Nursing (BSN) - LPN-BSN

Major Requirements
Select General Education Requirements62
Major Requirements
Nursing LPN-BSN Major Core
A. Complete the following:
AHN 447Adult Gerontological Nursing4
AHN 448Adult Gerontological Nsg Clin4
HSC 343Clinical Pharmacology3
NU 300Foundations of Prof Nsg5
NU 301Foundations of Prof Nsg Clin3
NU 304Evidence Based Practice NU- W3
NU 305Essen of OB/Peds/Psych Nsg4
NU 325Health Assessment3
NU 327Patho Basis of Nursing3
NU 332Clinical Nutrition2
NU 405Transition to RN Practice2
NU 412Dec Making Prof Nsg Practice3
NU 414Issues & Trends Healthcare -W3
NU 460Practicum6
LPN Nursing Credit Hours Awarded
Courses awarded for LPN or LVN Education and Experience upon completion of degree requirements
CMN 351BPsychiatric Mental Health Nursing Clinical2
CMN 420BCommunity Health Nursing3
CMN 421BCommunity Health Nursing Clinical1
HSC 342BAdministration of Medication1
MCN 353BObstetric & Gynecologic Nursing Care Clinical2
MCN 355BPediatric Nursing Care Clinical2
NU 311BClinical Nursing Skills3
Minor Requirements
A minor is not required for this degree program
Total Hours Required for BSN Degree124
General Education Requirements
Gen Ed Formatting Note: Graduate of an Associate Degree in Nursing
Area I - Written Composition
A. Complete the following:
EH 101English Composition I3
B. Complete the following:
EH 102English Composition II3
Area II - Humanities & Fine Arts 1
A. Complete the following:
CA 110Public Speaking3
B. Select one of the following Literature Electives:3
EH 215
Brit Lit before 1785
EH 216
Brit Lit after 1785
EH 225
Am Lit before 1865
EH 226
Am Lit after 1865
EH 235
World Lit before 1650
EH 236
World Lit after 1650
C. Select one of the following Fine Arts (Music, Drama, or Art) Courses:3
ARH 100
Survey of Art
ARH 103
Art History I
ARH 123
Art History II
ARS 101
Art Appreciation
DRA 110
Introduction to Theatre
MUL 101
Introduction to Music
D. Select six hours form the following Humanities Electives (Literature for sequence, Philosophy, Foreign Language, Music, Art, Drama, Public Speaking, or Religion6
AFR 101
Intro to African Amer Studies
ARH 100
Survey of Art
ARH 103
Art History I
ARH 123
Art History II
ARH 203
Survey of Non-Western Art
ARS 101
Art Appreciation
CLA 110
Intro Anc Greek Roman Culture
DRA 110
Introduction to Theatre
EH 215
Brit Lit before 1785
EH 216
Brit Lit after 1785
EH 225
Am Lit before 1865
EH 226
Am Lit after 1865
EH 235
World Lit before 1650
EH 236
World Lit after 1650
LG 101
Introductory Latin I
LG 102
Introductory Latin II
LG 111
Introductory French I
LG 112
Introductory French II
LG 121
Introductory Chinese I
LG 122
Introductory Chinese II
LG 131
Introductory Spanish I
LG 132
Introductory Spanish II
LG 141
Intro Classical Greek I
LG 142
Intro Classical Greek II
LG 151
Introductory German I
LG 152
Introductory German II
LG 153
Accelerated Intro German
LG 171
Introductory Russian I
LG 172
Introductory Russian II
LG 173
Accelerated Intro Russian
LG 201
Intermediate Latin I
LG 202
Intermediate Latin II
LG 211
Intermediate French I
LG 212
Intermediate French II
LG 213
Accelerated Inter French - H
LG 221
Intermediate Chinese I
LG 222
Intermediate Chinese II
LG 231
Intermediate Spanish I
LG 232
Intermediate Spanish II
