The School of Nursing offers a traditional curriculum in the baccalaureate program as well as the online R.N.-B.S. completion. Successful completion of curricular requirements results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Note that the applicant is responsible for seeking advice from the School of Nursing on courses taken prior to admission.
Program goal
The goal of the VCU School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is to prepare students with foundational competencies as nurse generalists for entry into professional nursing practice.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate competence to practice person-centered care across the lifespan and across the continuum of healthcare systems
- Integrate theories and concepts from liberal education and related disciplines into nursing practice
- Exhibit professionalism that reflects the inherent values fundamental to nursing
- Display effective interprofessional teamwork skills
- Demonstrate professional nursing practice grounded in the application of current evidence
- Utilize information technologies and processes related to patient care delivery
- Show competence in leadership, quality improvement and patient safety to provide quality health care
- Apply health promotion and disease prevention competencies at the individual and population levels
Other information
Our international and non-native English-speaking students bring different perspectives and new thinking to our nursing programs. To ensure that all incoming student are prepared for the school’s academic rigor, all international applicants and non-native English speaking applicants without a degree from a U.S. high school, college or university must provide additional information with their applications according to the English language proficiency guidelines on the program admission tab.
While an unrestricted R.N. license from a U.S. state or territory is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program, if a student plans to engage in research activities that require licensure, the student will need to obtain a license. The student will work with the faculty adviser to determine if a license is needed or to consider alternative methods for conducting the research. Students can consult with CGFNS International and the Virginia or relevant state or territory board of nursing for the steps needed to obtain an R.N. license.
A background check and drug screen are not required for admission but may be required by an agency/site in which the student is conducting research.
Admission requirements
To be considered for admission to the School of Nursing, applicants must:
- Be eligible for readmission or be in good standing at the last college or university attended
- Submit a completed application with all required materials to the School of Nursing
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 based on a scale of 4.0 on all college course work
- Present no grades lower than C- in all parts of anatomy, physiology and microbiology courses (Anatomy, physiology and microbiology courses must be taken within 10 years of starting the nursing program.)
- Present no grades lower than C- in any other prerequisite or collateral course
- Provide additional information with the application according to the English language proficiency guidelines for applicants who are international or non-native English speakers without a degree from a U.S. high school, college or university. (Additional information can be found on the VCU International Admissions website.)
- Complete the following prerequisites prior to starting the nursing program:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101 & BIOZ 101 | Biological Concepts and Biological Concepts Laboratory | 4 |
| or BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | |
| BIOL 205 | Basic Human Anatomy 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 217 | Principles of Nutrition | 3 |
PSYC 101  Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| SOCY 101 Play course video for Introduction to Sociology | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or ANTH 103 | Introduction to Anthropology | |
| UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II | 3 |
- Complete the following collateral requirements prior to beginning nursing courses:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209 | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 4-5 |
| or BIOL 303 & BIOZ 303 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| or STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Refer to the VCU Transfer Center website for equivalencies at other colleges and universities.
Applicants attending colleges or universities which offer anatomy and physiology as a combined two-semester course must complete the entire course sequence prior to enrolling in the School of Nursing. One semester of a combined anatomy and physiology course will not transfer, nor can one semester of a combined anatomy and physiology course be used in conjunction with a stand-alone anatomy or physiology course to fulfill this requirement. If taking stand-alone anatomy and physiology courses, human or comparative anatomy and human or animal physiology are accepted.
Note: Applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores.
Degree requirements for Nursing, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education 1 | 30 | |
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. 1 | ||
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| NURS 301 | Nursing Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 350 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 2 |
| NURS 380 | Applied Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 403 | Evidence-based Practice in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 408 | Ethics, Law and Public Policy: Application to Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 450 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I | 4 |
| NURS 451 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II | 4 |
| NURS 478 | Leadership and Management in Health Care: Theory and Application | 3 |
| NURS 484 | Entry Into the Nursing Profession | 3 |
| NURS 494 | Senior Synthesis | 5 |
| NURS 523 | Fundamental Nursing Concepts | 3 |
| NURS 524 | Applied Practice: Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Fundamental Nursing Concepts | 3 |
| NURS 535 | Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Concepts Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS 536 | Applied Practice: Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NURS 547 | Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS 548 | Applied Practice: Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 550 | Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS 551 | Applied Practice: Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| IPEC 501 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| IPEC 502 | Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 1 |
| IPEC 560 | Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults | 1 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| BIOL 101 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) 1 | 3 |
| or BIOL 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I | |
| BIOL 205 | Basic Human Anatomy 2 | 4 |
| BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209 | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| or BIOL 303 & BIOZ 303 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | |
| BIOL 217 | Principles of Nutrition | 3 |
| BIOZ 101 | Biological Concepts Laboratory | 1 |
| or BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | |
| PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| PSYC 101 Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| SOCY 101 Play course video for Introduction to Sociology | Introduction to Sociology (either satisfies BOK for social/behavioral sciences; SOCY 101 satisfies AOI for diversities in the human experience; ANTH 103 satifies AOI for global perspectives ) 1 | 3 |
| or ANTH 103 | Introduction to Anthropology | |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| or STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | |
| Electives | ||
| Select courses at 300-level or higher | 11-13 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
Some course work completed toward admission will also fulfill general education requirements. Admission to the program requires 24 credits.
Applicants attending colleges or universities which offer anatomy and physiology as a combined two-semester course must complete the entire course sequence prior to enrolling in the School of Nursing. One semester of a combined anatomy and physiology course will not transfer, nor can one semester of a combined anatomy and physiology course be used in conjunction with a stand-alone anatomy or physiology course to fulfill this requirement. If taking stand-alone anatomy and physiology courses, human or comparative anatomy and human or animal physiology are accepted.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 121.
Students who complete the requirements for this degree will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 & BIOZ 101 | Biological Concepts and Biological Concepts Laboratory (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 4 |
| PSYC 101 Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 4 |
| UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| BIOL 205 | Basic Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 217 | Principles of Nutrition | 3 |
| SOCY 101 Play course video for Introduction to Sociology or ANTH 103 | Introduction to Sociology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) or Introduction to Anthropology | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209 | Medical Microbiology or Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking (satisfies general education quantitative foundation) or Basic Practice of Statistics or Concepts of Statistics | 3 |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| NURS 350 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 2 |
| NURS 380 | Applied Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 450 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I | 4 |
| NURS 523 | Fundamental Nursing Concepts | 3 |
| NURS 524 | Applied Practice: Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Fundamental Nursing Concepts | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| IPEC 501 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| NURS 403 | Evidence-based Practice in Health Care | 3 |
| NURS 451 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II | 4 |
| NURS 535 | Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Concepts Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS 536 | Applied Practice: Population Health, Prevention, and Wellness Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| IPEC 502 | Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 1 |
| NURS 301 | Nursing Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 547 | Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS 548 | Applied Practice: Chronic Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| General education course or elective 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| NURS 408 | Ethics, Law and Public Policy: Application to Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 550 | Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| NURS 551 | Applied Practice: Acute Care Concepts Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Electives (300-level or higher) | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| IPEC 560 | Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults | 1 |
| NURS 478 | Leadership and Management in Health Care: Theory and Application | 3 |
| NURS 484 | Entry Into the Nursing Profession | 3 |
| NURS 494 | Senior Synthesis | 5 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 121 | |
Some general education categories will be met with admission requirements. Consult with an adviser to determine the remaining categories.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 121.