Nursing, BSN
Penn Nursing combines the resources and opportunities of a large university with the intimacy and personal attention of a small college. Our traditional four-year BSN is a direct-entry program for graduating high school seniors.
At Penn Nursing, you will learn from a passionate faculty whose accomplishments are recognized worldwide. You will benefit from the academic opportunities of an Ivy League university while enjoying a fun and fulfilling campus life. You will gain clinical experience in some of the nation’s top hospitals, located just steps from your classrooms. And you will have the chance to participate in faculty-driven research, supported by state-of-the-art technology. Penn Nursing graduates are the leaders shaping the future of health care practice, policy, research, and education.
The nursing program integrates science, nursing, and liberal arts education to prepare future nurses with skills necessary for caring for diverse, complex patients, families and communities. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many educational opportunities at Penn that intersect with the four undergraduate schools. For traditional students, clinicals begin in the spring of your sophomore year, and students have experiences in primary care, acute care, women’s health, and mental health settings working with patients from newborns to older adults.
For more information: http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/admissions/undergraduate/Pages/default.aspx
Nursing, BSN Requirements
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Nursing Major Requirements | ||
| Writing Requirement | ||
| Select a Writing Intensive Course | 1 | |
| Language Requirement | ||
| Satisfy by exemption or if language proficiency completed in fewer than 2 semesters, use remaining course units as free electives | 2 | |
| Distribution by Sectors | ||
| The Planet & Our Climate | 1 | |
| Societies, Histories, and Traditions | 1 | |
| Global Arts, Letters, & Cultures | 1 | |
| Diversity, Universality, Justice, & Equity | 1 | |
| Exploration Course Requirement (1cu) - a course in any School within the University other than the School of Nursing, at any level for which the student is eligible and in any discipline | 1 | |
| Nursing Major Courses | ||
| Nursing Foundational Courses | ||
| NURS 1010 | The Nature of Nursing Practice | 0.5 |
| NURS 1020 | Situating the Practice of Nursing | 0.5 |
| NURS 1030 | Psychological and Social Diversity in Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Nursing Clinical Courses | ||
| NURS 2150 | Nursing of Women and Infants | 1.5 |
| NURS 2250 | Pediatric Nursing | 1.5 |
| NURS 2350 | Psychiatric, Behavioral, and Mental Health Nursing | 1.5 |
| NURS 2450 | Nursing of Young and Middle Aged Adults | 1.5 |
| NURS 2550 | Nursing of Older Adults | 1.5 |
| Select a Nursing Case Study from among NURS 3540-NURS 369 | 1 | |
| NURS 3820 | Public Health Nursing Care in Communities | 1.5 |
| NURS 3900 | Leadership in the Complex Healthcare System | 3 |
| Science Requirements | ||
| NURS 0061 | Biologically-Based Chemistry | 0.5 |
| NURS 0065 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 1 |
| NURS 0068 | Integrated Cell Biology and Microbiology with Recitation | 1 |
| NURS 1630 | Integrated Anatomy, Physiology, and Physical Assessment I | 2 |
| NURS 1640 | Integrated Human Anatomy, Physiology & Physical Assessment II | 2 |
| NURS 1650 | Integrated Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics | 2 |
| Non-Clinical Courses | ||
| Health Policy Requirement | ||
| NURS 3340 | Public Policy and the Nation's Health | 1 |
| or NURS 4000 | Advances In Health Systems Research And Analysis | |
| or NURS 5400 | Current Issues In Health and Social Policy | |
| NURS 2300 | Statistics for Research and Measurement | 1 |
| NURS 5470 | Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice | 1 |
| Ethics Requirement | ||
| NURS 3300 | Theoretical Foundations of Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| or PHIL 1342 | Bioethics | |
| or NURS 5250 | Ethical Aspects of Health and Technology | |
| or BIOE 4010 | Introduction to Bioethics | |
| or BIOE 4020 | Foundations of Bioethics | |
| NURS 3890 | Research/Inquiry-Based Service Residency | 0.5 |
| Total Course Units | 36 | |
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
The following sample Plan of Study is just one possibility for undergraduate study. This plan may not be compatible with several academic options you might choose (e.g., study abroad, submatriculation, dual degree, etc.). If you are interested in pursuing any of the special academic options available to you during the course of your undergraduate experience and want to know how this will alter your plan of study, please contact your faculty advisor and/or the Office of Student Services at 215-898-6687 or advisor@nursing.upenn.edu. Please note that all plans of study are subject to curricular change.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Course Units | |
| NURS 0061 | Biologically-Based Chemistry | 0.5 |
| NURS 0068 | Integrated Cell Biology and Microbiology with Recitation | 1 |
| NURS 1010 | The Nature of Nursing Practice | 0.5 |
| Critical Writing Requirement | 1 | |
| Language Requirement (or free elective if level II proficiency met) | 1 | |
| Course Units | 4.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 0065 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 1 |
| NURS 1630 | Integrated Anatomy, Physiology, and Physical Assessment I | 2 |
| NURS 1020 | Situating the Practice of Nursing | 0.5 |
| Sector Requirement (e.g. The Planet & Our Climate) 1 | 1 | |
| Language Requirement (or free elective if level II proficiency met) 2 | 1 | |
| Course Units | 5.50 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 1640 | Integrated Human Anatomy, Physiology & Physical Assessment II | 2 |
