C’ or higher to be considered for the program.

At Southern, students may earn a 4-year degree in nursing but there is only an associates degree available in the dental program.

“It seems like that mostly everybody who gets in has a 4.0,” said Chaunte Thomas, senior psychology major, work study employee for the dental program. “It’s a very competitive program..”

Receiving a letter in the nursing program does not necessarily guarantee admission.

“After they receive their letter, students still have to meet other requirements. They have to pass a physical and a vision examination among many others,” Linder said. “Once they have met all of these, but only after, can they fully be accepted into the program.”

Nursing students will find out if they are fully accepted during the fall semester of the next academic year.

“I felt confident that I was going to get in,” said Heather Adamson, junior nursing major, who received her letter during spring break.

Nursing has always been an option for Adamson.

“My mom is an X-ray technician at Freeman Hospital, so I’ve always kind of grown up in the hospital.”

Adamson also has another reason for wanting to go into nursing.

“I had a brain tumor removed two years ago,” Adamson said. “I was choosing my path and God’s path.”

Being accepted into the nursing program will also open many doors for Adamson.

“I’d like to specialize in labor and delivery and eventually work on my master’s to become a midwife. I also might go to Haiti and work in a labor clinic down there. God will show me where he wants me to be.”