BSN in Nursing

Degree Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) curriculum encompasses general, foundational, and professional studies within a liberal arts education. Nursing knowledge is developmental in nature; each course is designed to build on knowledge and skills acquired in previous nursing and non-nursing courses.

The BSN program is offered in three pathways:

  1. Traditional BSN: A traditional four-year degree for freshmen and transfer students
  2. Accelerated BSN: An accelerated program for non-Nursing post-baccalaureate students
  3. RN-BSN: An online program for graduates of Associate Degree in Nursing programs with RN licensure

Traditional BSN

Pre-Nursing

The traditional program accepts new students to the Pre-Nursing program in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. As students approach completion of the Pre-Nursing coursework, they must formally apply to the clinical major. Admission is based on a competitive, space-available basis through a systematic and holistic review of each applicant. Admission to the clinical major may occur in the fall or spring. More information about the clinical application process can be found on the School of Nursing website.

Clinical Nursing

Upon admission to the clinical major, students must earn 60 additional credit hours to complete the degree. A semester plan for students beginning in a fall semester is listed below. The curriculum includes instructional learning in the classroom, simulation center, and clinical sites.

Accelerated BSN

Non-Nursing post-baccalaureate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply for this fast-paced fifteen-month program. The curriculum includes instructional learning in the classroom, simulation center, and clinical sites. Like the Traditional program, students are admitted on a competitive, space-available basis. The online program application opens in June, with a deadline of October 1. More information about the application and curriculum can be found on the School of Nursing website.

RN to BSN

This online program admits new students throughout the year to start courses in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Minimum admission requirements include a 2.5 GPA and an unencumbered RN licensure or evidence of eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) during the first semester of enrollment. More information on program prerequisites, semester plans, and how to apply can be found on the School of Nursing website.

Research and Simulation Opportunities

The school offers a diverse range of research projects that provide care to healthy and ill people of all ages. The Simulation Center is where students practice technical skills and learn technical skills in a simulated clinical setting.

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Major Program Requirements

The completion of all requirements for graduation is the responsibility of the student. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is granted to candidates who have satisfactorily completed all of the following requirements:

  • Successful completion of all general education, prerequisite, and clinical nursing courses
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • No more than 30 credits through independent study or extension courses
  • Minimum of 120 credit hours
  • Completion of all University graduation requirements, including University general education requirements

Requirements for Traditional BSN

Pre-Nursing Requirements
CHEM 1100Atoms and Molecules with Lab2-4
or CHEM 1000 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEM 1320 College Chemistry I
MICROB 2800Microbiology for Nursing and Health Professions4
or MICROB 3200 Medical Microbiology and Immunology
MATH 1050Quantitative Reasoning3
or MATH 1100 College Algebra
STAT 1200Introductory Statistical Reasoning (MP)3
or ESC_PS 4170 Introduction to Applied Statistics
HIST 1100Survey of American History to 18653
or HIST 1100H Survey of American History to 1865 - Honors
or HIST 1200 Survey of American History Since 1865
or HIST 1200H Survey of American History Since 1865 - Honors
or HIST 1400 American History
or POL_SC 1100 American Government
ENGLSH 1000Writing and Rhetoric3
PSYCH 1000General Psychology3
SOCIOL 1000Introduction to Sociology3
PHIL 1150Introductory Bioethics3
or PHIL 2440 Medical Ethics
Humanities/Fine Arts6
PTH_AS 2201
PTH_AS 2203
Human Anatomy Lecture
and Human Anatomy Laboratory
5
MPP 3202Elements of Physiology5
NURSE 3200Pathophysiology4
or NURSE 3200H Pathophysiology - Honors
NEP 2380Diet Therapy for Health Professionals3
PSYCH 2410Developmental Psychology3
or PSYCH 2410H Developmental Psychology - Honors
or H_D_FS 2400 Principles of Human Development
or H_D_FS 2400H Principles of Human Development - Honors
or H_D_FS 2400HW Principles of Human Development - Honors/Writing Intensive
or H_D_FS 2400W Principles of Human Development - Writing Intensive
NURSE 2200Foundations of Communication and Professionalism in Nursing 3
or NURSE 2200H Foundations of Communication and Professionalism in Nursing - Honors
Electives If needed to reach 60 credit requirement for clinical program application3
Clinical Nursing Requirements
NURSE 3000Health Care Resiliency1
NURSE 3280Fundamentals of Nursing 5
NURSE 3300Pharmacology and Nursing Implications4
NURSE 3370Health Assessment in Nursing4
or NURSE 3370H Health Assessment in Nursing - Honors
NURSE 3470Mental Health Nursing5
NURSE 3670Nursing of Adults I6
NURSE 3800Gerontological Nursing Care3
NURSE 3900Introduction to Research for Evidence Based Nursing Practice3
or NURSE 3900H Introduction to Research for Evidence Based Nursing Practice - Honors
NURSE 4210Nursing Ethics3
or NURSE 4210W Nursing Ethics - Writing Intensive
NURSE 4270Nursing of Children4
or NURSE 4270H Nursing of Children - Honors
NURSE 4300Nursing Issues/Leadership and Management3
or NURSE 4300H Nursing Issues/Leadership and Management - Honors
NURSE 4470Nursing of the Childbearing Family 4
NURSE 4770Nursing in Communities Clinical2
NURSE 4870Nursing of Adults II7
or NURSE 4870H Nursing of Adults II Honors
NURSE 4980Nursing in Communities3
or NURSE 4980W Nursing in Communities - Writing Intensive
or NURSE 4980H Nursing in Communities - Honors
or NURSE 4980HW Nursing in Communities - Honors/Writing Intensive
Electives If needed to reach 120 credit degree requirement3

