Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Baccalaureate nursing education is a combination of supporting sciences, nursing sciences and general education. Freshmen admitted as declared nursing majors follow a carefully planned sequence of prerequisite study for the first two years.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse (B.S. for the R.N.) is a program that provides advanced placement for the registered nurse student.

Registered nurses who begin the nursing major as juniors take courses designed to meet their learning needs on a full- or part-time basis. The first course, NURS 302, is a professional "bridge" course structured to provide self-directed learning. Faculty and staff provide individual academic advisement and career counseling. Some self-paced and self-directed learning experiences are available.

Information is available through the Nursing Department's Student Affairs Office on a 30-unit option for Licensed Vocational Nurses which enables them to take the R.N. licensure examination. This option, which is required by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, does not lead to a degree.

Multiple Entry Option Curriculum

For students who know that they want an M.S., Nursing degree at the time of registration, the Multiple Entry Option program provides a flexible, accelerated pathway to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. By eliminating duplication and organizing the course work, generic bachelor students, second degree students and Associate Degree in Nursing students can progress easily and in a shorter period of time from a bachelor's degree to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Detailed information is available from the department.

Admission Requirements

For entering freshmen, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores are required. In addition to the regular USC freshman admission requirements, two years of high school science courses (including one year of chemistry with lab) must be completed. The department considers applicants who meet freshman university admissions standards.

The equivalent of USC freshman and sophomore course work must be completed prior to beginning the upper division sequence. This course work includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, statistics, sociology, psychology, life span development, two semesters of writing and six general education courses. All required science courses must include laboratory work. A list of specific transferable courses may be obtained by contacting the Department of Nursing directly. Transfer students should have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in college work to be competitive. USC students who wish to change their major to nursing should have a cumulative GPA of 2.5.

No applicant will be denied admission on the basis of race, religion, creed or disability provided functional health is sufficient to meet professional demands.

Registered nurses will be considered for junior class status if they are graduates of either a diploma or an associate degree program in nursing, hold licensure as a registered nurse in California and have 64 transferable units. Registered nurse applicants are eligible for the maximum number of transfer units allowed by the university. Transfer units may be used to meet the prerequisites, the general education requirements and the unit requirements for the degree. The nursing courses specific to the registered nurse degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing must be met at USC.

Unit and Grade Point Average Requirements

A total of 130 units is required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Included in this total are 56 units in non-major course work and 74 units of professional nursing preparation.

A grade point average of 2.0 (A = 4.0) is required to complete the program. A grade of C (2.0) or higher is required in all nursing courses. A grade of C or higher is also required in the physical and behavioral sciences support courses which are part of the baccalaureate curriculum plan. These courses are anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, and growth and development.

General Education Requirements

As of fall 1997, the university has instituted a new general education program, designed to be a simpler, more coherent and more integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge outside the major discipline which is expected of every undergraduate who receives a degree from USC. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.

All students who (1) enter the Department of Nursing as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) begin college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later; or (3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program. Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program as well. However, continuing and transfer students in the fall of 1997 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pre-Nursing Requirements

First Year, First SemesterUnits
General education*Social Issues4
General education4
WRIT 140*Writing and Critical Reasoning4
CHEM 105aLGeneral Chemistry (GE Category III)4
First Year, Second SemesterUnits
General education4
BISC 312LxHuman Anatomy4
PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology4
NURS 308Human Development: Health Issues Across the Life Span4
Second Year, First SemesterUnits
General education4
Advanced writing course4
BISC 310LxPrinciples of Human Microbiology4
NURS 202Gateway to Health: Social Ecology Perspectives4
Second Year, Second SemesterUnits
General education4
Foreign language4
BISC 306LxIntroductory Physiology4
PSYC 274Statistics I, or
PPMT 404Statistics in Public Policy and Management, or
SOCI 314Sociological Statistics4

Total pre-nursing units: 56
Total nursing units: 8

*Taken concurrently.

Nursing Major Requirements

Third Year, First SemesterUnits
NURS 304Medical-Surgical Nursing I4
NURS 309Health Assessment3
NURS 314LMedical-Surgical Nursing Practicum I4
NURS 317LFundamental Clinical Nursing Skills2
NURS 319LHealth Assessment Practicum1
NURS 322Foundation for Practice: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts2
____
16
Third Year, Second SemesterUnits
NURS 303Nursing Care of Children and Families3
NURS 305Psychiatric Nursing2
NURS 306Nursing Care of Women and Newborn Infants4
NURS 313LNursing Care of Children and Families Practicum2
NURS 315LPsychiatric Nursing Practicum2
NURS 316LNursing Care of Women and Newborn Infants Practicum2
NURS 323Concepts for Practice I: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts2
____
17
Fourth Year, First SemesterUnits
NURS 324Concepts for Practice II: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts2
NURS 402Community and Home Health Nursing3
NURS 406Medical-Surgical Nursing II4
NURS 412LCommunity and Home Health Nursing Practicum4
NURS 416LMedical-Surgical Nursing II Practicum4
____
17
Fourth Year, Second SemesterUnits
NURS 404Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing III2
NURS 405Professional Ethics, Nursing Leadership Management3
NURS 414LAdvanced Medical-Surgical Practicum III2
NURS 415LNursing Leadership and Management Practicum3
NURS 461Nursing Research4
Nursing elective2
____
16

Total upper-division nursing units: 66
Total units: 130

Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse

PrerequisitesUnits
PSYC 274Statistics I, or
PPMT 404Statistics in Public Policy and Management, or
SOCI 314Sociological Statistics4
GERO 220Psychology of Adult Development, or
PSYC 337LAdult Development and Aging, or
NURS 201Human Development: Health Issues Across the Life Span4

General Education Requirements

As of fall 1997, the university has instituted a new general education program, designed to be a simpler, more coherent and more integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge outside the major discipline which is expected of every undergraduate who receives a degree from USC. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.

All students who (1) enter the Department of Nursing as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) begin college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later; or (3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program. Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program as well. However, continuing and transfer students in the fall of 1997 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.
Nursing Courses and ElectivesUnits
NURS 302Nursing Science3
NURS 309Health Assessment3
NURS 319LHealth Assessment Practicum1
NURS 322Foundation for Practice: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts, or
NURS 323Concepts for Practice I: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts2
NURS 324Concepts for Practice II: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts2
NURS 402Community and Home Health Nursing3
NURS 405Professional Ethics, Nursing Leadership Management3
NURS 412LCommunity and Home Health Nursing Practicum4
NURS 415LNursing Leadership and Management Practicum3
NURS 461Nursing Research4

Total nursing units: 28
Total units: 130

 

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