Major Requirements — Nursing

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Nursing, B.S.N.
Nursing, R.N. to B.S.N. Degree Completion
Program Accreditation

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

2009-2011 Four-Year Plan

Nursing is both an art and a science. Nursing is a therapeutic, helping relationship devoted to promoting, restoring and maintaining the health of individuals, families, groups and communities. The mission of the School of Nursing is to provide professional education for human services using a curriculum that is socially relevant and reflects the diverse needs of the community. Five themes serve to provide recurrent foci throughout the program: caring, health, learning, commitment to human dignity and nursing.

The nursing faculty is committed to a collaborative learning environment for students. The nursing faculty seeks to accommodate the learning needs and professional aspirations of students with varied educational backgrounds. Aurora University offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, which may be taken full- or part-time. Following admission to the university, applicants are reviewed for acceptance to the School of Nursing.
NOTE: Additional information about the program and policies are contained in the current Aurora University Baccalaureate Nursing Student Handbook.

Admission Requirements for B.S.N. to R.N. Entry (Pre-licensure) Track Students Only:

  • Complete all B.S.N. core science courses, ENG1010, ENG1020 and MTH1100 Algebra or pass the math-competency exam. Science courses must have been completed within the past 10 years.
  • Complete all prerequisite courses before entry into the School of Nursing.
  • Earn a satisfactory score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).
  • Possess a grade-point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale at Aurora University or other accredited higher education institution.
  • An interview may be required at the discretion of the Admissions, Policies and Standards Committee.
  • Applicants who are graduates of foreign secondary schools where the primary language of instruction is not English or whose primary language is not English must obtain a composite score of at least 550 (or a 213-220 on the computer-based test) from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or ELS Level 109.

B.S.N. Core Prerequisites: 30-33 semester hours

BI01210 Biology of Cells (4)
BIO2280 Microbiology (4)
BIO2660 Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
BIO2670 Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
BI03050 Pathophysiology (3)
*CHM1200 Principles of Chemistry (4)
MTH1100 College Algebra (3) or successful completion of Mathematics Competency Requirement
MTH2320 General Statistics (3)
PSY3250 Lifespan Development (4)

NOTE: BI01210 and CHM1200 may be applied to meet general-education requirements in the area of Observation of the Natural World for graduation. All pre-licensure nursing students must complete the lower level general-education requirements before beginning their nursing classes.

Nursing Requirements: 60 semester hours

NUR3000 Introduction to Professional Nursing (3)
NUR3100 Principles of Nursing I (6)
NUR3110 Principles of Nursing II (6)
NUR3160 Pharmacological Concepts (4)
NUR3260 Health Assessment, Education and Promotion (4)
NUR3400 Behavioral Health Issues (5)
NUR4050 Nursing Research (3)
NUR4200 Nursing: A Global Community Outlook (5)
NUR4300 Medical Surgical Nursing I: Collaborative Practice in Health and Illness (7)
NUR4500 Nursing Care of the Family (7)
NUR4600 Leadership and Management (4)
NUR4800 Medical Surgical Nursing II: Collaborative Practice in Health and Illness (6)

R.N. to B.S.N. Degree Completion
The Aurora University School of Nursing welcomes the associate degree or diploma-prepared professional registered nurse who wishes to continue his or her education to earn a B.S.N. degree. We applaud your recognition of the need for additional education in today's complex health-care environment. We've made it even easier for working nurses to get their degree.

Coursework is designed to build on prior learning and provides some opportunities for accelerated, individualized study. Diploma and associate graduates are given 30 semester hours of credit for having an R.N. license. Our classes are scheduled in an eight-week format in the evening, allowing the busy professional to complete requirements in a reasonable amount of time. Courses meet on-site at various community hospitals and on-campus. The R.N. to B.S.N. completion track is designed to prepare nurses to step into leadership positions and command better salaries.

Admission Requirements for R.N. to B.S.N. Completion Track Students Only:

  • Apply for admission to Aurora University and submit official transcripts from all prior academic work.
  • Submit evidence of Illinois/Wisconsin R.N. license with completed application.
  • Be a recent graduate of an accredited School of Nursing or be an R.N. with clinical experience within the past five years. If not, complete a certified R.N. refresher course.
  • Credit for previous nursing education in preparation for the R.N. license is transferable according to the AU School of Nursing Articulation Policy, which is available from the School of Nursing office.
  • Possess a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale at Aurora University or other accredited higher education institution.

Requirements for R.N. to B.S.N. Completion Students: 43 semester hours (33 semester hours within the major)
R.N./B.S.N. completion students must take the listed course requirements as part of their degree-completion program. Diploma and associate graduates can receive 30 semester hours of credit for having an R.N. license.

BI03050 Pathophysiology (3)
NUR3030 Dimensions of Professional Practice (4)
NUR3090 Transcultural Nursing (4)
NUR3270 Health Assessment, Education and Promotion (5)
NUR4060 Nursing Research/RN (4)
NUR4210 Nursing: A Global Community Outlook/RN (6)
NUR4610 Leadership and Management/RN (6)
NUR4760 Ethical Decision Making/RN (4)
COM3500 Intercultural Communication (4)
MTH2320 General Statistics (3)

NOTE: The R.N./B.S.N. completion program is also offered at the George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.

Program Accreditation
Aurora University baccalaureate nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW
Suite 530
Washington DC
20036-1120
202-887-6791

Academic information on departmental Web sites reflects the university's most current curriculum. The print version of the catalog, which is also posted online, may differ from this information.


347 South Gladstone Avenue
Aurora, Illinois 60506-4892
630-892-6431
800-742-5281