Nursing, BSN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (820000BS)

More on the Nursing major

Contact Information

School of Nursing
Mary Gladwin Hall
Student Success Center, Room 313
(330) 972-5103

Program Description

The traditional undergraduate nursing program provides the education needed earn a Registered Nurse license and begin work in an entry level nursing position or apply for graduate school.

Admission Criteria: BSN degree-seeking students must meet the minimum criteria listed below:

  • 2.75 Prerequisite GPA.  All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring semester before.
  • 2.75 Prerequisite Science GPA

Students must earn at least a C in all prerequisite course courses.  Grades of a C- or less must be repeated. (See School of Nursing Repeat Policy below)

Students are separated into two admission consideration categories and in each category they are ranked based on the prerequisite science GPA.

Admission Consideration Categories

  • Priority Pool: Pre-nursing students who were admitted or transferred to the school before the first day of spring semester, are prioritized by Pre-science GPA. Five seats are reserved for Army ROTC scholarship recipients. 
  • Secondary Pool: Any pre-nursing student or ICT students who has repeated a pre-admission science class will be placed in this category and are prioritized by science GPA. The top 5 students in this category whose science GPA is above the Priority Pool admission cut off will be offered a seat in the major.
  • Provisional Admission Criteria: Direct admits to the CHP, pre-nursing or ICT students, intended nursing majors finishing prerequisites Summer session 1 and/or 2 can still be considered for admission pending successful completion of the summer courses, if they meet the admission criteria listed above, and availability in the in the courses for the fall semester.

All students admitted to the Sophomore class, by August 1st will begin nursing coursework in the fall and take a six or eight semester course of study. Upon successful completion of the program, the student are granted the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. They may then apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses.

By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you should have completed your General Education English, Math, and Oral Communication (Speech) requirements;

By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you should have declared a major and transferred to (been accepted by) a degree granting college at The University of Akron.

School of Nursing Repeat Policy: If School of Nursing Pre-Nursing students or students located in the Center for Academic Advising & Student Success or College of Applied Science & Technology do not achieve a C or higher in science prerequisite courses the first time they take them, they are allowed to repeat the course for a change of grade one time only. (UA policy allows for two repeats for change of grade.) If a student must take a science course for a third time in order to earn a grade of C or higher, the student will no longer be eligible for consideration for the nursing major until the previous science courses are 5 years old. This policy includes the repetition of a course originally taken at another institution or vice versa. All students must be aware that the repeat of a prerequisite science will automatically place them into the Secondary pool. Any student who has repeated a prerequisite science course, including those students who elect to repeat a science course which they have passed successfully (“illegal repeat” of a C or higher) in order to raise their entry GPA, will be placed in the Secondary pool, even if they had previously been in the Priority consideration pool.

Transfer Students: A student must be accepted by the University and have all course work applicable to the Nursing requirements evaluated by the respective UA departments with a copy of the departmental approval on the file by August 1st of the year of entry into School of Nursing. All transfer prerequisites will be combined and averaged with those earned at the University of Akron. Transfer students who have been dismissed from a Nursing program at another institution are not eligible to apply to The University of Akron’s Nursing program.

Notification of Admission: Pending the outcome of spring semester, applicants completing pre-admission requirements will be notified of admission by June 30th. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Qualified students who do not receive admission will be placed on a waiting list which will be in effect through the first week of fall classes.

Reapplication Process: Applications for the College of Health Professions are only effective for the current academic year. A student meeting the minimum entry criteria but not admitted from the waiting list or denied admission will have their file remain in the School of Nursing as a pre-nursing student. These students will need to reapply during the next year’s application period.

The School of Nursing reserves the right to approve admission to those individuals whose abilities, attitudes and character promise satisfactory achievement of the program of studies.

***Background Checks/Fingerprinting/Urine screen: All Nursing students are subject to yearly thorough criminal background checks and urine screen at the students' expense. Both background checks may reveal a student’s unsealed and sealed criminal record. Students are required to have a yearly TB test and flu vaccine as well as maintain current BLS Certification for the Healthcare Provider through the American Heart Association.

The following information has official approval of The School of Nursing and The College of Health and Human Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students who were admitted prior to fall 2021 would follow the program of study that was in effect at the time of their admission. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.

