Nursing, B.S.N.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (B.S.N.) prepares professional practitioners in areas of health promotion and maintenance, illness care, and rehabilitation. The program has three options; two options (GNURS and SCND) prepare prelicensure students and one option (RNBSN) prepares post-licensure (RN) students. BSN majors will choose one of the three options.

After earning the BSN degree, prelicensure students are qualified to take the registered nurse examination for licensure (NCLEX) by the State Board of Nursing.

Graduates of BSN Program may qualify for admission to a graduate nursing program.

B.S.N. Nursing majors will choose one of the following options:

General Nursing Option (NURS GNURS)

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, Scranton, University Park

Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.

The General Nursing Option admits first year students directly to the major at seven Penn State campuses (University Park, Altoona, Erie, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, or Scranton) for Summer or Fall entry. Non-nursing students may not transfer or change major into the 4-year nursing program at University Park; however, students may apply through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process at the six other campuses offering the General Nursing Program.

Nursing students start and remain at the campus of admission all four years. University Park students spend one full academic year at Penn State Hershey Medical Center campus, which requires students to reside at the location.

Clinical experiences occur at clinical facilities within approximately a 50-mile radius of campus. Students must be 18 years of age by September of their second year in the nursing program in order to participate in the required nursing clinical experiences.

All transportation and expenses related to clinical are the responsibility of the student. Students must carry professional liability insurance, complete an annual health examination, criminal background (State and Federal) and child abuse history clearance and drug screening, maintain CPR certification, and adhere to any additional requirements of the clinical facilities. Students may need the use of a car.

RN to BSN Option (NURS RNBSN)

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Shenango, University Park, World Campus

Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.

The RN to BSN option admits registered nurse students directly to the major at four Penn State campuses (Abington, Shenango, University Park and World Campus). The University Park site is a blended program, which includes resident instruction and online nursing courses. The World Campus site is completely online.

For the RN to BSN option, a minimum of 120 credits is required.

Senate legislation 42-97 Credit by Portfolio Assessment enables students to receive credit for certain prescribed nursing courses based on their R.N. licensure which go toward the required minimum of 120 credits.

All transportation and expenses related to clinical are the responsibility of the student. Clinical requirements may include CPR certification, professional liability insurance, health examination including required vaccinations, drug screening, criminal background check (State and Federal) and child abuse history clearances. Students may need the use of a car.

Second Degree Option (NURS SCND)

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie*, Harrisburg

Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.

*Please note, the Second Degree option at the Erie campus will be available for Fall 2026 admits.

The SCND degree option admits students who have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline to the Nursing major through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process. Students must have met all prerequisite course requirements.

The SCND degree option is available at Penn State Altoona, Penn State Erie, and Penn State Harrisburg.

This option admits students who have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline to the Nursing major through a competitive Entrance to Major Review process. Students must have met all prerequisite course requirements.

Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.

Clinical experiences occur at facilities within approximately a 50-mile radius of the campus. Students must be 18 years of age by September of their second year in the nursing program in order to participate in the required nursing clinical experiences.

All transportation and expenses related to clinical are the responsibility of the student. Students must carry professional liability insurance; complete an annual health examination, criminal background (State and Federal) and child abuse history clearance and drug screening; maintain CPR certification; and adhere to any additional requirements of the clinical facilities. Students may need the use of a car.

What is Nursing?

Nurses serve on the front lines of the healthcare industry. They work in emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, inpatient facilities, schools, and private homes. As the cornerstone of the medical team, nurses assess and monitor patients’ body systems, symptoms, and vital signs; administer prescribed medications; and provide routine care, such as bathing, dressing, and wound care. Working closely with clients and their families, nurses are often the first to alert doctors of changes in the patient’s medical condition.

However, nursing is a profession that requires more than book knowledge and medical skills. Nurses must also act as compassionate caregivers, supportive advocates, and thorough educators to improve and preserve the health and quality of life of their patients. Nurses must be flexible, attentive and demonstrate strong critical thinking skills. They must be prepared to act quickly and competently to save lives.

You Might Like This Program If...

Do you love people and want to make a difference by helping people during some of the happiest, most challenging, and most vulnerable times of their lives? If so, Nursing may be the major for you! You may like this major if you enjoy learning about the human body and how it functions and heals. Nurses must be flexible, adaptable, patient, and have a strong work ethic. They work closely with clients and their families while providing respectful and compassionate healthcare. Nurses must demonstrate excellent critical thinking and communication skills. Students pursuing this degree should strive to be leaders in the healthcare field and exhibit professionalism and ethical integrity.

