The College of Nursing encourages applications from qualified applicants of both sexes and from all cultural, racial, religious, ethnic, and age groups. The College of Nursing uses selective criteria for the admission of students. Limitations on enrollments are determined on the basis of availability of sufficient qualified faculty, laboratory and classroom facilities, and clinical teaching resources.

There are two sequences in the undergraduate program, one for qualified students with no previous preparation in nursing (non-licensed students), and one for registered nurses, who are graduates of diploma or associate degree nursing programs.

Please be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.

In order to be considered for full admission to the college, the applicant must:

1. Submit an application to USF by the appropriate deadline.
2. Submit a College of Nursing application and all supporting materials, including official transcripts, to the College by the appropriate deadline.
3. Complete, prior to enrollment, all state mandated common prerequisites with a grade of "C" or better (for non-licensed baccalaureate students only, completion by application deadline is advised). (See “Program of Study” below.)
4. The non-licensed program admission is highly selective.
5. Complete, prior to enrollment, all those Liberal Arts courses required for admission to the major (for non-licensed baccalaureate students only, completion by application deadline is advised). (See “Liberal Arts Requirements.”)
6. Complete all courses required for admission with not more than two (2) repeated courses and not more than one (1) repeat of any given course.
7. Complete the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) or equivalent and the writing and computation course requirements of 6A-10.30 (Gordon Rule).
8. Provide evidence of health insurance prior to enrollment.
9. Complete, prior to enrollment, the College of Nursing health form.
10. Provide evidence of current licensure in Florida if enrolling in the program as a registered nurse.

Nursing Advising

The College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs offers a comprehensive service for all College of Nursing degree programs and advice to non-majors who are interested in being admitted. The service includes Preview USF, Fantastic Friday, registration, academic advising, scholarships, graduation certification, mentorship programs, and referrals to other university and community-based services and career-related opportunities. However, the student must remember that he or she is ultimately responsible for meeting all graduation requirements.

The goals of the office of Student Affairs are to

• Help students develop their educational plans
• Help students select appropriate courses
• Help students interpret institutional requirements
• Facilitate total student development

Location/Phone(s): The Health Science Center for the College of Nursing (MDN) is located near Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and West Holly Drive on the Northwest corner of campus. The College office is in MDN, Room 1033, (813) 974-2191.

Advising Offices: To schedule an advising appoinment at a location where the College of Nursing offers courses call the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs, (813) 974-9305; (888) 974-9488.

Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The University and the College of Nursing work closely with the community colleges within the 10 county USF service area. The University's Liberal Arts requirements and College of Nursing's prerequisite/support courses may be completed through the A.A. degree at the community college. If a student wishes to transfer without an A.A. degree and has fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the student must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements. The A.A. degree satisfies admission requirements only if courses are carefully selected and include the required major prerequisite/support courses.

The College of Nursing requires certain courses within the Liberal Arts requirement for the natural, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics as listed under the heading "Liberal Arts Requirements." Students must complete the prerequisite courses listed below prior to being admitted to the upper-division major. Students who do not complete these prerequisites can be admitted to the University, but not to the upper-division major. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade.

• BSC X085C Human Anatomy & Physiology I or any Human Anatomy & Physiology I course, 3-4 semester hours
• BSC X086C Human Anatomy & Physiology II or any Human Anatomy & Physiology II course, 3-4 semester hours
• CHM XXXX Comprehensive General Chemistry (CHM 1032 or higher), 4-6 semester hours
• DEP X004 Human Growth & Development or any Human Growth & Development course, 3 semester hours
• HUN X201 Human Nutrition or any Human Nutrition course, 3 semester hours, OR NUR 1192
• MCB X010C Microbiology or Any Microbiology course, 4 semester hours
• PSY X012 Introduction to Psychology or any General Psychology course, 3 semester hours
• STA X014 Statistics or any Statistics course, 3 semester hours
• SYG X000 Introduction to Sociology or any Introduction to Sociology course, 3 semester hours

Liberal Arts Requirements

The College of Nursing requires certain courses within the Liberal Arts requirements for the natural, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics. Students must complete 60 semester hours of college-level work. Credit received on the basis of CLEP or Advanced Placement examinations or other appropriate procedures may be included to meet some of these requirements. For all students, the required 60 semester hours includes completion of the University of South Florida Liberal Arts requirements and may be satisfied by the completion of the following courses with the corresponding credit:

English	6
Math - Gordon Rule course	6
Algebra or Finite Math (preferred) (3)
Statistics (3)
Fine Arts	3
Natural Science	17-19
Chemistry (4)
Nutrition (3)
Microbiology (4)
Anatomy/Physiology (6-8)
Social Sciences	9
Life Cycle (3)
Psychology (3)
Sociology (3)
Historical Perspectives	6
African, Latin American, Middle Eastern, Asian Perspectives	3

3. Students with a Florida community college A.A. degree (other than in nursing) will be considered to have met all of the USF Liberal Arts requirements but also must meet specific college requirements (below).

4. Students must also meet the University requirement for foreign language.

Preliminary Coursework for Nursing Students

The student must: 1) earn a grade of "C" or better in each state mandated common prerequisite course, 2) repeat no course more than once, 3) repeat no more than two (2) courses. Courses taken at another institution will be evaluated individually on the basis of content. Students in Florida community colleges can obtain information about equivalent courses from their counselors or by contacting the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs (813-974-9305).

