Research

Research is fundamental to the advancement of nursing knowledge and the improvement of nursing practice.  Accordingly, research centers and laboratories based within the School of Nursing help to integrate and enhance faculty and student research efforts.  The School of Nursing offers motivated undergraduate students many research opportunities in nursing and related fields.  Students are independently responsible for inquiring about potential research opportunities in their field of interest.  Undergraduate students interested in research should meet with a nursing advisor and should check the School of Nursing web page (http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/) as well as the Across the University section of this Bulletin for more information on research opportunities.

Study Abroad

Students are urged to explore a full range of options for study abroad and should begin to consider this opportunity during their first year.  Early planning allows time to investigate possibilities and to plan rosters efficiently.  Nursing-specific study abroad programs are currently offered in England, Hong Kong, Israel, and Thailand.  Information on these programs is available in the School of Nursing Undergraduate Handbook, online at www.nursing.upenn.edu/students/ handbooks/.  In addition, nursing students can take advantage of one of the many Penn Summer Abroad programs offered through the College of General Studies (www.sas.upenn.edu/ CGS/summer/abroad/). Additional information about study abroad can be found in the Across the University section of this Bulletin and on the Office of International Programs web site (www.upenn.edu/oip).

Submatriculation

Master of Science in Nursing

Undergraduate nursing students obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing have the opportunity to become formally enrolled in a master’s program while still an undergraduate.  Upon consultation with an advisor, traditional and accelerated (second-degree) students may begin the submatriculation process.  Traditional students commonly begin the submatriculation process after completion of their sophomore clinical sequence.  Accelerated students may initiate the process earlier.  A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required to enter the program.  After submatriculating, students have five years to complete the Master of Science in Nursing.

University of Pennsylvania Law School

This program offers nursing students the opportunity to apply to the Penn Law School in their junior year and to submatriculate into the Juris Doctor (JD) program in their fourth year.  It is

More detailed information on submatriculation is available in the School of Nursing Undergraduate Handbook, online at www.nursing.upenn.edu/students/ handbooks/.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

Requirements for Graduation

A student is graduated upon successful completion of the curriculum as outlined in the School of Nursing Undergraduate Handbook, available in print and online at www.nursing.upenn.edu/students/ handbooks.  A student must have 40.5 course units of earned, transferred, or challenged credit.  Twenty course units must be earned at the University of Pennsylvania.  All Failures (F), Incompletes (I), No Reports (NR), and No Grade Recorded (GR) must be completed or cleared by graduation day, or the student’s name will be removed from the term’s graduation list.  A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required, and all University financial balances must be paid in full.

Requirements must be completed within a five-year period after admission to BSN degree standing.  Candidates who are unable to meet this requirement must petition for an extension.  Any additional requirements in effect at the time of re-evaluation must be completed.

Academic Standing

Student in Good Standing

A student in good standing is defined as a student who is not on financial hold or carrying past due balances, who is continuously enrolled each semester or on an approved leave of absence, who maintains a minimum GPA of 2.0 and the proper course load (without incompletes), and who is not on probation.

Warnings

Students who have a cumulative GPA or a single semester term GPA between 1.5 and 2.0 at the end of any semester will be given a warning notice.

Probation

Students will be placed on probation, rather than given the interim step of a warning, when the following situations arise:

 — The student has a cumulative GPA of less than 1.5 at the end of any semester

 — The student has a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 for two consecutive semesters

 — The student has a term GPA of less than 2.0 for two consecutive semesters