LG 234
Inter Spanish Accel -H
LG 241
Interm Classical Greek I
LG 242
Interm Classical Greek II
LG 251
Intermediate German I
LG 252
Intermediate German II
LG 271
Intermediate Russian I
LG 272
Intermediate Russian II
LG 273
Intensive Second Year Russian
LGS 101
Introductory Japanese I
LGS 102
Introductory Japanese II
LGS 106
Introductory Arabic I
LGS 107
Introductory Arabic II
LGS 110
Intro American Sign Language I
LGS 111
Intro American Sign Lang II
LGS 171
Introductory Korean I
LGS 172
Introductory Korean II
LGS 201
Intermediate Japanese I
LGS 202
Intermediate Japanese II
LGS 206
Intermediate Arabic I
LGS 207
Intermediate Arabic II
LGS 210
Intermediate ASL I
LGS 211
Intermediate ASL II
MUL 101
Introduction to Music
PHL 110
Introduction to Philosophy
PHL 120
Critical Thinking
PHL 121
Introduction to Logic
PHL 131
Introduction to Ethics
PHL 231
Social Ethics
PHL 240
Western Philosophy: Classical
REL 100
Intro to the Study of Religion
REL 200
Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
REL 201
Survey of the New Testament
Area III - Natural Sciences & Mathematics
A. Select one of the following Math Courses:
MA 110Finite Mathematics3
or MA 112 Precalculus Algebra
B. Complete the following Science Courses:
BLY 101
& 101L		Life Science I
and Life Science I Laboratory		4
CH 101
& 101L		Survey of Inorg and Org Chem
and Survey Inorg-Org Chem Lab		4
Area IV - History, Social and Behavioral Sciences 1
A. Select one of the following History Electives:3
HY 101
HY of Western Civilization I
HY 102
HY of Western Civilization II
HY 135
US History to 1877
HY 136
US History since 1877
B. Select nine hours form the following History/Social/Behavioral Sciences Electives:9
AN 100
Intro to Cultural Anthropology
AN 101
Intro Archaeology-Bio Anthro
CA 100
Intro to Communication
CA 211
Interpersonal Comm
CJ 105
Introduction to Criminal Justice
ECO 215
Prin of Microeconomics
ECO 216
Prin of Macroeconomics
GEO 114
People, Places, Environment
GEO 115
World Regional Geography
GS 101
Intro to Gender Studies
HY 101
HY of Western Civilization I
HY 102
HY of Western Civilization II
HY 135
US History to 1877
HY 136
US History since 1877
IS 100
Global Issues
IST 201
Seasons of Life
NAS 101
Intro Native American Studies
PSC 130
Intro to US Government
PSY 120
Introduction to Psychology 2
PSY 250
Life Span Development
SY 109
Introductory Sociology
SY 112
Social Problems
Area V Major in Nursing Requirements
A. Select four hours of the following Microbiology Courses:
BLY 213
& BLY 214		Microbiology
and Lab Studies Microbiology		4
or BMD 210
& 210L		 Microbiology in Healthcare
and Microbiology in Healthcare Lab
B. Complete the following Human Anatomy & Physiology Courses:
BMD 251Human Anatomy & Physiology I4
BMD 252Human Anatomy & Physiology II4
C. Select one of the following Statistic Courses:3
ST 210
Stat Reason and Application
BUS 245
Data Analytics I
PSY 220
Res Design and Analysis I
ST 305
Applied Stat Health Sciences
D. Select one of the following Computer Courses:3
CIS 140
Intro to Tech for Healthcare
or CIS 150
 Intro to Computer Applications
E. Select one of the following Economics courses:3
ECO 215
Prin of Microeconomics
or ECO 216
 Prin of Macroeconomics
Total Hours62

