BSN Transfer Student Prerequisites

For transfer into the BSN program:

• A minimum of 49 semester credit hours (73.5 quarter credit hours) accepted in transfer is required to begin the BSN program. 
• A minimum of 60 credit hours (90 quarter credit hours) is recommended for full financial aid eligibility as a Junior.
• Transfer courses may be taken at any accredited college or university.
• Transfer courses must be 100-level or above and graded C or above. Pass/No Pass is not accepted. Students may not audit a required prerequisite course.
• All prerequisites listed below must be completed prior to beginning the nursing program.
• The University of Portland reserves the right to determine transfer equivalency. 
• All prerequisite University Core Curriculum Requirements and BSN Foundation Requirements taken at other institutions require approval by the School of Nursing & Health Innovations. 
• Please see the Equivalency Guidelines for Local Colleges and Universities and email course descriptions and syllabi to Andrea Coughlan (coughlan@up.edu) if you need assistance determining if a course fulfills one of the requirements listed below.  

University Core Curriculum Requirements

All University of Portland students, regardless of major, progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.

Block Transfer Policy:

The simplest way to transfer to the BSN program is by qualifying for the Block Transfer policy. This allows for the University Core curriculum to be satisfied, ensuring that students can seamlessly join the BSN program and complete all coursework required for graduation in 5 semesters. After matriculating at University of Portland, all transfer students will need to take one final University Core class at the Exploration Level.

There are multiple paths to Block Transfer:

• Complete an associate degree designed for transfer:
  • Associate of Arts for Oregon Transfer (AAOT)
  • Washington Associate of Arts Direct Transfer (DTA)
  • California Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)
• Complete two years of coursework at a college or university with a liberal arts core curriculum.
• Complete a BA in a liberal arts discipline (not technical or occupational) with a strong general education foundation.
• Complete 60+ semester credits (90+ quarter credits) including at least 11 classes across a breadth of liberal arts disciplines which satisfy at least 4 out of the 6 University Core Habits.
• All Block Transfer students to the BSN must also satisfy the BSN Foundation Requirements (link)
• In all cases, transcripts must be evaluated by BSN Academic Advisor to determine if student qualifies for the Block Transfer policy.

Transfer students into the BSN program complete all Foundation Level University Core Curriculum Requirements as prerequisites for admission. The Foundation Level includes the following courses, which are organized around six “Habits of the Heart and Mind”:

• “Aesthetics & Creativity” Habit:
  • One course that has students analyze the way creative processes and artistic expression reflect and inform human experience. Introductory level theory, history, or appreciation courses in any artistic discipline satisfy this requirement, but studio art courses do not.
• “Diversity & The Common Good” Habit:
  • One course that has students engage in community and social issues with a sense of civic responsibility and shared commitment to human dignity, particularly in the context of the contemporary United States. Introductory ethnic studies, sociology, or social work courses will satisfy this requirement.

• “Global & Historical Consciousness” Habit:
  • One course that has students apply a comparative perspective to global issues, develop responsible global citizenship and stewardship, and demonstrate a historical and cultural consciousness. Examples U.S. history, global history, western civilization, or international political science.
• “Literacy & Dialogue” Habit:
  • Introductory Philosophy – One course taught from a historical perspective that has representation from the Ancient, Medieval, and Modern periods.
  • Literature – One writing-intensive literature course from the English department. One composition course that has a literature component will not fulfill this requirement.
• “Faith & Ethics” Habit:
  • Theology – Two courses:
    • One comparative religions course that covers both Eastern and Western Religions. A course that only covers Eastern religions or only Western religions will not fulfill this requirement.
    • One Old and/or New Testament course that includes interpreting passages in scripture and writing a research paper. A course in Bible and Literature will not fulfill this requirement.
  • Ethics – One course in general ethics. The course should be primarily a moral theory course, not a course in applied ethics.
• “Science & Problem Solving” Habit:
  • One Foundations of Biology course (also satisfies BSN Foundation requirement)
  • One Statistics course (also satisfies BSN Foundation requirement)
  • One introductory level course in economics, psychology, or political science that puts an emphasis on social science theory and methods.

BSN Foundation Requirements

• Statistics
  • One introductory level Statistics course (also satisfies University Core requirements)
• Introductory Chemistry
  • Either one year of high school Chemistry, or one college-level introductory course.
• Foundations of Biology (also satisfies University Core requirements)
  • Introductory principles of biology, including the nature of scientific inquiry, biochemistry, metabolism, protein structure and function, cell structure and function, and genetics. No lab component required.
• Anatomy and Physiology (one academic year of coursework with labs)
  • Focus on the structure and function of the human body including cells, tissues and organs of the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems.
  • Emphasis is on interrelationships among systems and regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis.
  • Must have been completed within 5 years of acceptance into the program.
• Microbiology with lab
  • Structure, physiology, and genetics of cellular microorganisms and viruses, discussed in relation to the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases including study of the immune system.
  • Laboratory investigation of microorganisms that affect human health, with an emphasis on proper handling of specimens, selective and differential cultivation, laboratory diagnosis, and evaluation of antimicrobial agents.
  • Must have been completed within five years of acceptance into the program.

Electives

Transfer students must have a minimum of 49 semester credit hours (73.5 quarter credit hours) accepted in transfer to begin the BSN program. Completion of at least 60 semester credits (90 quarter credits) is recommended for full financial aid eligibility as a Junior. Electives credits may be accepted to bring transfer students up to at least 49 semester credits after all other prerequisite courses are accepted. AP, IB, or CLEP credits may also be accepted.