Below is a sample program of study for first-year BSN students. Course descriptions are available here.
Students interested in studying abroad should consult with their academic advisor, their program counselor, and the UP Studies Abroad office to understand the study abroad options and their impact on the BSN program of study. Note: The UP Studies Abroad program recommends a GPA of 3.0 or higher before going abroad but will consider applications from anyone with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.
Because nursing is a dynamic field, the nursing curriculum is subject to change at the School of Nursing & Health Innovations' discretion.
First Year
NRS 104: Nursing Professionalism and Practice (3 credits)
NRS 116: Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan I (3 credits)
BIO 205: Foundations of Biology (3 credits)
BIO 005: Foundations of Biology Workshop (0 credits)
BIO 359: Microbiology for Nurses (3 credits)
BIO 379: Microbiology Lab for Nurses (1 credit)
CORE 101: Anchor Seminar (1 credit)
ENG 112: Thinking Through Literature (3 credits)
PHL 150: Introductory Philosophy (3 credits)
THE 105: Engaging Ultimate Questions: Religion, Faith, and Ethics (3 credits)
One of the following courses:
One of the following courses:
One of the following courses:
TOTAL: 32 Credit Hours
(Optional electives or Study Abroad in First Year Summer)
Sophomore Year
NRS 216 Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan II (3 credits)
NRS 204 Foundations in Health Assessment (3 credits)
NRS 206 Professional Practice: Health Assessment (1 credit hour, 45 professional practice* lab hours)
NRS 207 Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Health Assessment (1 credit)
BIO 305 Anatomy and Physiology 1 (3 credits)
BIO 365 Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (1 credit)
BIO 306 Anatomy and Physiology 2 (3 credits)
BIO 366 Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (1 credit)
MTH 161 Elementary Statistics (3 credits)
PHL 220 Ethics (3 credits)
THE 3-- Any 300-level THE course (3 credits)
Exploration Level University Core Curriculum Course (3 credits)
One of the following courses:
TOTAL: 31 Credit Hours
(Optional electives or Study Abroad in Sophomore Summer)
Junior Year
NRS 302 Nursing Licensure Lab (1 credit)
NRS 325 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I (3 credits)
NRS 326 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II (3 credits)
NRS 316 Population Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
NRS 306 Professional Practice: Population Health and Wellness (4 credits, approx. 180 professional practice* hours)
NRS 307 Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Population Health and Wellness (3 credits)
NRS 317 Acute Illness Management Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
NRS 308 Professional Practice: Acute Illness Management (4 credits, approx. 180 professional practice* hours)
NRS 309 Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Acute Illness Management (3 credits)
THE 448X Theological Dimensions of Suffering and Death (3 credits)
TOTAL: 30 Credit Hours
(Optional electives or Study Abroad in Junior Summer)
Senior Year
NRS 400 Nursing Licensure Lab (1 credit)
NRS 440 Social Justice and Population Health (3 credits)
NRS 416 Chronic Illness Management Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
NRS 406 Professional Practice: Chronic Illness Management (4 credits, approx. 180 professional practice* hours)
NRS 407 Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Chronic Illness Management (3 credits)
NRS 460 Senior Practicum: Advancing the Culture of Health (3 credits)
NRS 408 Professional Practice: Senior Practicum (4 credits, approx. 180 professional practice* hours)
NRS 409 Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Senior Practicum (3 credits)
NRS 480 Life-long Learning (3 credits)
TOTAL: 27 Credit Hours
Total credit hours required for the BSN degree: 120
Approx. total professional practice* hours: 765
*Professional practice includes on-campus clinical experiences (e.g., lab, simulation) and off-campus clinical experiences (e.g., hospital, community, ambulatory care settings, focused learning activities).
The University of Portland’s BSN program meets the state educational requirements for Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska, Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Florida. The University of Portland has not determined whether the program meets the RN licensure requirements for other states, but can do so on a case by case basis. Please contact Stacey Boatright at boatrigh@up.edu if you have questions about a state not listed above.
University of Portland is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission for students to be eligible to seek licensure as a nurse technician in Washington State.