Skip redundant pieces
School of Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing


The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is designed to prepare graduates for professional nursing practice in hospitals and other health care agencies. These graduates work in pediatric, medical/surgical, obstetrical, psychiatric or community health nursing settings. They are prepared for continuing their education through master’s and doctoral programs in nursing.

Prerequisites
Plan of Study
Graduation Requirements
Application and Admission Process
Inquiries and Applications
BSN Course Descriptions

Liberal Arts and Sciences Prerequisites

A total of 62 semester hours of credit from an accredited liberal arts college with a minimum grade-point average of 2.5 is required for admission to the School of Nursing. Admission is on a competitive basis. Each student must meet the freshman-sophomore requirements of the particular college attended in order to ensure the attainment of general education objectives. The following specific courses must be taken:

Humanities

  • English composition I
  • English composition II
  • Humanities (history, philosophy, or advanced literature)
  • Speech or communication

Social Sciences

  • General Psychology
  • General Sociology or Anthropology
  • Child Development

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

  • College Algebra
  • Statistics
  • General Biology with lab
  • General Microbiology with lab
  • General Chemistry with lab
  • Anatomy with lab (a combination course in anatomy and physiology with lab will meet the requirement)
  • Physiology
  • Nutrition

Electives can be chosen according to the student’s particular interests or needs. Examples of such elective areas of study are foreign language, philosophy, literature, creative writing, history, speech, physics, mathematics, political science, biological sciences and economics.

A maximum of 8 non-liberal arts semester credits will be accepted in the 62 hours required for admission. These 8 credits may be courses in physical education, activity, first-aid, health education, technique courses in art, music, and professional fields other than nursing.

Plan of Study

The professional portion of the program consists of 62 semester credits and is designed to be completed in two academic years of full-time study. This includes one required summer session taken between the junior and senior years. These courses are offered on the KU Medical Center campus.

Level I (Fall Semester I)

  • Techniques for Therapeutic Interventions I (1)
  • Information Technology for Health Professionals (1)
  • Alterations in Physiological Functioning I (3)
  • Foundations of Nursing and Health Promotion/Clinical (8)
  • Client Assessment (3)

Level II (Spring Semester I and Summer Session)

  • Techniques for Therapeutic Interventions II (1)
  • Alterations in Physiological Functioning II (2)
  • Pharmacology (3)
  • Mental Health Nursing/Clinical (5)
  • Nursing of Adults/Clinical (5)
  • Nursing of Children/Clinical (5)

Level III (Fall Semester II and Spring Semester II)

  • Nursing of the Client with Complex Acute Needs/Clinical (4.5)
  • Population Based Health Care/Clinical (3.5)
  • Legal/Ethical Foundations for Professional Nursing Practice* (3)
  • Leadership and Management in Nursing (3)
  • Health Care Issues and Professional Nursing Practice (2)
  • Nursing Research (2)
  • Professional Practicum (5)
  • Nursing Elective (2)

Course Descriptions

Graduation Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is granted by the University of Kansas to candidates who are recommended as having successfully fulfilled all prescribed requirements. A degree shall be granted to any student who has maintained the cumulative average of a least a "C" grade in all courses and a "C" grade in each course in the nursing major and who has completed at least the last 30 hours of credit in residence at the university. No more than one-fourth of the total number of semester hours applied toward graduation may be earned through a combination of challenge for credit, extension or correspondence courses. The bachelor of science in nursing requires successful completion of 124 semester credit hours.

Application and Admission Process

Admission Criteria
A primary responsibility of the University of Kansas School of Nursing is to offer an educational program of study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The school endeavors to fulfill its responsibilities to the changing needs of society by selecting applicants who, in the judgment of the Student Admission and Progression Committee, demonstrate the academic achievement, maturity, integrity and motivation necessary for the successful study and practice of nursing, and who will best meet the needs of the citizenry. In addition, the committee looks for applicants who will contribute academic, nonacademic and socioeconomic diversity to the class. The Committee is interested in evidence of capacity for mature and independent scholarship. One of the essential functions of a university is to help all individuals realize their potential. To this end, the University of Kansas Medical Center commits itself to:

  1. The elimination, in all University activities, of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual preference, irrelevant disability, national origin, age (as specified by law), and ancestry. Equal opportunity for employment, education and education-related activities shall be extended to all persons.
  2. The development and implementation of policies and programs designed to promote the full participation of these groups in the programs and activities of the University at all levels.

The Committee will consider the quality of work of each applicant in all areas, the breadth of education, achievement on advanced projects, or work experience, that demonstrates the applicant’s responsibility, initiative and ability to successfully complete the curriculum.

The Student Admission and Progression Committee considers all available information regarding each applicant. Information is gathered from written sources as well as all personal contacts with the applicant. The following areas are considered:

  1. college scholastic achievement,
  2. interest in and commitment to nursing,
  3. references,
  4. extra-curricular activities,
  5. personal characteristics, and
  6. health-related work/volunteer experiences.

Each applicant will be notified of the decision of the committee in March.

Application Deadline
Only one class is admitted each year. Classes begin in August. To have an application considered, it must be complete and in the Student Affairs Office of the School of Nursing.

The deadline for Fall 2008 has been extended until November 15, 2007.

Example: To be considered for the class beginning August 2005, the application must be submitted by October 15, 2004. In certain circumstances late applications can be accepted. Please contact the Office of Student Affairs for details.

Notice to Applicants
The completion of the application is the student’s responsibility. One checklist indicating those items missing will be sent to the applicant shortly after the October 15th deadline, at which time the applicant will have two weeks in which to submit the missing materials. Application materials may be submitted all together at one time or as each part is completed. The application and all items submitted in support of it become the property of the University of Kansas and cannot be returned.

Application Fee
A $50 application fee is required from each applicant. The application fee must accompany the application form. No action will be taken on the application until the fee is received. The application fee is non-refundable. Checks or money orders should be made out to The University of Kansas Medical Center. Please do not mail cash.

Tuition
For current tuition, go to the KUMC Registrar's office at http://www.kumc.edu/studentcenter/regenroll.html

Inquiries and Applications

Click here to request additional information or an application.

Or send inquiries for applications for admission to:

The University of Kansas School of Nursing
Office of Student Affairs
Mail Stop 2029
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, Kansas 66160

toll-free: 1-888-588-1619
913-588-1619
TDD 1-888-766-3777
E-mail: soninfo@kumc.edu