Nursing, LPN/BSN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Licensed Practical Nurse

More on the Nursing-LPN major

The LPN to BSN nursing program provides students the education they need to earn a Registered Nurse license, begin work in an entry level nursing position and apply for graduate school.

Requirements for Admission 

All applicants must:

  • Have graduated from an accredited LPN Program
  • Hold a valid, unencumbered LPN License in the State of Ohio
  • Complete all pre-requisites courses with a grade of C or better. Grades of a C- or lower must be repeated. (See School of Nursing Repeat Policy below)
  • Complete a Progression to Major form with their academic Advisor
  • Achieve a minimum 2.75 GPA in the science prerequisite courses.
  • Achieve a minimum of 2.75 GPA in all the prerequisite courses (physical education and electives are not included in the calculations).

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 is granted the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. They may then apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses.

School of Nursing Repeat Policy: If School of Nursing students 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.

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 April 1st for fall enrollment and by October 1st for spring enrollments. All transfer prerequisites will be combined and averaged with those earned at The University of Akron. Transfer students who have been dismissed or failed a clinical nursing course from a Nursing program at another institution are not eligible to apply as a transfer student to The University of Akron’s traditional nursing program.

Notification of Admission:Pending the outcome of spring semester, all applicants 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.

The LPN nursing major begins with the fall semester each year. If the LPN is not coded as an LPN-BSN nursing student, they must meet with an advisor. Prerequisites should be finished during the spring semester and a progression to major form must be submitted prior to beginning the nursing sequence. LPNs are notified of their admission status at the end of the spring semester. The LPN-BSN major begins with the Professional Role Transition for LPNs (NURS 216) that is offered in the fall semester. Seats may be limited depending on availability in the other BSN tracks already in progress. If NURS 216 is not offered due to low enrollment, the student will meet with the Assistant Director of the School of Nursing for a revised program of study. 

***Background Checks & Fingerprinting: All Nursing students are subject to yearly thorough criminal background checks and urine screen at the students' expense. Background checks may reveal a student’s unsealed and sealed criminal record. 

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.

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

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 (Stellic) 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 *9
Preadmission Courses41-42
Nursing Core71
Total Hours121-122
*

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 Requirements

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework
Breadth of Perspectives 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 19
Arts: 3 credit hours
Humanities: 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours
Breadth of Perspectives
U.S. Perspectives
Global Perspectives
Civic Literacy
Integrated and Applied Learning1-3
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
General Education Elective 14-2
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36
1

Credits may be selected from any approved General Education course not already accounted for. 

Preadmission Courses

BIOL 130Principles of Microbiology3
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
PHIL 120Introduction to Ethics3
PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology3
PSYC 230Developmental Psychology4
SOCIO 100Introduction to Sociology3
COMM 105Introduction to Public Speaking3
Total Hours41-42

Nursing Core 

NUTR 316Science of Nutrition4
NURS 211Foundations of Nursing Practice I5
NURS 212Foundations of Nursng Practice II5
NURS 216Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing3
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 Nursing 15
NURS 401RN Transition1
NURS 410Nursing of Families with Children 15
NURS 430Nursing in Complex & Critical Situations5
NURS 435Evidence Based Practice in Nursing2
NURS 440Nursing of Communities4
NURS 450Senior Practicum and Nursing Leadership5
or NURS 451
NURS 499
Nursing Leadership
and Senior Externship Program
Total Hours71
1

Credit hours for NURS 380 Mental Health Nursing and NURS 401 RN Transition will change to 4 and 3 credits, respectively, for students starting the nursing core courses in the fall of 2025 or after.

Recommended Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Spring SemesterHours
ENGL 112 English Composition II 1 3
BIOL 202 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 1 3
BIOL 203 Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory II 1 1
PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology 1 3
COMM 105 Introduction to Public Speaking 1 3
BIOL 130 Principles of Microbiology 3
 Hours16
Fall Semester
ENGL 111 English Composition I 1 3
BIOL 200 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 1 3
CHEM 114 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Lecture) 4
CHEM 115 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Laboratory) 1
BIOL 201 Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory I 1 1
STAT 250
Statistics for Everyday Life 1,2
or Basic Statistics
3-4
 Hours15-16
2nd Year
Spring Semester
NUTR 316
Science of Nutrition 4
or Developmental Psychology
4
NURS 212 Foundations of Nursng Practice II 5
NURS 230 Nursing Pharmacology 3
 Hours12
Fall Semester
PSYC 230
Developmental Psychology 4
or Science of Nutrition
4
NURS 211 Foundations of Nursing Practice I (Credit by Exam) 5
NURS 216 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing 3
NURS 217 Pathophysiology for Nurses 3
NURS 225 Health Assessment 3
 Hours18
3rd Year
Spring Semester
SOCIO 100 Introduction to Sociology 4 3
NURS 341 Professional Role Development 3
NURS 370 Nursing Care of Older Adults 5 5
NURS 380 Mental Health Nursing 5,7 5
Arts or Humanities Requirement 3
 Hours19
Fall Semester
NURS 350 Nursing of the Childbearing Family 5 5
NURS 360 Nursing Care of Adults 5 5
PHIL 120 Introduction to Ethics 4 3
Arts Requirement 3
 Hours16
4th Year
Spring Semester
NURS 401 RN Transition 6,7 1
NURS 440 Nursing of Communities (meets Complex Issues Requirement) 6 4
NURS 450
Senior Practicum and Nursing Leadership 6
or Nursing Leadership and Senior Externship Program
5
Global Perspectives Requirement 3
 Hours13
Fall Semester
NURS 410 Nursing of Families with Children 6 5
NURS 435 Evidence Based Practice in Nursing 2
NURS 430 Nursing in Complex & Critical Situations 6 5
 Hours12
 Total Hours121-122
1

Preadmission courses: A grade of C or better is required.

2

The math requirement is STAT 260 Basic Statistics or STAT 250 Statistics for Everyday Life. A student may substitute STAT 261 Introductory Statistics ISTAT 262 Introductory Statistics II. Either option will fulfill the Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic requirement.

3

It is strongly recommended that a student have recent high school algebra and chemistry. If algebra skills need updating, a student should see advisor for assistance. If a student has no high school chemistry, CHEM 101 Chemistry for Everyone should be taken prior to enrollment in CHEM 114 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Lecture) and CHEM 115 Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry (Laboratory).

4

Corequisite courses: A grade of "C" or higher is required.

5

Junior level clinical courses may be taken in any order:

6

Senior level clinical courses may be taken in any order:

7

Credit hours for NURS 380 Mental Health Nursing and NURS 401 RN Transition will change to 4 and 3 credits, respectively, for students starting the nursing core courses in the fall of 2025 or after.