Degree Requirements

Major
Seven courses including:

• NUR 300 Trends and Issues in Nursing
• NUR 305 Communication
• NUR 306 Paradigms in Nursing
• NUR 403 Families and the Life Cycle
• NUR 410 Community Health Nursing I
• NUR 411 Community Health Nursing II
• NUR 490 Leadership/Management

A minimum grade of 2.0 in each nursing course and a cumulative major GPA of 2.50 are required. Students also must complete Augsburg’s residence and general education requirements.

The Critical Thinking (CT) graduation skill is embedded throughout the required courses in the nursing major and is met by completing the major. The graduation skill in Speaking (S) is met by completing the following course:
S: NUR 305—Communication

Consult the department chair or an academic adviser for requirements for meeting the Writing (W) and Quantitative Reasoning (QR) graduation skills.

Students petitioning to transfer in upper division nursing courses from another institution to meet requirements in the nursing major at Augsburg must consult an adviser about potential adjustments to their course requirements to fulfill each of these graduation skills.

The program has been planned so that courses in the nursing major can be completed over 15 months (full-time study, two courses per term) with a summer break; however, students may pursue their studies at a slower and more flexible pace.

Courses in the nursing major are offered on weekday evenings with a practicum course (NUR 411) requiring additional weekday time. More time may be required to complete the total course of study depending on the number of liberal arts (general education) courses needed to complete the BSN degree, and the number of credits transferred from other colleges or universities. Students in nursing may take non-nursing courses in both day school and Weekend College. Students interested in pursuing the nursing major should consult with BSN admissions staff in the Admissions Office for program planning.

Departmental Honors
Admission to the honors major requires: a GPA of at least 3.60 in the major and 3.30 overall, application to the department chair by November 1 of the senior year, recommendation by nursing faculty, and honors thesis to be presented before a faculty committee by April 15. Candidates register for NUR 499 to complete the honors requirement.

Note regarding Latin honors: To be eligible for Latin honors, a student must meet minimum GPA standards as well as complete a minimum of fourteen traditionally graded credits at Augsburg and have no more than two elective pass/no pass graded credits at Augsburg (classes offered only as P/N by the department will not be counted, nor will “N” grades).

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
The following steps may be taken in any order, but all must be completed prior to application for admission into the nursing major.

1. Submit an application to Augsburg College. All applicants must present a high school diploma or equivalent and a 2.20 GPA.
2. Graduation from a nationally accredited nursing program: Applicants must have graduated from a nationally accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program with a 2.50 overall GPA.
3. Unencumbered RN licensure: The applicant must be a registered nurse who is licensed and currently registered to practice in Minnesota prior to beginning the nursing major.
4. Current clinical practice: Applicants must give evidence of current clinical nursing practice (within the past five years). This may include graduation from a school of nursing, work experience, completion of a nursing refresher course, or an acceptable equivalent.
5. Applicants must have an updated immunization record.

Options for Completing the Degree
Augsburg recognizes that nurses have a variety of time schedules, personal responsibilities, and work demands that must be taken into account in any decision to work toward a college degree. For this reason, Augsburg offers full- and part-time sequential alternatives for pursuing a nursing degree.

Nursing courses at Augsburg are available evenings and weekends. Nursing classes usually meet on alternate weekday evenings for three-to-four-hour time blocks. Clinical practicum requirements usually occur on weekdays. Optional immersion practicums abroad are scheduled throughout the year. Check with the Department of Nursing for details.

It is recommended that most liberal arts courses be taken before starting the nursing major. Nursing majors can complete courses toward the baccalaureate at the Minneapolis campus and in Rochester, Minn.