The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (B.S.N.) prepares professional practitioners in areas of health promotion and maintenance, illness care, and rehabilitation. The program has three options; two options (GNURS and SCND) prepare prelicensure students and one option (RNBSN) prepares post-licensure (RN) students. BSN majors will choose one of the three options.
After earning the BSN degree, prelicensure students are qualified to take the registered nurse examination for licensure (NCLEX) by the State Board of Nursing.
Graduates of BSN Program may qualify for admission to a graduate nursing program.
B.S.N. Nursing majors will choose one of the following options:
Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, Scranton, University Park
Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.
The General Nursing Option admits first year students directly to the major at seven Penn State campuses (University Park, Altoona, Erie, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, or Scranton) for Summer or Fall entry. Non-nursing students may not transfer or change major into the 4-year nursing program at University Park; however, students may apply through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process at the six other campuses offering the General Nursing Program.
Nursing students start and remain at the campus of admission all four years. University Park students spend one full academic year at Penn State Hershey Medical Center campus, which requires students to reside at the location.
Clinical experiences occur at clinical facilities within approximately a 50-mile radius of campus.
All transportation and expenses related to clinical are the responsibility of the student. Students must carry professional liability insurance, complete an annual health examination, criminal background (State and Federal) and child abuse history clearance and drug screening, maintain CPR certification, and adhere to any additional requirements of the clinical facilities. Students may need the use of a car.
Available at the following campuses: Abington, Fayette, New Kensington, Shenango, University Park, World Campus
Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.
The RN to BSN option admits registered nurse students directly to the major at six Penn State campuses (Abington, Fayette, New Kensington, Shenango, University Park and World Campus). The University Park site is a blended program, which includes resident instruction and online nursing courses. The World Campus site is completely online.
For the RN to BSN option, a minimum of 120 credits is required.
Senate legislation 42-97 Credit by Portfolio Assessment enables students to receive credit for certain prescribed nursing courses based on their R.N. licensure which go toward the required minimum of 120 credits.
All transportation and expenses related to clinical are the responsibility of the student. Clinical requirements may include CPR certification, professional liability insurance, health examination including required vaccinations, drug screening, criminal background check (State and Federal) and child abuse history clearances. Students may need the use of a car.
Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie*, Harrisburg
Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.
*Please note, the Second Degree option at the Erie campus is currently paused.
The SCND degree option admits students who have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline to the Nursing major through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process. Students must have met all prerequisite course requirements.
The SCND degree option is available at Penn State Altoona, Penn State Erie, and Penn State Harrisburg.
This option admits students who have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline to the Nursing major through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process. Students must have met all prerequisite course requirements.
Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.
Clinical experiences occur at facilities within approximately a 50-mile radius of the campus.
All transportation and expenses related to clinical are the responsibility of the student. Students must carry professional liability insurance; complete an annual health examination, criminal background (State and Federal) and child abuse history clearance and drug screening; maintain CPR certification; and adhere to any additional requirements of the clinical facilities. Students may need the use of a car.
Nurses serve on the front lines of the healthcare industry. They work in emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, inpatient facilities, schools, and private homes. As the cornerstone of the medical team, nurses assess and monitor patients’ body systems, symptoms, and vital signs; administer prescribed medications; and provide routine care, such as bathing, dressing, and wound care. Working closely with clients and their families, nurses are often the first to alert doctors of changes in the patient’s medical condition.
However, nursing is a profession that requires more than book knowledge and medical skills. Nurses must also act as compassionate caregivers, supportive advocates, and thorough educators to improve and preserve the health and quality of life of their patients. Nurses must be flexible, attentive and demonstrate strong critical thinking skills. They must be prepared to act quickly and competently to save lives.
Do you love people and want to make a difference by helping people during some of the happiest, most challenging, and most vulnerable times of their lives? If so, Nursing may be the major for you! You may like this major if you enjoy learning about the human body and how it functions and heals. Nurses must be flexible, adaptable, patient, and have a strong work ethic. They work closely with clients and their families while providing respectful and compassionate healthcare. Nurses must demonstrate excellent critical thinking and communication skills. Students pursuing this degree should strive to be leaders in the healthcare field and exhibit professionalism and ethical integrity.
Incoming first-year students who meet the program admission requirements are admitted directly into the major. Admission restrictions may apply for change-of-major and/or change-of-campus students.
For more information about the admission process for this major, please send a request to the college, campus, or program contact (listed in the Contact tab).
