Nursing, B.S.N.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed for the student who is interested in becoming a professional registered nurse. The graduate is prepared as a generalist to meet the health care needs of diverse populations across the lifespan in an ever-changing, highly technical health care environment. The program is focused on an holistic health and wellness model and educates nurses in the skills of communication, coordination and cooperation with an interprofessional team of health care providers in a variety of settings. Teaching is enhanced by state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratories and interprofessional learning opportunities.

Students are able to complete a program of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in one of two tracks: the traditional, four-year track for students with no previous baccalaureate degree or the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) which is designed for individuals with a baccalaureate degree in other disciplines. All students meet the four program outcomes of scholarship, leadership, service and professional and personal development.

BSN Traditional Track

The four-year pre-licensure program requires 126 credits for graduation. Xavier’s core curriculum requirements complement the innovative nursing curriculum. This well-rounded approach to education enables students to develop critical thinking and communication skills - two qualities essential in today’s unpredictable and increasingly complex health care environment.

The BSN traditional track is a selective admission program. Go to: http://www.xavier.edu/undergraduate-admission/Admission-Process.cfm to review admission requirements specific to nursing.

Course Requirements

The 4 year BSN degree program requires undergraduate core curriculum courses, 62 credit hours of nursing courses, additional science courses, one additional math course and one additional social studies course. 120 credit hours are required for a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University but due to the additional requirements for nursing major, 126 credit hours are required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing..

B.S. in Nursing

This sample course sequence serves as a guideline for progress toward a degree. Seek guidance from your academic advisor.

Freshman Year

First Semester

BIOL 140 - Human A&P I for Allied Health ^1c
BIOL 141 - Hum A&P I Lab Allied Health ^1c
Second Language I ^c
SOCI 101 - Introduction to Sociology ^1c or SOCW 167 - Survey of Society Social Work
NURS 130 - Ways of Knowing+
THEO 111 - Theological Foundations or CORE 100 - First Year Seminar ^2c
CORE 101 - First Year Co-Curriculum Program I

Total (16)

Second Semester

BIOL 142 - Hum A&P II for Allied Health ^1c
BIOL 143 - Hum A&P II Lab Allied Health ^1c
Second Language II ^c
Mathematics Elective ² (Required for Nursing)
NURS 132 - Health and Culture I ⁺
THEO 111 - Theological Foundations ^2c or CORE 100 - First Year Seminar
CORE 102 - First Year Co-Curricular Program II

Total (16)

Sophomore Year

First Semester

CHEM 150 - Physiological Chemistry ¹⁺
CHEM 151 - Physiological Chemistry Lab ¹⁺
NURS 224 - Nurs Therapeutics I: Asmt
NURS 225 - Nurs Therapeutics I:Practicum
PHIL 100 - Ethics as Intro to Philosophy
ENGL 101 - English Composition^c or ENGL 115 - Rhetoric ^c

Total (16)

Second Semester

NURS 364 - Pathophysiology
BIOL 200 - Microbiology ¹
BIOL 201 - Microbiology Lab ¹
NURS 230 - Nurs Theapeutics II
NURS 231 - Nurs Therapeutics II Practicum
Historical Perspectives Elective ^c

Total (16)

Junior Year

First Semester

Theological Perspectives Elective ³
MATH 116 - Elementary Statistics ** or MATH 156 - General Statistics ** (Mathematical Perspectives Electives):^c
ENGL 205 - Literature & Moral Imagination ^c or CLAS 205 - Classical Lit & Moral Imagina ^c or SPAN 205 - Hispanic Lit & Moral Imagin^c
NURS 360 - Adults in Transitions
NURS 361 - Adult in Transitions Practicum

Total (17)

Second Semester

Philosophical Perspectives Elective ^c
PSYC 277 - Abnormal Psychology ^c
NURS 370 - Intro to Nursing Research (prereq Statistics)+
NURS 374 - Childrearing Families in Transition
NURS 375 - Childrearing Families in Transition Pracitcum
NURS 376 - Childbearing Families in Transition
NURS 377 - Childbearing Families in Transition Practicum

Total (17)

Senior Year

First Semester

Humanities Elective ^c
Nursing Elective
NURS 452 - Mental Health Nursing
NURS 451 - Mental Health Nursing Pract
NURS 470 - Community Health Nursing
NURS 471 - Community Health Nursing Pract

Total (14)

Second Semester

NURS 472 - Care of the Complex Client
NURS 473 - Care of Complex Client Practic
NURS 498 - Senior Seminar
Creative Perspectives Elective

Total (14)

Scheduling Notes:

¹ These courses must be taken in the semester indicated.
²These core courses must be taken freshman year
^C Meets university core requirement
+ In addition to the University core curriculum requirements, all students must satisfy the 5 flags. The 5 flags include: Diversity (NURS 132 fulfills), E/RS*, Oral Communication (NURS 130 fulfills), Quantitative Reasoning (CHEM 150, 151 fulfills), Writing (NURS 370 fulfills). *Nursing students may be able to fulfill the remaining E/RS flag by selecting a Theological Perspectives courses that is also approved as E/RS flag.
³ Nursing students should choose a course that fulfills the E/RS elective.
⁴ Humanities elective may be satisfied by 1 course from the following: All Classics except 205: ENGL 121+ except 205; FREN 300+, GERM 300+, HIST 200+, PHIL 300+, THEO 300+. Note: Humanities Elective may not double-count as an E/RS flag (though may be E/RS flagged course).
No Theology course may double-count for both Theological Perspectives and Humanities Elective.
Each practicum credit is equal to three (3) clock hours per week.
The nursing elective may also be taken any time after the completion of all 200 level nursing courses.

Progression Notes:

A minimum grade of “C” is required in all nursing courses and in science, math and social science courses.
A cumulative GPA of 2.700 is required to progress to sophomore level and must be maintained throughout the program.