Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Nursing-For Licensed Vocational Nurses/Practical Nurses (Nursing B.S.N.) (Major Code 713)


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Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Degree


Refer to the “Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees ” section of this catalog.

Major in Nursing


  • Major in Nursing - Basic and Transfer Students (Major Code: 701)
  • Major in Nursing - Licensed Vocational Nurse Degree Completion (Major Code: 713)
  • Major in Nursing - Registered Nurse Degree Completion (Major Code: 718)

University Core Curriculum Requirements (42 hours)


 

**IMPORTANT: Before selecting from these courses, students should review any major-specific core requirements in the major below as they will be required to take those courses instead.**

 

Core 10 - Communication (3 hours from ENGL options)

Core 10 - Communication (3 hours from COMM options)

Core 20 - Mathematics (3 hours)

Core 30 - Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Core 40 - Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

Core 50 - Creative Arts (3 hours)

Core 60 - American History (6 hours)

Core 70 - Government / Political Science (6 hours)

Core 80 - Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Core 90 - Component Area Option (6 hours or fewer; may depend on major requirements)

Nursing Major Requirements


Major-Specific University Core Requirements


**IMPORTANT: The following courses are required for their specific Core areas instead of the courses listed above in the general University Core Curriculum.**

Core 20 - Mathematics (3 hours)


Note: MATH 1332 satisfies the prerequisite for CHEM 1405, but not CHEM 1411. MATH 1342 and 1350 do not satisfy the prerequisite for either chemistry course.

The fourth hour from MATH 2412 or MATH 2413, if taken, will count towards Component Area Option (Core 90).

Core 30 - Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)


Fourth (lab) hours will be counted towards Component Area Option (Core 90).

Core 80 - Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)


Core 90 - Component Area Option (2 of 6 hours)


Note:


For students who already are licensed vocational nurses, credit for NURS 3350  is given after successful completion of NCLEX-PN.

Total hours required to complete degree: 120 hours


A student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to include at least 36 advanced hours.

Admission Requirements for the WTAMU Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing


  • Formal application and admission to West Texas A&M University. (Application fee required.)
  • A separate, competitive application process is required for admission into the WTAMU Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing. Admission is required prior to 3000-level nursing courses (with the exception of NURS 3304 , NURS 3310 , NURS 3350 /NURS 3350L ) for pre-licensure BSN students and LVN degree-completion students.
    • Current license to practice as a LVN is required for LVN degree completion students requesting advanced standing (application fee required).
  • Completion of University core curriculum and additional nursing requirements as listed above.
  • Applicants apply to the WTAMU BSN Program when they have completed and are enrolled in their last 6 or fewer courses.
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0, as of the date of your application to the nursing program.
  • Minimum grade of “C” in biology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, mathematics, and nursing courses.
  • It is preferred that three of the four science courses be completed when applying. Science GPA of 2.8 preferred.
  • Copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, must be submitted to the WTAMU Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing with BSN application.
  • If the applicant was previously enrolled in another nursing program, a letter of good standing from the dean or appropriate department head is required. Detailed descriptions of nursing courses completed must be submitted and approved for transfer credit. See “Transfer Nursing Students” below for more information.
  • All pre-licensure and LVN applicants are required to take a pre-admission HESI A2 exam, specifically the math, reading and vocabulary sections, and submit scores with the application to the WTAMU Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing. Prospective applicants must achieve a score of 80+ on each of the three required content exams (Reading, Vocabulary and Math) during one sitting. (1) Scores must be within the last 2 years of application deadline. (2) Scores from other institutions will be accepted with nursing application.
  • To be considered for admission, the following items must be submitted with the application: $50 application fee, immunization records and Documentation Form, HESI A2 report, and copies of all transcripts. See page 5 of the Application to the B.S.N. Nursing Program for a full checklist.
  • Applications to the WTAMU Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing should be submitted by April 15th for fall semester entry and October 15th for spring semester entry. If these dates fall on a weekend, submit your WTAMU nursing application on the Monday after the 15th by 5 PM. Applications are valid for one year.

