THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS
In recent years there has been high student demand for this major. Students interested in this program should apply to the university during the initial filing period of the admissions cycle (October 1 - November 30 for any fall semester; August for any spring semester). A supplemental Nursing application must be submitted by March 1 for the fall semester and by November 1 for the spring semester. Information on any current enrollment restrictions is available from the Admissions and Records Office and from the department office sponsoring the major.
Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units
See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major adviser or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.
Students in the Advanced Placement Option for RN to BSN receive a detailed advising plan that outlines graduation requirements for this option. Advising is provided by the RN-BSN Adviser.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See "General Education Requirements" in The University Catalog and The Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings. The course requirements marked below with an asterisk (*) may also be applied toward General Education.
Modifications in the General Education requirements have been approved for this major as follows: CHEM 108 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area B1. HIST 130 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area C1, C2, or C3. PSYC 101 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area D1. POLS 155 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area D2, and ANTH 113 or SOCI 100 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area D3.
Completion of General Education Area A Requirements: All Area A requirements must be completed before students enter the Nursing program. Two courses must be complete at the time a student applies, with the remaining two in progress.
Fulfillment of the GE Upper-Division Theme Requirement: Students majoring in Nursing are permitted to select an upper-division Humanities Thematic course and an upper-division Social Sciences Thematic course in the same theme. The Natural Sciences Thematic upper-division requirement may be fulfilled by NURS 303, Nursing Concepts for Acute Care.
Cultural Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
See "Cultural Diversity" in The University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
United States History, Constitution and American Ideals Requirements: 6 units
See the "United States History, Constitution and American Ideals Requirements" in The University Catalog. For this major, HIST 130 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area C1, C2, or C3, and POLS 155 may be applied to General Education Breadth Area D2.
Literacy Requirement:
See "Mathematics and Writing Requirements" in The University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better to receive WP credit. See The Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a C- or better before you may register for a WP course.
Students needing remediation are required to be certified by the end of Semester IV.
Course Requirements for the Major: 98-99 units
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.
PRE-NURSING CORE: 40 units
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. The following courses must be completed before admission to the General Option for the BSN and before taking any courses from the professional sequence. At the time of application, two science courses and two General Education Area A courses must be complete with the remaining four courses in progress.
RNs admitted to the Advanced Placement Option for RN to BSN may take these courses along with the professional sequence, but must complete these courses prior to enrolling in NURS 472W, NURS 473W, and NURS 495W.
General Education Area A Skills: 12 units
Science Foundation: 16 units
4 courses required:
| BIOL | 103 | Human Anatomy | 4.0 | FS * |
| BIOL | 104 | Human Physiology | 4.0 | FS * |
| BIOL | 211 | General Microbiology | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: A college course in biology and in general chemistry.
| CHEM | 108 | Organic Chem for Applied Sci | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent.
Concurrent Core: 12 units
The following courses are required, but may be taken prior to admission or concurrenlty with the first semester of the Nursing program.
2 courses required:
| CHLD | 252 | Child Development | 3.0 | FS * |
| PSYC | 101 | Principles of Psych | 3.0 | FS * |
| NFSC | 100 | Basic Nutrition | 3.0 | FS * |
| NFSC | 240 | Human Nutrition | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 104, CHEM 108.
| NFSC | 315 | Nutrition in Health & Disease | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 104, CHEM 108.
Transfer students may use as transfer credit any lower-division course of comparable content (CAN FCS 2). Consult the department to determine acceptable courses.
The course below must be taken prior to NURS 315.
| ANTH | 113 | Human Cultural Diversity | 3.0 | FS *NW |
| ANTH | 303 | Cultural Anthropology | 3.0 | FS |
| SOCI | 100 | Principles of Sociology | 3.0 | FS * |
GENERAL OPTION: 58 units
This option is for students who are just beginning in the nursing field. The curricular sequence meets all state requirements for initial RN licensure as well as Public Health Nursing certification. Students must be admitted to the General Option for the BSN (see supplemental admission criteria available from the department or at www.csuchico.edu/nurs/).
Professional Sequence
All courses must be taken in the sequence outlined.
Semester I
4 courses required:
| NURS | 282 | Nursing Role I | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 103, BIOL 104, BIOL 211, CHEM 107, CHEM 108, CHLD 252, NFSC 315 (or NFSC 100 or NFSC 240), PSYC 101.
