The School of Nursing offers to qualified high school graduates and qualified transfer students a program with a major in nursing, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

The program includes four years of study and is designed, upon graduation, to provide the student with the knowledge and the skills needed to practice as a professional nurse generalist. The general and professional education acquired in this program provides a basis for the graduate to progress to positions of increasing responsibility and to undertake graduate study.

The curriculum provides a strong liberal arts and science base. The course offerings, in the natural, biological and behavioral sciences, and the University Bridges Common Learning Experience courses, support the philosophy that provides the basis for the organizing framework of the professional nursing program. Professional nursing courses, which constitute the nursing major, include theory and practice in the nursing care of individuals, families and aggregates.

Learning opportunities are provided in hospitals, schools, health agencies and community settings. The School of Nursing Learning and Simulation Center provides students with exceptional hands-on learning experiences using state-of-the-art patient simulators and advanced technology. The School’s Center for Research for Underserved and Vulnerable Populations offers students an environment of cultural exchange and inquiry and research in nursing. The faculty of the School of Nursing conduct all professional nursing courses and also guide and direct the clinical learning experiences.

As part of career and professional development, nursing students participate in a clinical immersion experience. The clinical immersion, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), is designed for junior or senior nursing students to work under the supervision of a professional registered nurse within Pittsburgh-area UPMC facilities. This innovative initiative provides a robust clinical experience that enhances student learning and prepares students for future employment. Students grow professionally by gaining additional clinical patient care experience, maturity, confidence and competency. This immersion experience provides nursing students unique leadership and mentorship opportunities.

Prior to graduation, students are required to successfully complete requirements to prepare them to take the NCLEX-RN exam. Upon the successful completion of their program of studies, graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination for licensure.

The faculty reserves the right to make changes in the curriculum and program requirements that are believed to be in keeping with the changing health needs of society and/or the best interest of the students and the School to maintain quality professional nursing education.

BSN Framework and Outcomes

BSN Curriculum

BSN Program Coursework

Our four-year BSN program is a total of 134 credits. 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 coursework are ongoing.

W = Writing Intensive

BRDG = Bridges Common Learning Experience | BRIDGES requires 3 W (Writing Intensive) courses, one PHIL course and one THEO course.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

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

Spring Semester

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

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

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

Spring Semester

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
UPNS 339 Genetics in Nursing and Health 3
BRIDGES Bridges Common Learning Experience 3
UPNS 224 Career Management Professional Development Seminar (online) 0
    Total 18

Junior Year

Fall Semester

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

Spring Semester

Course # Course Name Credits
UPNS 364

Clinical Immersion in Professional Nursing**

12
UPNS 352 Leadership and Management Theory in Clinical Environments 3
    Total 15

** The clinical immersion experience is either the spring of junior year or fall of senior year.

Senior Year

Fall Semester

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

Spring Semester

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

BRIDGES

Nursing Elective OR

Bridges Common Learning Experience

3
    Total 15

* All science courses required for nursing must be completed prior to junior level nursing courses in order to progress.