Nursing (BSN) | Colorado Mesa University Catalog

Nursing (BSN) | Colorado Mesa University Catalog
2025-2026 Catalog
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Nursing (BSN)
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Major: Nursing
Program Code: 3611
The four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program was developed to prepare a professional nurse generalist for practice in a variety of healthcare settings. The program integrates nursing theory, practice, and science with a broad liberal arts education. Graduates of the program enter the nursing profession with the knowledge and skill necessary to provide high-quality nursing care. The program also provides the foundation for graduate study in nursing. The BSN program utilizes a holistic admissions process that includes completion of all prerequisite courses and evaluation of GPA and Kaplan Nursing School Entrance exam score. Applicants who meet the qualifications are invited to interview for possible acceptance into the program. More information about the admission process can be found on the Department of Health Sciences
website
. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at CMU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (
CCNE
).
Specific Requirements of the Program:
Science courses will be accepted if they have been taken within the last 10 years.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’
What to Do with a Major?
resource.
All CMU baccalaureate 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:
Integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to advance the nursing discipline in a practice-based project. (Specialized Knowledge)
Analyze data to demonstrate clinical judgment for safe high-quality nursing practice. (Quantitative Fluency)
Articulate evidence-based practice conclusions for nursing practice to improve client outcomes. (Communication fluency)
Demonstrate critical thinking behaviors as a basis for practice. (Critical Thinking)
Utilize information literacy seeking skills to improve health among diverse populations. (Information Literacy)
Demonstrate ethical, personal, and social responsibility when providing high-quality nursing 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."
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Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU baccalaureate degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
120 semester hours minimum.
Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU 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 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
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.
Essential Learning Requirements
(31 semester hours)
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
ENGL 111
English Composition I-GTCO1
ENGL 112
English Composition II-GTCO2
Mathematics
MATH 113
College Algebra-GTMA1
History
Select one History course
Humanities
Select one Humanities course
Social and Behavioral Sciences
PSYC 150
General Psychology-GTSS3
PSYC 233
Human Growth and Development-GTSS3
Fine Arts
Select one Fine Arts course
Natural Sciences
Select one Natural Sciences course
BIOL 250
Introduction to Microbiology-GTSC1
BIOL 250L
Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory-GTSC1
Total Semester Credit Hours
31
Must receive a grade of “C” or better and must be completed by the time the student has 60 semester hours.
This is a 4 semester credit hour course. 3 credits apply to the Essential Learning requirement and 1 credit applies to Electives.
Other Lower Division Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
Wellness Requirement
KINE 100
Health and Wellness
Select one Activity course
Essential Learning Capstone
ESSL 290
Maverick Milestone
ESSL 200
Essential Speech
Essential Learning Capstone must be taken after completion of the Essential Learning English and Mathematics requirements, and when a student has earned between 45 and 75 hours.
Foundation Courses
(15-16 semester hours, must pass all courses with a grade of “C” or higher)
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
BIOL 209
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 209L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
BIOL 210
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 210L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
BIOL 241
Pathophysiology
STAT 200
Probability and Statistics-GTMA1
3-4
or
STAT 215
Statistics for Social and Behavioral Sciences
Total Semester Credit Hours
15-16
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(64 semester hours, must pass all courses with a grade of “C” or higher and maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in coursework in this area.)
