Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will prepare you for the challenges of nursing today through an academic program that helps compassionate, motivated people like you become the best nurses they can be.
Nurses are in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts RN employment will grow faster than average for all occupations. When you graduate, you'll be prepared to enter and excel in this growing profession — and make a real difference in the lives of others.
Our direct admit Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will prepare you to become a highly competent, caring nurse who possesses the knowledge and skills needed to practice in a variety of health care settings.
Major
Bachelor's
4-years
134
Our four-year BSN Program is a total of 134 credits. Use the tabs below to view curriculum by year. Nursing courses begin with UPNS.
A grade of "C+" or better must be attained in all nursing courses, and a grade of "C" or better must be attained in all non-nursing courses, including electives and laboratory courses, in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. A GPA of 2.3 is required by the end of the second semester of the freshman year in order to progress to the sophomore clinical courses and is the minimum acceptable GPA for the remainder of the program.
Revisions to courses and curricula are ongoing.
The courses for year one, Freshman Year, are listed below by semester. Follow the course description for a detailed description of each nursing-specific course.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPNS 103 | Nutrition for Wellness (Fall or Spring) | 3 |
| UPNS 121 | Community Engaged Professional Nurse (Fall or Spring) | 3 |
| BIOL 101/101L | Introduction to Life Processes/Lab* | 4 |
| BRDG 101 | Writing & Analysis | 3 |
| BRDG 103 | IPE Health Research Skills | 1 |
| BRIDGES | Bridges Common Learning Experience | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPNS 113 | Human Development and Health Promotion Across the Lifespan (Fall or Spring) | 3 |
| BRDG 102 | Writing & Literature | 3 |
| BIOL 203/204 | Introductory Microbiology/Lab* | 4 |
|
Math 125 OR Math 225 |
Fundamentals of Statistics OR Biostatistics |
3 |
| BRIDGES | Bridges Common Learning Experience | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
* = All science courses required for nursing must be completed prior to junior level nursing courses in order to progress.
W=Writing Intensive
BRDG = Bridges Common Learning Experience
BRIDGES requires 3 W (Writing Intensive) courses, one PHIL course, and one THEO course.
The courses for year two are listed below by semester. Follow the course description for a detailed description of each nursing-specific course.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPNS 200 | Fundamentals of Nursing Practice and Clinical Ethics | 6 |
| UPNS 218/218L | Health Assessment | 4 |
| BIOL 207/208 | Anatomy and Physiology I/Lab* | 4 |
| BRIDGES | Bridges Common Learning Experience | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPNS 239 | Pharmacology in Nursing Practice | 2 |
| BIOL 209/210 | Anatomy and Physiology II/Lab* | 4 |
| UPNS 232 | Adult Health and Illness I | 6 |
| BRIDGES | Bridges Common Learning Experience | 3 |
| UPNS 339 | Genetics in Nursing and Health | 3 |
| UPNS 224 | Career Management Professional Development Seminar (online) | 0 |
| Total | 18 |
* = All science courses required for nursing must be completed prior to junior level nursing courses in order to progress.
W=Writing Intensive
BRDG = Bridges Common Learning Experience
BRIDGES requires 3 W (Writing Intensive) courses, one PHIL course, and one THEO course
The courses for year three, Junior Year, are listed below by semester. Follow the course description for a detailed description of each nursing-specific course.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPNS 325 | Pharmacology in Nursing Practice II | 3 |
| UPNS 349 | Adult Health & Illness II: Care of the Geriatric Adult | 6 |
| UPNS 326 | Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| UPNS 324 | Cultural Applications in Clinical Practice | 3 |
| MLSP 280 | Spanish for Health Care Professionals | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPNS 364 |
Clinical Immersion in Professional Nursing |
12 |
| UPNS 352 | Leadership and Management Theory in Clinical Environment | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
16-week clinical immersion experience, Options A & B
W=Writing Intensive
The courses for year four are listed below by semester. Follow the course description for a detailed description of each nursing-specific course.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UPNS 431 | Enhancing Quality and Safety through Evidenced Based Practice and Technologies |
3 |
| UPNS 344 | Nursing for Children’s Health | 3 |
| UPNS 348 | Nursing for Maternal‐Newborn Health | 3 |
| UPNS 355 | Behavioral Health | 3 |
| UPNS 357 | Population Health | 3 |
| UPNS 445 | Synthesis for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
UPNS 400 |
Critically Ill Adult |
6 |
|
UPNS 411W |
Nursing Ethics Across the Lifespan |
3 |
|
UPNS 453 |
Transition to Professional Practice |
3 |
|
UPNS or BRDG |
Nursing Elective OR Bridges Common Learning Experience |
3 |
|
|
Total |
15 |
W=Writing Intensive
Schedule a visit to learn more about the BSN program and tour our nursing facilities.
For more than 80 years, the Duquesne School of Nursing has been preparing nurses who make an impact not only in the lives of others and the communities in which they live, but on health care as a whole. Here you will prepare for the challenges of nursing in an environment that combines a holistic approach to care with the latest in health care technology.
As one of 17 nursing schools in the United States endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC), we put holistic care at the center of our curriculum. Our students learn to consider the physical, mental, cultural, emotional and spiritual aspects of a patient's needs and treatment.
Holistic nursing encompasses the integration of self-care, including the use of integrative therapies and the understanding of the interconnectedness of the self and nature, with medical expertise. Holistic nursing is a type of nursing practice in which the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of a patient are considered throughout their treatment. This practice embodies Duquesne's values with an emphasis on culture, ethics and spirituality.
Holistic nurses provide practices such as aromatherapy, meditation, energy work and therapeutic touch, including the practice of self-care, so they can provide the best treatment plans for their patients. The Duquesne University School of Nursing aspires to reinforce holistic ideals within health care settings and the classroom in order to prepare nurses to provide culturally, medically and ethically competent care.
You will begin weekly clinical experiences in your sophomore year. We partner with over fifty hospital and community sites across the Pittsburgh area. These clinical experiences will expose you to all facets of the nursing profession, build your professional network, enhance your clinical judgement and prepare you for your nursing career.
Examples of clinical sites include, but are not limited to:
Duquesne University School of Nursing has teamed up with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to provide undergraduate nursing students with a for-credit clinical placement at a Pittsburgh-area facility.
This clinical immersion experience will set you apart from other applicants when you enter the job market. It is an opportunity to take all the knowledge you will gain in the classroom and put that knowledge together with hands-on experience in a real-world setting.
You will begin your clinical immersion in either the spring semester of your junior year or fall semester of your senior year as part of the Clinical Immersion in Professional Nursing course.
Working under the supervision of a professional registered nurse, you will carry out patient care assignments, work in controlled care situations and perform established nursing procedures for individuals or groups of patients. You will also participate in unit-specific leadership and quality and safety activities.
Learn more about the technology you'll be using in the program by looking at the Learning and Simulation Center:
Among Duquesne University's ranking and honors, the School of Nursing is nationally recognized each year for its academic excellence, including:
We will help you prepare to be successful on the NCLEX-RN exam, which you are eligible to take after graduation for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). 96.67% of our most recent graduates passed the licensure exam on the first try — and you'll understand why once you meet our Director of Academic Support and NCLEX RN Success, Sr. Mary Meyers, whose full-time job is to help you succeed academically.