Nursing BSN

Major: Nursing
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 181.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years or three-year transfer option); No Co-op (Two-year transfer student option only)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1141

About the Program

The BS in Nursing (BSN) is a full-time, four-year option with one six-month co-op experience in the third year of study. There is also a five-year program that offers three six-month co-op experiences. For eligible transfer students, we offer a one co-op option with a three-year progression and a no co-op option which allows students to complete the nursing coursework in two full academic years. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and are eligible to sit for the RN licensure examination.

The BS in Nursing degree is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Drexel’s nursing curriculum is built to respond to the rapidly changing health care system, as well as to students' needs. The graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program of Drexel University is prepared to:

• Apply concepts from liberal arts to nursing practice.
• Demonstrate leadership behaviors that enhance patient safety and quality care.
• Apply research-based evidence to nursing practice.
• Integrate technology to support clinical decision-making in patient-centered care.
• Examine health care policy and financial/regulatory environments that influence the delivery of health care.
• Foster caring and collaborative relationships with self, patient and the health care community that provide positive outcomes.
• Practice culturally congruent care that addresses health promotion and disease prevention.
• Assimilate ethical principles and professional standards into practice using evidence-based clinical judgment.
• Apply age-specific knowledge to provide safe, competent care across the lifespan.
• Pursue lifelong learning as a means to enhance practice.

A BSN is awarded at the completion of the program.

Additional Information

For more information about the BSN with co-op option at Drexel, visit the Nursing Co-Op Program page.

Degree Requirements 

Students should contact their academic advisor for any changes to their plans of study prior to registration due to ongoing curriculum updates.

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Students not participating in co-op will not take COOP 101; 1 credit of Free Elective will be added in place of COOP 101.

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 Students must take one approved language course, as determined by student's Academic Advisor

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 Or other mathematics equivalent by placement exam.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study 

Students should contact their academic advisor for any changes to their plans of study prior to registration due to ongoing curriculum updates.

4-year, 1 Co-op

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

5-year, 3 Co-ops

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

About the Co-op

Cooperative education was designed to provide students with real-world experience in a variety of professional settings before graduation. Co-op integrates full-time work experience in the student's field of study throughout the academic program. The College of Nursing and Health Professions co-op program is one of only two of its kind in the nation.

The nursing co-op provides students with 18 months of cooperative education in addition to the traditional clinical educational experiences.

Through co-op, students will have the opportunity to learn the role of the nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel, as well as other daily professional, political and social issues in a work environment. Both before and during co-op, students will receive instruction on career management and professional development skills, such as résumé writing, job searches, interviewing skills, maintaining a career portfolio, negotiating salary and professional behavior in the workplace. The clinical background students gain from co-op, coupled with a knowledge of career management, makes the Drexel option a value-added model of nursing education.

Co-op Descriptions

First Experience
Co-op I: Nursing in Contemporary Health Networks
Students will have cooperative education experiences in managed care settings, pharmaceutical companies and other non-traditional health care work environments where nurses and nursing can affect change. Students will either work under the direction of a professional nurse or another health care professional with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree. Students will not perform any basic nursing skills in this role.

Second Experience
Co-op II: Acute and Chronic Health and Illness
Students on the four-year track participate in Co-op II, an educational experience in the traditional health care environment that emphasizes the delivery of nursing care to adults and adolescents with acute and chronic illnesses. The majority of placements will be in general and specialty medical-surgical units. Students will function in the role as an unlicensed assistive person, and their job description will be modeled similarly to the role of unlicensed assistive personnel or nursing externs.

Third Experience
Co-op III: Specialty Nursing Concentration
Students will have cooperative education experiences in a specialty area of their choice which will build upon their previous clinical courses and work experiences. For example, students may elect to specialize in labor and delivery, critical care or return to work for a pharmaceutical or managed care company. Selection of content area for the Co-op III site will be made by each student in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor. Students will be given a suggested reading list and texts to be used for supplemental reading and learning for the specialty co-op area. Students will function in the role as an unlicensed assistive person, and their job description will be modeled similarly to the role of unlicensed assistive personnel or nursing externs.

Clinical Affiliations

Clinical Placement Sites

The Undergraduate Nursing Programs have an extensive network of clinical placement sites, including:

Abington Memorial Hospital
Albert Einstein Medical Center
ARC
Althea Wright House
Belmont Center
Bryn Mawr Hospital
Paoli Hospital
Casa Farnese
Catholic Social Services
Center for Urban Development
Cooper University Hospital
Chandler Hall
Chestnut Hill Hospital
CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
Christiana Care (Wilmington Hospital)
Chester County Hospital
Crozer-Chester Medical Center
Delaware County Memorial Hospital
Devereaux Children's Behavioral Health Center
Doylestown Hospital
Fairmount Behavioral Health
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Foulkeways at Gwynedd
Friends Hospital
Gladys B Jacobs
Good Shepherd Penn Partners
Gray Manor
Harrison Community Center
Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Inspira Medical Center
Jefferson Bucks, Jefferson Torresdale
Jefferson Stratford Hospital
Kirkbride Center
Landsdale Hospital (Abington Health)
Lankenau Hospital
Lourdes Medical Center
Masonic Homes
Mercy Hospital
Methodist Hospital
Moss Rehab - AEMC
Nazareth Hospital
Norris Square
North East Treatment Centers
Our Brother's Place
Our Lady of Lourdes
Paul's Run
Pediatria
Pennsylvania Hospital
Philadelphia School District
Presbyterian Medical Center
Rejuvenations at Fair Acres
Riddle Memorial Hospital
School District of Philadelphia
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
St. John's Hospice
St. Joseph's Manor
St. Joseph's Villa
St. Mark's
St. Mary's Medical Center
S.H.A.R.E.
Shriners Hospital for Children
SPIN, Inc.
Spring Hospital
Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services
Sunday Breakfast
Taylor Hospital
Temple University Hospital
Temple Children's Hospital
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
United Methodist Communities
Village of Arts and Humanities
Virtua Health (Voorhees, Marlton, Memorial)
Watermark
West Popular Community Center
Willowcrest
Yorktown Manor
YMCA

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:

Nursing Faculty