Information for Incoming Students
Second Degree and BSN/MSN Students
Second-degree and BSN-MSN students are those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field and who are returning to school to pursue nursing. BSN-MSN students are admitted simultaneously into the BSN and MSN programs. Second-degree and BSN-MSN students must meet identical requirements and adhere to the same policies as other undergraduate students regarding academic standing and progression (see section on academic regulations in this handbook). Policies related to the undergraduate program supersede policies of the graduate program until completion of the BSN degree.
Students who are formally enrolled in the BSN-MSN Program may take no more than three non-clinical course units toward their MSN program prior to completing the BSN degree, with all MSN courses requiring the approval of the student’s BSN advisor and MSN program director. No more than half of the credits counting toward an MSN minor may be taken at the BSN level. BSN-MSN students may take:
- NURS 5250: Ethical Aspects of Health and Technology in lieu of NURS 3300: Theoretical Foundations of Health Care Ethics
- NURS 5470: Scientific Inquiry – Evidence Based Practice
- NURS 5400: Current Issues in Health and Social Policy in lieu of NURS 3340: Current Issues in Health and Social Policy
- A non-clinical nursing graduate course in lieu of the undergraduate Nursing Elective.
Following completion of the BSN degree, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 to continue in a graduate program.
Students who are enrolled in the Second-Degree or BSN-MSN Program begin their program in the summer. A student’s ability to start the program in the fall is contingent upon earning transfer credit for the following courses:
Class of December 2023 and beyond:
NURS 0061 Biologically Based Chemistry
NURS 0062 Cellular Biology
NURS 0063 Microbiology
NURS 0065 Fundamentals of Nutrition
NURS 1310 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
NURS 1320 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
NURS 2300 Introduction to Statistics
Transfer credit is awarded on an individual basis through the School of Nursing. When necessary, designated faculty will review coursework to determine transferability. All plans of study include an 11 c.u. waiver for liberal arts requirements, as students who have already completed one undergraduate degree are exempt from all sector requirements, the language requirement, the writing requirement, and free electives.
As outlined in the academic regulations section of this handbook, all students must complete at least 19.5 course units at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing to be eligible for the BSN degree.
| Excelsior Examinations |
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Second-Degree and BSN-MSN students may challenge the following non-clinical courses through Excelsior College Examinations if they have previously taken and earned a C or better in a college course on the subject and transfer credit was denied: Penn Course Number Corresponding Excelsior Exam NURS 2300 Statistics (#408) Students apply to take specific Excelsior examinations according to the guidelines specified by Excelsior College. Registration packets and course content guides can be obtained directly from Excelsior College or downloaded from their web site: www.excelsior.edu
Excelsior Examination Operations The results of all Excelsior exams must be submitted prior to taking courses for which the exam content is a prerequisite (the School of Nursing code is 3732A). Students must earn a C or better on each exam in order for credit to be awarded, and all fees for Excelsior examinations are the student’s responsibility. Excelsior transcripts should be sent to the Office of Student Information at:
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing Once the transcript has been received, the credit can be posted. Only the credit will transfer, as grades earned outside of the University of Pennsylvania are not calculated in a student’s GPA. Scores are transferable for a period of five years. Students who do not earn a C or better must enroll in and successfully complete the designated course at the University of Pennsylvania. |
| Sample Plan of Study - Class of December 2023 and Beyond |
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The following sample plan of study is just one possibility for second-degree students, and individual plans depend on what prerequisites students have fulfilled prior to matriculating at Penn. This plan may not be compatible with several academic options you might choose (e.g. study abroad, submatriculation, minors, etc). If you are interested in pursuing any of the special academic options available to you during the course of your undergraduate experience and want to know how this will alter your plan of study, please contact your faculty advisor and/or the Office of Academic Affairs at advisor@nursing.upenn.edu or 215-898-6687. Please note that all plans of study are subject to curricular change. |
RN Return Students
RN return students are registered nurses who are entering the School of Nursing through the external transfer process in order to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Registered nurses who have a minimum of eight transferable college courses apply for direct admission to the School of Nursing through the Office of Transfer Admissions.
Registered nurses complete the same curricular requirements as traditional BSN students. However, RN returns may challenge the following clinical courses, based on their RN experience, through Excelsior College Examinations:
Penn Course Number Corresponding Excelsior Exam
NURS 1010/1020 Professional Strategies (#426)
NURS 1600 Fundamentals of Nursing (#403)
NURS 2150/2250 Maternal and Child Nursing (#457)
NURS 2450/2550 Adult Nursing (#554)
NURS 2350 Psych Mental Health Nursing (#503)
In addition, RN Return students may challenge the following non-clinical courses if they have previously taken and earned a C or better in a college course on the subject and transfer credit was denied.
Penn Course Number Corresponding Excelsior Exam
NURS 2300 Statistics (#408)
Students apply to take specific Excelsior examinations according to the guidelines specified by Excelsior College. Registration packets and course content guides can be obtained directly from Excelsior College or downloaded from their web site: www.excelsior.edu. For additional information, contact: Excelsior Examination Operations, 7 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-5159 or by phone at 888-647-2388.
The results of all Excelsior exams must be submitted prior to taking courses for which the exam content is a prerequisite (the School of Nursing code is 3732A). Students must earn a C or better on each exam in order for credit to be awarded, and all fees for Excelsior examinations are the student’s responsibility. Excelsior transcripts should be sent to the Office of Student Information at:
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Office of Student Information, Suite M-24
Claire M. Fagin Hall
418 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6096
Once the transcript has been received, the credit can be posted. Only the credit will transfer, as grades earned outside of the University of Pennsylvania are not calculated in a student’s GPA. Scores are transferable for a period of five years. Students who do not earn a C or better must enroll in and successfully complete the designated course at the University of Pennsylvania.
As outlined in the academic regulations section of this handbook, all students must complete at least 19.5 course units at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing to be eligible for the BSN degree.