Direct Admission to the Major

Incoming first-year students who meet the program admission requirements are admitted directly into the major. Admission restrictions may apply for change-of-major and/or change-of-campus students.

For more information about the admission process for this major, please send a request to the college, campus, or program contact (listed in the Contact tab).

MORE INFORMATION ON ADMISSIONS TO NURSING

Retention Requirements

Nursing students are expected to maintain high academic, ethical, and integrity standards. The Nursing Progression Policy delineates the standards required of students admitted to the General Bachelor of Science in Nursing (GNURS) and the Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCND) pre-licensure (students without R.N. license) options of the undergraduate nursing program. Details of the Nursing Progression Policy are available in the student handbooks.

Academic Standards: Students who exceed the designated number of attempts will be dismissed from the nursing major. 

• Two attempts of any prerequisite course
• One attempt of any two different required NURS course
• Two attempts of the same required NURS course

Ethical Standards: Violations of the Nursing Student Ethical Behavior policy which is based on the Nursing Code of Ethics may result in dismissal from the nursing major. 

Academic Integrity Standards: Violations of  Penn State Academic Integrity Policy G-9 may result in dismissal from the nursing major. 

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in Nursing, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

21-31 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GHW courses; 9 credits of GN courses; 3-4 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses; 0-9 credits of GWS courses.

The Second or Additional Degree Option requires the completion of 60 credits of general education and prerequisite courses in the first degree program (prior to admission) and 60 credits of nursing courses completed after admission.

Requirements for the Major

Requirements for the Major must be completed prior to admission for students taking the Second Degree Option.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
BIOL 161	Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Lecture	3
BIOL 162	Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Laboratory	1
BIOL 163	Human Anatomy and Physiology II - Lecture	3
BIOL 164	Human Anatomy and Physiology II - Laboratory	1
HDFS 129	Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies	3
MICRB 106	Elementary Microbiology	3
MICRB 107	Elementary Microbiology Laboratory	1
NUTR 251	Introductory Principles of Nutrition	3
PSYCH 100	Introductory Psychology	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
CHEM 130	Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry	3-4
or CHEM 110 & CHEM 111	Chemical Principles I and Experimental Chemistry I
SOC 1	Introductory Sociology	3
or SOC 5	Social Problems
STAT 200	Elementary Statistics	3-4
or STAT 250	Introduction to Biostatistics
Requirements for the Option
Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better
Select an option		60-66

Requirements for the Option

General Nursing Option (66 credits)

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, Scranton, University Park

Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.

Due to restricted enrollment, the Nese College of Nursing assigns the semester in which students enroll in the following Prescribed Courses and all course prerequisites must be successfully completed.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
CAS 100	Effective Speech	3
ENGL 15	Rhetoric and Composition	3
NURS 200W	Principles of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice	3
NURS 225	Pathophysiology	3
NURS 230	Introduction to the Fundamentals of Nursing	4
NURS 250	Professional Role Dev I: Intro to Professional Issues in Nursing Practice and Nursing Informatics	2
NURS 251	Health Assessment	3
NURS 301	Nursing Care of the Adult Client Requiring Medical-Surgical Intervention	4
NURS 302	Clinical Judgement in Nursing	1
NURS 305	Introduction to Pharmacological Concepts	3
NURS 306	Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents	3
NURS 310	Therapeutic Nursing Care of the Older Adult Client in a Variety of Settings	3
NURS 320	Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Gynecological Client	3
NURS 350	Professional Role Development II: Ethics, Legal and Genetic Issues	2
NURS 405A	Nursing Care of the Adult Client with Complex Health Problems: Part A	4
NURS 405B	Nursing Care of the Adult Client with Complex Health Problems: Part B	4
NURS 415	Community and Family Health Nursing	4
NURS 420	Mental Health Nursing	4
NURS 450A	Professional Role Development III: Leadership and Management	2
NURS 450B	Professional Role Development III: Clinical Capstone	3
NURS 480	NCLEX Prep	2
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
ENGL 202A	Effective Writing: Writing in the Social Sciences
ENGL 202B	Effective Writing: Writing in the Humanities
ENGL 202C	Effective Writing: Technical Writing
ENGL 202D	Effective Writing: Business Writing

RN to BSN Option (61 credits)

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Shenango, University Park, World Campus

Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.