Nursing students are expected to maintain high academic, ethical, and integrity standards. The Nursing Progression Policy delineates the standards required of students admitted to the General Bachelor of Science in Nursing (GNURS) and the Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCND) pre-licensure (students without R.N. license) options of the undergraduate nursing program. Details of the Nursing Progression Policy are available in the student handbooks.
Academic Standards: Students who exceed the designated number of attempts will be dismissed from the nursing major.
Ethical Standards: Violations of the Nursing Student Ethical Behavior policy which is based on the Nursing Code of Ethics may result in dismissal from the nursing major.
Academic Integrity Standards: Violations of Penn State Academic Integrity Policy G-9 may result in dismissal from the nursing major.
For the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in Nursing, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 4-9 |
| Requirements for the Major | 90-98 |
21-31 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GHW courses; 9 credits of GN courses; 3-4 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses; 0-9 credits of GWS courses.
The Second or Additional Degree Option requires the completion of 60 credits of general education and prerequisite courses in the first degree program (prior to admission) and 60 credits of nursing courses completed after admission.
Requirements for the Major must be completed prior to admission for students taking the Second Degree Option.
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| BIOL 161 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Lecture  1 | 3 |
| BIOL 162 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| BIOL 163 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II - Lecture 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 164 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II - Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| HDFS 129 | Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies | 3 |
| MICRB 106 | Elementary Microbiology | 3 |
| MICRB 107 | Elementary Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| NUTR 251 | Introductory Principles of Nutrition | 3 |
| PSYCH 100 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CHEM 130 | Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry 1 | 3-4 |
| or CHEM 110 & CHEM 111 | Chemical Principles I and Experimental Chemistry I | |
| SOC 1 | Introductory Sociology | 3 |
| or SOC 5 | Social Problems | |
| STAT 200 | Elementary Statistics | 3-4 |
| or STAT 250 | Introduction to Biostatistics | |
| Requirements for the Option | ||
| Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select an option | 60-66 | |
A grade of C or better per course is required for teacher certification.
Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, Scranton, University Park
Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.
Due to restricted enrollment, the Nese College of Nursing assigns the semester in which students enroll in the following Prescribed Courses and all course prerequisites must be successfully completed.
Available at the following campuses: Abington, Fayette, New Kensington, Shenango, University Park, World Campus
Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| NURS 200W | Principles of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 225 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 230 | Introduction to the Fundamentals of Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 250 | Professional Role Dev I: Intro to Professional Issues in Nursing Practice and Nursing Informatics | 2 |
| NURS 301 | Nursing Care of the Adult Client Requiring Medical-Surgical Intervention | 4 |
| NURS 305 | Introduction to Pharmacological Concepts | 3 |
| NURS 306 | Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| NURS 310 | Therapeutic Nursing Care of the Older Adult Client in a Variety of Settings | 3 |
| NURS 320 | Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Gynecological Client | 3 |
| NURS 357 | Introduction to Nursing Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 390 | Transition and the Professional Nursing Role | 3 |
| NURS 405B | Nursing Care of the Adult Client with Complex Health Problems: Part B | 4 |
| NURS 417 | Family and Community Health Concepts | 4 |
| NURS 420 | Mental Health Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 465 | Health Concepts for Adults with Complex Health Care Needs | 3 |
| NURS 475 | Integrated Concepts in Nursing Practice | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| NURS 251 | Health Assessment 1 | 3 |
| or NURS 352 | Advanced Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 3 credits of NURS 400-Level and 3 credits of lower level (NURS XXX) Supporting Courses | 6 | |
A grade of C or better per course is required for teacher certification.
Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie*, Harrisburg
Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.
*Please note, the Second Degree option at the Erie campus is currently paused.
