Bachelor of Science in Nursing

4-Year Program Plan (Class 2026,2027 & 2028)
Minimum Credits for Graduation: 123 credits

At the Conway School of Nursing, students in the freshman year acquire foundational knowledge, skills, and attitudes for professional nursing practice. Each year builds on the previous year to develop graduates who are prepared to provide care that is respectful of the dignity of the human person and promotes human flourishing in health and illness.

Beginning with a strong foundation in the sciences and liberal arts, the program gradually integrates nursing theory, clinical skills, and evidence-based practice. Over the course of four years, students progress from foundational knowledge to advanced clinical applications, developing competence in areas such as health assessment, pharmacology, community and population health, mental health, pediatrics, women’s health, leadership, and professional practice.

The following outlines the recommended course sequence for the BSN program :

  • Year 1

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    PHIL 201: The Classical Mind 3 PHIL 202: The Modern Mind 3
    ENG 101*: Rhetoric English Composition 3 TRS 201*: Faith Seeking Understanding 3
    BIOL 232: Anatomy & Physiology I 4 BIOL 233: Anatomy & Physiology II 4
    NURS 151: Introduction to Health Systems and Professions 3 BIOL 223**: Microbiology 3
    PSY 201**: General Psychology 3 MATH 114**: Statistics 3

     Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

     

  • Year 2

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    CHEM 109/119**: Organic & Biochemistry for Allied Health 4 NURS 254A*: Health & Wellness Across the Lifespan 3
    Art/Lit Requirement*: Explorations in Literature and Fine Arts 3 NURS 257*: Nutrition 3
    PSY 379**: Growth & Development 3 NURS 371: Pathophysiology 3
    TRS 202*: The Church and the Human Person 3 Elective 2**: Elective or Minor/Certificate course 3
    Elective 1**: Elective or Minor/Certificate course 3 Elective 3**: Elective or Minor/Certificate course 3
    NURS 152: Entrance HESI Exam

     Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

  • Year 3

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    NURS 258: Health Assessment (Lecture & Lab) 4 TRS 333 or PHIL 303: Biomedical Ethics 3
    NURS 309: Fundamentals (Lecture & Lab) 4 NURS 275L: Adults in Health and Illness I Lecture 3
    NURS 310: Pharmacology 3 NURS 275C: Adults in Health and Illness I Clinical 2
    NURS 370*: Community & Population Health Lecture 3 NURS 375*: Mental Health Lecture 3
    NURS 372*: Community & Population Health Clinical 2 NURS 377*: Mental Health Clinical 2

     Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

  • Year 4

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    NURS 420*: Pediatrics Lecture 3 NURS 423*: Women’s Health Lecture 3
    NURS 421*: Pediatrics Clinical 2 NURS 428*: Women’s Health Clinical 2
    NURS 376L: Adults in Health and Illness II Lecture 3 NURS 430L: Adults in Health and Illness III Lecture 3
    NURS 376C: Adults in Health and Illness II Clinical 2 NURS 430C: Adults in Health and Illness III Clinical 2
    NURS 427: Transitions to Professional Practice 2 NURS 480: Strategies for Professional Practice 2
    NURS 403: Nursing Research 3 NURS 378: Nursing Informatics 2
    – – NURS 424: Nursing Leadership & Management 2
    – – NURS 481 A/B/C: Nursing Practicum (Optional) 2

     Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

     

  • Progression Requirements

    • Criteria

      To advance from year to year , students must:

      • Complete University requirements, science courses, and electives for progression.

      • Maintain a minimum science GPA of 2.75 and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

      • Note: Only one science course may be repeated.

    • HESI Nursing Progression Exam

      • Must be completed at the end of the freshman year.

      • Minimum requirements:

        • 75% overall composite score

        • 75% or higher in science, English, and math composites

      • Students who do not achieve the required scores will receive remediation and tutoring support and may retake the exam once.

Students are required to complete three religion courses as part of the BSN curriculum:

  • TRS 201: Foundations of Theology I – Scripture and Jesus Christ (taken as a learning community course).

  • TRS 202A or TRS 202B: The Church and the Human Person.

  • TRS 333 or PHIL 303: Biomedical Ethics.

Please note: The Biomedical Ethics course must be completed at The Catholic University of America and cannot be transferred from another institution.

Detailed course descriptions are available online at Cardinal Students.

4-Year BSN Curriculum Plan (Class of 2029 and Beyond)

The following outlines the recommended course sequence for the BSN program :

  • Year 1

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    PHIL 201: The Classical Mind (LC)* 3 PHIL 202: The Modern Mind** 3
    TRS 201: Foundations of Theology I (LC)* 3 NURS 257: Nutrition & Health 3
    BIOL 232: Anatomy & Physiology I 4 BIOL 233: Anatomy & Physiology II 4
    NURS 151: Introduction to Health Systems and Professions 3 BIOL 223: Microbiology OR CHEM 109/119** 3
    PSY 201: General Psychology* 3 ENG 101: Writing & Rhetoric (LC)* 3
    – – NURS 152: Entrance HESI Exam (Summer, 2nd Attempt) 0

    Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

  • Year 2

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    PSY 379: Growth & Development** 3 NURS 254A: Health & Wellness Across the Lifespan* 3
    CHEM 109/119: Organic & Biochemistry for Allied Health OR BIOL 223** 4 NURS 258: Health Assessment (Lecture & Lab) 4
    Free Elective 1** 3 NURS 309: Fundamentals (Lecture & Lab) 4
    TRS 202: The Church & the Human Person** 3 NURS 310: Pharmacology 3
    NURS 371: Pathophysiology 3 NURS 3XX: Medication Math 1

    Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

  • Year 3

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    Fine Art & Literature Elective (Required)* 3 TRS 333 or PHIL 303: Biomedical Ethics* 3
    NURS 275L: Adults in Health & Illness I Lecture 3 NURS 376L: Adults in Health & Illness II Lecture 3
    NURS 275C: Adults in Health & Illness I Clinical 2 NURS 376C: Adults in Health & Illness II Clinical 2
    MATH 114: Probability & Statistics 3 NURS 403: Nursing Research 3
    NURS 423: Women’s Health Lecture* 3 NURS 375: Mental Health Lecture* 3
    NURS 428: Women’s Health Clinical* 2 NURS 377: Mental Health Clinical* 2

    Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

  • Year 4

    Fall
    Credits
    Spring
    Credits
    NURS 370: Community & Population Health Lecture* 3 NURS 420: Pediatrics Lecture* 3
    NURS 372: Community & Population Health Clinical* 2 NURS 421: Pediatrics Clinical* 2
    NURS 378: Nursing Informatics 2 NURS 430L: Adults in Health & Illness III Lecture 3
    NURS 424: Nursing Leadership & Management 2 NURS 430C: Adults in Health & Illness III Clinical 2
    Free Elective 2 3 NURS 4XX: Transitions & Strategies for Professional Practice 3
    Free Elective 3 3 NURS 481 A/B/C: Nursing Practicum (Optional) 2
    Total Credits 15 Total Credits 13

    Notes

    • * = Can be taken Fall or Spring*

    • ** = Can be taken Fall or Spring (first two years)*

    • Optional Minors/Certificates: Health, Society & Policy; Psychology; Spanish for Healthcare

 Electives
Undergraduate nursing students in the 4-year BSN program are required to complete 12 elective credits. These electives align with the requirements of the School of Arts and Sciences; students should consult school announcements for specific degree guidelines.
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