Second Degree Option (60 credits)

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Erie*, Harrisburg

Students start and remain at the campus of admission for the entire program.

*Please note, the Second Degree option at the Erie campus will be available for Fall 2026 admits.

Due to restricted enrollment, the Nese College of Nursing assigns the semester in which students enroll in the following Prescribed Courses and all course prerequisites must be successfully completed.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Altoona

Suzanne K. Kuhn, PhD, RN, CNE
Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
Sheetz Family Health Center 106
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5114
skk6@psu.edu

Academic Advising General Nursing:
Cathy Kozak
103E Sheetz Family Health Center
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5142
cek132@psu.edu

Academic Advising Second Degree:
Ryan Costanzo, Ph.D.
103D Sheetz Family Health Center
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5000
rdc5355@psu.edu

Erie

Kimberly Streiff, D.Ed., MSN, CRNP, FNP-C
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
139 Otto Behrend Science
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-7583
kws5659@psu.edu

Fayette

Melissa Miner, DNP, RN, CNE
Associate Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4220
mbm12@psu.edu

Harrisburg

Lisa A Albert, Ed.D., MSN, RN, CSN
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building W314
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6514
laa126@psu.edu

Academic Advising Second Degree:
Ronda Stump
W305 Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6511
rfg2@psu.edu

Mont Alto

Carranda Barkdoll, DNP, RN, CRNP
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
104F Sci-Tech
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6205
cmb207@psu.edu

Schuylkill

Marianne Adam, PhD, RN, FNP, CNE
Associate Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
Classroom Building 101-E
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6061
mta133@psu.edu

Scranton

Justina Malinak, DNP, MSN, RN
Assistant Teaching Professor
Nursing Program Coordinator
9 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2656
jmm795@psu.edu

University Park

Student Success Center
Undergraduate Advising
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu

World Campus

Student Success Center
Undergraduate Advising
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2025-26 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

General Nursing Option: Nursing, B.S.N. at University Park, Altoona, Erie, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, and Scranton Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

BIOL 161, BIOL 162, BIOL 163, and BIOL 164 are Entrance-to-Major courses for students not directly admitted to the Nursing program who are applying for admission to the Commonwealth Campus Nursing programs through the Review Process.

²

Alternative First Year Seminar courses can be petitioned to fulfill this requirement.

³

MATH 21 is a prerequisite for CHEM 130. MATH 22 is a prerequisite for CHEM 110. If a student places higher than MATH 21 on the ALEKS Assessment Exam, any GQ may be scheduled.

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Program Notes:

• Third and fourth years include 6-12 hours of clinical experience per week. Students studying at UP will spend one (either third or fourth year, selected through a modified lottery) year or two years (years three and four) in residence at Hershey Medical Center (HMC). Otherwise, students at all campuses will attend clinicals within 50 miles of their campus location.

Advising Notes:

• GWS, GHW, GQ, GN, GA, GH, and GS are attributes used to identify General Education requirements.
• All NURS courses define “C” as 75% or higher. See course syllabi for grade equivalents in other courses. See additional notes below.
  • See Nese College of Nursing Grading Scale and Academic Progression Policy in the B.S.N. Nursing Handbook at: https://www.nursing.psu.edu/student-handbooks/.
    • Clarification of Academic Progression Policy: Each prerequisite requirement permits two attempts. For example, STAT 200 and STAT 250 are the same prerequisite requirement; CHEM 130 and CHEM 110/CHEM 111 are the same prerequisite requirement, etc.   
  • Most NURS courses, major requirements/prerequisites, GQ and GHW are all “C”-required courses. Elective courses, GA, GH, and the NURS 100 FYS course are not “C”-required.
• Students should consult with their academic adviser to select appropriate courses. Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must complete 6 credits of Integrative Studies (Inter-Domain, e.g., “dual-domain”) courses. Inter-Domain courses are designated with suffixes N (Inter-Domain) or Q (Honors Inter-Domain).
• In addition, students must complete at least 3 credits each of single-domain General Education Arts (GA) and General Education Humanities (GH) outside of Integrative studies.  Effective Summer 2018+.
• BIOL 161 and BIOL 163 must be passed with a quality grade of “C” or better to progress to 2xx-level nursing courses.  All 2xx clinical courses must be passed with a “C” or higher to progress to 3xx clinical courses, and all 3xx clinical courses must be passed with a “C” or higher to progress to 4xx clinical courses. Students who are unsuccessful in one or more courses will fall out of sequence and receive an individualized plan of study.  
• Scheduling Patterns: NURS courses are offered only in the semester indicated with the following exceptions:  NURS 200W is generally offered spring only, but an Honors section is offered in fall semester which is sometimes opened to non-Schreyer students to fill. NURS 415 and NURS 420 may be taken in fall OR spring of fourth year.
• MATH 21 (or an ALEKS score of 30+) is a prerequisite for CHEM 130. MATH 22 (or an ALEKS score of 46+) is a prerequisite for CHEM 110. If a student places higher than MATH 22 (score of 61+) on the ALEKS Assessment, any GQ may be scheduled. Students who complete Calculus in high school receive an ALEKS of 101 and may schedule any GQ.
• “US, IL”, and “US; IL” are attributes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements. These University requirements are integrated into the Nursing curriculum (NURS 250 and NURS 415) and do not require additional courses to be taken.