Corequisites: NURS 283, NURS 284, NURS 285.
| NURS | 283 | Nursing Foundations | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 103, BIOL 104, BIOL 211, CHEM 107, CHEM 108, CHLD 252, NFSC 315 (or NFSC 100 or NFSC 240), PSYC 101.
Corequisites: NURS 282, NURS 284, NURS 285.
| NURS | 284 | Practicum in Nursing Found | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 103, BIOL 104, BIOL 211, CHEM 107, CHEM 108, CHLD 252, NFSC 315 (or NFSC 100 or NFSC 240), PSYC 101.
Corequisites: NURS 282, NURS 283, NURS 285.
| NURS | 285 | Nursing Assessment | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 103, BIOL 104, BIOL 211, CHEM 107, CHEM 108, CHLD 252, NFSC 315 (or NFSC 100 or NFSC 240), PSYC 101.
Corequisites: NURS 282, NURS 283, NURS 284.
Semester II
3 courses required:
| NURS | 303 | Nurs Concepts for Acute Care | 6.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 282, NURS 283, NURS 284, NURS 285.
Corequisites: NURS 304, NURS 305.
| NURS | 304 | Practicum in Acute Care | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 282, NURS 283, NURS 284, NURS 285.
Corequisites: NURS 303, NURS 305.
| NURS | 305 | App Pharm/Lab Data Analysis | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 282, NURS 283, NURS 284, NURS 285.
Corequisites: NURS 303, NURS 304.
Semester III
4 courses required:
| NURS | 313 | Maternal-Child Nursing | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 303, NURS 304, NURS 305.
Corequisites: NURS 314, NURS 315, NURS 332.
| NURS | 314 | Practicum Maternal-Child Nurs | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 303, NURS 304, NURS 305.
Corequisites: NURS 313, NURS 315, NURS 332.
| NURS | 315 | Family Nursing | 1.5 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 303, NURS 304, NURS 305.
Corequisites: NURS 313, NURS 314, NURS 332.
| NURS | 332 | Nursing Research | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 303, NURS 304, NURS 305.
Corequisites: NURS 313, NURS 314, NURS 315.
Semester IV
4 courses required:
| NURS | 422 | Ldrship/Mgmt/Prof Issues Nurs | 3.0 | FS WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, NURS 313, NURS 314, NURS 315, NURS 332.
Corequisites: NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
| NURS | 424 | Practicum in Patient Care Mgmt | 2.5 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 313, NURS 314, NURS 315, NURS 332.
Corequisites: NURS 422, NURS 433, NURS 434.
| NURS | 433 | Nurs Mgmt Maladaptive Behavior | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 313, NURS 314, NURS 315, NURS 332.
Corequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 434.
| NURS | 434 | Pract Mgmt Maladaptive Behav | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 313, NURS 314, NURS 315, NURS 332.
Corequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433.
Semester V
6 courses required:
| NURS | 463 | Nurs Care Gerontology Patient | 1.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 472, NURS 473, NURS 474, NURS 493, NURS 494.
| NURS | 472 | Found of Public Health Nursing | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 463, NURS 473, NURS 474, NURS 493, NURS 494.
| NURS | 473 | Caring for Family in the Com | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 463, NURS 472, NURS 474, NURS 493, NURS 494.
| NURS | 474 | Pract Community Health Nursing | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 463, NURS 472, NURS 473, NURS 493, NURS 494.
| NURS | 493 | Integrative Nursing Theory | 1.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 463, NURS 472, NURS 473, NURS 474, NURS 494.
| NURS | 494 | Practicum Integrative Nursing | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 463, NURS 472, NURS 473, NURS 474, NURS 493.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT OPTION FOR RN TO BSN: 50.5 units
This option is for students who have already completed an RN program (associate degree or diploma) and hold a current California RN license. The curricular sequence meets the requirements for Public Health Nursing certification. The RN must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a nursing GPA of 2.3 in the initial nursing program. The RN may take several courses through Open University prior to being admitted to the university. A minimum of 30 units must be completed in residence at CSU, Chico.
Lower-Division Transfer Credit
Students can transfer up to 70 semester units from two-year colleges toward their bachelor's degree. All classes completed to fill degree requirements will be used as applicable. Students will not lose credit toward specific requirements, and all grades earned will be calculated in the transferable GPA.
