Policies & Procedures
Undergraduate Policies
Alternative Course Credit in the BSN Program
The School of Nursing has established procedures for assessing, validating, and evaluating objective evidence of prior learning (academic work or professional experience) and skill attainment related to course outcomes in order to award course credit or exemption for undergraduate nursing courses. Students may validate prior learning where applicable through the following:
Course Equivalency
This policy applies to nursing students who wish to seek equivalency related to nursing courses in order to award course credit and/or exemption for undergraduate nursing courses, with the exception of the capstone course in the BSN program. This policy does not apply for students seeking credit for graduate level nursing courses. IUSON Policy AFS-19
- Undergraduate nursing students may submit the syllabus/syllabi from a prior nursing course(s) to determine equivalency for a course in the student’s plan of study for a BSN degree.
- The course must have been passed with a C or better as documented by transcript.
- Graduate level courses may be submitted for credit for undergraduate credit equivalency, but if accepted for undergraduate credit, are not later eligible for consideration toward a graduate degree at IUSON.
- The course will be subjected to a review process, and only courses (or combinations of courses) that demonstrate achievement of at least 75% of the learning outcomes/objectives for the course will be eligible for equivalency
- The request for equivalency review must be submitted at least 3 months prior to the time when the student would begin the course, according to the student’s plan of study.
- The student will receive blinded written feedback regarding the outcome of the review, and written feedback and outcome of the review will be posted to the student record. There is no appeal process for the course equivalency request.
Portfolio
Students may validate prior learning (academic work, or professional experience) by preparing a portfolio to demonstrate acquisition of content and skills commensurate with outcomes/competencies/objectives or specific course(s). Students may also submit course syllabi and transcripts for course equivalency. The student must demonstrate satisfactory academic standing.
- Student meets with academic advisor to review portfolio process, criteria needed for portfolio, and deadline dates (two semesters before the course is offered).
- Student meets with instructor for a brief review of the student’s work/experiences/previous courses.
- If faculty agrees there is potential for special credit, student should meet with an advisor and register for appropriate class.
- Academic advisor notifies instructor of student registration for appropriate class.
- Student gathers evidence for the portfolio following the IUSON guidelines and sends the portfolio to the instructor by a specific time/date.
- Instructor reviews the material, notifies the student, and completes the Portfolio Review Form. It is sent to the Associate Dean (or appropriate administrative designee) for a signature. Dean’s office sends approved portfolio to academic advisor to initiate “special credit".
- If all course requirements are complete, the academic advisor applies for “special credit”.
- If special credit is approved with minor changes, the student is to register for the course or for independent study and complete faculty expected course outcomes/objectives:
- Instructor informs student of the activities needed for the portfolio
- Faculty signs this form upon the completion of the needed items and returns the form to the academic advisor.
- Academic advisor sends the special credit form to the Registrar.
If special credit is denied, the student meets with the academic advisor and registers for the required course. IUSON Policy AFS-20
