General Undergraduate Nursing Plan of Study

Also on this page:

• Academic Standards/Progression policy
• Guidelines for selecting elective courses

*May be taken either first or second semester

APPROVED BY FACULTY: November 11, 1998

Progression Policy

Purpose: To establish guidelines/academic standards for the students enrolled in the Purdue University School of Nursing Program.

General Information: Scholastic Indexes - The University, as described in the Academic Procedures Manual, determines the course grades and their interpretations, the weighted values (4.0 grading scale) and the indexes. Courses having non-weighted grades of pass and satisfactory are given as credit only.

Policy:

1. The scholastic standing of the undergraduate students in the program leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing shall be determined as identified in this document.
   1. The graduation index (cumulative index) is the average of all weighted grades received in all courses taken.
   2. The semester index shall include weighted grades received in each semester or summer session.
   3. The science core index shall include weighted grades received in:
      1. BIOL 203, 204, 221
      2. CHM 111, 112
      3. PHPH 202
   4. The nursing core index shall include weighted grades received in all required nursing courses.
      1. Level I - NUR 102, 104, 105, 206, 207, 208, 214
      2. Level II - NUR 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 310, 312, 313
      3. Level III - NUR 402, 403, 404, 408, 410, 412, 413
   5. Excluded from the indexes are grades in courses taken at another institution. A course taken at a Purdue University regional campus will be entered with a grade.
   6. Failing, not passing, or unsatisfactory grades may be given for either of two conditions:
      1. Failure to meet course objectives.
      2. Academic dishonesty (refer to Regulations Governing Student Conduct, Disciplinary Proceedings, and Appeals).
2. Academic Requirements for a baccalaureate degree in nursing include the earning of a grade of C or better in all nursing courses. In addition, according to the Indiana State Board of Nursing Regulations (2004) a grade of "C" or better" in courses including: anatomy; physiology, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, nutrition, computer technology, English, communications, psychology, and sociology is required to be a candidate for the registered nurse licensing exam.
3. The faculty requires that all candidates for the degree will have met the following requirements:
   1. Achieve a minimum graduation index of 2.0 as required by the university.
   2. Achieve an average of 2.5 or better in the science core courses. Beginning students are required to complete at least nine (9) credit hours of the science core courses at the West Lafayette campus.
   3. Achieve an average of 2.5 or better in all nursing core courses.
   4. Nursing courses that have companion clinical courses must be taken in the sequence indicated in the curriculum plan. A student must earn a minimum of 2.5 overall average of all nursing courses within a level to progress to the next level and a student must complete the entire level of nursing courses before progressing to the next level.
   5. Should a student fail to meet the 2.5 requirement, the following will occur:
      1. The student will be mandated to repeat the course/courses in which the student received less than the 2.5 within one semester (unless extenuating circumstances, i.e., illness or injury)
      2. The student will lose placement in clinical rotation and preference for placement will be given to students meeting the 2.5 requirement.
      3. When the 2.5 average is achieved, the student will progress as space is available. Reentering the clinical rotation may require two semesters to achieve.
   6. Failure to complete the nursing course sequence jeopardizes student progression. The student will progress only as space is available.
4. Scholastic Deficiencies
   1. Academic probation: The student who earns below a 2.0 in a nursing course (a D or F) is placed on School of Nursing probation.
   2. Academic dismissal: A student shall be dismissed from the school of nursing under the following conditions.
      1. Receipt of the second D or F grade in the repeated nursing course.
      2. Receipt of a D or F grade in a second nursing course.

1. Humanities electives (6 cr. total) may be selected from any of the following areas: art and design, music, theater, dance appreciation, English, foreign language, history, philosophy, political science, religion, communications, interdisciplinary studies, sign language, or classics.
2. Guided Philosophy elective (3 cr.) may be selected from any one of the following courses: PHIL 111 - Ethics, PHIL 120 - Critical Thinking, PHIL 150 - Logic, or PHIL 270 - Medical Ethics.
3. Guided Sociology elective (3 cr.) must be selected from one of the following courses: SOC 220 - Social Problems, SOC 334 - Urban Sociology, SOC 340/PSY 240 - Social Psychology, SOC/ANTH 341 - culture and Personality, SOC 374 - Health of Americans, SOC 411 - Social Stratification, SOC 571 - Health and Social Behavior, SOC 572 - Comparative Healthcare, SOC 573 - Human Side of Medicine, or SOC574 - Social Organization of Health Care.
    
   (See your academic advisor for any updates on this listing of choices. Some of these courses are only offered one semester each year).
4. Guided Statistics (3 cr.) must be selected from one of the following courses: PSY 500 - Statistical Methods Applied to Psychology, Education, and Sociology, SOC 382 - Introduction to Methods of Social Research, STAT 301 - Elementary Statistical Methods, or PSY 201* - Introduction to Quantitative Topics in Psychology.
    
   *MATH 153 or equivalent is a prerequisite for PSY 201.
5. Free electives (6 cr. total) may be any credit courses. Only the 6 cr. of free electives may be taken on a pass/no pass grade option.