SUNYIT offers a curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. The baccalaureate program is designed to serve licensed registered nurses from state-approved associate or diploma nursing programs who are prepared to focus on their professional and career development.
Students may attend the SUNYIT program on a full-time or part-time basis. The nursing program is offered in a hybrid format with all courses accessible online through the SUNY Learning Network (SLN). All nursing courses will include some synchronous classes. Some of the synchronous classes may be attended in person on the Utica campus and all will be available online via your computer. The amount of synchronous class work will depend on the content of each course and vary according to the needs of the courses. Technological needs to access the course content will minimally include a computer with webcam and microphone ability (the use of a wired headset is recommended.) Additional specifics of each course can be found on the SUNYIT nursing website.
Admission to the program occurs in both the fall and spring semesters.
The curriculum includes coursework in the theoretical bases of professional nursing practice, comprehensive health assessment, nursing research and evidence based practice nursing leadership, and public health nursing science.
As with all programs at SUNYIT, the nursing program includes a strong base in the arts and sciences. This provides students with the tools and knowledge to relate their experiences to their work and to the broader context of their lives. It helps create a more diverse, complete education that continues to grow through life long learning.
Articulation
The nursing program, in support of the mission of SUNYIT, offers direct articulation and joint admission agreements with associate degree and diploma nursing programs. These agreements provide potential students advanced advisement regarding transfer of credits.
General Admission Information for BS Nursing
Transfer of Semester Hours
- Students must submit to the director of admissions official transcripts of any college courses they wish to have evaluated for transfer of semester hours.
- Only those semester hours acceptable toward meeting the curriculum requirements of the nursing program will be accepted for transfer; transfer credits are determined on an individual basis. Up to 76 credits may transfer from the lower division level, typically including 30 credits in nursing and up to 46 credits in the liberal arts and sciences.
- No “D” grade will be transferred in any program required course.
- Only courses with a minimum grade of “C” are considered for transfer as upper division transfer semester hours.
Academic Requirements
Before being admitted into the baccalaureate nursing courses at SUNYIT, a potential student must meet the following requirements:
- Applicant must be a graduate of a state-approved associate degree or diploma nursing program.
- Prior to admission, each student is required to have a minimum of 26 lower division semester hours in arts and sciences courses, or equivalent, in English composition, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, introductory psychology, and introductory sociology.
- Applicants who need to validate lower division arts and sciences credits may do so through Excelsior College or CLEP tests. CLEP tests may be scheduled at SUNYIT by contacting the Learning Center.
- Students are required to pass an upper division writing course within the first 32 semester hours after matriculation at SUNYIT. Any student may be exempt from the required course if they successfully complete the test-out procedure established.
Program Policies
- All Nursing students must submit proof of Licensure, CPR certification and Health Clearance to the Health and Wellness Center prior to the start of classes.
- Prerequisites for participation in the clinical nursing courses (NUR 444, NUR 474) include:
a. Licensure – A copy of the student’s current New York State R.N. Registration certificate must be on file in the Health & Wellness Office.
b. Health Clearance – Written evidence of the satisfactory completion of the health requirements for the Department of Nursing and Health Professions and health agencies must be on file in the Health and Wellness Center.
c. CPR Certification – Written evidence of current satisfactory completion of CPR certification must be on file in the Health & Wellness Office.
d. Matriculated status – fulfillment of all prerequisite and admission requirements. - Degree Requirements: the degree applicant must meet the requirements of the B.S. degree with a major in nursing and the general education requirements as determined at the time of admission.
- Grading: The student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to remain in good standing.
– The student must obtain a minimum grade of “C” in each nursing course.
– The student must pass both the theoretical and clinical components of a nursing course, or the course must be repeated in its entirety. A student may repeat a nursing course only once.
– If a minimum grade of “C” is not obtained a second time, the student will be required to withdraw from the nursing program. - Withdrawal from Program: The Department of Nursing and Health Professions reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any student whose continuance in the program would be detrimental to the health and safety of self or others.
- Add/Drop Courses: A student dropping co-requisites of a nursing course will also be required to drop the applicable nursing course.
- Academic Overload: A full-time student desiring to take more than 16 semester hours in either the fall or spring term must demonstrate the ability to carry an overload by achieving a 3.25 GPA while carrying 16 semester hours in the previous semester. Any overload must be approved in writing by the Chair of the Department of Nursing and Health Professions.
- Readmission: Students seeking readmission to the Department of Nursing and Health Professions will have their coursework evaluated by the Academic Standards Committee of the Department of Nursing and Health Professions. Upper division nursing credits taken more than five years before admission will be evaluated for applicability to the student’s new program of study.
