Bachelor of Science in Nursing

UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/

Constitution Course

Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.

Exit Examinations

Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.

Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination

In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.

There are three options available to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree:

• Pre-Licensure (4 Year traditional program in nursing for students who want to obtain a BSN and do not possess a previous bachelor's degree or RN license)
• Accelerated (2nd degree option for students who possess a bachelor's degree in another discipline, do not possess an RN license and want to obtain a BSN)
• RN-BSN (BSN Completion Program for students who are currently licensed registered nurses (RNs), possess an associate's degree or diploma in nursing and want to obtain a BSN). Enrollment may be full or part-time.

BSN Pre-licensure (4 Year Traditional Program in Nursing)

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• demonstrate Personal Effectiveness as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Critical Thinking, Professional Valuing/Caring, and Professional Role Development;
• demonstrate Interpersonal Effectiveness as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Communication, Teaching/Learning, and Technology Utilization;
• demonstrate Effectiveness in Human Health Outcomes as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Evidence-Based Care; and
• demonstrate Effectiveness Within Complex Health Systems as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Leadership/Management, Global Perspectives, and Health Care Systems and Policy.

Undergraduate baccalaureate nursing education is designed to prepare a nurse generalist who demonstrates responsibility, accountability and critical thinking. The nurse generalist uses a comprehensive approach to health care and can meet diversified health concerns of individuals, families and communities at all stages of development. The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies offers an innovative program in the management of health.

Admissions

Students begin the BSN Pre-licensure program as Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHS) Pre-Nurse students. Refer to Major Map for additional details. The Direct Admissions Program has additional requirements, please see below.

Students fulfill all prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in nursing courses.

Students must earn a grade of B- or better in all pre-requisite courses required for admission to the nursing program. Students who receive a grade of less than B- may repeat these courses. Nursing courses may not be attempted more than twice. The only nursing courses that may be taken prior to admission into the nursing program are NURSE 101 , NURSE 120 , NURSE 125 , NURSE 160 , NURSE 252 and/or NURSE 345 . Students who wish to take nursing courses after notification of admission to the nursing program the summer before beginning the clinical major may do so but the SoNHS Policies & Procedures for BSN PL and AT Program will apply. A 2.75 GPA for all courses required in the nursing program attempted or earned, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 each semester.

Once admitted to the nursing program, or prior to, students must achieve a grade of C or better in all general education courses and a B- or better in all nursing courses.

Once courses in Phase I are completed, an application is submitted to the BSN-PL program, Applications are due each January to begin the following fall semester, The remaining pre-requisite courses must be completed in the following spring semester in order to begin the BSN Clinical Program in the following fall semester, if an offer of admission is issued.

Procedure for Application to the Nursing Major

• Admission to UMKC
• Submission of the School of Nursing and Health Studies Application materials which are posted in November on the School of Nursing and Health Studies website
• The SoNHS Appointed Committee reviews all applications to the Nursing Major

Program Requirements

UMKC Essentials

A minimum grade of C must be achieved in all required general education courses prior to or while admitted to the nursing program in order to continue progression in the nursing program. A grade of less than C (C-, D+, D, F, and NR) or Audit/AT is not satisfactory for progression.

Constitution Course Requirement

Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”

Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:

There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:

• Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
• Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
• Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
• Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
• Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.

Program Prerequisites

A minimum grade of B- is required for each pre-requisite course. Students taking pre-requisites or admitted to the nursing program must achieve a grade of B- or better in all courses. Minimum nursing GPA is 2.75. A grade of less than B- (C+, C, C-, D+, D, F, NR and ) or Audit/AT is not satisfactory for progression into the nursing program.

The courses Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry with lab and Microbiology CANNOT BE OLDER THAN FIVE YEARS from when you are beginning the clinical program.

Waived if student has 60+ credit hours and a 3.5+ GPA.

Professional Degree Requirements

The remaining courses below are clinical courses ONLY and will be completed by the student once formally accepted into the clinical major (six semesters-3 years long): You must be accepted into the three-year clinical program to begin these courses. Nursing courses may not be attempted more than twice. The only nursing courses that may be taken prior to admission into the nursing program are NURSE 101 , NURSE 120 , NURSE 125 , NURSE 160 , NURSE 252 and/or NURSE 345 . Students who wish to take nursing courses after notification of admission to the nursing program the summer before beginning the clinical major may do so but the SoNHS Policies & Procedures for BSN PL and AT Program will apply. A 2.75 GPA for all courses required in the nursing program attempted or earned, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 each semester.

