HONORS DEGREE in NURSING  PROPOSAL

Department of Nursing

College of Health and Nursing Sciences

 

I.                   Needs and Purposes for Development of a Nursing Honors Program

A.                Needs

1.      The “growing needs” of the increased number of talented students entering the University of Delaware who desire a Bachelor’s Degree in the Science of Nursing.

2.      Interests of students and faculty to collaborate on teaching (e.g. teaching assistant program) and research (e.g. research assistant program) endeavors.

3.      Current enrollment of students in nursing and non-nursing honors courses, but Honors Degree in Nursing is not “on the books” so that students can receive it.

4.      Plans of students to pursue in-depth study in preparation for advanced education.

5.      Support for “a vision of excellence through high quality education” as described in the College of Health and Nursing Sciences and Department of Nursing mission statements.

 

B.                 Purposes

1.      To attract and retain students with high academic qualities to nursing

2.      To provide learning experiences with increased breadth and depth for students interested and capable of advanced study

3.      To promote interdisciplinary and student-teacher/mentor collaboration that leads to excellence in health care practice, education, service, and research

4.      To increase scholarship, employment, and graduate education opportunities for nursing students

 

II.                Department of Nursing Honors Degree

 

A.                Nursing Honors Degree Requirements

1.            30 honors credits must be completed before graduation 

2.         Minimum G.P.A. of 3.4

                        3.         Completion of all requirements for the Bachelor of Science in   

                                     Nursing degree

4.         At least 12 honors credits must be in 300-level (or above) courses 

(not including the first year Honors colloquium)

5.            Completion of a 3-credit honors capstone course / experience during the final 2 semesters 

6.            Honors Degree with Distinction includes 6 thesis/scholarly project Honors credits in the senior year  (UNIV401 and 402[serves as capstone])

 

B.                 Options for the completion of Nursing Honors Degree requirements

1.            Selected (new and existing) Honors sections of required courses in 

nursing  major  (Refer to proposed curriculum on page 4)

2.            New interdisciplinary Honors electives (possibly, meeting multicultural and/or second writing course requirements) may be developed as suggested by faculty including: 

   (a) Intergenerational Health Issues

   (b) Health Care Systems 

                                       (c) Alternative and Complementary Health Practices 

   (d) Genetics:  Biological, Psychological, Social, Ethical and   

         Legal Implications

   (e) Teaching in Health and Nursing Sciences

3.            In place of the 3 credit statistics requirement and 3 credit nursing research course, student may elect to take                                 

(a)    Honors: Research Concepts in Health Care [4 credits] in Junior fall semester that integrates required statistics content with research content 

(b)   Honors capstone preparation course [2 credits]

4.            Senior level capstone course options include Honors sections of NURS453, NURS455, NURS411 and/or NURS475. Honors students in teaching assistant program may take a proposed Nurse Educator Practicum as the capstone requirement. In addition, Honors capstone courses in other departments with programs associated with health careers may serve to meet this requirement.  Honors capstone requirements include the presentation of a project or paper.

5.            Courses at the 600-level or higher may be taken for honors credit (with permission from the course instructor and academic advisor).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPOSAL FOR NURSING HONORS DEGREE

 

 

The complete requirements for an Honors Baccalaureate Degree are as follows:

 

I.                     The requirements for the baccalaureate degree in the major (including all University and college requirements), as well as any other specific requirements the major department may be set for the Honors Degree.

 

All current BSN degree requirements would remain in effect. Optional substitutions will be available when they are developed. An example of an option is the substitution of an Honors nursing research course and a capstone preparation course for  STAT201 and  NURS362.

 

II.                   The general requirements for the Honors Degree:

A.     A University of Delaware cumulative grade-point index of at least 3.400 at the time of graduation.

B.      At least 30 credits earned in Honors courses.  Of these Honors credits:

1.        At least 12 must be taken at the 300-level or higher, not

      including the first-year interdisciplinary Honors colloquium.

