Nursing (ADN), Associate Degree

Program Location
Miami 
Program Credits
67 Credits
Program Length
4 Semesters,  80 Instructional Weeks
Time to Complete
20 Months

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1141.00

Associate degree nursing education provides the basic education necessary to become a registered nurse.  Graduates are eligible to sit for NCLEX-RN licensing examination and, if licensed, may practice in structured care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and offices.  Associate degree nursing education incorporates nursing knowledge, knowledge of key biological and social sciences, and study of the humanities.  The length of the program is 20 months and 67 total credits.

Description of Clinical requirements

  1. In the clinical setting, critical competencies include Therapeutic Nursing, Skills/Safety, the Nursing Process, Accountability and Responsibility, Communication and Collaboration, and Professional Growth and Development.The curriculum includes 14 semester credits of clinical course work totaling 630 hours of clinical practice.
  2. Students must pass both theory and the concurrent clinical with at least a 76 percent to progress to the next term.
  3. Clinical competencies are written that define and describe the level of competency for the beginning, intermediate and advanced level of nursing student.
  4. The curriculum offers a professive level of theoretical instruction and supervised clinical practice, which ranges from common to complex, and ensures coverage of critical concepts that directly reflect the mission, philosophy, and objectives of the nursing program.

ADN international MD transfer policy

West Coast University accepts a general education block transfer credit from any international institution that granted a Medical Doctor (MD) degree and is recognized by the country’s Ministry of Education or Department of Education. An MD international graduate has to complete at WCU FYS001 and prove English proficiency by providing one of the below listed requirements. If no proof of English proficiency is available, in addition to the WCU FYS001, international students must complete WCU ENGL140 with a grade of C or better.

 In order for the transfer of general education credits including English courses to be granted one has to:

  • Graduate with an MD degree from an international higher education institution that is recognized by the country’s Ministry of Education or Department of Education.
  • Complete an international transcript equivalency credential evaluation from one of the WCU approved professional evaluation agencies. This evaluation should include: the degree comparability, course by course evaluation, GPA, grade and credit conversion.
  • Pass the TEAS exam with a minimum score of 58.7 or composite score of 192.3 or higher.
  • Prove English proficiency. This is required by providing either one of the below listed:
  • TOEFL (minimum 500 PBT, 61IBT-paper based, internet based),
  • IELTS (minimum 6.0 on speaking and writing)
  • Pearson Test of English (minimum 44; or level 3,4 or 5 of PTE-general test)
  • Eiken English Proficiency exam (Minimum Pre-1 grade)
  • Exams identified within the Common European Framework of reference--Cambridge English: FCE -grade of C or better; or CEFR- B-2 level
  • TEAS exam, Reading and English & Language Usage scores to be above 47.6%
  • CLEP minimum score of 50 in College Composition or College Composition modular
  • Graduated with a grade C or better from an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, or college level English course taken at an accredited English-speaking post-secondary institution

The following listed courses will be transferred for international MD degree graduates:

 

Course Code

Course Title

Credits

ENGL 140

Written Communication I

3

ANAT 260

Human Anatomy

4

MATH 108

College Mathematics

3

PSYC160

Psychology

3

PHYS 261

Human Physiology

4

SPCH 142

Oral Communication

3

PSYC 290

Lifespan Psychology

3

MICR 290

Microbiology

4

 

 

ADN Curriculum

This curriculum applies to students matriculating or reentering after January 1, 2020.

General Education Requirements

All science courses must have been taken within the last five calendar years, unless the student possesses a degree or advanced degree in the specific field of study for which the student is seeking transfer credit.  Additional information regarding transfer credit is located in the university's catalog under Transfer Credit policy or below.  

 

Category and Requirements  WCU Course Requirements  Transferable / Options 
 A1 - First Year Seminar1  None  None

A2- Written
Communication 

(3 Semester Credits Minimum) 

*ENGL 140 (3):  Written Communication I

Any equivalent courses that meet the
General Education categorical requirements.

A3. Oral Communication

(2.5 Semester Credits
Minimum)

*SPCH 142 (3):  Oral Communication

Any equivalent courses that meet the
General Education categorical requirements.


A4. Quantitative 
Reasoning

(3 Semester Credits and 2 Courses Minimum)

MATH 108 (3):  College Mathematics I

Any equivalent courses that meet the
General Education categorical requirements.


B1– Social and Behavioral Sciences / Cultural
Diversity, Tradition

(6 Semester Credits Minimum)

*PSYC 160 (3):  Psychology

*PSYC 290 (3):  Life Span Psychology

Equivalent to PSYC 160

Equivalent to PSYC 290

Any equivalent courses that meet the
General Education categorical requirements.

B2. Life and Physical
Sciences

(12 Semester Credits and 2 Labs
Minimum)

ANAT 260 (4):  Human Anatomy

PHYS 261 (4):  Human Physiology

MICR 290 (4):  General Microbiology

Equivalent to ANAT 260

Equivalent to PHYS 261

Equivalent to MICR 290

A minimum of 27 credits is required for graduation. 

*As of April 2019, this course will be delivered online, asynchronously, through the institution's Learning Management System except where otherwise authorized by the Program Dean/Director.

1 The following courses are to be taken at WCU:  FYS 001

Core Nursing Courses

NURS 103Fundamentals of Nursing

3

NURS 104LFundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab

2

NURS 122Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing

3

NURS 123LIntroduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum

3

NURS 181Pharmacology

3

NURS 191Physical Assistant

2

NURS 208Medical Surgical Nursing Older Adult

3

NURS 223Mental Health/Older Adult Nursing

3

NURS 224LMedical Surgical & Mental Health Nursing Care of the Older Adult Practicum

3

NURS 308Expanding and Developing Family

4

NURS 318LExpanding and Developing Family Practicum

3

NURS 424Principles of Leadership and Management

2

NURS 482Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing

3

NURS 483LAdvanced Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum

3

NURS 484Capstone

0

Total Credit Hours:40.0
 

Program Credit Distribution

General Education Semester Credits 
27.0 
Core Nursing Courses 
40.0 
Total Program Semester Credits 
67.0 

 

ADN Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Undergraduate Tuition and Fees section.