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
NURS 350
Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
NURS 350L
Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Laboratory
NURS 353
Foundation of Nursing Practice
NURS 353L
Foundations of Nursing Practice Laboratory
NURS 370
Pharmacology for Nurses I
NURS 372
Professional Development I: Nursing Theory, Roles and Ethics
NURS 373
Acute and Chronic Illness I
NURS 373L
Acute and Chronic Illness I Clinical
NURS 388
Mental Health Nursing
NURS 388L
Mental Health Nursing Clinical
NURS 394
Nursing Research: An Evidence-Based Practice
NURS 457
Obstetrical Nursing
NURS 458
Pediatric Nursing
NURS 459L
Obstetrical and Pediatric Nursing Clinical
NURS 472
Professional Development II: Health Informatics
NURS 473
Acute and Chronic Illness II
NURS 473L
Acute and Chronic Illness II Clinical
NURS 482
Professional Development III: The Professional Nurse
NURS 487
Community and Population Nursing
NURS 487L
Community and Population Nursing Clinical
NURS 490
Nursing Leadership and Management
NURS 490L
Nursing Leadership and Management Clinical
NURS 492
Pharmacology for Nurses II
Complete one of the following Capstone Clinical options:
NURS 493L
Senior Capstone Clinical
NURS 493A
NURS 493B
Senior Capstone Clinical I
and Senior Capstone Clinical II
Total Semester Credit Hours
64
Students who are currently passing their courses and will be completing the BSN program in the spring semester may be eligible to take
NURS 493A
in December &
NURS 493B
in January between the fall and spring semester. These course offerings are the same course as NURS 493L.  The number of community clinical sites and faculty availability over December (NURS 493A) and January (NURS 493B) determine space availability in these special course sections.
General Electives
All college level courses appearing on your final transcript, not listed above that will bring your total semester hours to 120 hours. 3-4 semester hours
Course List
Code
Title
Semester Credit Hours
MATH 113
College Algebra-GTMA1
Select additional elective(s)
2-3
Total Semester Credit Hours
3-4
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall Semester
Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 111
English Composition I-GTCO1
PSYC 150
General Psychology-GTSS3
KINE 100
Health and Wellness
Essential Learning - History
Essential Learning - Natural Science
Semester Credit Hours
13
Spring Semester
ENGL 112
English Composition II-GTCO2
PSYC 233
Human Growth and Development-GTSS3
Essential Learning - Humanities
KINA Activity
BIOL 209
209L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
Semester Credit Hours
14
Second Year
Fall Semester
BIOL 250
250L
Introduction to Microbiology-GTSC1
and Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory-GTSC1
Essential Learning - Fine Arts
MATH 113
College Algebra-GTMA1
General Elective (2-3 credit hours as needed)
Semester Credit Hours
14
Spring Semester
BIOL 210
210L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
BIOL 241
Pathophysiology
ESSL 290
Maverick Milestone
ESSL 200
Essential Speech
STAT 200
or
STAT 215
Probability and Statistics-GTMA1
or Statistics for Social and Behavioral Sciences
3-4
Semester Credit Hours
15-16
Third Year
Fall Semester
NURS 350
350L
Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
and Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Laboratory
NURS 353
353L
Foundation of Nursing Practice
and Foundations of Nursing Practice Laboratory
NURS 370
Pharmacology for Nurses I
NURS 372
Professional Development I: Nursing Theory, Roles and Ethics
Semester Credit Hours
16
Spring Semester
NURS 373
373L
Acute and Chronic Illness I
and Acute and Chronic Illness I Clinical
NURS 388
388L
Mental Health Nursing
and Mental Health Nursing Clinical
NURS 394
Nursing Research: An Evidence-Based Practice
Semester Credit Hours
15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
NURS 457
Obstetrical Nursing
NURS 458
Pediatric Nursing
NURS 459L
Obstetrical and Pediatric Nursing Clinical
NURS 472
Professional Development II: Health Informatics
NURS 473
473L
Acute and Chronic Illness II
and Acute and Chronic Illness II Clinical
Semester Credit Hours
16
Spring Semester
NURS 482
Professional Development III: The Professional Nurse
NURS 487
487L
Community and Population Nursing
and Community and Population Nursing Clinical
NURS 490
490L
Nursing Leadership and Management
and Nursing Leadership and Management Clinical
NURS 492
Pharmacology for Nurses II
NURS 493L
Senior Capstone Clinical
Semester Credit Hours
17
Total Semester Credit Hours
120-121
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 at
If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.