Degree Requirements
Requirements for Bachelor of Science (B.S.N.) Completion
Progression in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Completion Program
- A cumulative GPA of 2.33 or better on a scale of 4.0 in courses
taken at Cardinal Stritch University is required for progression in the
nursing program.
- The attainment of a minimum grade of C+ is required in each nursing course.
- Failure to meet these progression criteria will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
Major Requirements
Number of credits for B.S.N. Completion: 128
A credit hour is generally equivalent to 50 minutes of classroom
study, 100 minutes of laboratory experience, or 150 minutes of
internship/clinical experience, or a combination of those, muliplied by
the number of weeks in the term.
A semester credit hour is equivalent to 750 minutes of classroom
contact plus appropriate outside preparation, 1500 minutes of supervised
laboratory plus appropriate outside preparation, 2250 minutes of
internship/clinical experience, or a combination of the those.
Caregiver Background Checks
Effective Oct. 1, 1998, the Caregiver Background Check and
Investigation Legislation (1997 Wisconsin Act 27) requires all persons
who provide care for others or who have access to people who receive
care to have a criminal background check. The goal of the law is to
protect children and adults who are being cared for by others. To be
compliant with this law and in cooperation with the clinical agencies
Cardinal Stritch University utilizes, the Ruth S. Coleman College of
Nursing requires nursing students in clinical courses to undergo a
background check. The criminal background check needs to be completed
prior to the start of NUR 420 or the first clinical course and will be
done at the time of registration.
A complete background check as prescribed under Wisconsin law includes:
- A completed self-disclosure Background Information Disclosure Form.
- An electronic status check of professional licenses and credentials through the Department of Regulation and Licensing.
- An electronic criminal history search from the Department of Justice.
- An electronic review of records kept by the Department of Health and
Family Services for any substantiated findings of abuse or neglect and
license restrictions or denials.
Based on the information obtained, additional research may include an
out-of -state criminal history search, a tribal courts criminal history
search, a check of relevant military records, and a check of county or
other local records.
Re-Admission to the Ruth S. Coleman College of Nursing
If students who have been enrolled in a nursing program withdraw from
the program or are unable to progress, they may seek re-admission by
applying to the Admissions, Progression and Retention Committee of the
Ruth S. Coleman College of Nursing. Procedure for readmission to the
University follows that described in the Stritch Student Handbook.
Policy for Transfer of Credit Following Enrollment
The expectation is that the nursing student will take all courses at
Cardinal Stritch University. Once the student has enrolled, credit
cannot be transferred to Stritch without prior permission obtained from
the registrar. In the event that a conflict in scheduling of required
courses occurs, the student may take a specific course at another
institution after being granted permission by the Registrar.
B.S.N. Completion Curriculum Design
Courses in the B.S.N. Completion program are taught in an accelerated
format. Courses are taught one course at a time throughout the year
with short breaks. The length of the program is dependent on the number
of credits (nursing and non-nursing) that the student transfers in; the
general length is two years.
Three credit hour courses meet for three and one-half hours each
evening for six weeks, plus three and one-half hours of structured study
team time per week. Each three to five person team arranges its own
study team time.
Four credit hour courses meet for three and one-half hours per week,
plus three and one-half hours of study team per week for eight weeks.
The clinical courses (NUR 420 and NUR 430) have extended hours and are
10-12 weeks in length.
BSN Completion Curriculum
I. College Core required support courses
A. History, Religious, Philosophical foundations
- REL 235 Religious/Ethical Principles for Health Sciences (3 cr.)
- Philosophy elective (PL 203 recommended) (3 cr.)
B. Foundations of Human Society
- PS 201 General Psychology (3 cr.)
- PS 202 Life-Span Human Development (3 cr.)
- Social Science/History elective (3 cr.)
C. Natural Science and Mathematics
- BL 111, 112 Anatomy and Physiology I, II (8 cr.)
- BL 202 Microbiology (3 cr.)
- MT 120 Applied Statistics (3 cr.)
D. Literature and Fine Arts
- Literature elective (3 cr.)
- Art/Music/Fine Arts elective (3 cr.)
E. Communication
- EN 101 Written Communication I (3 cr.)
- EN 102 Written Communication II (3 cr.)
- CA 108 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
- CA 210 Group Communication (3 cr.)
F. Arts and Sciences Electives (16 cr.)
II. Transfers:
Nursing credits earned at a regionally accredited institution of
higher education will be will be evaluated by the Registrar. The chair
of the B.S.N. Completion program will determine the applicability of
upper-level nursing courses for transfer into the B.S.N. Completion
program.
Upon successful completion of the B.S.N. Completion program at
Stritch, each student will be credited with 34 transfer credits in
recognition of their Associate Degree in Nursing.
III. Upper Level Nursing courses required:
- NUR 312 The Nurse in Today’s Society (4 cr.)
- NUR 316 Theories and Concepts in Nursing (3 cr.)
- NUR 326 Nursing Research (3 cr.)
- NUR 418 Intro. to Educational Resources in Nursing (3 cr.)
- NUR 420 Population – Focused Care (6 cr.)
- NUR 422 Trends and Issues in Contemporary Nursing (4 cr.)
- NUR 424 Leadership and Management in Professional Nursing (3 cr.)
- NUR 430 Professional Nursing Practicum (5 cr.)
The order of B.S.N. Completion courses is:
- CA 210 Group Communication (3 cr.) Six weeks
- REL 235 Religious/Ethical Principles for Health Sciences (3 cr.) Six weeks
- PL 203 Philosophy (3 cr.) Six weeks
- MT 120 Applied Statistics (3 cr.) Six weeks
- NUR 312 The Nurse in Today’s Society (4 cr.) Eight weeks
- NUR 326 Nursing Research (3 cr.) Six weeks
- NUR 316 Theories and Concepts in Nursing (3 cr.) Six weeks
- NUR 418 Introduction to Educational Resources in Nursing (3 cr.) Six weeks
- NUR 420 Population-Focused Care (6 cr.) 10 weeks
- NUR 424 Leadership and Management in Professional Nursing (3 cr.) Six weeks
- NUR 422 Trends and Issues in Contemporary Nursing (4 cr.) Eight weeks
- NUR 430 Professional Nursing Practicum (5 cr.) 10 weeks
- Remaining Support or Elective Courses