Due to restricted enrollment, the Nese College of Nursing assigns the semester in which students enroll in the following Prescribed Courses and all course prerequisites must be successfully completed.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| NURS 200W | Principles of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 225 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 230 | Introduction to the Fundamentals of Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 250 | Professional Role Dev I: Intro to Professional Issues in Nursing Practice and Nursing Informatics | 2 |
| NURS 251 | Health Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 301 | Nursing Care of the Adult Client Requiring Medical-Surgical Intervention | 4 |
| NURS 302 | Clinical Judgement in Nursing | 1 |
| NURS 305 | Introduction to Pharmacological Concepts | 3 |
| NURS 306 | Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| NURS 310 | Therapeutic Nursing Care of the Older Adult Client in a Variety of Settings | 3 |
| NURS 320 | Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Gynecological Client | 3 |
| NURS 350 | Professional Role Development II: Ethics, Legal and Genetic Issues | 2 |
| NURS 405A | Nursing Care of the Adult Client with Complex Health Problems: Part A | 4 |
| NURS 405B | Nursing Care of the Adult Client with Complex Health Problems: Part B | 4 |
| NURS 415 | Community and Family Health Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 420 | Mental Health Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 450A | Professional Role Development III: Leadership and Management | 2 |
| NURS 450B | Professional Role Development III: Clinical Capstone | 3 |
| NURS 480 | NCLEX Prep | 2 |
| NURS 495 | Nursing Study in Specialized Setting | 3 |
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
Suzanne K. Kuhn, PhD, RN, CNE
Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
Sheetz Family Health Center 106
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5114
skk6@psu.edu
Academic Advising General Nursing:
Cathy Kozak
103E Sheetz Family Health Center
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5142
cek132@psu.edu
Academic Advising Second Degree:
Ryan Costanzo
E130B Smith Building
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5000
rdc5355@psu.edu
Kimberly Streiff, D.Ed., MSN, CRNP, FNP-C
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
139 Otto Behrend Science
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-7583
kws5659@psu.edu
Melissa Miner, DNP, RN, CNE
Associate Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4220
mbm12@psu.edu
Lisa A Albert, Ed.D., MSN, RN, CSN
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building W314
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6514
laa126@psu.edu
Academic Advising Second Degree:
Ronda Stump
W305 Olmstead Building
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6511
rfg2@psu.edu
Carranda Barkdoll, DNP, RN, CRNP
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
104F Sci-Tech
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6205
cmb207@psu.edu
Marianne Adam, PhD, RN, FNP, CNE
Associate Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
Classroom Building 101-E
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6061
mta133@psu.edu
Justina Malinak, DNP, MSN, RN
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
9 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2656
jmm795@psu.edu
Student Success Center
Undergraduate Advising
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu
Student Success Center
Undergraduate Advising
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 161 *#† 1 | 3 | BIOL 163 *#† 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 162 *#† 1 | 1 | BIOL 164 *† | 1 |
| ENGL 15 or 30H ‡ | 3 | HDFS 129 *† | 3 |
| PSYCH 100 *† | 3 | NUTR 251 *† | 3 |
| NURS 100 (or other First Year Seminar - as required by campus) 2 | 1 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C ‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course (GH) | 3 | General Education Course (GQ) ‡3 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GA) | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 130 or 110 and 111 *3 | 3-4 | SOC 1 or 5 * | 3 |
| MICRB 106 *† | 3 | STAT 200 or 250 *‡† | 3-4 |
| MICRB 107 *† | 1 | NURS 225 * | 3 |
| NURS 250 * | 2 | NURS 230 * | 4 |
| NURS 251 * | 3 | Integrative Studies Interdomain Course | 3 |
| Elective | 2-3 | ||
| 14-16 | 16-17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| NURS 305 * | 3 | NURS 200W * | 3 |
| NURS 301 * | 4 | NURS 302 * | 1 |
| NURS 310 * | 3 | NURS 306 * | 3 |
| NURS 350 * | 2 | NURS 320 * | 3 |
| Integrative Studies Interdomain Course | 3 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D ‡ | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| NURS 405A * | 4 | NURS 450B * | 3 |
| NURS 450A * | 2 | NURS 405B * | 4 |
| NURS 415 * | 4 | NURS 420 * | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | NURS 480 * | 2 |
| NURS 400-level Supporting Course * | 3 | ||
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 123-126 | |||
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
BIOL 161 , BIOL 162 , and BIOL 163 are Entrance-to-Major courses for students not directly admitted to the Nursing program who are applying for admission to the Commonwealth Campus Nursing programs through the Review Process.
Alternative First Year Seminar courses can be petitioned to fulfill this requirement.
MATH 21 is a prerequisite for CHEM 130 . MATH 22 is a prerequisite for CHEM 110 . If a student places higher than MATH 21 on the ALEKS Assessment Exam, any GQ may be scheduled.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H / CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T / CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15 / ENGL 30H and CAS 100A / CAS 100B / CAS 100C . Each course is 3 credits.