| NURS 1030 | Psychological and Social Diversity in Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Sector Requirement (e.g. Societies, Histories, & Traditions) | 1 | |
| Course Units | 4.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 1650 | Integrated Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics | 2 |
| NURS 2150 | Nursing of Women and Infants | 1.5 |
| Sector Requirement (e.g. Global Arts, Letters, & Cultures) | 1 | |
| Course Units | 4.50 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 2450 & NURS 2550 | Nursing of Young and Middle Aged Adults and Nursing of Older Adults | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Public Policy and the Nation's Health (or approved Health Policy course) 3 | ||
| Theoretical Foundations of Health Care Ethics (or approved Health Care Ethics course) 4 | ||
| NURS 2300 | Statistics for Research and Measurement | 1 |
| Course Units | 5.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 2350 & NURS 2250 | Psychiatric, Behavioral, and Mental Health Nursing and Pediatric Nursing | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
| Public Policy and the Nation's Health (or approved Health Policy course) | ||
| Theoretical Foundations of Health Care Ethics (or approved Health Care Ethics course) | ||
| NURS 5470 | Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice | 1 |
| Course Units | 5.00 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 3820 | Public Health Nursing Care in Communities | 1.5 |
| Select 1 course from NURS 3550-NURS 3680 | 1 | |
| Sector Requirement (e.g. Diversity, Universality, Justice, & Equity) | 1 | |
| Sector Requirement (e.g. Exploration Course) | 1 | |
| Course Units | 4.50 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 3900 | Leadership in the Complex Healthcare System | 3 |
| NURS 3890 | Research/Inquiry-Based Service Residency | 0.5 |
| Course Units | 3.50 | |
| Total Course Units | 36.00 | |
- 1
Sector requirements can be taken in any order. For more information on sector requirements, refer to the BSN Handbook.
- 2
Free electives and language requirement courses may be taken pass/fail. For more detailed information on pass/fail policies, refer to the Pass/Fail section in the BSN handbook.
The Nursing Case Study can be taken during the junior or senior year (following completion of NURS 1640 Integrated Human Anatomy, Physiology & Physical Assessment II). Only one course is required from the case study group.
Students must consult with an academic advisor prior to making revisions to the plan of study to ensure that the necessary curricular requirements are being met and to prevent delays in academic progression.
The following sample Plan of Study is just one possibility for second-degree students, and individual plans depend on what prerequisites students have fulfilled prior to matriculating at Penn. This plan may not be compatible with several academic options you might choose (e.g., submatriculation, study abroad, minors, etc.). If you are interested in pursuing any of the special academic options available to you during the course of your undergraduate experience and want to know how this will alter your plan of study, please contact your faculty advisor and/or the Office of Student Services at 215-898-6687 or advisor@nursing.upenn.edu. Please note that all plans of study are subject to curricular change.
BSN Plan of Study: Accelerated Fall Start
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Credit | ||
| Please note: This is an estimation of potential transfer credit and does not constitute final approval until all final transcripts are submitted, course completion and grades are verified, etc. | ||
| NURS 0061 | Biologically-Based Chemistry | .5 |
| NURS 0065 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 1 |
| NURS 0068 | Integrated Cell Biology and Microbiology with Recitation | 1 |
| NURS 1310 | Human Anatomy and Physiology - Part A | 1.5 |
| NURS 1320 | Human Anatomy and Physiology - Part B | 1.5 |
| NURS 2300 | Statistics for Research and Measurement | 1 |
| Liberal Arts Waiver | 8 | |
| First Year - Fall | ||
| NURS 1590 | Pathways to Practice | 1 |
| NURS 1600 | Physical Assessment | 1 |
| NURS 1650 | Integrated Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics | 2 |
| NURS 5470 | Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice | 1 |
| First Year - Spring | ||
| NURS 5400 | Current Issues In Health and Social Policy | 1 |
| NURS 1030 | Psychological and Social Diversity in Health and Wellness | 1 |
| NURS 2450 | Nursing of Young and Middle Aged Adults | 1.5 |
| NURS 2550 | Nursing of Older Adults | 1.5 |
| NURS 3300 | Theoretical Foundations of Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| First Year - Summer | ||
| NURS 2150 | Nursing of Women and Infants | 1.5 |
| NURS 2250 | Pediatric Nursing | 1.5 |
| NURS 2350 | Psychiatric, Behavioral, and Mental Health Nursing | 1.5 |
| Second Year - Fall | ||
| NURS 3820 | Public Health Nursing Care in Communities | 1.5 |
| NURS 3890 | Research/Inquiry-Based Service Residency | .5 |
| NURS 3900 | Leadership in the Complex Healthcare System | 3 |
| Case Study | 1 | |
| Total Course Units | 36 | |
- 1
There is some flexibility as to when these courses can be taken (fall vs. spring). Please consult with an advisor about your options and course offerings.
- 2
See the BSN Handbook for an approved list of courses.
Notes
- All plans of study are subject to curricular change. Students must consult with an academic advisor prior to making revisions to the plan of study to ensure that the necessary curricular requirements are being met and to prevent delays in academic progression.
- Clinical experiences may include evenings, weekends, and 12 hour shifts. Most clinical rotations are accessible by public transportation; however a car may be necessary for transportation to some clinical sites.
- Course work outside the School of Nursing is not permitted, with the exception of approved non-nursing courses for the Health Care Ethics and Health Policy requirements.