Learn More and ApplyNursing (BSN)

The BSN program is designed for the high-achieving high-school graduate who wants to become a registered nurse (RN). It provides the foundation for generalist nursing practice and eligibility for RN licensure by examination (NCLEX- RN).

Preparation and evaluation for licensure examination is integrated throughout the curriculum via ATI exams. A passing score is required for progression and graduation, increasing the likelihood that students will pass their state boards the first time.

The goal of the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing (BSN) program is to prepare students for professional nursing practice as a generalist for competent care of individuals, families, and communities.

Graduates of the BSN program will:

• be able to integrate foundational liberal arts knowledge with evidence-based nursing concepts to provide contextually relevant and culturally appropriate care to clients, families, communities, and populations.
• apply leadership skills, healthcare informatics technologies, and intentional interdisciplinary collaboration within complex healthcare systems.
• demonstrate professional nursing practice standards based on legal and ethical principles and commitment to self-evaluation and lifelong learning.
• apply research, improvement science, and quality and safety frameworks to achieve equitable and socially just healthcare outcomes. 

Program Requirements

Program Requirements	Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements	72
Major Requirements	116
Open Electives	4
Total hours required	192

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Be able to integrate foundational liberal arts knowledge with evidence-based nursing concepts to provide contextually relevant and culturally appropriate care to clients, families, communities, and populations.
• Apply leadership skills, healthcare informatics technologies, and intentional interdisciplinary collaboration within complex healthcare systems.
• Demonstrate professional nursing practice standards based on legal and ethical principles and commitment to self-evaluation and lifelong learning.
• Apply research, improvement science, and quality and safety frameworks to achieve equitable and socially just healthcare outcomes.

College Core Requirements

Modern Language Requirements

Students who intend to graduate with the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. Such competence may be demonstrated in one of several ways:

• completing the last course in the fourth-year high school sequence of any language
• completing the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language
• completing a college course beyond the first-year level in any language
• achieving a satisfactory score on any of the Modern Language placement examinations administered at DePaul
• achieving a satisfactory rating in a proficiency examination accepted by DePaul
• achieving a score of 3 or higher on the Advance Placement (AP) test for any language
• achieving a score of 5 or higher in the Language B assessment from a Standard or Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) program
• achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP examination

Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.

For further information regarding satisfactory scores and possible credit from the DePaul placement, AP, CLEP, or IB examinations, please contact Student Records.

Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College of Science and Health will abide by the College of Science and Health Modern Language Requirement in place on the effective date of the ICT.

BA students who meet College requirements and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” of the Liberal Studies Program. While Bachelor of Science (BS) students are not required to demonstrate competency in a modern language, the “Modern Language Option” is available to them for language study at any level. Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.

Major Declaration Requirements

All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. After researching College programs, the student should declare a major field by visiting Campus Connection and using the Declarations and Inter-College Transfer tool. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor or staff advisor in the department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.

To change major fields, or to declare a minor or concentration, the student must use the Declarations and Inter-College Transfer tool described above. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the College or an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year Program		Hours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110 or LSP 111	DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO	4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I	4
WRD 104	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II	4
Quantitative Reasoning
Not Required
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200	SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE	4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
NSG 310	PATIENT CENTERED NURSING I: MED/SURG I	8
Senior Year
Capstone
NSG 331	TRANSITION TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING	8

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

• 2 Courses Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

• 2 Courses Required 

Math and Computing (MC)

• Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

• 2 Courses Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

• 2 Courses Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

• Not Required

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

• 2 Courses Required 

Notes

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited.  No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Nursing Courses

Course List

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
NSG 200	HEALTH AND NUTRITION	4
NSG 260	STATISTICS FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES	4
NSG 290	FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE	5
NSG 291	HEALTH ASSESSMENT ACROSS THE LIFESPAN	4
NSG 292	PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR ALTERATION IN HEALTH	4
NSG 293	PHARMACOLOGY FOR ALTERATIONS IN HEALTH	4
NSG 294	NURSING THEORY FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE	4
NSG 312	PATIENT CENTERED NURSING II: MED/SURG II	8
NSG 314	PATIENT CENTERED NURSING III: MENTAL HEALTH	6
NSG 316	PATIENT CENTERED CARE IV: PEDIATRICS	6
NSG 318	PATIENT CENTERED NURSING: OB/MATERNITY	6
NSG 320	CRITICAL CARE CENTERED NURSING	8
NSG 323	COMMUNITY AND POPULATION HEALTH	5
NSG 325	CONTEMPORARY HEALTH CARE ISSUES	4
NSG 326	NURSING INFORMATICS AND TECHNOLOGY	4
NSG 327	NURSING RESEARCH	4
NSG 328	QUALITY AND SAFETY FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL NURSING	4
NSG 329	LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT FOR SAFE NURSING CARE	4

Science and Psychology Courses

Course List

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
BIO 191	GENERAL BIOLOGY I FOR SCIENCE MAJORS	4
BIO 201	HUMAN ANATOMY	4
BIO 202	HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY	4
CHE 116 & CHE 117	GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I	4
CHE 118 & CHE 119	GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II	4
HLTH 194	HUMAN PATHOGENS AND DEFENSE	4
PSY 303	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT	4

Student Handbook

A complete list of policies specific to the nursing programs of study is contained in the Student Handbook that is updated regularly on the website for the School of Nursing. The complete MENP handbook can be found here.

Mission of the DePaul University School of Nursing

The Mission of the School of Nursing is the preservation, enrichment, and transmission of nursing science as a discipline and its application to promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. The faculty pursues this mission through excellence in teaching as the primary focus of scholarship and research that has the potential to enhance nursing knowledge, scientific inquiry, teaching, and health. The School of Nursing maintains a commitment to serving persons with diverse talents, qualities, interests and socioeconomic backgrounds in its education programs and professional practice. It seeks to provide accelerated, inquiry-based education that anticipates the rapid pace of change in health promotion and illness care.

Philosophy of the DePaul University School of Nursing

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master's degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and/or post-graduate APRN certificate program at DePaul University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Academic Integrity Policy

Violations of academic integrity in any form are detrimental to the values of DePaul, to the students' development as responsible members of society, and to the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas. Violations of academic integrity include but are not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, fabrications, falsification or sabotage of research data, falsification of clinical data, destruction or misuse of the University's academic resources, academic misconduct, and complicity. If an instructor finds that a student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy, the appropriate initial sanction is at the instructor's discretion. An instructor may choose to file an academic integrity violation with the University. Actions taken by the instructor do not preclude the School of Nursing, College of Science and Health or the University from taking further action, including dismissal from the University. Conduct that is punishable under the Academic Integrity Policy could result in criminal or civil prosecution. The full Academic Integrity Policy can be found at: https://offices.depaul.edu/academic-affairs/faculty-resources/academic-integrity/Pages/default.aspx

Academic Integrity Policy Extension for Clinical and Service Settings

DePaul University is committed to education that engages its students, faculty and staff in work within Chicago's institutions and communities. As DePaul representatives to our partner institutions and community organizations, we ask that you take seriously your responsibilities to these institutions during service, clinical experiences and internships. The community and its institutions are extensions of the DePaul classroom.

Program Summary

The BSN program is designed for the high-achieving high-school graduate who wants to become a registered nurse (RN). It provides the foundation for generalist nursing practice and eligibility for RN licensure by examination (NCLEX- RN). Preparation and evaluation for licensure examination is integrated throughout the curriculum via ATI exams. A passing score is required for progression and graduation, increasing the likelihood that students will pass their state boards the first time.

Admissions Policies

1. Students must meet the minimum admissions requirements listed on the University website.
2. The School of Nursing is committed to the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all persons. Students are evaluated and admitted to the program without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or national origin.
3. The School of Nursing is committed to providing equal access for all students with disabilities. Eligibility for services and accommodations is determined by the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD). Students with disabilities who wish to receive services and accommodations at DePaul University must have their disability on record with CSD.
4. Applications are evaluated and students are selected for admission by the Admission, Progression, and Retention (APR) Committee based on their potential to successfully complete program objectives.

Procedure for Admission

1. The application process follows the DePaul University Admissions for Undergraduate Students. Application materials are available online at the University website. All forms, recommendations, test scores, transcripts, personal essays, and fees are required to complete the application process. Incomplete applications may result in delayed or denied admission for the current term. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all parts of the applications are submitted in a timely fashion.
2. The BSN program follows the university Transfer Credit Approval policy for undergraduate students. Students who wish to transfer credit should follow the submission guidelines stipulated in the university policy.
3. Completed applications are reviewed by the School of Nursing. Applicants are notified of their acceptance or non-acceptance by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Qualified students are admitted on a space available basis.
4. Applications are evaluated and students are selected for admission by the Admission, Progression, and Retention (APR) Committee based on their potential to successfully complete program objectives.
5. Direct Admission requirements include:
   • Cumulative high school unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4-point scale
   • Grades of B or higher in high school biology and chemistry
   • At least two years of high school mathematics through Algebra II (four years with pre-calculus or other math beyond Algebra II is preferred) with grades of B or higher.
   • All official transcripts must be submitted.
   • Testing is optional although students may submit ACT or SAT scores*
   • Non-native English speakers must have a TOEFL score of 590 (PBT) or higher or 96 (iBT) or higher.
6. Transfer into BSN Admission requirements include:
   • Cumulative college GPA or 2.0 or above
   • Good academic standing at the end of the winter quarter.
   • Completion of BIO 191 (or above) and placement in or completion of WRD 103, both with a C+ or above.
   • On track to complete all BSN pre-requisites by autumn of the second year (before beginning nursing courses in the winter quarter following admission)
     • WRD 103 and WRD 104
     • Math courses through (including by placement) MAT 130
     • BIO 191
     • CHE 130 and CHE 131
     • HLTH 194
     • PSY 303
     • BIO 201 (autumn after admission)
     • BIO 202 (autumn after admission)
   • No more than two grades of C- or C in science pre-requisites

Retention Policies

The BSN curriculum includes nursing and non-nursing courses. Non-nursing courses are taken throughout the four-year curriculum and include science core, common core, and liberal studies coursework. Non-nursing courses are subject to DePaul progression and retention policies. Students must be in good standing with the school of nursing to progress into nursing courses sophomore year. Nursing courses are subject to the school of nursing retention and progression policies.

Non-Nursing Coursework

1. Entering freshmen will begin as undergraduate students in the College of Science and Health. To remain in good standing with the School of Nursing and to progress into the BSN courses sophomore year, students must:
   1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater.
   2. Earn no more than 2 C-’s in science core coursework.
   3. Retake any courses with a grade of D+ or below. The student must earn a C or better in repeated coursework, to be considered for progression.
2. Upon completion of the freshman year, the BSN students’ performance will be evaluated by the School of Nursing APR committee to determine eligibility to begin nursing courses. Any student with more than 2 grades of C- in science core courses, a GPA below 2.75, or a grade of D+ or below in liberal arts courses (that have not been retaken with a grade of at least a C-), will be subject to dismissal from the nursing major without the option for reinstatement. Students may continue with another major at DePaul if they remain in good standing with the university.

Nursing Coursework

1. Beginning in sophomore year, students will enter nursing courses and will be advised primarily by the School of Nursing. Students must continue to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater to remain in good standing with the school of nursing. A student will be placed on academic probation if the GPA dips below 2.75. Students placed on probation must enroll in the School of Nursing Success Coaching Program. If the GPA is raised to at least 2.75 at the end of the next academic quarter, the student is no longer on probation. If the GPA has not risen to 2.75 at the end of the next academic quarter, the student will be eligible for dismissal from the program, but not from the university. The student may transfer to other majors as appropriate.
2. Students earning a C or below in nursing courses, will be placed on academic probation. Grades below a C- in non-nursing courses or below a C+ for nursing courses, are not considered passing, as such the student must repeat the course and earn a C+ or better. If the student can earn grades in all courses that are C+ or above AND earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater in the next academic quarter, the student is no longer on probation. If this does not occur, the student will be dismissed from the program.  The student will be considered “out of sequence” for nursing courses but may continue to take non-nursing courses at DePaul if the student remains in good academic standing according to the DePaul undergraduate handbook. 
3. A student may be placed on probation a maximum of two times during their program.
4. In accordance with the nursing licensing regulations, students found to be convicted of a crime will be reviewed by the APR Committee and may be suspended or dismissed from the program. It is the student’s responsibility to disclose any arrests or convictions while enrolled in their program. Degree conferral from the University does not guarantee licensure eligibility in the event the student is convicted of a crime. It is the student’s responsibility to be knowledgeable of the licensure requirements for the state in which they intend to apply for RN licensure.
5. The School of Nursing expects a respectful environment conducive to teaching and learning for all students, faculty, and staff. Inappropriate conduct is defined as any action that interferes with the creation and maintenance of an effective learning environment. Students are expected to display civility in all aspects of their educational experience at DePaul University and affiliated institutions.
6. Appropriate student conduct is outlined in detail in the Professional Development Guidelines (Appendix B).

Students displaying inappropriate conduct may be asked to leave the classroom, clinical area, or meeting. Inappropriate conduct will be documented with written contract and placed in the student’s file. Such incidents of inappropriate conduct will then be reported to the Director of the School of Nursing, with copies sent to the Associate Director of the Program, and the APR Committee. Additional sanctions for inappropriate conduct may be imposed, including dismissal from the nursing program. 

Progression Policies