Footnote

1 Students must complete a 6 credit hour sequence either in literature (Area II - EH 215 & EH 216, EH 225 & EH 226, or EH 235 & EH 236) or history (Area IV - HY 101 & HY 102 or HY 135 & HY 136)

2 PSY 120 is required.

All undergraduates must complete two designated writing credit (W) courses, at least one of which must be in the student's major or minor.

Additional Information

LPN-BSN Pathway for Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses 

The University of South Alabama College of Nursing LPN to BSN Pathway is specifically designed to meet the needs of Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses with a current LPN license seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The LPN-BSN program prepares graduates for professional nursing practice. Upon completion of the program graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as a Registered Nurse. 

BSN Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Baccalaureate Program, graduates should be able to:

  1. Deliver professional nursing care for diverse populations across the lifespan to optimize health care outcomes.

  2. Demonstrate the application of theory and evidence from contemporary nursing science and related disciplines as a basis for clinical reasoning, management, and evaluation of professional nursing care through the use of professional writing and clinical judgment.

  3. Model responsibility and accountability for one's personal and delegated nursing care and lifelong learning to ensure excellence in nursing practice.

  4. Translate evidence into professional nursing practice to individualize patient care designed to improve care outcomes.

  5. Select principles of leadership and management that guide nursing, influence health policy, and transform health care delivery systems.

  6. Collaborate with inter-professional health care teams and consumers in delivering and advocating for safe and effective use of health care resources.

  7. Integrate professional nursing values in meeting current and emerging health needs in a dynamic, global society.

  8. Evaluate effective use of technology and information management to provide patient-centered care across the lifespan in a variety of environments.

Online LPN to BSN Professional Component

The LPN to BSN Prerequisites consist of nineteen (19) courses, totaling 62 semester credit hours. These general education courses may be completed at any regionally accredited institution. They must be successfully completed before admission to the LPN to BSN program. 

  1. The Professional Component consists of fourteen (14) fully online nursing courses for a total of 48 Credit hours.
  2. These courses must be completed at the University of South Alabama.

  3. Fourteen credit hours are applied as residential credit during the final semester of the pathway.

  4. Upper division nursing courses taken at another institution will not transfer or apply toward the 62 Credit hours required to earn the BSN degree at USA.

  5. The Professional Component may be completed in a minimum of four (4) semesters.
  6. The Professional Component must be completed within five (5) years of beginning the BSN curriculum.

Admission Criteria for LPN-BSN

  1. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.
  2. Completion of an accredited Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse Certificate.
  3. Current active, unencumbered license to practice as Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse.
  4. Complete nineteen (19) pre-requisite courses at a regionally accredited school. These 62 credit hours of general education courses are in addition to the nursing courses completed to become a LPN or LVN.
  5. Minimum grade of “C” in all prerequisite courses. 
  6. Minimum GPA of 2.5 and be in good standing within the University or previous college.

Application Procedures

  1. Admission to the University of South Alabama requires the submission of a completed application to the University of South Alabama along with official transcripts from all colleges and schools you have attended.
  2. Admission to the College of Nursing LPN to BSN program requires online submission of LPN-BSN Application with a $25 non-refundable application fee via debit or credit card. There is a $20.00 fee for non-sufficient funds.

  3. Transfer credit must comply with College of Nursing policies.

  4. Submit unofficial transcripts from other universities to the College of Nursing via email (conlpn2bsn@southalabama.edu) for review of prerequisite courses.

  5. Students who have attended a Nursing program at another school are required to provide the following to the College of Nursing email at conlpn2bsn@southalabama.edu 

    1. Letter of Good Standing (verifying student was in good moral, ethical, and legal standing with no previous disciplinary action)from the Nursing Program, signed by the Nursing Administrator of the program

    2. Transcript of all nursing courses taken with the grades earned

    3. Transfer credit will be considered upon review of course syllabi

Contingency for Admission and Initial Registration

Admission and initial registration is contingent on completion of the following requirements.

  1. Acceptance Packet
  2. Negative Drug Screen
  3. Acceptable Background Check
  4. All Health Requirements as outlined in the Medical Documents Manager.

Notification of missing documents will be sent to your JagMail email account. Only students who have successfully completed the Acceptance Packet in its entirety, have a negative drug screen and acceptable background check, and completed all required portions of the Medical Documents Manager will be permitted to register for classes.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester Deadline is March 15
  • Spring Semester Deadline is July 15
  • Summer Semester Deadline is March 1

In keeping with the dynamic changes in nursing and healthcare field, the baccalaureate curriculum may undergo change. Changes in curricula and/or admission requirements will be published as far in advance as possible. Advisors are available to assist students in adapting to those changes and planning their course of study accordingly. 

Academic Progression Policy

The University of South Alabama College of Nursing will recommend for promotion only those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of emotional and physical health, conduct, scholastic achievement, and aptitude for nursing.

  1. A grade of "C" or higher is required for all professional nursing courses. A student may repeat only one nursing course in the curriculum. Students repeating a course must take NU 302 Essentials of Professional Nursing at the same time.
  2. Student receiving a failing grade in either a didactic course or a clinical course that are co-requisites must repeat both courses the following semester to progress in the program.
  3. Students at risk of failing a didactic course or clinical course at midterm (course average 68% or below) must make an appointment and meet with an academic advisor. 
  4. A second "D", "F", or "U" will result in academic dismissal from the nursing program. Students who are academically dismissed may not return to the LPN-BSN program.
  5. A minimum GPA of 2.0 at the University of South Alabama is required to continue in the program and for graduation. Students with a GPA below 2.0 may not register for nursing courses.
  6. Dose Progression Exam Policy

Students are not allowed to administer medications in the clinical setting without demonstrating proficiency in drug calculations. Demonstration of drug calculation clears a student for any clinical course taken during the semester competency was demonstrated. Drug calculation proficiency may be demonstrated via the means below:

Scoring 90% on a Dosage Progression exam during the first clinical course of the semester (NU301, AHN 448, and NU 460).

