Lower Division (pre-nursing)
| Semester I - Fall | Semester II - Spring | ||
| ENGL 101 Critical Reading & Composition (CMW) | 3 | ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Composition (CMW) & (INF) | 3 |
| *CHEM 102 Fundamental Chemistry II (SCI) | 4 | NURS 208 Introductions to Nursing Informatics | 2 |
| *BIOL 243 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (SCI) | 3 | STAT 112 Statistics and the Media or CSCE 101 Introduction to Computer Concepts or CSCE 102 General Applications Programming (ARP) |
3 |
| *BIOL 243 L A&P I Lab (SCI) | 1 | PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (GSS) | 3 |
| *NURS 112 Introduction to Nursing Profession | 2 | *BIOL 244 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (SCI) | 3 |
| Elective #1 of MATH 111/MATH 111 (i) (based on placement exam or credit earned) Student Choice or Basic College Mathematics |
3-4 | *BIOL 244 L A&P II Lab (SCI) | 1 |
| SOCY 101 Introductory Sociology Nursing Requirement | 3 | ||
In order to enroll in NURS 216 students must earn a C or better grade in BIOL 243/L, BIOL 244/L, and Chem 102.
| Semester III - Fall Upper Division application consideration requires successful completion of designated (*) courses |
Semester IV - Spring | ||
| *BIOL 250 Microbiology (SCI) | 3 | NURS 220 Clinical Nutrition | 3 |
| *BIOL 250 L Microbiology Lab (SCI) | 1 | HISTORY (GHS) | 3 |
| PSYC 420 Survey of Developmental Psychology | 3 | FINE ART (AIU) | 3 |
| *NURS 216 Biophysical Pathology | 3 | BIOL 206 Genetics and Society Nursing Requirement | 3 |
| STAT 205 Elementary Statistics for the Biological and Life Sciences (ARP) | 3 | PHIL 213 Communicating Moral Issues (CMS) & (VSR) | 3 |
| FORL 109 (based on placement or earned credit) | 0-3 | Elective #2 or FORL 110 (based on placement or credit earned) | 3 |
Criteria to apply for upper division nursing
Admission to upper division is competitive and limited. The following criteria are used for admission consideration to upper division through a competitive selection process:
- A progression GPA (which consists of all designated (*) courses above) of 3.000 or
higher.
Institutional GPA of 3.000 or higher. - A grade of “C” or better is required in all designated (*) courses by the end of the term in which application is made to upper division.
- A completed Parallel Plan on file with your nursing advisor by the application deadline.
- Completion of all designated (*) general education and pre-nursing lower division courses by the end of the term in which application is made to upper division.
- An application must be submitted by the application deadline.
- Completion of interview process by the application deadline.
Upper Division
| Semester V | Semester VI | ||
| NURS 311 Intro to Health Assessment | 3 | NURS 400 Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 312 Foundations of Nursing Practice | 5 | NURS 412 Acute Care in Nursing of Adults I | 5 |
| NURS 313 Nursing Care of the Older Adult | 3 | NURS 413 Intradisciplinary Communication and Skills Development | 4 |
| NURS 314 Clinical Reasoning in Nursing Practice | 2 | NURS 426 Concepts of Pediatric and Reproductive Health | 4 |
| NURS 324 Chemical Therapeutics | 3 | ||
| Semester VII | Semester VIII | ||
| NURS 422 Acute Care in Nursing of Adults II | 5 | NURS 428 Nursing Leadership & Management | 4 |
| NURS 411 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing | 4 | NURS 435 Senior Nursing Capstone Practicum | 8 |
| NURS 431 Population Health Nursing | 4 | A minimum of 120 is required for degree completion | |
| NURS 427 Intradisciplinary Coordination and Skills Management | |||
Retention and Progression in the USC Nursing Major
Admission to the baccalaureate degree in nursing major does not guarantee admission to the upper division. The average competitive applicant for the past 2023-2024 admission cycle for an admitted upper division student included a progression GPA of 3.780. Interested applicants must retain consistently competitive grades in progression courses to increase chances of admission into upper division.
Students who are not accepted into the upper division should speak with USC Exploratory Advising if interested in another major. If a student chooses to reapply to upper division, it is recommended the student speak with their assigned nursing advisor regarding the feasibility of reapplication. Students who plan to reapply to upper division must submit a new application during the next admission cycle and will enter the new admission cycle applicant pool.
Major Map: Nursing (Generic)-Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Past BSN requirements may be found on the University's academic bulletin.