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Courses | B.S. in Nursing

Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.

Prerequisites to the Program

Prior to admission into the clinical nursing program, pre-clinical nursing students must complete:

BIOS 254Human Anatomy4
BIOS 281Physiology4
BIOS 282Microbiology4
CHEM 107Introduction to Chemistry 13
CHEM 120Principles of Organic and Biochemistry 2,33
CHEM 121Principles of Organic and Biochemistry Lab 31
ENGL 100Studies in Critical Thinking and Writing with Studio 43
or ENGL 112 Studies in Critical Thinking and Writing
NURS 112Introduction to Professional Nursing1
PSYC 200Introduction to Psychology 53
Select three credits of an approved Communication course (see Dept for details) 63
Total Credits26-29
1

CHEM 107 is waived for students who meet the qualifications to enter CHEM 120, and they are required to complete 26 program prerequisite credits. See the current Placement Options for CHEM 120 for more information. 

2

Fulfills the Science Core Curriculum requirement.

3

CHEM 105 and CHEM 115 may be substituted for CHEM 120 and CHEM 121 upon advisor approval.

4

Fulfills 3 credits of the 6-credit English Core Curriculum requirement.

5

Fulfills the Behavioral Science Core Curriculum requirement.

6

Fulfills the Communication Core Curriculum requirement.

Curriculum Requirements

Acceptance into the clinical nursing program is required prior to taking the program courses below.

Program Prerequisites26-29
The Core Curriculum requirement for a foreign language for nursing majors is two years of the same high school language or four credits of a college language. Nursing majors meet the Core Curriculum requirement in mathematics within the major; they are exempt from the Core Curriculum requirement in literature; and they are required to take 3 credits of history.
Program Courses
NURS 204Essentials of Clinical Nursing Pharmacology2
NURS 209Nursing of the Patient/Family I - Theory4
NURS 212Nursing of the Patient/Family I - Clinical3
NURS 216Nursing of the Patient/Family II - Theory3
NURS 218Nursing of the Patient/Family II - Clinical2.5
NURS 219Nursing of the Patient/Family II - Nursing Application Lab0.5
NURS 306Nursing Assessment of the Patient - Theory2
NURS 307Nursing Assessment of the Patient - Clinical1
NURS 341Nursing of the Mental Health Patient/Family - Theory2
NURS 345Nursing of the Mental Health Patient/Family - Clinical1.5
NURS 347Introduction to Women's Health - Theory2
NURS 349Introduction to Women's Health - Clinical1.5
NURS 351Nursing of the Older Adult Patient/Family - Theory2
NURS 353Nursing of the Older Adult Patient/Family - Clinical1
NURS 355Pediatric Nursing - Theory2
NURS 357Pediatric Nursing - Clinical1.5
NURS 358Nursing of the Patient/Family III - Theory2
NURS 359Nursing of the Patient/Family III - Clinical2
NURS 441Introduction to Nursing Research3
NURS 442Applied Nursing Research1
NURS 450Leadership/Management in Nursing - Theory2
NURS 451Leadership/Management in Nursing: Transition to Practice - Clinical3
NURS 452Leadership/Management in Nursing: Elective Setting - Clinical 12
NURS 461Community and Public Health Nursing - Theory3
NURS 463Community and Public Health Nursing - Clinical3
NURS 465Practice Readiness Seminar and Application Lab1
Supporting Courses
MATH 210Introduction to Probability and Statistics 23
or MATH 318 Biostatistics
Select three credits from one of the following:3
INCS, ANTH, or SOCI 3
Select two or three credits from one of the following: 42-3
Critical Care Nursing - Theory 1
Health Education and Health Promotion
Kinesiology
Principles of Epidemiology
Community and Global Health
Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Psychology of Exercise and Health
Global Health Leadership
Exercise in Health and Disease
Health Policy and Ethics
Health Care Systems
Nutrition and Human Metabolism
Public Health Policy and Practice
Introduction to Psychopathology
Developmental Psychology: Lifespan
Sociology of Gender
Marriage and the Family
Unequal Justice: Race, Class, Gender and Crime
Sociology of Death and Dying
Ethnic and Minority Groups
Social Inequality: Race, Class and Gender
Sociology of Wealth and Poverty
Sociology of Disabilities
Sociology of Sexuality
Program Course Requirements: 61.5-62.5 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements 545-49
Total Credits132.5-140.5
1

NURS 367 (Critical Care Nursing - Theory) is available to be taken as elective with the option of having a Critical Care Clinical placement (based on space availability and faculty selection) in NURS 452.