Upper-Division Nursing Course Work
The following courses, or their equivalents, must be completed. RNs with sufficient background in a content area may challenge any of these courses, with permission of the department. Prior nursing experience is evaluated for credit for NURS 426. Courses designated with a W suffix are delivered in a Web-based format requiring a computer and Internet access. The RN may substitute the equivalent on-campus course for any of the Web-based courses.
15 courses required:
| NURS | 300W | RN-BSN Bridge Course | 3.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: Completion of RN program (ADN or diploma).
| NURS | 303 | Nurs Concepts for Acute Care | 6.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 282, NURS 283, NURS 284, NURS 285.
Corequisites: NURS 304, NURS 305.
| NURS | 306W | Current Concepts Baccalaureate | 3.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: NURS 300W, current California RN license.
| NURS | 307 | Advanced Placement NURS Theory | 6.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 306W.
| NURS | 315W | Family Nursing | 1.5 | Inq |
Prerequisites: Completion of RN program (ADN or diploma), NURS 300W.
| NURS | 332W | Nursing Research | 2.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: Completion of RN program (ADN or diploma), NURS 300W.
| NURS | 385W | Nursing Assessment | 2.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: Completion of RN program (ADN or diploma), NURS 300W.
| NURS | 422W | Ldrship/Mgt & Prof Iss in Nsg | 3.0 | Inq WP |
Prerequisites: NURS 300W, current California RN license, admission to RN-BSN Option.
| NURS | 425 | Adanced Nursing Practicum | 3.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: Current California RN license. Verification that clinical requirements are met. NURS 285W, NURS 300W, NURS 306W, departmental permission.
Corequisites: NURS 422W.
Prerequisites: California RN license, departmental permission.
Corequisites: NURS 425.
| NURS | 463 | Nurs Care Gerontology Patient | 1.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 472, NURS 473, NURS 474, NURS 493, NURS 494.
| NURS | 472W | Foundations of Pub Hlth Nurs | 2.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: NURS 300W, NURS 306W, NURS 315W, NURS 332W, NURS 422W, NURS 425, NURS 426, current California RN license, completion of all nursing core courses.
| NURS | 473W | Caring for Family in the Com | 2.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: NURS 300W, NURS 306W, NURS 315W, NURS 332W, NURS 422W, NURS 425, NURS 426, current California RN licese, completion of all nursing core courses.
| NURS | 474 | Pract Community Health Nursing | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: NURS 422, NURS 424, NURS 433, NURS 434.
Corequisites: NURS 463, NURS 472, NURS 473, NURS 493, NURS 494.
| NURS | 495W | Pathophysiology & Nurs Theory | 4.0 | Inq |
Prerequisites: NURS 300W, NURS 422W, NURS 425, NURS 426, NURS 332W, current California RN license, completion of all nursing core courses.
Electives Requirement:
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total university offerings. You should consult with an adviser regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your university experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Grading Requirement:
All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.
All required courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher.
Progression in the professional Nursing sequence depends upon maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 in Nursing and grades of C- or better in all courses required for the Nursing major.
By policy, a student receiving a grade of D+ or less in a Nursing course may not progress in the Nursing program. The student may petition the School of Nursing Executive Committee to review the application of the policy in his/her situation, if serious and compelling conditions contributed to the poor grade. A student may repeat no more than two Nursing courses in which grades of D+ or lower were received.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a degree which signifies readiness for beginning professional nursing practice. The faculty recognizes a responsibility to both the students and potential patients to produce graduates whose attitudes and behavior indicate readiness for carrying out their professional functions. If, in the professional judgment of the Executive Committee of the School of Nursing, a student appears to be potentially dangerous to patients or colleagues, the School will refuse to allow the student to practice in the clinical setting.
Students enrolled in practicum courses are required to have current immunizations (including Hepatitus B), annual CPR certification, both health and malpractice insurance, as well as adequate automobile liability insurance coverage. Since Chico is located in a rural area, considerable travel to clinical agencies should be expected. Access to a car throughout the Nursing sequence is necessary. Additional fees for achievement testing and laboratory supplies may be required for certain courses. Fingerprint background checks are required of all students in the General Option for the BSN prior to Semester III of the program so that they will be eligible for practicum experiences in public schools.
Advising Requirement:
Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate adviser for specific information.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It involves 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.
Your Honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair. Most importantly, however, the Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the university for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows; such experience is valuable for graduate school and later professional life.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are
1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. At least 3 of these 6 units are independent study (499H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B. 2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units. 3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department. 4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department. 5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year. 6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your Honors project.
While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major adviser for further information.