Pre-Professional Year 1 (30 credit units)
The following high school courses are required as pre-requisites for the pre-professional year of study: English A30 and B30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, and Math B30 (recommended Math C30) or Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30.
As well, a pre-professional year of study at a post-secondary level is required with the required 30 credit units of courses showing a minimum weighted average of 60%. Applicants who have English as a second language are required to undergo English language testing to determine admission to the program. Information about the language proficiency tests and required scores are available on the College of Nursing website.
Heart Saver CPR Level C with AED must be submitted by October 15 of the second year of the nursing program.
A Standard First Aid Certificate may be obtained before the start of the program, but must be obtained by October 15th of the second year of the nursing program.
The following University of Saskatchewan courses meet the requirements for the Pre-Professional year in the nursing program. Other educational institutions may offer equivalent courses. Please consult the College of Nursing regarding equivalencies from other institutions.
Register for the following courses (or their equivalents) (21 credit units):
- 3 credit units of English: ENG 110.6 or ENG 111.3 or ENG 112.3 or ENG 113.3 or ENG 114.3 or equivalent
- 3 credit units of Native Studies: NS 100-400 level or equivalent or the University of the Arctic Courses BCS 321.3 or BCS 322.3 or equivalent
- 3 credit units of Psychology: PSY 121.3 (PSY 100.3 or PSY 110.6) or equivalent
- CHEM 112.3 or equivalent
- BIOL 120.3 or equivalent
- STAT 244.3 or equivalent
- NUTR 120.3 or equivalent *pre-existing Nutrition credit must have been obtained within the past 10 years
Social Science Requirement (3 credit units)
- INTS 100.3 and NRTH 101.3 may not be used to fulfill the Social Science Requirement.
Social Sciences include any 100-400 level of the following:
Electives (6 credit units)
Electives provide students with choice to customize their program. Students are encouraged to take courses that interest them in areas that meet the social science and open elective credit requirements. Some suggested elective courses include: Kinesiology, Women’s and Gender Studies, Anatomy, and Medicine Terminology.
Details on suggested elective options.
Please note: Any course for which the University of Saskatchewan gives credit is acceptable except HSC 120.3 or HLTH 100.3, KIN 223.3, EXT 305, and EXT 405. Kinesiology activity courses (KINA) are not acceptable. Students taking electives from the University of Regina should note that most courses offered through the Schools of Human Justice and Social Work at the University of Regina are NOT granted credit by the University of Saskatchewan and so are NOT acceptable as open electives. If you have already taken one of these University of Regina courses or if you have any questions about whether or not a course is acceptable, particularly for Kinesiology and Health Sciences courses, call the College of Nursing office at (306) 966-6221. KHS 470.3 is not acceptable.
Students will be considered for admission with one deficiency in either 3 credit units of a Social Science, Nutrition, Stats or Native Studies. A grade of 50% will be used in place of this deficient course for purposes of calculating an admission average. Deficiencies must be cleared by December 31.
Nursing Year 2 (36 credit units)
Term 1 (15 credit units)
- PHAR 250.3
- PHSI 208.6 (over term 1 and 2)
- NURS 200.3
- NURS 202.3
- NURS 204.3
Term 2 (15 credit units)
- MCIM 224.3
- PHSI 208.6 (over term 1 and 2)
- NURS 201.3
- NURS 203.3
- NURS 205.3
- *Students who have taken other courses that meet the requirements for MCIM 224 or PHSI 208 must have a minimum grade of 60% and the course(s) must be less than 10 years old.
Term 3 (6 credit units)
Nursing Year 3 (36 credit units) – Students will be assigned to a specific timetable
Terms 1, 2, 3 (36 credit units)
- NURS 304.3
- NURS 305.6
- NURS 306.3
- NURS 321.3
- NURS 322.3
- NURS 307.3 and NURS 308.3
- NURS 330.3 and NURS 331.3
- NURS 332.3 and NURS 333.3
Nursing Year 4 (30 credit units) – Students will be assigned to a timetable
Choose from one of the following two timetables:
Term 1 or 2 (15 credit units)
- NURS 414.3
- NURS 422.3
- NURS 430.3
- NURS 431.6
- NURS 452.0
Term 1 or 2 (15 credit units)
- 3 credit units of Nursing electives, or equivalent, in consultation with the College of Nursing.
- NURS 434.3
- NURS 450.9
Requirements for Completion of the Degree
A minimum of 60% of the total course credits must be taken at the U of S (excluding the pre-professional year requirements).
Students with prior university credit(s) are advised to contact the College of Nursing to ensure proper sequencing and granting of transfer credit(s). Students wishing to take a course from another post-secondary institution must obtain written permission from the College of Nursing. Please complete the application form.
All courses to be counted for the degree must be completed within six years of enrolment in the program.