 

      This requirement can be met by honors courses currently in existence. Such     

      courses include BISC207, PSYCH201, first year HONORS colloquia,       

      ENGL110, IFST201, NTDT200, BISC306, BISC367and Honors electives for a total of 

      29 Honors credits in the first 3 semesters.

 

     Current Honors nursing courses available include:                               

     NURS312, NURS405, NURS411, and NURS420 for a total of 15 credits.  Curricular

     revisions (currently instituted in the freshmen and sophomore classes) will include

     the goal of developing one new nursing honors option for each the remaining 5

     semesters of the new curriculum starting in 2002.

 

In addition, University Honors courses are currently available to meet the additional   elective requirement. 

A proposal of honors course options in the new BSN curriculum is attached.

 

2.        During the last 2 semesters, a 3 credit Honors degree seminar, capstone course or “approved” experience must be completed as part of the 12 credit 300-level or above requirement.

                                          

Senior level capstone course options may include Honors sections of NURS453,  NURS455, NURS411 and NURS475 as they are developed  in the new curriculum. Currently, Honors NURS420 and NURS411 will meet the capstone requirement.  In addition, Honors capstone courses beneficial to nursing majors  in other departments may be taken for this requirement. 

C.      Students must declare their intention to meet Honors Degree requirements by application to the University of Delaware Honors Program no later than May 15th of the year before graduation is anticipated.

 

Honors student advisement will support students’ progress in meeting Honors Program requirements and application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPOSED Department of Nursing HONORS Curriculum                                          October, 2001

 

Freshman Level

 

 

 

FALL

 

Honors Selections                                                                             NON-Honors Selections

Honors Colloquium                                            3 cr                         (A,B, or C restricted elective )   

BISC207 HNRS: Introduction: Biology I   4 cr  (3 + 1 lab)                (or BISC207)   

                                                                                                                CHEM105 4 cr

PSYCH201 HNRS: General Psychology     3 cr                            (or PSYCH201)     

 

Potential Honors credits available = 10  from 14 required for Freshman Fall semester                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------          

SPRING

 

Honors Selections                                                                             NON-Honors Selections

ENGL110 HNRS: Critical Reading                                 (or  ENG110 Crit Read and  writ 3 cr)                     and Writing                          3 cr

                                                                                                                CHEM106 5cr

 

BISC167 Basic Human Anat  2 cr

NURS100 New Student Orientation 1 cr

                                                                HESC155  PATHWAYS 3 cr

Potential Honors credits available =3 from 14 required for Freshman Spring semester                                               

 

               

SOPHOMORE LEVEL

 

FALL

 

Honors Selections                                                                             NON-Honors Selections

IFST201 HNRS: Life Span Development                 3 cr                         (or IFST201 Life Span Develop 3 cr)

NTDT200 HNRS: Nutrition Concepts                3 cr                         (or NTDT200 Nutrition Concepts 3 cr))

BISC306 HNRS: General Physiology         3 cr                            (or BISC276 Human Physiology 4 cr)

BISC367 HNRS: General Physiology lab   1 cr                           

Honors elective                 3 cr                                                         (or Restricted Elective)

 

                                                                NURS220 Concepts of Nursing Practice 3 cr

 

Potential Honors credits available = 13 from 16 required for Sophomore Fall semester

 

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SPRING    (Sophomore)                                                                                                                                        

 

No Honors Selections currently available                                                NON-Honors Selections

 

                                                                                BISC300 Introduction to Microbiology 4 c

Possible Honors Additions                                                               NURS230 Foundations of Nursing  3 cr

NURS222 HNRS: Pharmacology  3 cr                                            (or NURS222 Pharmacology 3cr)

NURS240 HNRS: Scientific Basis  Nursing 5cr                          (or NURS240 Sci Basis Nursing 5cr)

 

With planning, potential Honors credits = 8 out of 15 required for Sophomore Spring semester                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

JUNIOR LEVEL

 

FALL

 

Honors Selections                                                                             NON-Honors Selections

                                                               

                NURS352 Nursing Care of Adults I  2 cr

NURS354 Psychosocial Nursing  2 cr

Possible  Honors Additions:

