Apr 19, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing, B.S.N. (L) or (R, A, L)*


Pre-licensure Traditional BSN (R, A, L)


REAL Curriculum


The Nursing major fulfills the R, A, and L areas of the REAL curriculum. The Nursing R and A areas fulfill the pre-requisites for the foundational knowledge necessary for the nursing profession.  These include a focus on the sciences and the understanding of human behavior. The Nursing L areas demonstrates the applied learning and culmination of skills during the nursing program.

REAL Foundational Requirements


REAL Cornerstone Requirements


Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.

General Education Requirements


General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Traditional Nursing major includes 23-27 general education credits.

Major Requirements (94-98 credits)


Additional Degree Requirements


A minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the nursing major is required for graduation. All courses with an NURS prefix are used in this calculation.

Open Credit Hours (25-29 credits)


These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 123


Pre-licensure Accelerated BSN


This four-semester, 16-month program is designed for students looking for an intensive, accelerated path to the BSN. Students entering are expected to have an earned bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and have the commitment to study full-time for 16 months, including fall, spring and summer semesters. It is a full-time program, and thus students are not encouraged to carry outside employment while enrolled as an ABSN student. We are looking for motivated students with backgrounds that demonstrate the ability to handle challenging work in a fast-paced environment.

Students seeking entry into the Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing program who have failed any previous nursing courses at any institution, are not eligible for admission to this track. 

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall cohort: January 15 (Previous Bachelor’s degree must be completed by the preceding spring semester. All prerequisites must be completed prior to the start of the program)
  • Spring cohort July 1 (Previous Bachelor’s degree must be completed by the preceding summer semester.  All prerequisites must be completed prior to the start of the program)

Required for Admission (27 credits)

  • Baccalaureate Degree (18 credits)
  • English Credits - Grammar and Composition I and II; Literature (9 credits)
  • Foundations of Ethics (Core Waiver) (3 credits)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences (Core Waiver) (3 credits)

Note(s):


*May be taken concurrently in the 1st semester.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 122


Post-licensure RN-BSN


Students in the RN-to-BSN have been prepared for licensure as a Registered Nurse through an associate or diploma program. Students will provide transcripts to demonstrate their prior educational experiences.

REAL Curriculum


The RN to BSN, post-licensure, track fulfills the L areas of the REAL curriculum. Per the Transfer Implications of REAL Curriculum, students who transfer in at least 60 credit hours and have at least 3 credit hours mapped to each of the REAL areas will only need to complete their major. If students are not bringing in at least 60 transferrable credit hours, they will need to complete the R, E, and A areas of the REAL Curriculum through majors and/or minors, or they complete additional transfer credits to have 60 transferable credit hours. The nursing department will allow nursing courses from regionally accredited programs to transfer in as NURS 1ELE in the equivalent number of credit hours.

REAL Foundational Requirements


REAL Cornerstone Requirements


Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.

General Education Requirements


General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements.

Major Requirements (51 credits)


Additional Degree Requirements


Courses are offered online in a seven-week format with 6 potential starts per academic year. NURS 400 must be taken in the first semester and NURS 409 must be taken in the final semester.

A minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the nursing major is required for graduation. All courses with an NURS prefix are used in this calculation.

RN-to-BSN students who need additional credit hours to achieve the 120 required credit hours for graduation can request to take up to 9 credit hours of graduate courses while in their ‘senior year’. A list of approved graduate courses is available upon request.

Open Credit Hours (59 credits)


These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120


Additional Information


Professional Portfolio

During the last semester of RN-to-B.S.N. program, students are required to submit a professional portfolio. The portfolio represents the best of a student’s work and is concrete evidence of individual talent, skills, abilities and interests. The student is advised to retain all student work completed during nursing major in preparation for completion of this requirement. If clinically relevant information is used in the portfolio, all potential patient identifying information must be removed from all work. Students will have direct clinical hours in NURS 409. Students typically do this in their place of work. Students are responsible for ensuring that all required paperwork with the facility is completed, including but not limited to vaccinations, agreements, etc.

Academic Advising

Students in the RN-to-BSN program are advised by the Academic Advisor for the Fast Track Programs and the Fast Track Coordinator. All students should make advising appointments upon admission and anytime necessary to help modify a program of study or discuss program progression.  All advisors are focused on supporting the growth and development of the students and assist them in utilizing Academic Support Services as needed. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor regularly to facilitate smooth progress towards completion of their degree.