Nursing (BSN) Bachelor of Science Degree - Florida Campus

The curriculum requirements for applicants apply to start no later than the Summer I 2016 term.  A revised edition of the program can be found in the Addenda for individuals applying for Fall I 2016.  

Program Location
Miami Campus
Program Credits
122 Credits
Program Length
8 Semesters, 160 Instructional Weeks
Time to Complete
39 Months 

Program Description

The purpose of the BSN program is to prepare students to develop nursing competencies while building upon a liberal arts education that expands their world view of the global community.  This program focuses on the preparation of nurses who are life-long learners and critical thinkers, and upon completion of the program, will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing examination to become a Registered Nurse.

A total of 122 semester credits are required to earn the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN), including the completion of general education courses, lower and upper division didactic theory courses, and clinical experience.   Only general education courses will be offered in an online format, but will also be available in a face-to-face residential delivery format. 

 


 

BSN Curriculum - Florida Campus

General Education Requirements

General Education Structure

 

Foundational Studies
(Category A)

Collectively, courses within the following
foundational categories provide students
with the basic but essential college-level
academic knowledge and skills critical to
success in the programmatic core.

General Education
Course Number and Title
Credits
Prerequisite
General Education
Course(s)

A1. Written Communication

(6 Credits)

Develop knowledge and understanding of
creative, academic, and professional
written communication. Students develop
competency in written communication
through intense study and practical
application of basic and advanced
writing principles. 

 ENGL 140
3.0
None
ENGL 240
3.0
ENGL 140
A2. Oral Communication
(3 Credits)

Develop knowledge and understanding
of oral communication through research
and best practice. Students become
critical consumers of communication
through an examination and application
of ethos, pathos, logical fallacies,
audience analysis, culture and
communication, language choice,
nonverbal messages, effective listening,
and speech delivery. 
SPCH 142
3.0
None
A3. Critical Thinking
(3 Credits)

Develop and understanding, recognition,
and construction of critical thinking in
relation to written and spoken arguments.
Students develop and understanding of
how to differentiate and analyze critical
thinking, perception, cognitive development,
decision making, emotional intelligence,
deductive and inductive reasoning, and 
formal and informal logic.  
PHIL 341
3.0
None
A4. Quantitative Reasoning 
(6 Credits)
Develop quantitative reasoning by
understanding and applying
mathematical concepts beyond the level
of intermediate algebra and basic
quantitative literacy. Students further
enhance quantitative reasoning skills
through complex mathematical data
analysis and interpretation of data. 
MATH 108 
3.0
None
MATH 211
3.0
MATH 108
Distributive Studies
(Category B)

Refine and integrate knowledge and skills
gained within the foundation studies
category of the General Education
Program and expose students to a variety
of academic disciplines, while challenging
students to integrate and apply cultivated
knowledge to their chosen academic program 
     
B1. Social and Behavioral Sciences/
Cultural, Diversity, Tradition
(9 Credits)

Develop an understanding and appreciation
that human behaviors, society, and 

cultural diversity and tradition are
intricately interconnected. Emphasis is
placed on exploring and analyzing
problems and issues in these areas
and the relative impact in a variety
of historical and contemporary contexts.  
PSYC 160
3.0
None
PSYC 290
3.0
PSYC 160
HUM 370
3.0
None
B2. Life and Physical Sciences
(16 Credits)

Develop the knowledge and understanding
of concepts, theories, and principles that
form the foundation and organization of
living and non-living systems. Students will
gain an understanding and appreciation for
scientific and investigative methodologies,
while applying learned theory within
rigorous laboratory experiences.
ANAT 260
4.0
None
PHYS 261
4.0
ANAT 260
CHEM 280
4.0
ANAT 260, PHYS 261, MATH 108
MICR 290
4.0
ANAT 260, PHYS 261, CHEM 280
B3. General Education Capstone
(2 Credits)

The capstone seminar is a culminating
in-depth experience whereby students
formulate their integrated General Education
learning experiences into a final oral and
written research based project, which
comprehensively addresses a pressing issue
in health care and advances a proposed
defensible solution. The application of learned
methods, concepts, and theories into the
construction of this project serves as the
culminating summative evaluation of General
Education Program Learning Outcomes
achievement following completion of the
General Education courses. 
CAPS 400 
2.0
FYS 001 must be completed prior
to enrollment in CAPS 400;
CAPS 400 must be taken at WCU
and during the last term of
General Education prior to entering
the chosen academic core.
   Total 45.0
 
ANAT 260Human Anatomy

4.0 Semester Credits - 3.0 Credits Theory and 1.0 Credit Lab

CAPS 400General Education Capstone

2.0

CHEM 280Chemistry

4.0

ENGL 140Written Communication I

3.0

ENGL 240Written Communication II

3.0

FYS 001First Year Seminar

0.0

HUM 370Cultural Pluralism

3.0

MATH 108College Mathematics I

3.0

MATH 211Statistics

3.0

MICR 290General Microbiology

4.0

PHIL 341Critical Reasoning

3.0

PHYS 261Human Physiology

4.0

PSYC 160Psychology

3.0

PSYC 290Life Span Psychology

3.0

SPCH 142Oral Communication

3.0

Total Credit Hours:45.0

General Education within Area of Study

EPI 306Epidemiology in Public Health Practice

3.0

PATH 370Pathophysiology

3.0

PHIL 434Medical Ethics and Issues

3.0

Total Credit Hours:9.0

Core Nursing Courses

NURS 100Fundamentals of Nursing

3.0

NURS 101LFundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab

2.0

NURS 110Introduction to Professional Nursing

2.0

NURS 120Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing

3.0

NURS 121L-AIntroduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum

2.0

NURS 121L-BIntroduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum

1.0

NURS 180Pharmacology

3.0

NURS 190Physical Assessment

2.0

NURS 201Medical Surgical Nursing: Promoting Wellness in Older Adults

3.0

NURS 211LMedical Surgical Nursing: Promoting Wellness in Older Adults Practicum

3.0

NURS 222Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing: Promoting Wellness in the Mentally Ill Client

3.0

NURS 223LMental Health/Psychiatric Nursing: Promoting Wellness in the Mentally Ill Client Practicum

2.0

NURS 225Nutrition in Health and Disease

3.0

NURS 306Expanding Family and Community (OB)

2.0

NURS 307Developing Family and Community (Peds)

2.0

NURS 316L-AExpanding and Developing Family and Community Practicum (OB)

1.5

NURS 317L-AExpanding Family and Community Practicum (Peds)

1.5

NURS 340Public Health Nursing

3.0

NURS 342LPublic Health Nursing Practicum

2.0

NURS 350Research in Nursing

3.0

NURS 420Principles of Leadership and Management

3.0

NURS 431Disaster Management

2.0

NURS 440Issues and Trends in Nursing

3.0

NURS 480Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing: Promoting Wellness in the Critically Ill Client

3.0

NURS 481LAdvanced Medical Surgical Nursing: Promoting Wellness in the Critically Ill Client Practicum

3.0

NURS 491LIntegration of Nursing Practice

2.0

NURS 492Nursing Capstone

2.0

NURS 493Integration of Nursing Concepts

3.0

Total Credit Hours:68.0

Total Credit Hours: 122.0

Total Credit Hours: 122.0