Program Notes:
Advising Notes:
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 161 *†1 | 3 | BIOL 163 *†1 | 3 |
| BIOL 162 *† | 1 | BIOL 164 *†1 | 1 |
| ENGL 15 or 30H ‡ | 3 | HDFS 129 *† 1 | 3 |
| PSYCH 100 *† 1 | 3 | NUTR 251 *† 1 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GH) 1 | 3 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C ‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course (GA) 1 | 3 | General Education Course (GQ) ‡ 1,2 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 130 or 110 and 111 *2 | 3-4 | SOC 1 or 5 * | 3 |
| MICRB 106 *† 1 | 3 | STAT 200 or 250 *‡† 1 | 3-4 |
| MICRB 107 *† | 1 | NURS 251 or 352 * | 3 |
| NURS 390 * 3 | 3 | NURS Supporting Course * | 3 |
| NURS 357 * | 3 | Integrative Studies Interdomain Course | 3 |
| Elective | 2-3 | ||
| 15-17 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| NURS 417 * | 4 | NURS 200W * | 3 |
| Integrative Studies Interdomain Course | 3 | NURS 465 * | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D ‡ | 3 |
| 10 | 9 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| NURS 475 * 4 | 3 | NURS 475 *4 | 3 |
| NURS 400-level Supporting Course * | 3 | ||
| NURS 400-level Supporting Course * | 3 | ||
| 9 | 3 | ||
| Total Credits 93-96 | |||
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must take 6 credits of Integrative Studies courses (Inter-Domain or Linked courses). Students should consult with their academic adviser to select appropriate courses.
MATH 21 is a prerequisite for CHEM 130 . MATH 22 is a prerequisite for CHEM 110 . If a student places higher than MATH 21 on the ALEKS Assessment Exam, any GQ may be scheduled.
NURS 390 should be the first NURS course taken in the R.N. to B.S.N. option.
NURS 475 should be the final NURS course taken in the R.N. to B.S.N. option.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H / CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T / CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15 / ENGL 30H and CAS 100A / CAS 100B / CAS 100C . Each course is 3 credits.
Program Notes:
Advising Notes:
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURS 250 * | 2 | NURS 350 * | 2 | NURS 320 * | 3 |
| NURS 225 * | 3 | NURS 301 * | 4 | NURS 306 * | 3 |
| NURS 230 * | 4 | NURS 310 * | 3 | NURS 420 * | 4 |
| NURS 305 * | 3 | NURS 415 * | 4 | NURS 405B * | 4 |
| NURS 251 * | 3 | NURS 405A * | 4 | ||
| 15 | 17 | 14 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | ||||
| NURS 302 * | 1 | ||||
| NURS 450A * | 2 | ||||
| NURS 450B * | 3 | ||||
| NURS 480 * | 2 | ||||
| NURS 495 * | 3 | ||||
| NURS 200W * | 3 | ||||
| 14 | |||||
| Total Credits 60 | |||||
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
Additional Notes:
After earning a B.S.N. and successfully passing the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, Registered Nurses have the opportunity to enter into a stable and growing work force. Additionally, the Penn State B.S.N. degree creates a strong foundation for continuing into advanced nursing roles through a variety of graduate level nursing programs. The versatility of the B.S.N. degree provides graduates with the skills and background to pursue the career path that is right for them. Nurses have countless options to explore different specialties, advance into leadership roles, and continue with lifelong learning while providing high quality nursing care to their clients.
Demand for nurses continues to rise. The B.S.N. degree in Nursing is rapidly becoming the degree of choice for many healthcare facilities, rendering baccalaureate-educated nurses highly marketable. Graduates of the baccalaureate nursing program have a vast array of rewarding employment opportunities. Employment settings include:
A baccalaureate degree in nursing is typically required to pursue advanced degrees in nursing, which prepares the nurse for roles such as nurse educator, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse administrator, and nurse researcher. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State offers several advanced-degree options for B.S.N. educated nurses. On-campus options are available for nurses interested in research through the Ph.D. in Nursing or dual-title Ph.D. programs in Nursing & Bioethics or Nursing and Clinical & Translational Sciences (CTS). Several online options are offered to provide flexibility to working nurses across the country. These programs include M.S.N. degrees in Nurse Administration and Nurse Education and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree with options in leadership and nurse practitioner with options in Psych-Mental Health, Family/ Individual Across the Lifespan, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs are approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
655 K Street, NW
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202-887-6791 - Phone
202-887-8476 – Fax
https://www.aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation
Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.
NURSING MAJOR
Sheetz Family Health Center 106
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5114
skk6@psu.edu
NURSING MAJOR
1 Prischak
4205 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6105
behrend-science@psu.edu
NURSING MAJOR
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4220
mbm12@psu.edu
NURSING MAJOR
Olmsted Building W314
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6735
kqr1@psu.edu
NURSING MAJOR
104F Sci-Tech
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6205
cmb207@psu.edu
NURSING MAJOR
Classroom Building 101-E
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6061
mta133@psu.edu
NURSING MAJOR
4 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2656
jmm795@psu.edu
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING OFFICE
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING OFFICE
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu
