Nursing (AAS) | Colorado Mesa University Catalog

Nursing (AAS) | Colorado Mesa University Catalog
2025-2026 Catalog
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Nursing (AAS)
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Nursing
Program Code: 1615
This program, which is offered on the Montrose campus, allows the student to achieve an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree, opening up greater employment opportunities, increased compensation, and more job security.  The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program prepares the student to achieve a balance between general college and nursing education. The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing RN is prepared to be a direct caregiver in hospitals, long-term facilities, and ambulatory care-clinical settings.
Specific Requirements of the Program:
Science courses will be accepted if they have been taken within the last 10 years.
This program has selective admission requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the current admission requirements.
Important information for this program:
All essential learning requirements and prerequisite courses must be in progress or completed before applying to the program.  Additional admission requirements also apply.  Please visit the Department of Health Sciences’ website for a complete list of admission requirements and program information.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’
What to Do with a Major?
resource.
All CMU/CMU Tech associate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
Exhibit professional nursing care to diverse patients across the life span. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
Utilize health information systems to provide safe patient care throughout the health care environment. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
Incorporate therapeutic communication into all interactions. (Communication Fluency)
Incorporate evidence based practice in the application of care to provide safe quality outcomes. (Critical Thinking)
Utilize principles of leadership and management skills in caring for patients throughout the lifespan. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
Display accountability utilizing ethical reasoning. Incorporate compassionate and empathetic behaviors while providing care. (Personal and Social Responsibility)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options."
This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
60 semester hours minimum.
Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Specific to this degree:
79 semester hours required for the AAS in Nursing.
Must have a "C" or better in all courses.
Essential Learning Requirements
(15 Semester hours, must earn a grade of "C" or better in each course for this degree.)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below.  If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
Communication
ENGL 111
English Composition I-GTCO1
ENGL 112
English Composition II-GTCO2
Mathematics
MATH 110
Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1 (or higher)
Other Essential Learning Core Courses
PSYC 233
Human Growth and Development-GTSS3
PSYC 150
General Psychology-GTSS3
Total Semester Credit Hours
15
Other Lower Division Requirements
(2 semester hours, must earn a grade of "C" or better in each course.)
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
Wellness Requirement
KINE 100
Health and Wellness
Select one Activity course
Total Semester Credit Hours
Foundation Courses
(12 semester hours, must earn a grade of "C" or better in each course.)
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
BIOL 209
209L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
BIOL 210
210L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
BIOL 241
Pathophysiology
Total Semester Credit Hours
12
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(50 semester hours, must earn a grade of "C" or better in each course.)
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
NURS 244
Introduction to Adult Concepts of Health
NURS 244L
Introduction to Adult Concepts of Health Laboratory
NURS 246
Pharmacological Concepts I
NURS 247
Fundamentals of Nursing
NURS 247L
Fundamentals of Nursing Laboratory
NURS 248
Adult Concepts of Health I
NURS 248L
Adult Concepts of Health I Laboratory
NURS 249
Pharmacological Concepts II
NURS 250
Health Assessment for Nurses
NURS 250L
Health Assessment for Nurses Laboratory
NURS 251
Adult Concepts of Health II
NURS 251L
Adult Concepts of Health II Laboratory
NURS 252
Mental Health Concepts in Nursing
NURS 252L
Mental Health Concepts in Nursing Laboratory
NURS 253
Family Nursing Obstetrics and Pediatrics
NURS 253L
Family Nursing Obstetrics and Pediatrics Laboratory
NURS 255
Adult Concepts of Health III
NURS 255L
Adult Concepts of Health III Laboratory
NURS 256
Capstone
NURS 256L
Capstone Laboratory
Total Semester Credit Hours
50
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall Semester
Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 111
English Composition I-GTCO1
MATH 110
Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1
BIOL 209
209L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
KINE 100
Health and Wellness
KINA Activity Course
PSYC 150
General Psychology-GTSS3
Semester Credit Hours
15
Spring Semester
ENGL 112
English Composition II-GTCO2
PSYC 233
Human Growth and Development-GTSS3
BIOL 210
210L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
BIOL 241
Pathophysiology
Semester Credit Hours
14
Second Year
Fall Semester
NURS 244
Introduction to Adult Concepts of Health
NURS 244L
Introduction to Adult Concepts of Health Laboratory
NURS 246
Pharmacological Concepts I
NURS 247
Fundamentals of Nursing
NURS 247L
Fundamentals of Nursing Laboratory
Semester Credit Hours
12
Spring Semester
NURS 248
Adult Concepts of Health I
NURS 248L
Adult Concepts of Health I Laboratory
NURS 250
Health Assessment for Nurses
NURS 250L
Health Assessment for Nurses Laboratory
NURS 252
Mental Health Concepts in Nursing
NURS 252L
Mental Health Concepts in Nursing Laboratory
Semester Credit Hours
14
Third Year
Fall Semester
NURS 251
Adult Concepts of Health II
NURS 251L
Adult Concepts of Health II Laboratory
NURS 253
Family Nursing Obstetrics and Pediatrics
NURS 253L
Family Nursing Obstetrics and Pediatrics Laboratory
Semester Credit Hours
12
Spring Semester
NURS 249
Pharmacological Concepts II
NURS 255
Adult Concepts of Health III
NURS 255L
Adult Concepts of Health III Laboratory
NURS 256
Capstone
NURS 256L
Capstone Laboratory
Semester Credit Hours
12
Total Semester Credit Hours
79
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the
Graduation
web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.