NURS355 HNRS: Clinical Applications: Psych 3 cr                 (or NURS355 Clinical Applic: Psych 3 cr)

(Honors Clinical Section)  and/or

NURS353 HNRS:Clinical Applications: Adult I 3 cr)           (or NURS353 Clinical Applic: Adult I 3 cr)

NURS362  HNRS: Research Concepts in Health Care                 (or STAT200: Basic Stat Proc 3cr)

 (would incorporate basic statistical procedures)  4cr 

 

Honors course meeting second writing criteria 3 cr            (Non-honors second writing course 3cr)

 

 

Potential Honors                credits available = 10-13  from 16 required for Junior Fall semester

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   

SPRING

 

Honors Selections                                                                             NON-Honors Selections

 

                                                                                                                NURS356 Nursing Care: Child/Families 2cr

                                                                                                                NURS357  Clinical: Child /Families       3 cr

                                                                                                                NURS358  Nurs Care:Childbear Family 2 cr

                                                                                                                NURS359  Clinical: Childbear Family   3 cr

Honors electives currently available   3 cr                                      (or Restricted elective 3 cr)

Possible Honors Additions:

Honors Capstone Preparation 2 cr                                  (or NURS362 Research Concepts 3 cr)

 

Possible new Honors electives such as Intergenerational Health Issues, Health Care Systems, Genetics: Biological, Psychological, Social, Ethical and Legal Implications, Alternative and Complementary Health Practices  3 cr

 

Potential Honors credits available = 5 from 16 required for Junior Spring semester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SENIOR LEVEL

Honors Requirements:  Minimum of 3 credits of a capstone course/experience.

Minimum of 6 credits (UNIV401/402) for Degree with Distinction (UNIV402 qualifies as the Honors capstone experience)

         By the end of the senior year, a minimum of 30 Honors credits (including 12

         Honors credits at 300 level or above)

FALL

Honors Selections                                                                             NON-Honors Selections

                                NURS452 Nursing Care of Adults II  3 cr

                                                                                NURS454  Nursing of Populations  2 cr

 

 

Degree with Distinction – UNIV401 3 cr

Or

Honors elective  3 cr                                                                         (or free elective 3 cr)

 

Possible Honors Additions:

NURS453 Clinical Application: Adult II   3 cr*                      (or NURS453 3cr)

NURS455  Clinical Application: Community 4 cr *              (or NURS455 4cr)                               

 

Potential Honors credits available = 10 from 15 required Senior Fall semester

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SPRING

 

Honors Selections                                                                             NON-Honors Selections

                                                                                                                NURS474: Professional Practice  2 cr

 

UNIV402 Senior Thesis

(for Degree with Distinction) 3 cr*

Or

Honors elective  3 cr*                                                                      (or free elective 3cr)

 

Current Honors Selections

NURS475 HNRS Senior Preceptorship  6cr*                       (or NURS475 6cr)

NURS411 HNRS Nursing elective 3 cr*                                      (or NURS411 3cr)

 

Potential Honors credits available = 12 from 14 required for Senior Fall semester                                               

                                                                                                                                                 

Electives may be interchangeable among semesters.

3 cr multicultural course requirement that can be fulfilled simultaneously with other requirements.

 

BSN Degree with Honors requires the same number of credits as BSN Degree.

Currently, 44 credits of Honors credits are available as substitutions for required courses in BSN curriculum.  An additional 8 credits of Honors courses (NURS220 and 240) are in the early planning stages.  An additional 22 Honors credits for some clinical courses, revised statistics, research and capstone preparation courses, and Honors electives may be developed as the new curriculum is implemented. 

 

 

 

 

 

* May serve as an Honors capstone course or experience. Requires presentation (oral paper representation, contribution to a publication or poster session) of work.

 

Catalog Description:

 

Honors Bachelor of Science in Nursing

 

The recipient must complete:

 

  1. All requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
  2. All of the University’s generic requirements for the Honors Baccalaureate degree (see page __ of this catalog).

 

Courses at the 600 level or higher may be taken for honors credits (with permission from the course instructor and academic advisor).