Once admitted to the nursing program, students must achieve a grade of C or better in all general education courses and a B- or better in all nursing courses. Students must obtain a final grade of 80% or higher in order to progress in the nursing program. Students must also earn a 78% or higher on the combined average of the course examinations (defined as “Tests” and “Final Exams”) in order to progress in the nursing program. Students who receive a grade of less than B- may repeat these courses. Nursing courses may not be attempted more than twice.

Graduation with a BSN degree does not guarantee licensure. Students must successfully complete the NCLEX exam and apply for licensure with their state’s Board of Nursing to obtain a license as a registered nurse.

Minimum GPA: 2.75

Total Credit Hours: 128

Direct Admit Program

The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) offers the Direct Admit Program for outstanding high school students who intend to enter UMKC as freshmen. Eligible students are offered direct admission into the Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Program as freshmen, allowing them to be pre-admitted to the clinical major.

BENEFITS

• Early assurance of admission to the clinical program, if criteria are met and maintained.
• Clinical supplemental application waived.

Anyone who does not meet Direct Admit eligibility requirements during their senior year of high school may still apply to the Pre-Licensure B.S.N. Program during their first or second year of college using the clinical supplemental application, depending on how long it takes to complete prerequisites.

• Opportunity for early interaction with current clinical students through involvement in the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA).
• Opportunity to assist with SONHS events (i.e. White Coat Ceremony, pinning, commencement, etc.)

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Meet UMKC freshmen admission criteria
• Composite ACT score of 27 or higher (or equivalent SAT Composite score)

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION TO DIRECT ADMIT BSN FOR PRE-LICENSURE:

• Apply using the general UMKC application for Health Sciences and emphasis as Pre-Nursing. Upload your SAT/ACT scores and complete the optional Direct Admit Acceptance within the application.

DIRECT ADMIT PROGRESSION TO CLINICAL MAJOR CRITERIA

Direct Admit students will progress to the clinical program as long as academic progression requirements are met, as listed below:
1. Maintain cumulative GPA and individual semester GPA of 2.75or higher
2. Maintain nursing prerequisite GPA of 2.75 or higher (cumulative of first five prerequisite courses listed below)
3. Complete all Pre-Licensure B.S.N. prerequisite courses with a grade of B- or better on the first attempt.

Please note: If either the cumulative/semester GPA requirement or pre-requisite course grade of B- or better on first attempt is not achieved the Direct Admission status will be revoked and the student will need to apply to the Pre-Licensure program using the admission requirements listed above.

Accelerated (AT); (2nd Degree option for students with a previous bachelor's degree)

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• demonstrate Personal Effectiveness as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Critical Thinking, Professional Valuing/Caring, and Professional Role Development;
• demonstrate Interpersonal Effectiveness as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Communication, Teaching/Learning, and Technology Utilization;
• demonstrate Effectiveness in Human Health Outcomes as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Evidence-Based Care; and
• demonstrate Effectiveness Within Complex Health Systems as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Leadership/Management, Global Perspectives, and Health Care Systems and Policy.

Undergraduate baccalaureate nursing education is designed to prepare a nurse generalist who demonstrates responsibility, accountability and critical thinking. The nurse generalist uses a comprehensive approach to health care and can meet diversified health concerns of individuals, families and communities at all stages of development. The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies offers an innovative program in the management of health.

Admissions

Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution by July 1st of the year of application.

Students fulfill all prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in nursing courses. If students complete prerequisites at UMKC they enroll as Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHS) Accelerated (AT) students (Phase I).

Students must earn a grade of B- or better in all pre-requisite courses required for admission to the nursing program. Students who receive a grade of less than B- may repeat these courses. Nursing courses may not be attempted more than twice.

Once admitted to the nursing program, students must achieve a grade of C or better in all general education courses and a B- or better in all nursing courses.

Once prerequisite courses are completed, an application is submitted to the BSN-AT program, Applications are due each January to begin the following fall semester, The remaining pre-requisite courses must be completed in the following spring semester in order to begin the BSN Clinical Program in the following fall semester, if an offer of admission is issued.

The only nursing courses that may be taken prior to admission into the nursing program are NURSE 101 , NURSE 120 , NURSE 125 , NURSE 160 , NURSE 252 and/or NURSE 345 . Students who wish to take nursing courses after notification of admission to the nursing program the summer before beginning the clinical major may do so but the SoNHS Policies & Procedures for BSN PL and AT Program will apply.

Criteria for Admission to Nursing Major

• Admission to UMKC
• Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by the end of the spring semester of the year of application
• Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA each semester for all courses required in the nursing program attempted or earned
• Satisfactory completion of all pre-requisite courses by the end of the spring semester of the year of application. Refer to Time Limit on Science Courses Policy (science courses taken must be no older than five years). Completed courses must include: Chemistry w/lab, Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology with lab, Nutrition, and Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan.

