Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The goal of the Department of Nursing is to produce leaders for the nursing community of southern California. Based on this philosophy, the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is combined with research and leadership skills to prepare graduates for leadership roles in today's complex health care delivery system. The Baccalaureate nursing program is a combination of supporting sciences, nursing sciences and general education. Freshmen admitted as declared nursing majors follow a planned sequence of prerequisite study for the first two years before entering the major as upper division juniors.
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. Self-paced and self-directed learning experiences are available.
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, some of 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 taken at USC.
30-units Option
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.
Challenge
As required by the California State Board of Registered Nursing, RNs may challenge undergraduate and graduate courses in the nursing curriculum. Students may not challenge any course for which they have enrolled at USC. See Credit by Special Examination.
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.
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. In accordance with the Board of Registered Nursing requirements, nursing students have the option to challenge nursing courses for upper division credit.
General Education Requirements
The university's general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.
All students who (1) entered the Department of Nursing as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) began 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 who began college full-time before summer 1997 and enter USC before summer 2000 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pre-Nursing Requirements
First Year, First Semester Units CHEM 105aL General Chemistry (GE Category III) 4 WRIT 140* Writing and Critical Reasoning 4 General education* Social Issues 4 General education 4 First Year, Second Semester Units BISC 312Lx Human Anatomy 4 PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology 4 NURS 308 Human Development: Health Issues Across the Life Span 4 General education 4 Second Year, First Semester Units BISC 310Lx Principles of Human Microbiology 4 NURS 202 Gateway to Health: Social Ecology Perspectives 4 General education 4 WRIT 340 Advanced Writing 4 Second Year, Second Semester Units BISC 306Lx Introductory Physiology 4 PSYC 274 Statistics I, or PPMT 404 Statistics in Public Policy and Management, or SOCI 314 Sociological Statistics 4 HP 340L Health Behavior Statistical Methods 4 General education 4 Foreign language 4 Total pre-nursing units: 56
Total nursing units: 8*Taken concurrently.
Nursing Major Requirements
The unifying theme of the baccalaureate level curriculum is that of transitions to help people reach and maintain an optimum stage of wellness.
Third Year, First Semester Units NURS 304 Medical-Surgical Nursing I 4 NURS 309 Health Assessment 3 NURS 314L Medical-Surgical Nursing Practicum I 4 NURS 317L Fundamental Clinical Nursing Skills 2 NURS 319L Health Assessment Practicum 1 NURS 322 Foundation for Practice: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts 2 ____ 16 Third Year, Second Semester Units NURS 303 Nursing Care of Children and Families 3 NURS 305 Psychiatric Nursing 2 NURS 306 Nursing Care of Women and Newborn Infants 4 NURS 313L Nursing Care of Children and Families Practicum 2 NURS 315L Psychiatric Nursing Practicum 2 NURS 316L Nursing Care of Women and Newborn Infants Practicum 2 NURS 323 Concepts for Practice I: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts 2 ____ 17 Fourth Year, First Semester Units NURS 324 Concepts for Practice II: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts 2 NURS 402 Community and Home Health Nursing 3 NURS 406 Medical-Surgical Nursing II 4 NURS 412L Community and Home Health Nursing Practicum 4 NURS 416L Medical-Surgical Nursing II Practicum 4 ____ 17 Fourth Year, Second Semester Units NURS 404 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing III 2 NURS 405 Professional Ethics, Nursing Leadership Management 3 NURS 414L Advanced Medical-Surgical Practicum III 2 NURS 415L Nursing Leadership and Management Practicum 3 NURS 461 Nursing Research 4 Nursing elective 2 ____ 16 Total upper-division nursing units: 66
Total units: 130Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse
Prerequisites Units PSYC 274 Statistics I, or PPMT 404 Statistics in Public Policy and Management, or SOCI 314 Sociological Statistics, or HP340L Health Behavior Statistical Methods 4 GERO 220 Psychology of Adult Development, or PSYC 337L Adult Development and Aging, or NURS 201 Human Development: Health Issues Across the Life Span 4 General Education Requirements
All registered nurse students must meet university requirements for general education.
Nursing Courses and Electives Units NURS 302 Nursing Science 3 NURS 309 Health Assessment 3 NURS 319L Health Assessment Practicum 1 NURS 322 Foundation for Practice: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts, or NURS 323 Concepts for Practice I: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts 2 NURS 324 Concepts for Practice II: Pathological, Nutritional and Pharmacologic Concepts 2 NURS 402 Community and Home Health Nursing 3 NURS 405 Professional Ethics, Nursing Leadership Management 3 NURS 412L Community and Home Health Nursing Practicum 4 NURS 415L Nursing Leadership and Management Practicum 3 NURS 461 Nursing Research 4 NURS 480 Clinical Intensive 1 Total nursing units: 28
Total units: 130Minor in Health and Social Ecology
This minor presents many different views of health and health care as it examines health from an ecological viewpoint. It is designed both for the student who anticipates a future career in health care as well as the student who will not be directly involved in providing health care but wants to learn more about promotion of health and how the system that provides health care in the United States is managed (understanding from either a provider or a consumer viewpoint).
Requirements for Admission to the Minor
To be admitted to the minor program, students must meet the following criterion: 2.0 grade point average.
Requirements for Completion
A total of 20 units is required for completion of the program. All students will take a four unit "Gateway" course (NURS 202) as an introduction to the minor. Following the gateway course, students will take an additional four courses. These 16 units must be upper division (300-or 400-level) courses.
Elective Courses (choose 4) Units BUAD 304 Organizational Behavior 4 GERO 402 Housing for the Elderly: Policy, Programs and Design 2 GERO 416 Health Issues in Aging 4 GERO 435 Women and Aging: Psychological, Social and Political Implications 4 GERO 437 Social and Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying 4 HP 400 Culture, Lifestyle, and Health 4 HP 412 Health Promotion and Preventive Policy 4 HP 422 AIDS in Society 4 HP 431 Behavior and Education Strategies for Nutrition and Fitness 4 NURS 308 Human Development: Health Issues Across the Life Span 4 NURS 325 Alternative Therapies in Health Care 4 NURS 329 Human Sexuality: Methods of Inquiry 4 NURS 421 Understanding Domestic Violence and Community Responses 4 NURS 422 Spiritual Dimensions of Health Care 4 OT 350 Disability, Occupations and the Health Care System 4 OT 375 The Narrative Structure of Social Action: Narrative, Healing and Occupation 4 PHAR300 Self Care Managing: Non-Prescription Drug Products and Devices 2 SOCI 369 The Family in a Changing Society 4 SOCI 475 Medical Sociology 4
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