RN to BSN Option: Nursing, B.S.N. at University Park, Abington, Shenango, and World Campus Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must take 6 credits of Integrative Studies courses (Inter-Domain or Linked courses). Students should consult with their academic adviser to select appropriate courses.

²

MATH 21 is a prerequisite for CHEM 130. MATH 22 is a prerequisite for CHEM 110. If a student places higher than MATH 21 on the ALEKS Assessment Exam, any GQ may be scheduled.

³

NURS 390 should be the first NURS course taken in the R.N. to B.S.N. option.

⁴

NURS 475 should be the final NURS course taken in the R.N. to B.S.N. option.

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Program Notes:

• Typically, students entering the RN BSN major have many General Education and/or major requirements completed through transfer credits from other institutions. Consult with an adviser to have transfer transcripts evaluated.

Advising Notes:

• GWS, GHW, GQ, GN, GA, GH, and GS are attributes used to identify General Education requirements.
• All NURS courses define “C” as 75% or higher. See course syllabi for grade equivalents in other courses. See additional notes below.
  • See the Nese College of Nursing Grading Scale and Academic Difficulty Policy in the RN to BSN Nursing Handbook at https://www.nursing.psu.edu/student-handbooks/.
  • All NURS courses, major requirements/prerequisites, GQ and GHW are all “C”-required courses.  Elective courses, GA, and GH are not “C”-required.
• Students should consult with their academic adviser to select appropriate courses. Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must complete 6 credits of Integrative Studies (Inter-Domain, e.g., “dual-domain”) courses. Inter-Domain courses are designated with suffixes N (Inter-Domain) or Q (Honors Inter-Domain). Alternatively, this requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing an Experiential Learning Assessment in NURS 390 or via Canvas. Effective Fall 2021+.
• In addition, students must complete at least 3 credits each of General Education Arts (GA) and General Education Humanities (GH) outside of Integrative Studies.  Effective Summer 2018+.
• MATH 21 (or an ALEKS score of 30+) is a prerequisite for CHEM 130.  MATH 22 (or an ALEKS score of 46+) is a prerequisite for CHEM 110. If a student places higher than MATH 22 (score of 61+) on the ALEKS Assessment, any GQ may be scheduled. Students who completed Calculus in high school receive an ALEKS of 101 and may schedule any GQ.
• “US, IL”, and “US; IL” are attributes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements. These University requirements are integrated into the Nursing curriculum (NURS 417) and do not require additional courses to be taken.
• Student’s adviser will submit Portfolio Credits to CSRS before completion of the student's final semester.
• 45 hours clinical component required in NURS 475. Clinical hours are completed via a health-related project or other activity approved by the course instructor.

