This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2025-2026 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
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 students 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.
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 any prerequisite or collateral course (anatomy, physiology and microbiology courses must be taken within 10 years of starting the nursing program)
- 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 | 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 |
- Complete the following collateral requirements prior to beginning nursing courses:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209 | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 4-5 |
| or BIOL 303 & BIOZ 303 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | |
| PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| or STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | |
Prerequisites for second degree students
- Applicants who have completed a previous baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited college or university are required to complete only the following prerequisites prior to beginning nursing courses:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 205 | Basic Human Anatomy 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 217 | Principles of Nutrition | 3 |
| BIOL 209 & BIOZ 209 | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 4-5 |
| or BIOL 303 & BIOZ 303 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | |
| PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| or STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | |
Applicants attending colleges or universities which offer anatomy and physiology as a combined two-semester course must complete the entire course sequence prior to starting the nursing program. 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.
Refer to the VCU Transfer Center website for equivalencies at other colleges and universities.
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 | 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) | 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 satisfies AOI for global perspectives ) 1 | 3 |
| or ANTH 103 | Introduction to Anthropology | |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) 1 | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| or STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | |
| Electives | ||
| Select courses at 300-level or higher | 9 | |
| 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.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 or BIOL 151 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) or Introduction to Biological Sciences I | 3 |
| BIOZ 101 or BIOZ 151 | Biological Concepts Laboratory or Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 1 |
| 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 Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (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 (either satisfies BOK for social/behavioral sciences; SOCY 101 satisfies AOI for diversities in the human experience; ANTH 103 satisfies AOI for global perspectives ) 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 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 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 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Elective (300-level or higher) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| 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 |
| General education courses or electives 1 | 6 | |
| 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 |
| General education course or elective 1 | 3 | |
| Electives (300-level or higher) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| IPEC 560 | Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults | 1 |
| NURS 478 | Leadership and Management in Health Care | 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.