Requirements

Summary

General Education Requirements *8
Preadmission Courses30
Nursing Core82
Total Hours120
*

Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements. 

General Education Courses

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Academic Foundations12
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours
Speaking: 3 credit hours
Writing: 6 credit hours
Breadth of Knowledge 22
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours
Diversity
Domestic Diversity
Global Diversity
Integrated and Applied Learning2
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36

Preadmission Courses

BIOL:200Human Anatomy & Physiology I3
BIOL:201Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I1
BIOL:202Human Anatomy & Physiology II3
BIOL:203Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II1
CHEM:114Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Lecture)4
CHEM:115Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Laboratory)1
ENGL:111English Composition I3
ENGL:112English Composition II3
STAT:250Statistics for Everyday Life3-4
or STAT:260 Basic Statistics
PSYC:100Introduction to Psychology3
COMM:105Introduction to Public Speaking3
or COMM:106 Effective Oral Communication
NURS:100Introduction to Nursing1
Total Hours29-30

Nursing Core

BIOL:130Principles of Microbiology3
PHIL:120Introduction to Ethics3
PSYC:230Developmental Psychology4
SOCIO:100Introduction to Sociology3
NUTR:316Science of Nutrition4
NURS:211Foundations of Nursing Practice I5
NURS:212Foundations of Nursng Practice II5
NURS:217Pathophysiology for Nurses3
NURS:225Health Assessment3
NURS:230Nursing Pharmacology3
NURS:341Professional Role Development3
NURS:350Nursing of the Childbearing Family5
NURS:360Nursing Care of Adults5
NURS:370Nursing Care of Older Adults5
NURS:380Mental Health Nursing5
NURS:401RN Transition1
NURS:410Nursing of Families with Children5
NURS:430Nursing in Complex & Critical Situations5
NURS:435Evidence Based Practice in Nursing2
NURS:440Nursing of Communities4
NURS:450Senior Practicum and Nursing Leadership5
Total Hours81

Recommended Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
BIOL:200 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 1 3
BIOL:201 Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I 1 1
CHEM:114 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Lecture) 4
CHEM:115 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Laboratory) 1
ENGL:111 English Composition I 1 3
STAT:250
Statistics for Everyday Life 1,3
or Basic Statistics
3-4
NURS:100 Introduction to Nursing 1 1
 Hours16-17
Spring Semester
BIOL:202 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 1 3
BIOL:203 Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II 1 1
ENGL:112 English Composition II 1 3
PSYC:100 Introduction to Psychology 1 3
COMM:105
Introduction to Public Speaking 1
or Effective Oral Communication
3
 Hours13
2nd Year
Fall Semester
NUTR:316
Science of Nutrition 4
or Developmental Psychology
4
NURS:211 Foundations of Nursing Practice I 5
NURS:217 Pathophysiology for Nurses 3
NURS:225 Health Assessment 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
NURS:212 Foundations of Nursng Practice II 5
NURS:230 Nursing Pharmacology 3
NUTR:316
Science of Nutrition 4
or Developmental Psychology
4
BIOL:130 Principles of Microbiology 4 3
 Hours15
3rd Year
Fall Semester
PHIL:120 Introduction to Ethics 4 3
NURS:350 Nursing of the Childbearing Family 5 5
NURS:360 Nursing Care of Adults 5 5
Arts Requirement 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
SOCIO:100 Introduction to Sociology (meets Social Science & Domestic Diversity requirement) 4 3
NURS:341 Professional Role Development 3
NURS:370 Nursing Care of Older Adults 5 5
NURS:380 Mental Health Nursing 5 5
Arts or Humanities Requirement 3
 Hours19
4th Year
Fall Semester
NURS:410 Nursing of Families with Children 6 5
NURS:435 Evidence Based Practice in Nursing 2
NURS:440 Nursing of Communities 6 4
 Hours11
Spring Semester
NURS:401 RN Transition 1
NURS:430 Nursing in Complex & Critical Situations 6 5
NURS:450 Senior Practicum and Nursing Leadership 6 5
Global Diversity Requirement 3
 Hours14
 Total Hours119-120