1. Mathematics/Quantitative Methods: completion of at least one course in mathematics that meets the Gordon Rule requirement and one course in statistics.

   Mathematics - one Gordon Rule course must be completed. College Algebra or Finite Math preferred. CLEP subject exams are acceptable.

   Statistics - one course in statistics must be completed with a grade of "C" or better: STA 2122 or any STA course

2. Natural Sciences: minimum of 16 semester credits (including anatomy, physiology, and microbiology). Each course (in “a” through “d” below) taken toward meeting the natural sciences requirement must have been completed with a grade of "C" or better. At least one course must include a laboratory or have a corequisite laboratory course.
   1. Chemistry - 4 semester credits. Courses should include content in 1) principles of chemistry, 2) structure of matter, 3) atomic and molecular structure, 4) states of matter, 5) chemical formulas and nomenclature, 6) solutions, 7) chemical kinetics and equilibrium, 8) theory and practice of quantitative analysis, 9) organic chemistry. *CHM 2030 (4 credits) or CHM 2045, 2045L can be met with CLEP. *Chemistry sequence for non-science majors.
   2. Microbiology - one course. MCB 2030C. The Regents examination in microbiology is acceptable for registered nurse students only.
   3. Anatomy and Physiology - 6 semester hours. The Regents examination in anatomy and physiology is acceptable for registered nurse students only.
   4. Nutrition - one course. HUN 2201. College of Nursing Challenge Examination or University of Florida correspondence course is acceptable.

3. Social Sciences: Each course taken toward meeting this requirement must have been completed with a "C" or better.

   Psychology and Sociology - one introductory course in each area. CLEP is acceptable. Must be completed with a "C" or better.

   Human Growth and Development (Life Span) - Must include birth through aging process to death. HUS 4020, DEP 4005 or DEP 3103 and GEY 3000. Must be completed with a "C" or better.

Students who enroll at USF in the lower division must meet the requirements for admission to the University and are advised by Academic Support and Achievement. These students may also wish to meet with a College of Nursing advisor. These students must also submit an application for admission to the College of Nursing for the upper division major.

Applicants for the major (the non-licensed sequence or the RN sequence) must submit applications to both the University and the College of Nursing by the appropriate deadline dates and complete the University’s Liberal Arts requirements and College of Nursing prerequisites/support courses. These can be completed on the Tampa campus by enrolling in the lower division, or at any community college, university, or college that offers equivalent courses prior to transfer to USF (see “Program of Study” information below).

Undergraduate Program Objectives

Upon Graduation, Graduates Will . . .

1. Use concepts, principles, theories, and models from the natural and social sciences; the arts and humanities; and the art and science of nursing to guide clinical practice.
2. Use critical thinking and clinical judgment as the basis for nursing practice in providing and coordinating care for individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan in health promotion, disease prevention, health restoration and rehabilitation.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the research process by integrating clinical data and research findings into nursing practice.
4. Interact with other health care professionals, clients and consumers as advocate, teacher, collaborator, communicator, manager, and professional leader to plan, provide, and evaluate essential health services for culturally diverse and vulnerable populations.
5. Examine the impact of health care policy on the health care delivery system within a variety of settings.
6. Practice within the ethical/legal parameters of professional nursing.
7. Demonstrate the potential for leadership within the profession and health care delivery system.
8. Demonstrate accountable behavior in the professional nursing role.

CLEP Examinations

In accordance with University policies, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general and subject examinations may be taken in several areas and according to the University or community college policies related to CLEP. The CLEP general examinations apply toward the distribution requirements at USF, and successful performance results in credit for any or all of the required areas. In addition, credit may be earned for a number of College of Nursing support courses, including: English Composition ENC 1101, 1102; General Chemistry CHM 2030 or CHM 2045, 2045L. Additional information may be obtained from the Office of Evaluation and Testing, University of South Florida, (974-2741, SVC 2054).

Excelsior and College of Nursing Examinations

Successful completion of the following examination(s) can be used to fulfill course requirements as designated below:

• Registered nurses who are graduates of diploma programs may receive up to 26 semester general elective credits through successful completion of the Excelsior (formerly Regents) examinations in nursing.
• Registered nurses who are graduates of Florida associate degree programs will receive up to 26 semester upper level credits for their previous nursing education. Registered nurse students should contact the Office of Student Affairs for advisement prior to enrollment. Graduates of other associate degree nursing programs may receive up to 26 credits after individual evaluation of their transcripts.
• Registered nurse students may earn up to 6 semester credits and fulfill the college's requirement in anatomy and physiology through successful completion of the Excelsior examination in anatomy and physiology, and up to 3 credits in microbiology through successful completion of the Excelsior examination in microbiology. Excelsior examination information maybe obtained from the Office of Student Affairs, College of Nursing.

Degree Requirements

Students will be certified for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing upon completion of 124 semester hours composed of Liberal Arts requirements, science support courses (natural, social/behavioral), required nursing courses, and upper level electives or exit requirements.

A minimum grade of "C" or better must be attained in each course in the major and cumulative grade point ratio of 2.0 or better must be maintained throughout the program. At least 40 semester hours must be upper level work (courses numbered 3000 or above).

ASN/MS Program

Registered nurses with an ASN degree have the option of selecting the ASN to MS degree program. Support/prerequisite courses are the same as for the ASN to BS option. Admission is through the undergraduate program. Planning with a RN advisor will determine the nursing course requirements and progress through the program. The BS application process will be followed. Contact the Office of Student Affairs for further information (813-974-9305).