Procedure for Application to the Nursing Major

• Complete UMKC application and send ALL official transcripts and fees to:
  University of Missouri-Kansas City
  Office of Admissions
• Submission of the School of Nursing and Health Studies Application materials, which are posted in November, on the School of Nursing and Health Studies website
• The Student Affairs Committee reviews all applications to the Nursing Major

Program Requirements

A minimum grade of B- is required for each pre-requisite course. Students taking pre-requisites or admitted to the nursing program must achieve a grade of B- or better in all courses. Minimum nursing GPA is 2.75. A grade of less than B- (C+, C, C-, D+, D, F, NR) or Audit/AT is not satisfactory for progression in the nursing program.

Professional Degree Requirements

The remaining courses below are clinical courses and must be completed by the student once formally accepted into the clinical major (five semesters long): You must be accepted into the clinical program to begin these courses.

Once admitted to the nursing program, students must achieve a grade of C or better in all general education courses and a B- or better in all nursing courses. Students must obtain a final grade of 80% or higher in order to progress in the nursing program. Students must also earn an 78% or higher on the combined average of the course examinations (defined as “Tests” and “Final Exams”) in order to progress in the nursing program. Students who receive a grade of less than B- may repeat these courses. Nursing courses may not be attempted more than twice.

Additional academic requirements, and policies and procedures are located in the School of Nursing and Health Studies Policies and Procedures Manual. Please refer to this document.

Graduation with a BSN degree does not guarantee licensure. Students must successfully complete the NCLEX exam and apply for licensure with their state’s Board of Nursing to obtain a license as a registered nurse.

Minimum GPA: 2.75

Total Credit Hours: 91

RN-BSN (BSN Completion Program for students who are current RNs)

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• Demonstrate Personal Effectiveness as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Critical Thinking, Professional Valuing/Caring, and Professional Role Development.
• Demonstrate Interpersonal Effectiveness as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Communication, Teaching/Learning, and Technology Utilization.
• Demonstrate Effectiveness in Human Health Outcomes as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Evidence-Based Care.
• Demonstrate Effectiveness Within Complex Health Systems as evidenced by progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency in the following competencies: Leadership/Management, Global Perspectives, and Health Care Systems and Policy.

Undergraduate baccalaureate nursing education is designed to prepare a nurse generalist who demonstrates responsibility, accountability and critical thinking. The nurse generalist uses a comprehensive approach to health care and can meet diversified health concerns of individuals, families and communities at all stages of development. The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies offers an innovative program in the management of health.

Admission

• Applicants applying to the RN-BSN program must have a Nursing diploma or Associates degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college oruniversity, with a nursing program that is accredited by a nationally recognized nursing accrediting agency (CCNE or ACEN)
• Graduation from a state board of nursing – approved school of nursing. Applicants requesting admission to the BSN program who are graduates of diploma or non-accredited A.D.N. programs may be admitted on provisional status.
• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse with licensure in the jurisdiction where clinical study is to be conducted. The license must remain unencumbered throughout the program. A student whose license becomes encumbered while in the program will be dismissed.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) from the basic school of nursing and all previous and subsequent college coursework. Students applying with a cumulative GPA ranging from 2.0 to 2.499 may be admitted on probation based on review of individual circumstances.
• Open and rolling admission program. Students may apply for any semester (fall, spring or summer) and once admitted, can enroll in courses as determined by their plan of study.
• Applicants from approved associate-level RN degree programs may be provisionally admitted to the RN-BSN program prior to securing licensure. If admitted as degree-seeking students, these applicants must provide documentation of a valid, unencumbered RN license prior to the end of their first term of enrollment in the RN-BSN program. For information regarding currently approved programs, contact the UMKC Nursing department.

Procedure for Application to the Nursing Major for RN-BSN:

• Apply using the general UMKC application & the RN-BSN Supplemental Application (Please note: The RN-BSN Supplemental Application is housed within the general UMKC application).

Additional requirements:

• Valid, current and unencumbered RN license. If NCLEX results are pending, students must submit proof of licensure prior to the first nursing course (N481). Note: an unencumbered RN license must be maintained throughout the program.

Additional Notifications

State regulations require that UMKC be authorized to offer online degrees in the state where a student resides while enrolled in the program. UMKC is currently authorized to offer online programs in the states listed on the UMKC Online webpage: http://online.umkc.edu/state-authorization/. If you are in one of the online programs and there is a possibility that you would relocate to another state while enrolled in the program, you must notify your academic advisor or the program director immediately. Note that regulations in that state may stipulate additional or specific requirements that may prohibit or limit your ability to enroll in or complete the online degree through UMKC.

Required General Education Coursework

Students must complete 50 credit hours in general education coursework.