Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program offers a creative curriculum for meeting the current and future health needs of society. The curriculum prepares a generalist in professional nursing and serves as a basis for graduate study. Graduates of this program are eligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse after successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

Accreditation Information

The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing at IU South Bend is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org/). For the most up-to-date information on the accreditation status, visit the program website.

Admission Information

The Indiana University South Bend nursing program requires two years of prerequisite general education and basic science courses with an additional two years of clinical nursing curriculum. Students are first admitted to the University as pre-nursing students. Once the prerequisite courses are completed, students apply to the BSN program. Students are admitted to nursing twice a year in the fall and spring semesters. Application for Fall admission is available until April 1st. Application for Spring admission is available until November 1st.

Application Requirements

• Cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.50 on a 4.0 scale.
• Application GPA of no less than 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.
• Science GPA of no less than 2.70 on a 4.0 scale.

Completion of all program prerequisite and major courses with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.

Additional Academic Requirements

Application and admission are valid only for the semester designated. Students offered admission to the nursing major must enroll in nursing coursework at a time designated by the School of Nursing. Failure to enroll in nursing coursework in the designated semester necessitates reapplying to the program. Students admitted to the nursing major must formally accept or decline admission to the degree program, in writing, prior to the beginning of the semester to which they are admitted. Students accepted to the program but decline acceptance must reapply to the program of choice and compete with the applicant pool for the semester in which they request entrance.

Students admitted to the nursing major who withdraw from coursework within the first semester must reapply for admission to the program. These students have one opportunity for readmission, must reapply within a time frame that would allow the student timely completion of the program. Once admitted to the nursing program, students are held to the current policies outlined in the BSN program handbook.

Students should refer to the program handbook for detailed academic and clinical policies, ensuring compliance with program requirements and standards (i.e. GPA requirements, program dismissal, reinstatement, etc.).

Pre-clinical students in the Vera Z. Dwyer School of Health Sciences are strongly encouraged to identify and apply a parallel plan. A parallel plan helps you align with the requirements of another academic program, providing a clear path for academic progression if your professional goals change, you encounter challenges meeting program requirements, or your needs shift.

Degree Requirements

Students receiving the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree must complete 120 credits including the following. All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.

• IU South Bend Campus General Education Curriculum (33 cr.)
• Prerequisite Coursework (43 cr.)
• Nursing Major Coursework (59 cr.)

• Required prerequisite and major coursework may count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• Courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise stated

Prerequisite Coursework (43 cr.)

• CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry 2
• ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry 1
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• HSC-H 102 Lifetime Wellness for Health
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• HSC-H 322 Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• HSC-L320 Health Care Delivery Systems
• MICR-M 250 Microbial Cell Biology
• MICR-M 255 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• NURS-B 231 Communication Skill for the Health Professions
• PHIL-P 102 Critical Thinking and Applied Ethics
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• PHSL-P 261 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 (4 cr.)
• PHSL-P 262 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 (4 cr.)
• PSY-P 103 General Psychology
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• PSY-P 216 Life Span Developmental Psychology
• SOC-S 161 Principles of Sociology
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum

Nursing Major Coursework (59 cr.)

• NURS-C 310 Discipline of Nursing: Theory, Research, and Practice
• NURS-C 315 Nursing Care Fundamentals (4 cr.)
• NURS-C 320 Health Assessment in Nursing (4 cr.)
• NURS-C 322 Pathopharmacology 1 (2 cr.)
• NURS-K 192 Topics in Nursing
• NURS-C 325 Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults 1 (5 cr.)
• NURS-C 327 Mental Health Nursing Care
• NURS-C 330 Nursing Care of Peripartal Women, Neonates, and the Family
• NURS-C 332 Pathopharmacology 2 (2 cr.)
• NURS-C 405 Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults 2 (5 cr.)
• NURS-C 410 Nursing Care of Children
• NURS-C 415 Nursing Care of Communities (4 cr.)
• NURS C-418 Nursing Inquiry
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• NURS-C 422 Complex Nursing Care Across the Lifespan (5 cr.)
• NURS-C 427 Nursing Leadership and Management (4 cr.)
• NURS-C 430 Nursing Care Synthesis
• NURS-S 483 Clinical Nursing Practice Capstone (3 cr.)