Second Degree in Nursing Option: Nursing, B.S.N. at Altoona and Harrisburg Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

Additional Notes:

• All General Education and prerequisite courses are completed with the student’s first degree and prior to program admission.
• All courses require a quality grade of “C” or better. All NURS courses define “C” as 75% or higher.
  • See the Nese College of Nursing Grading Scale and Academic Progression Policy in the Second Degree B.S.N. Nursing Handbook at https://www.nursing.psu.edu/student-handbooks/.
  • The SCND curriculum is sequential and prescribed.  All 2xx clinical courses must be passed with a “C” or higher to progress to 3xx clinical courses, and all 3xx clinical courses must be passed with a “C” or higher to progress to 4xx clinical courses. Students who are unsuccessful in one or more courses will fall out of sequence and receive an individualized plan of study.  
• Course sequencing may vary by campus due to clinical site availability.
• “US, IL”, and “US; IL” are attributes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements. “W” is the attribute used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement. These University requirements are integrated into the Nursing curriculum (NURS 250, NURS 415, and NURS 200W) and do not require additional courses to be taken.
• NURS 495 Nursing Study in Specialized Setting: clinical immersion practicum for in-depth study and practice in a clinical specialty area of choice under a clinical preceptor. Students will work with a faculty member to identify the practicum site.

Career Paths

After earning a B.S.N. and successfully passing the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, Registered Nurses have the opportunity to enter into a stable and growing work force. Additionally, the Penn State B.S.N. degree creates a strong foundation for continuing into advanced nursing roles through a variety of graduate level nursing programs. The versatility of the B.S.N. degree provides graduates with the skills and background to pursue the career path that is right for them. Nurses have countless options to explore different specialties, advance into leadership roles, and continue with lifelong learning while providing high quality nursing care to their clients.

Careers

Demand for nurses continues to rise. The B.S.N. degree in Nursing is rapidly becoming the degree of choice for many healthcare facilities, rendering baccalaureate-educated nurses highly marketable. Graduates of the baccalaureate nursing program have a vast array of rewarding employment opportunities. Employment settings include:

• Trauma centers and community hospitals caring for the critically ill or injured
• Home health agencies providing medical care to homebound clients
• Rehabilitation and long-term care facilities
• Hospice agencies caring for people with terminal illnesses
• Schools or pediatric/neonatal units working with children and newborns
• Military bases
• Insurance agencies evaluating patient claims and teaching classes to insurance agents
• Travel and cruise ship nursing

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE NURSING, B.S.N. PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

A baccalaureate degree in nursing is typically required to pursue advanced degrees in nursing, which prepares the nurse for roles such as nurse educator, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse administrator, and nurse researcher. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State offers several advanced-degree options for B.S.N. educated nurses. On-campus options are available for nurses interested in research through the Ph.D. in Nursing or dual-title Ph.D. programs in Nursing & Bioethics or Nursing and Clinical & Translational Sciences (CTS). Several online options are offered to provide flexibility to working nurses across the country. These programs include M.S.N. degrees in Nurse Administration and Nurse Education and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree with options in leadership and nurse practitioner with options in Psych-Mental Health, Family/ Individual Across the Lifespan, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

• Student Nurses' Association of Pennsylvania (SNAPS)
• National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing
• Nursys®
• Nurse Licensure Compact

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
655 K Street, NW
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202-887-6791 - Phone
202-887-8476 – Fax
https://www.aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF NURSING

Professional Licensure/Certification

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

Contact

Altoona

NURSING MAJOR
Sheetz Family Health Center 106
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5114
skk6@psu.edu

https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/bachelors-degrees/nursing

Erie

NURSING MAJOR
1 Prischak
4205 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6105
behrend-science@psu.edu

https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-science

Fayette

NURSING MAJOR
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4220
mbm12@psu.edu

https://fayette.psu.edu/academics/baccalaureate/nursing

Harrisburg

NURSING MAJOR
Olmsted Building W314
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6735
hbw5100@psu.edu

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/behavioral-sciences-education/nursing-bsn

Mont Alto

NURSING MAJOR
104F Sci-Tech
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6205
cmb207@psu.edu

https://montalto.psu.edu/directory/baccalaureate-nursing-program

Schuylkill

NURSING MAJOR
Classroom Building 101-E
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6061
mta133@psu.edu

https://schuylkill.psu.edu/academics/bacc-degrees/nursing

Scranton

NURSING MAJOR
4 Library Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2656
jmm795@psu.edu

https://scranton.psu.edu/academics/degrees/bachelors/nursing-degree

University Park

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING OFFICE
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu

https://www.nursing.psu.edu/academic-advising/

World Campus

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING OFFICE
109 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2229
nursing@psu.edu

https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-rn-to-bsn-nursing-bachelor-of-science-degree