In the Conway School of Nursing, the freshman year establishes the foundation of students' knowledge.  Each year builds on the previous year to create professional, quality, and safe Conway School of Nursing graduates.

Bachelors of Science in Nursing Program Overview

The Bachelor's of Science in Nursing Program includes the following subject areas:

Natural Science and Math - 18 credits
  • Chemistry (inorganic and organic chemistry content)-  4 credits
  • Human anatomy and physiology -  8 credits
  • Microbiology - 3 credits
  • Statistics - 3 credits
English - 3 credits

All students are required to take one English writing course. The particular course is grounded on the English placement criteria at the time of admission to the university. English 101 is part of the first-year experience and the freshman learning communities.

Philosophy - 6 credits

All students are required to take Philosophy 201 and 202, both of which are a part of the first-year experience and learning communities. 

Religion - 9 credits (6 credits while in Arts and Sciences)

Of the three required religion courses, the first must be TRS 201, Faith Seeking Understanding, a learning community course. The second theology course must be TRS 202 A or TRS 202B The Church and the Human Person. The third required theology course is a biomedical ethics course, either Theology 333 or Philosophy 303 (this course is taken after matriculating into the School of Nursing during junior year). Bioethics must be taken at Catholic University and is not transferable from another university.

Humanities/Liberal Studies - 18 credits
  • Psychology - 3 credits
  • Human Growth and Development - 3 credits
  • Fine Arts or Literature - 3 Credits
  • Electives - 9 credits

Nursing Courses

  • Introduction to Health Systems and Professions: 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness across the Lifespan: 3 credits
  • Nutrition: 3 credits
  • Health Assessment: 4 credits
  • Pathophysiology: 3 credits
  • Pharmacology: 3 credits 
  • Community and Population Health (Lecture and Clinical): 5 credits (3/2)
  • Fundamental Applications: 3 credits
  • Mental Health Nursing (Lecture and Clinical): 5 credits (3/2)
  • Adults in Health and Illness I (Lecture and Clinical): 5 credits (3/2) 
  • Adults in Health and Illness II (Lecture and Clinical): 5 credits (3/2)
  • Women’s Health and Illness (Lecture and Clinical): 5 credits (3/2)
  • Children and Adolescence in Health and Illness (Lecture and Clinical): 5 credits (3/2)
  • Adults in Health and Illness III (Lecture and Clinical): 5 credits (3/2)
  • Management of Health Care Delivery: 2 credits
  • Transition to Professional Practice: 2 credits
  • Strategies for Professional Practice: 2 credits
  • Evidence Based Care/Health Informatics: 2 credits
  • Nursing Research: 3 credits
  • Optional - Practicum in Complex Nursing: 2 credits

Course descriptions are available on the Web at https://cardinalstudents.cua.edu

The number of hours of meeting/contact time per week is determined by the type of nursing course and credits and does not include out of class study time or work on out of class assignments. P/F indicates the course is graded with either Pass or Fail.  The following ratios are used:

Didactic Course: 1 credit=1 hour/week
Clinical/Lab Course: 1 credit= 3 hours/week

Electives

All undergraduate nursing students in the 4-year plan B.S.N. program must take 12 credits of electives. The requirements for these electives is consistent with the School of Arts and Sciences. Please see specific school announcements for particular degree requirements.