BSN Program Curriculum
To fill the requirements for your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, you’ll start your nursing program with General Education courses that will form the foundation of your education. If you enter the program with no transfer credits, these classes would be provided in eight week sessions over your first three semesters. You’ll take classes like The Fundamentals of Biology, Introduction to Psychology, Global Health and more. A sample first year course schedule could look like this:
| Semester 1 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Fundamentals of Biology | 3 |
| Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| College Mathematics | 3 |
| First Year Composition I | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
| Semester 2 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Human Anatomy/Physiology I | 4 |
| First Year Composition II | 3 |
| American Politics | 3 |
| Human Anatomy/Physiology II | 4 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 3 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Human Development | 3 |
| Introduction to Chemistry | 4 |
| Cultural Diversity & Global Health | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
In situations where students are able to transfer in a high number of credits from other schools, they may be able to start nursing core classes during the first year.
In your second year of the BSN program, you’ll finish your General Education courses and make the exciting transition into the Nursing core portion of the program. You’ll take classes that help you develop the critical judgment needed to deliver safe and effective care and get your first clinical experiences caring for patients.
You’ll take classes like Ethical & Legal Standards in Nursing, Interprofessional Communication and Mental Health Theory & Application. A second year schedule could look like this:
| Semester 4 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Human Pathophysiology | 4 |
| Human Nutrition | 3 |
| Microbiology | 4 |
| Total | 11 |
| Semester 5 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Critical Thinking in Clinical Decision-Making | 2 |
| Ethics & Legal Standards in Nursing Practice I | 1 |
| Theoretical Foundation in Nursing Practice + Practicum | 2 didactic 3 practicum |
| Health Assessment | 3 |
| Interprofessional Communications | 1 |
| Leadership for Quality & Patient Safety I | 1 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester 6 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Ethics & Legal Standards in Nursing Practice II | 1 |
| Pharmacology I | 2 |
| Acute & Chronic Health Disruption in Adult 1 + Practicum | 3 didactic 3 practicum |
| Mental Health Theory & Application + Practicum | 3 didactic 2 practicum |
| Evidence-Based Practice I | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
In the final year of the program, you’ll spend the most time engaged in patient care. You’ll work alongside medical professionals and take advanced classes that will prepare you for a career in nursing.
As you near the end of your program you’ll take classes in specialty fields such as Maternal Health, Pediatric Health and Community Health. A typical third year schedule could look like this:
| Semester 7 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Pharmacology II | 2 |
| Evidence-Based Practice II | 1 |
| Leadership for Quality & Patient Safety II | 1 |
| Acute & Chronic Health Disruption in Adult II + Practicum | 2 didactic 3 practicum |
| Community Health Nursing + Practicum | 3 didactic 3 practicum |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Maternal Health Theory and Application + Practicum | 3 didactic 2 practicum |
| Pediatric Health Theory and Application + Practicum | 3 didactic 2 practicum |
| Ethics & Legal Standards in Nursing Practice III | 1 |
| Evidence-Based Practice III | 1 |
| Leadership for Quality & Patient Safety III | 1 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester 9 | |
|---|---|
| Course | Credits |
| Transition to the Profession | 1 |
| Acute & Chronic Health Disruption in Adult III + Practicum | 3 didactic 4 practicum |
| Professional Seminar | 2 |
| Evidence-Based Practice IV | 1 |
| Leadership for Quality & Patient Safety IV | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
21 Nursing School Campus Locations
Earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as little as three years. To learn more about our BSN program or find a campus near you click down below.
Accreditations
1 The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE).
2 All Arizona College of Nursing and Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.