Sample Program of Study for First-Year BSN Students

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)
PHL 150 Introductory Philosophy (3 credits)
THE 105 Engaging Ultimate Questions: Religion, Faith, and Ethics (3 credits)

One of the following courses:

• PSY 101: Psychological Science (3 credits)
• ECN 120: Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
• ECN 121: Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
• POL 200: Introduction to United Stated Politics (3 credits)

One of the following courses:

• CST 225: Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others (3 credits)
• HST 210: Who is America: The Early U.S.* (3 credits)
• HST 211: Who is America: The Modern U.S.* (3 credits)
• HST 220: The Search for Justice in the Western Tradition* (3 credits)
• SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
• SW 101: Social Work and Social Justice (3 credits)

One of the following courses:

• HST 221: Modern Western Civilization* (3 credits)
• HST 251: Modern East Asia* (3 credits)
• HST 254: Colonial Latin America* (3 credits)
• HST 256: Modern Latin America* (3 credits)
• POL 203: Introduction to Political Theory (3 credits)
• POL 205: World Politics (3 credits)
• CHN 103 Beginning Chinese III (3 credits)
• FRN – Any course numbered 202-308 (3 credits)
• GRM – Any course numbered 201-308 (3 credits)
• SPN – Any course numbered 201-308 (3 credits)

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** hours)
NRS 026 NRS 206 Workshop (0 credit)
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 205 The Bible, Past and Present (3 credits)
Exploration Level University Core Curriculum Course (3 credits)
One of the following courses:

• FA 107: The Creative Process in Visual Art (3 credits)
• FA 108: The Creative Process in Performative Art (3 credits)
• FA 307: The Arts in Portland (3 credits)
• FA 310: The Fine Arts Through the Film Medium (3 credits)

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 348 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 Synthesis: Advancing the Culture of Health (3 credits)
NRS 408 Professional Practice: Senior Synthesis (4 credits, approx. 180 professional practice** hours)
NRS 409 Clinical Reasoning Seminar: Senior Synthesis (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

*All students must complete at least one 3-credit History course at either the Foundation or Exploration Level of the University Core Curriculum. This requirement may be fulfilled by HST 210, HST 211, or HST 220 (as part of the “Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and the Common Good” Foundation Level Core Habit), HST 221, HST 251, HST 254, or HST 256 (as part of the “Global and Historical Consciousness” Foundation Level Core Habit), or by a HST course at the Exploration Level.

**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, and Colorado. 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.