R.N. Licensure
A current New York (NY) Registered Nursing (RN) License is required upon completion of first semester coursework. Students who do not have a current NY State RN License by the end of the first semester may NOT take additional nursing courses until licensure is obtained.
Clinical Experiences
Principles of nursing are explored and examined more fully within a wide variety of diverse community and clinical health care patient settings which include hospitals, schools, health care agencies, community based and public health focused programs. The clinical experiences are designed to allow working registered nurses to continue their education and complete their baccalaureate degree without interruption. Students must meet licensure, CPR and health clearance requirements upon admission. These requirements must be updated prior to taking clinical courses NUR444 and NUR474. Students must have a clear and unencumbered Nursing license in order to participate in clinical experiences. Failure to report any license sanction or condition will result in automatic failure of the course and removal from the nursing program.
Unsafe clinical performance is care that seriously jeopardizes the patient’s well-being and/or causes potential oar actual harm to self of others. A student demonstrating a pattern of unsafe performance will not be allowed to continue in the clinical nursing course.
In addition, students are required to adhere to legal and ethical standards as established by regulatory agencies and nursing professional standards. Failure to comply with the above is cause for immediate dismissal from the program.
Health Requirements
All students must meet the health requirements of the nursing program and health agencies. Each student must be able to perform a full range of clinical activities. Satisfactory health clearance must be complete and on file in the Health and Wellness Center upon admission, and prior to participating in each of the clinical courses (NUR 444 and NUR 474). Health forms will require students to be free from physical or mental impairments, including habituation or addiction to depressants, stimulants, narcotics, alcohol, or other behavior-altering substances that might interfere with the performance of their duties or would impose a potential risk to patients or personnel. Attendance at clinical activity without prior clinical clearance will result in clinical failure.
Nursing Facilities
The nursing program makes use of new and modern facilities, laboratories and equipment giving students the opportunity to learn from current research and developments. Laboratory equipment features audio-visual materials, computer software and complete health assessment laboratories with examination tables, full scale anatomical models, diagnostic instruments and video monitoring. Students also make use of the latest equipment available in health care facilities where they apply classroom theory to practical situations. All students have access to SUNYIT computer laboratories, assessment labs and other venues throughout campus.
Computer Requirements
Computer compatible with the current ANGEL platform. Students may go to https://sunyit.sln.suny.edu/default.asp to check computer capabilities. Students must have a USB headset with microphone. A wired internet connect is preferred.
Transportation and Professional Attire
All students must provide their own transportation for field trips, laboratory, and clinical assignments associated with their nursing courses. Professional attire and roles will be specified for each course by the clinical professor in collaboration with agency supervisors.
Sigma Theta Tau International
Sigma Theta Tau International is the Honor Society of Nursing. The Department of Nursing and Health Professions’ Iota Delta Chapter includes in its membership students, alumni, faculty, and community leaders in nursing. The purposes of this society are to recognize superior achievement and the development of leadership qualities to foster high professional standards, to encourage creative work, and to strengthen commitment to the ideals and purposes of the profession. Eligibility is determined by scholastic achievement, evidence of professional potential, and/or marked achievement in the field of nursing.
Faculty
The faculty, with their broad and varied experiences and educational philosophies, are outstanding proponents of baccalaureate education for registered nurses. The faculty are highly qualified to assist the adult learner and guide both the new registered nurse and those with extensive and/or varied experiences through the program. Faculty serve as academic advisors to all students.
Requirements
Students shall satisfy the requirements listed below.
SUNY General Education Requirements – (30 credits)
All SUNY students must satisfy the following requirements.
No fewer than 30 credits must be attained from the SUNY approved General Education Course List with the following provisions:
- Mathematics (STA 100 required by program)
- Basic Communication (ENG 101 or equivalent)
- At least five (5) out of the following eight (8) SUNY General Education categories:
- Natural Science (BIO 215 w/lab required by program)
- Social Science (PSY 100)
- American History
- Western Civilization
- Other World Civilization
- Humanities
- The Arts
- Foreign Language
NOTE: You may take more than one course in a given category to complete this 30 credit hour requirement, but you must also satisfy the appropriate number of categories.
Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements – (30 credits)
The New York State Education Department (SED) requires a student earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree to attain no fewer than 60 credits of combined SUNY General Education and Liberal Arts/Sciences courses. There may be overlap between courses meeting the SUNY General Education Requirements, Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements, and Program Core requirements but a student may receive course credits only once even if multiple requirements are satisfied by a single course. The total number of combined credit hours must be no fewer than 60 credits.
SUNYIT degree requirements:
- Natural Sciences One course which shall be a General Education Natural Science course. For Nursing students, the requirement is satisfied by BIO 215 and BIO 216. Both courses are with a lab.