2

MATH 210 or MATH 318 fulfills the Mathematics Core Curriculum requirement and must be taken prior to Semester 4 of clinical nursing program and NURS 441.

3

See department for approved options.

4

Or other Department approved upper division elective.

5

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Transfer/Challenge Policy

For transfer nursing students, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and other applicants with health profession backgrounds including Military Veterans into the Biola Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

General Policies

  1. Transfer Student Application Process
    Applicants must first be accepted into Biola University. It is recommended that the applicant meet with a nursing advisor at the time of university application. When the student has met the prerequisite requirements, a separate application and application fee must be made to the Department of Nursing. If the applicant is a RN or LVN, it is recommended that this be done concurrently with the application to the University. Contact the Department of Nursing for the program application. Priority consideration for placement in the clinical nursing program is given to current Biola students. To be considered for acceptance into the clinical nursing program, all applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

  2. Challenge Planning
    Applicants planning to challenge nursing courses must first be accepted by and fulfill all matriculation requirements of Biola University. All required non-nursing prerequisites as outline in the Standard Curriculum Chart for the nursing major should be completed before entering clinical nursing courses. Contact the Department of Nursing for the current curriculum chart. Transfer credit for non-nursing courses will be granted by the Registrar's Office as indicated in the University catalog.
    RNs desiring to challenge must submit a portfolio and review fee of $350. LVNs desiring to challenge must submit a portfolio and review fee of $350. Veterans desiring to challenge must submit a portfolio and review fee of $350. Placement of students and nursing course credit for prior education experience is based upon individual portfolio evaluation which will include the following:

    1. Current RN or LVN license in the USA (and in California prior to start of nursing clinicals).
    2. Nursing course content outlines/syllabi/course descriptions.
    3. Official transcript documenting graduation from a regionally-accredited nursing program.
    4. Two references:
      1. If the ADN or LVN program was completed in the last 5 years, one reference is required from a faculty member from the last year of nursing courses.
      2. If the applicant has been employed as an RN or LVN, a work recommendation from an immediate supervisor who has worked with the applicant for at least 6 months is required.
    5. Educational and work resume.
      Nursing courses for which the RN may receive credit include the following (approved courses are subject to change):

      Theory Clinical
      NURS 209/NURS 216/NURS 358 NURS 212/NURS 218/NURS 359
      NURS 204 N/A
      NURS 341 NURS 345
      NURS 347/NURS 355 NURS 349/NURS 357
      NURS 351 NURS 353

      Nursing courses for which the LVN may receive credit include NURS 209 and NURS 212.

  3. Minimum Degree Requirements
    All candidates will take a minimum of nine upper-division nursing courses. This will include NURS 300 (for 3 credits) in which the writing competency requirement will be met and which is designed to facilitate socialization into baccalaureate professional nursing. The credits of NURS 300 will be started during the first year following acceptance into the nursing program. The content and credits will vary with individual needs, depending upon prior education experiences and the number of credits transferred in. These initial credits must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in any other clinical nursing course.
    The minimum required courses will include:

NURS 300Professional Nursing Seminar1-3
NURS 441Introduction to Nursing Research3
NURS 442Applied Nursing Research1
NURS 450Leadership/Management in Nursing - Theory2
NURS 451Leadership/Management in Nursing: Transition to Practice - Clinical3
NURS 452Leadership/Management in Nursing: Elective Setting - Clinical2
NURS 461Community and Public Health Nursing - Theory3
NURS 463Community and Public Health Nursing - Clinical3
NURS 465Practice Readiness Seminar and Application Lab1
Total Credits19-21

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