BSN Transfer Student Prerequisites

For transfer into the BSN program:

• A minimum of 52 semester credit hours (78 quarter credit hours) accepted in transfer is required to begin the BSN program. 
• A minimum of 60 semester credit hours (90 quarter credit hours) is recommended for full financial aid eligibility as a Junior.
• Transfer courses may be taken online or in-person through an 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 BSN program.
• All prerequisite University Core Curriculum Requirements (see below) and BSN Foundation Requirements (see below) taken at other institutions require approval by the School of Nursing & Health Innovations. 
• The University of Portland reserves the right to determine transfer equivalency.
• 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:

All BSN transfer applicants must meet the requirements of the University of Portland's Core Curriculum 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 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.

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 Chemistry 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 (full series 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.

Additional Credit Requirements

Transfer students must have a minimum of 52 semester credit hours (78 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. Credit hours (e.g., writing, speech, science, foreign languages, social sciences) may be accepted to bring transfer students up to at least 52 semester credits after all other prerequisite courses are accepted. AP, IB, CLEP, and Dual Enrollment credits may also be accepted.