Requirements for Accelerated BSN

NURSE 3280Fundamentals of Nursing 5
NURSE 3300Pharmacology and Nursing Implications4
NURSE 3370Health Assessment in Nursing4
NURSE 3470Mental Health Nursing5
NURSE 3670Nursing of Adults I6
NURSE 3800Gerontological Nursing Care3
NURSE 3900Introduction to Research for Evidence Based Nursing Practice3
NURSE 4210Nursing Ethics3
NURSE 4270Nursing of Children4
NURSE 4300Nursing Issues/Leadership and Management3
NURSE 4470Nursing of the Childbearing Family 4
NURSE 4770Nursing in Communities Clinical2
NURSE 4870Nursing of Adults II7
NURSE 4980WNursing in Communities - Writing Intensive3

Requirements for RN to BSN

NURSE 3080Introduction to Nursing Informatics3
NURSE 4110Role Transitions3
NURSE 4200Nursing Ethics and Law3
NURSE 4380Health Assessment and Pathophysiology3
NURSE 4400Nursing Leadership and Management3
NURSE 4930Evidence-Based Nursing Practice and Quality Improvement4
NURSE 4950WNursing Theory and Research - Writing Intensive3
NURSE 4970WNursing in Communities - Writing Intensive4

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study for the Traditional BSN. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available. Semester plans for the RN-BSN and Accelerated BSN can be found on the School of Nursing website.

Semester Plan-BSN Traditional

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM 1100, 1000, or 13203PTH_AS 2201
PTH_AS 2203
5
MICROB 28004ENGLSH 1000 or 1000H3
HIST 1100, 1100H, 1200, 1200H, or POL_SC 11003PSYCH 1000 or 1000H3
SOCIOL 1000 or 1000H3PHIL 1150 or 24403
MATH 1050 or 11003 
 16 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MPP 32025NURSE 3200 or 3200H4
PSYCH 2410, 2410H, H_D_FS 2400, or H_D_FS 2400W3-4NEP 23803
NURSE 2200 or 2200H3STAT 1200 or ESC_PS 41703
Humanities/Fine Art Course 3Humanities/Fine Arts Course3
 ElectiveIf needed to reach 60 credits3
 14-15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
NURSE 32805NURSE 34705
NURSE 33004NURSE 36706
NURSE 33704NURSE 38003
NURSE 39003
NURSE 30001 
 14 17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
NURSE 4210 or 4210W3NURSE 47702
NURSE 42704NURSE 4870 or 4870H7
NURSE 43003NURSE 49803
NURSE 44704ElectiveIf needed to reach 120 credit degree requirement3
 14 15
Total Credits: 120-121

NOTE: Curriculum subject to change.

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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