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School of Nursing

Portfolio Examination Process

The portfolio evaluation and challenge exam process is used to award up to 32 credits of the nursing major to graduates of associate degree and diploma nursing programs.

  1. The University of Kansas School of Nursing participates in the Kansas Articulation Plan (KAP). The faculty of the KU School of Nursing will award 25 credits for the Level I and II clinical nursing courses (listed below) to graduates of Kansas nursing programs. These nurses must have entered KU's RN to BSN program within five years of graduation from their initial nursing program.
  2. Nurses who graduated more than five years ago from a Kansas nursing program, or who have graduated from programs outside Kansas also may earn 25 credits for the Level I and II clinical courses. After admission, students submit the following materials to the School of Nursing: Request for portfolio evaluation, transcript(s) showing all nursing courses, descriptions for those nursing courses, and a detailed resume of your nursing experience.
  3. The nursing courses are evaluated by the RN Advisor and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
  4. The Office of Academic Affairs will collect fees and process the posting of credit to your student transcript.
  5. The fees for the awarding of credits based upon portfolio evaluation are $12.50 per course (approximately $125.00 total).

Courses Available for Portfolio Credit


Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 301 Techniques for Therapeutic Interventions I 1 cr.
NURS 302 Techniques for Therapeutic Interventions II 1 cr.
NURS 340/341 Foundations of Nursing & Health Promotion/Clinical 8 cr.
NURS 360/361 Mental Health Nursing / Clinical 5 cr.
NURS 365/366 Nursing of Adults / Clinical 5 cr.
NURS 375/376 Nursing of Children / Clinical 5 cr.
Total Credits Available for Portfolio 25 cr.

Challenge Exam Process


Nurses with experience relevant to Level III clinical courses (listed below) may seek to earn credit for these courses through challenge exams. There are eligibility criteria that nurses need to meet in order to receive approval to challenge. Nurses interested in this process should begin by meeting with the RN Advisor to discuss options. The challenge exam process is then coordinated through the Office of Academic Affairs.

NURS 420/421 Challenge Info - Nursing of the Client with Complex Acute Health Needs - RN COMPLETION STUDENTS ONLY

NURS 431 Challenge Info - Population Based Health Care - RN COMPLETION STUDENTS ONLY

NURS 440 Challenge Info - Leadership and Management in Nursing - RN COMPLETION STUDENTS ONLY


Level III Clinical Courses Available for Challenge Credit


Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 440 Leadership and Management in Nursing 3 cr.
NURS 420/421 Nursing of the Client w/ Complex Acute Needs Clinical 4.5 cr.
Total Level III Credits Available for Challenge Exam 7.5 cr.

Summary of BSN Program Requirements


Requirement Credits
Portfolio/Challenge Exam Credits 25 cr.
Level III Clinical Courses 13 cr.
Non-Clinical Courses 24-25 cr.
Total Credit Hours for Nursing Major: 62-63 cr.

Maximum portfolio/exam credits allowed toward degree: 32


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