Nursing, B.S.N.

Curriculum

Students enrolled in the BSN degree program follow a rigorous program of study that is designed to build on knowledge and prepare students to successfully transition to practice as an entry-level nurse. The program includes a combination of general education, Prerequisite/Introductory, and Upper-Level Nursing Courses.

General education courses meet the requirements of Belmont's BELL Core, which is designed to improve student skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, citizenship, and connecting disciplines. Examples of General Education Courses include:

• ENG 1010 First-Year Writing
• BEL 1015 First-Year Seminar

Prerequisite and Introductory Nursing Courses are offered in the first two years of a 4-year program of study and must be successfully completed before enrolling in upper-level nursing coursework. Examples of prerequisite and introductory courses include:

• NUR 1010 Perspectives in Health Care
• NUR 1020 Cultural Competence in Nursing
• BIO 2230 Human Anatomy & Physiology I

Upper-Level Nursing Courses provide a foundation of knowledge for nurse education and may include an experiential component that includes laboratory, simulation or clinical requirements. Examples of upper-level coursework include:

• NUR 3010 Care Management I
• NUR 3011 Experiential Learning I
• NUR 3100 Nurse as Scholar
• NUR 4060 Patho/Pharm III

Additional information related to BSN plans of study is available on the links below and in the University Undergraduate Course Catalog.

Traditional BSN Program of Study

Partners in Nursing BSN Program of Study

Transfer Students

Transfer students will require careful evaluation of previous coursework from the program director and admissions counselor. Some BELL Core requirements may be accepted through appropriate coursework completed elsewhere at a regionally accredited college or university; however, specific BELL Core requirements must be completed at Belmont. For additional information, please contact our Admissions Coordinator.

The College of Nursing supports many organizations and activities for students to get involved with—both on and off campus—to support their time at Belmont and beyond.

Active participation in community life can greatly enhance the quality of a student’s educational experience—we encourage all students to participate!

Service Learning, Mission Trips, and Study Abroad

In addition to the many university-sponsored mission and study abroad trips, nursing students participate in health-related projects in our neighborhood, city, state and around the world.

Our students regularly participate in service learning through:

• Room in the Inn
• Red Cross Blood Drives
• Health Fairs
• Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinics
• Vaccine Clinics
• Contract Tracing Sites

In recent years, nursing students have participated in service learning and mission trips to:

• Africa
• Cambodia
• China
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Northern Ireland

Sigma Theta Tau International

Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), the Honor Society of Nursing, is dedicated to improving the health of people worldwide by increasing the scientific base of nursing practice. Members are nursing scholars and students committed to the pursuit of excellence in clinical practice, education, research and leadership.

Belmont's College of Nursing has always committed to excellence in nursing scholarship and practice. Belmont's chapter of STTI, Omicron Phi, was chartered on May 2, 1998. Invitations to join STTI are awarded to undergraduate students who rank in the top 35 percent of their class (after completing half of the nursing curriculum) and graduate students who have completed one-quarter of their curriculum and have demonstrated excellence in nursing.

Omicron Phi holds several events to promote the recognition of excellence and the dissemination of scholarship and participates in service projects throughout the academic year.

Student Nurses Association

The Belmont Student Nurses Association (SNA) is open to all nursing students and is an affiliate of the National Student Nurses Association. SNA provides the first opportunity for students to get involved with a professional nursing organization which is vital for nurses.

SNA sponsors events that promote healthy living or show the scope of nursing practice and provides opportunities for nursing students to participate in community service events, business meetings and social events. Members also get the benefits of a Barnes and Noble book discount and a mentorship program.

To find out more information about the Belmont SNA:

• Email sna@bruins.belmont.edu

The Baccalaureate, Post-graduate APRN and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Belmont University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.

Belmont University College of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for Nursing and the Southern Council of Collegiate Education for Nursing. The program is approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Belmont University College of Nursing is designated as a NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.

In addition, the College of Nursing holds the charter for the Omicron Phi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Click here for full accreditation and state licensure information

Belmont Nursing Admissions

Belmont offers direct entry to the BSN. Your application to Belmont serves as your nursing application. If admitted, you begin nursing courses in your first semester. An additional application to the College of Nursing is not required.

Please see below for the minimum requirements for Freshman, Transfer and Partner Program students.

• Applicants who meet these criteria are eligible for consideration, but acceptance is not guaranteed.
• Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be admitted to the University but are ineligible for entry into the nursing program.

Minimum Admission Requirements for Freshman Applicants

• 3.5 cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale
• 3.5 GPA in high school math & science courses on a 4.0 scale (if the applicant does not submit ACT/SAT scores)

Minimum Admission Requirements for Transfer Applicants

• 3.25 cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
• 3.25 GPA across all prerequisite coursework on a 4.0 scale

Minimum Admission Requirements for Partners in Nursing Students

(Partners Students are individuals on track to complete an Associate of Science degree at our Partners in Nursing Schools: Nashville State, Volunteer State and Welch College.)

• Admission is determined through a joint selection process that includes representatives from both schools. The partner school first determines eligibility.
• A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 is required for admissions consideration, with preference given to those with a cumulative GPA above 3.25.

International Students

International Student Admission Requirements

• International students, non-citizens or permanent residents should refer to Belmont's International Education page for information regarding application requirements, including TOEFL scores, transcripts and evaluation of college-level coursework from foreign institutions.
• Applicants should contact the University's Office of Admissions if they have additional questions regarding the application process.

Application Process for Undergraduate & Transfer Students

• Complete the undergraduate application for admission and submit all application materials to the Belmont University Admissions Office. A separate nursing application is not required, but when completing your application, be sure to indicate 'nursing' as your intended major.
• On the University Admissions page, you can find more information about Belmont and the admissions process, including financial aid, campus visits and residence life.

Application Process for Students Attending a Partners in Nursing Program

Belmont Program of Study for Partnership Students (PDF)

• Students interested in applying should first speak directly with the partnership school to determine their eligibility.
• Once approved, candidates may begin the application process during the fall semester before their intended fall transfer date.
• Additional information and requirements will be communicated to candidates who meet the application deadline.

For any questions about admissions or program information, please contact our Admissions Coordinator.

Belmont University offers a variety of scholarships to incoming first-year students. No separate scholarship application is required to be considered for university scholarships. Please refer to the Student Financial Services Website for additional information about scholarships and financial aid.

Individuals admitted to the College of Nursing are eligible to be considered for the two scholarships listed below, specifically for new nursing students. The application for admission serves as the scholarship application for both scholarships, with no additional application materials required. Candidates must meet the specific criteria of each scholarship. In addition, the following criteria inform the award process: GPA, class ranking/status, and community/university involvement. Award amounts typically range from $2,000 to $7,000.

Lettie Pate Whitehead Endowed Scholarship

The Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship is a leadership development and scholarship program to support deserving female students with financial needs. The scholarship is restricted to students enrolled as a major in the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and the College of Nursing and who are residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Virginia. An applicant must also possess good moral character and be a professing Christian active in their community.

Joe C. Davis Endowed Nursing Scholarship

The Joe C. Davis scholarship is a merit-based award for new student applicants of the College of Nursing and is renewable for up to four years. The scholarship renews automatically as long as you remain a nursing student and maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Additional Scholarships may be available. For further information about scholarships and financial aid, please refer to the Student Financial Services Website.