Degrees with Distinction and Great Distinction
The B.S.N. degree with Distinction will be awarded to students whose Cumulative Weighted Averages for years 2, 3, and 4 is 78%. The B.S.N. degree with Great Distinction will be awarded to students whose Cumulative Weighted Averages for years 2, 3, and 4 is 83%.
Promotion and Graduation
Students are required to maintain an annual weighted average of 60% in Nursing courses and an overall weighted average of 60% for Nursing and non-Nursing courses.
Students who do not achieve annual weighted averages of 60% overall and in their Nursing courses may be required to discontinue. Students who are required to discontinue will not be eligible to return to the program for one academic year.
- Students may be required to withdraw from the program if continuation in the program is deemed to be unsafe to themselves or others.
- To graduate, students must have passed all required courses with a minimum cumulative Nursing weighted average of 60% and a minimum cumulative weighted average of 60% overall.
- A minimal pass grade in clinical will be allowed only once throughout the program. If the student obtains a ‘minimal pass’ grade a second time, the student will be required to repeat the course and receive a minimum of a ‘satisfactory’ grade in that clinical course and in all subsequent clinical courses.
- The set averages for distinction and great distinction will be 78% for distinction and 83% for great distinction.
Failure to Meet the Requirements for Progress or Graduation
If a student has not met the above requirements, a course of action deemed appropriate to the degree of failure to meet the standards for progress or graduation will be determined by the Undergraduate Education Committee. The course of action required of the student may include one or more of the following:
(a) If a supplemental examination is granted, pass that examination.
(b) Repeat the failed course(s).
(c) Take those courses deemed advisable by the program to constitute a make-up year.
(d) Repeat some or all courses taken during the year.
(e) Be placed on Probation under the conditions determined by the Administrative Committee.
(f) Discontinue studies in the program for one academic term or year.
(g) Discontinue studies in the program.
Attendance
- Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students for all orientations, classes, seminars, labs, and clinical experiences. A student who is consistently late and/or absent from classes, seminars, and/or labs may be unable to meet the course requirements, and may not be able to receive a pass in the course.
- If a student misses more than 10% of clinical/lab experiences in a course, he/she may be unable to meet the course requirements, and may not be able to receive a pass in the course.
- If a student is unable to attend or will be late for a lab or clinical experience, he/she must notify the instructor prior to the start of the learning experience.
- At the discretion of a course committee, attendance at classes, labs, and/or seminars for the particular course may be designated as mandatory. Students must attend these learning experiences in order to receive a pass in the course.
- If an instructor deems a student unsafe or unprepared for a learning experience, the student may be excluded from the experience; thus, the student may not be able to meet the course requirements.
Guidelines for Student Responsibility
The College of Nursing adheres to the procedures and policies as set out by the University of Saskatchewan. If a student feels aggrieved by a decision of the College/Program Committee, recourse is available. Student Appeals in Academic Matters, Student Appeals in Non-Academic Matters and Student Academic Misconduct are available from the Office of the University Secretary. In addition, it is expected that nursing students will practice nursing within the bounds of the philosophy of the program and the CNA Code of Ethics for Nursing, 2008. The application of the code stipulates that student-teacher and student-client encounters should be conducted in accordance with ethical nursing practices.
Nursing students will provide safe care by refraining from putting clients in jeopardy through knowingly committing acts of commission or omission. Failure to meet the expected standard of care will be dealt with by the College.
Student Appeals
Appeals are conducted according to University of Saskatchewan regulations (refer to University of Saskatchewan procedures).
Grading
A full explanation of the grading system and the literal descriptors associated with percentage grades will be provided to students in each course.
- The nursing and cumulative averages are based on years 2, 3, and 4. Transfer credits from other institutions will not be used in the calculation.
- Although advanced credit toward the nursing degree can be given for course work completed at a university other than the U of S, a minimum of 60% of the total course credits must be takent at the U of S (excluding the pre-professional year requirements). A minimum of 61.2 credit units in years 2, 3 and 4 must be completed at the U of S.
- A ‘minimal pass’ grade in clinical will be allowed only once throughout the program. If the student obtains a ‘minimal pass’ grade a second time, the student will be required to repeat the course and receive a minimum of a ‘satisfactory’ grade in that clinical course and in all subsequent clinical courses.
Withdrawals
Students may withdraw from a course, but should note that a first-term course must be dropped by November 15 (or February 15 for a course extending over both terms), and March 15 for a second-term course.
Before withdrawing from a course students are encouraged to discuss this action with their advisor.
Supplemental Final Examinations
- Supplemental examinations are not granted for clinical nursing courses.
- No supplemental will be granted in a course that has not had a final examination.
- To be eligible to apply for a supplemental final examination, a student must have obtained a final mark of 40-49% in the course. In addition, the student must have a weighted overall average and weighted nursing average of at least 60% for the academic term.
- Supplemental examinations must be applied for within three (3) weeks of the end of the examination period.
- University level policies related to supplemental examinations are outlined in the University Council Regulations on Examinations (1.4.6).