- Upper-Division Writing Course See the Catalog descriptions of COM courses to find specific courses that satisfy this requirement. Recommended course for nursing students is COM 308
Specific requirement for Nursing majors includes:
STA 100 Statistical Methods
BIO 215 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 216 Anatomy and Physiology II
BIO 275 Microbiology
BIO 350 Advanced Physiology
Genetics
Social Science courses required for Nursing majors:
PSY 100 Principles of Psychology
PSY 220 Life-Span Developmental Psychology
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
Cultural Anthropology – for example ANT 310 or ANT 382
| Nursing Core Coursework | (62 credits) |
| Transfer of Lower Division Nursing Credits | 30 |
| NUR 300 Transitions: Bridge to Baccalaureate Nursing Education | 2 |
| NUR 313 Theoretical Bases for Professional Nursing Practice Pre/Co-requisite: NUR 300 | 4 |
| NUR 314 Comprehensive Health Assessment Pre-requisites: Microbiology, Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II. Pre/Co-requisite: NUR 300 | 4 |
| NUR 325 Epidemiology in Nursing Pre/Co-requisite: NUR 300 |
2 |
| NUR 344 Ethical Issues in Nursing Pre/Co-requisite: NUR 300 | 2 |
| NUR 390 Nursing ResearchPre/Co-requisites: NUR 313, Statistics | 4 |
| NUR 444 Nursing Leadership Prerequisites: Matriculated status, NUR 313, NUR314, current NY Registered Prof. Nurse license, current CPR certification, updated health clearance on file; Pre/Co-requisites: NUR 344 | 4 |
| NUR 455 Public Health Nursing Science I Prerequisites: NUR 313, NUR 314, NUR 325, Statistics Pre/Co-rerequisite: BIO 350, BIO 351 | 4 |
| NUR 474 Public Health Nursing Science II Prerequisites: NUR 390, NUR 455, current New York State Registered Professional Nurse license, current CPR certification, updated health clearance on file.Pre/Co-requisites: NUR 444 | 4 |
| NUR 490 Culminating Seminar Pre/Co-requisites: NUR 474; Student must be within 4 credits of graduation at completion of culminating seminar. | 2 |
| Open Electives | 2 |
| Total Credits | 124 |
Sample Baccalaureate Program – Full Time
Printable PDF Sample Plans of Study can be found at: sunyit.edu/nursing/sample_plans
| First Year: Fall | |
| NUR 300 Transitions: Bridge to Baccalaureate Nursing Education |
2 |
| NUR 313 Theoretical Bases for Professional Nursing Practice |
4 |
| NUR 314 Comprehensive Health Assessment |
4 |
| Cultural Anthropology | 4 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
| First Year: Spring | |
| NUR 390 Nursing Research | 4 |
| Stats 100 | 4 |
| BIO 350 Advanced Physiology | 4 |
| NUR 325 Epidemiology in Nursing |
2 |
| NUR 344 Ethical Issues in Nursing |
2 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
| Second Year: Fall | |
| NUR 444 Nursing Leadership |
4 |
| NUR 455 Public Health Nursing Science I |
4 |
| Genetics |
4 |
| Upper Division Writing | 4 |
| Total Credits | 16 |
| Second Year: Spring | |
| NUR 474 Public Health Nursing Science II |
4 |
| NUR 490 Culminating Seminar |
2 |
| GEN ED/Liberal Arts Elective | 4 |
| GEN ED/Liberal Arts Elective | 4 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
Sample Baccalaureate Program – Part Time
| First Year: Fall | |
| NUR 300 Transitions: Bridge to Baccalaureate Nursing Education |
2 |
| NUR 313 Theoretical Bases for Professional Nursing Practice |
4 |
| Total Credits | 6 |
| First Year: Spring | |
| BIO 350 Advanced Physiology | 4 |
| NUR 325 Epidemiology in Nursing |
2 |
| NUR 344 Ethical Issues in Nursing |
2 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Second Year: Fall | |
| NUR 314 Comprehensive Health Assessment |
4 |
| Cultural Anthropology | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Second Year: Spring | |
| NUR 390 Nursing Research | 4 |
| Stats 100 | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Third Year: Fall | |
| NUR 444 Nursing Leadership |
4 |
| Upper Division Writing | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Third Year: Spring | |
| Genetics |
4 |
| GEN ED/Liberal Arts Elective | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Fourth Year: Fall | |
| NUR 455 Public Health Nursing Science I |
4 |
| GEN ED/Liberal Arts Elective | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Fourth Year: Spring | |
| NUR 474 Public Health Nursing Science II |
4 |
| NUR 490 Culminating Seminar |
2 |
| Total Credits | 6 |