Note:


Students may appeal Admissions Committee decisions, first to the committee and then to the head of the School of Nursing. Exceptions, resulting in conditional admission, will be considered on an individual basis by the head of the School of Nursing.

Advanced Standing


Registered nurses or others with previous experience and education in nursing must be admitted to the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing through the same procedure as all students. Advanced standing will be determined after evaluation of transcripts. For further information, refer to “Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination” in this catalog.

Transfer Nursing Students


Transfer Nursing Students (who were previously enrolled in an ADN or BSN Program) must:

  • Be in good academic standing and eligible for readmission at the last nursing program attended.
  • Provide documentatin from the dean or appropriate department head of the last nursing program attended that states readmission eligibility and academic standing.
  • Submit official transcripts from each institution attended to the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing.

Senior College

Students transferring from a senior college into the basic nursing progrm must submit copies of nursing course syllabi. If the transferring courses are less than five year old, courses will be evaluated for transfer on an individual basis. If courses are more than five years old, see “Returning Basic WTAMU Students and Transferring Basic Students” in the section below.

Community College

Students transferring from a community college into the basic nursing program may transfer selected nursing courses after copies of all course syllabi have been submitted, reviewed and approved. If the transferring courses are not more than five years old, courses will be evaluated for transfer on an individual basis. If courses are greater than five years old, see “Returning Basic WTAMU Students and Transferring Basic Students” in the section below.

Returning Basic WTAMU Students and Transferring Basic Students


Any basic/traditional student, WTAMU or transferring, who has not been enrolled in clinical nursing courses in the past five years, must demonstrate competency by examination prior to being rescheduled into the nursing curriculum. A course-specific exam, which will be a standardized test, will be given. The exam may be taken one time. A fee is charged for each exam. If the student is unsuccessful, the student will be scheduled into that/those clinical course(s) as space is available. For further information, refer to “Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination” in this catalog.

Re-Admission to the School of Nursing


Re-admission to the School of Nursing is not automatic. Students must re-apply to the school in writing to the Admissions and Progression Committee after dropping a course, withdrawal or failure in any semester. Students who make grades of “D” or below two times in nursing courses will not be allowed to continue in the program. A student who leaves the program for any other reason may be permitted to re-enroll based on (1) individual qualifications and (2) available space. The student’s record of dropped courses or withdrawals from the University will be considered. Satisfactory scores on comprehensive examinations covering nursing theory and clinical course work previously completed will be required for basic students who have not been enrolled in nursing courses at WTAMU for five or more years.

Progression and Graduation


  • A degree plan must be filed with the dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences after 30 hours have been completed.
  • A minimum grade of “C” must be maintained in all biology, chemistry, sociology, psychology and mathematics courses.
  • A grade of “C” or above is required to pass a nursing course and progress through the curriculum on schedule. Progression will be determined on an individual basis for a student who earns a grade of “D” or below in a nursing course. 
  • Students must comply with all rules and policies as set forth in the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing Handbook and in the West Texas A&M University Code of Student Life.
  • Students who withdraw before the 12th class day (fourth class day for summer sessions) will have a record of the semester on their transcript with a notation, “Student withdrew without earning credit (date).” Students withdrawing after the 12th class day, but before midterm, will receive a grade of “X” (withdraw passing). If a student withdraws after midterm, a grade of “X” (withdraw passing) or “XF” (withdraw failing) will be recorded. Students leaving the University without making arrangements to withdraw through the Office of the Registrar will automatically receive a “F” in all classes.
  • Basic and transfer senior students must pass a comprehensive nursing examination prior to graduation. Students who do not pass the comprehensive exam must complete an individualized plan of study, which may include enrollment in additional courses, before graduation.

Note:


For information about the master of science in nursing (M.S.N.) degree, refer to the “Graduate Catalog”.

Advising Services Degree Checklist


Degree Checklists are available by linking to Advising Services Degree Checklists:

  • Pre-Nursing - Pre-Admission Requirements

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