Students have three (3) attempts to fulfill the Dosage Progression exam requirement (scoring 90%).

Failure to attend one of the three designated testing dates, results in forfeiture of the attempt. First attempt exams are administered during clinical orientation. Second and third attempt exams are course specific.

Students who are unsuccessful on all of the three scheduled dose progression exam attempts will be required to withdraw from the clinical and co-requisite theory course.

Students who are required attempts two and three will have the following grade penalties applied:

90 on 1st attempt = 100

90 on 2nd attempt = 80

90 on 3rd attempt = 70

The grade received for the dosage progression exam will account for 10% of the overall clinical grade.

7.  After completion of the ATI Capstone course embedded into NU 412, all students are required to complete the ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor. If the student is unsuccessful on the ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor, the faculty-selected NCLEX remediation questions will be assigned with completion necessary to pass the course. All students, regardless of ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor performance, are also required to attend the 3-day ATI Live Review given on campus each semester. Failure to complete the ATI Capstone course, ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor and/or remediation, other course requirements as stated in the syllabus, and attend the ATI Live Review will result in a grade of Unsatisfactory (U) for the NU 412 course and the student must repeat NU 412 the next term. If the student does not score at least 72% on the ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor, the student will be required to purchase the Virtual ATI review course. Upon successful completion of a prescribed number of modules in Virtual ATI, a grade of Satisfactory (S) will be given for the course. If the required Virtual ATI is not completed by the end of the semester, a grade of Incomplete (I) will be given. Once the student has completed the required Virtual ATI, the grade will be changed to Satisfactory (S) for the course. Failure to complete virtual ATI requirements as stated in the syllabus by the end of the following semester will result in a grade of Unsatisfactory (U) for the course.

8. Failure to show good ethical and moral character including but not limited to any of the following may result in dismissal from the program: (a) conviction of a crime, (b) disciplinary action against a nursing license in Alabama or any other state, (c) positive drug test, (d) adverse background check, or (e) disruptive behavior including online behavior. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours of any of the above stated incidents.

9. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours following an arrest. Failure to report an arrest may result in removal from the program.

10. All students are subject to testing for controlled substances and must submit to random drug testing as requested. A positive test or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.

11. All students are subject to a background check and must submit to additional background checks as requested. An adverse finding or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.

12. Students must complete the LPN-BSN program with 5 years. If a student's progression is interrupted for any reason, it is the student's responsibility to contact the Office of Student Services and apply for readmission. Students are readmitted on a space-available basis. Any alteration in usual progression may lengthen the student's program. In keeping with dynamic changes in health care and nursing, the curriculum may undergo change. Changes in curricula and/or admission requirements will be published as far in advance as possible. Advisors are available to assist students in adapting to those changes and planning their course of study accordingly.

Readmission Policy

Students who are academically dismissed from the LPN-BSN program may apply for readmission. If selected for readmission after dismissal, students may only be readmitted one time. Students readmitted to the online pathway will be required to repeat courses in which they were not successful. Students who make one D grade or lower will be dismissed and be ineligible to reapply to the program. One additional failure after readmission will be cause for final dismissal from the College of Nursing.  

Uniform Policy

The Uniform policy is provided to students at the time of admission.

Clinical Attendance

Students will be expected to attend clinical as scheduled. Some courses may require more than 20 hours per week of clinical attendance. Clinical orientation is mandatory.

Graduation Requirements

LPN-BSN students who will complete all degree requirements are required to apply for graduation by the application deadline established by the Registrar’s Office. Deadlines for each semester application are located on the Registrar’s Graduation Website.

Eligibility for National Licensure

Graduates are eligible and prepared to complete the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN® exam) and apply for licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse and to continue with graduate study. The program meets state educational requirements for licensure in Alabama and all other states in the U.S. and its territory.