Education for the practice of professional nursing demands a substantial knowledge of nursing, drawing from foundation knowledge of the behavioral and biological sciences. Three components comprise the baccalaureate curriculum: liberal arts education, nursing practice, and electives.
The liberal arts education component includes courses in the sciences, humanities, social studies, and religious studies. The majority of these requirements are met in the first two years.
The nursing component includes lectures, laboratory, and clinical courses concentrated in the last four semesters of the program. The nursing courses include coursework relevant to professional practice, delivery of nursing care, systems for care delivery, and leadership skill development appropriate to current dynamic and diverse health care settings. Clinical courses, offered in both hospital settings and the community, provide students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
Clinical Education Students are prepared for the professional practice of nursing in a variety of settings such as hospitals, home care agencies, and community-based health care facilities. In addition to clinical laboratories which are located on campus, we maintain contracts with over 100 institutions in the greater Bay Area for our clinical rotations, which provide students with a broad and diverse exposure to nursing, multicultural health practices, and state-of-the-art research. Close supervision of students is maintained, usually with a maximum of 8 or 9 students in a clinical group - based on agency regulations and professional standards.
During the last term of the program students are assigned a clinical nurse preceptor, with whom they work on a 1:1 basis. Clinical preceptors are carefully selected for their experience in the clinical management of patients and for their teaching excellence. The preceptors work closely with the program to ensure that students achieve their clinical objectives and course requirements. Clinical rotations take place in a variety of settings to meet the learning needs of students.
At the completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for entry into practice.
Curriculum Overview Intercollegiate Nursing Program (BS Nursing)Freshman Year—First Semester
Collegiate Seminar 20/120 Greek Thought 3.5
English 4 Composition 3.5
Biology 15/16 lab Human Anatomy 3.5
Psychology 1 Introduction to Psychology 3.5
Total 14.0
Intersession
Elective 4.0
Freshman Year—Second Semester
Collegiate Seminar 21/121 lab Roman, Early Christian,
Medieval Thought 3.5
English 5 Argument and Research 3.5
Biology 25/26 lab Human Physiology 3.5
Chemistry 2/3 lab Principles of Chemistry 5.0
Total 15.5
Sophomore Year—First Semester
Nursing 37 Intro to Professional Nursing 3.0
Collegiate Seminar 122 Renaissance,
17th and 18th Century Thought 3.5*
Biology 40/41 lab Microbiology 3.5
Psychology 140 Human Development 3.5
Nursing 2 Nutrition 2.0
Foreign Language 3.5*
Total 15.5–19.0*
Intersession
Elective or Education 173 Effective Helping 4.0
Sophomore Year—Second Semester
Religious Studies 97 Survey of Biblical Literature 3.5
Nursing 119 Pathophysiology 3.0
Nursing 124 Health Assessment 3.0
Math 4 Introduction to Probability & Statistics 3.5
Foreign Language 3.5*
Total 13.0–16.5*
Junior Year—First Semester
Nursing 120 Managing Care of Adults I 5.0
Nursing 130 Mental Health Nursing 6.0
Nursing 118 Pharmacology 3.0
Total 14.0
Junior Year Intersession
Elective, Religious Studies 4.0*
Junior Year—Second Semester
Collegiate Seminar 123 19th & 20 Century Thought 3.5*
Nursing 128 Healthy Aging 2.0
Nursing 136 Managing Care of Adults II 5.0
Nursing 140 Reproductive Health Care 6.0
Total 16.5*
Senior Year—First Semester
Nursing 154 Nursing Care of Infants, Children, and Youth 5.5
Nursing 164 Managing Care of Adults III 5.0
Nursing 108 Nursing Research 2.0
Total 12.5
Senior Year Intersession
Elective 4.0*
Senior—Second Semester
Nursing 160 Nursing Leadership, Management,
and Health Policy 3.0
Nursing 170 Community Health Nursing 5.0
Nursing 190L Senior Synthesis 6.0
Total 14.0
Total Units 129 to 133
*Requirements may vary depending on units transferred from
other colleges.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (2+2 Option) Degree Requirements
The 2+2 Pre-Nursing program is offered in cooperation with
Holy Names University, Oakland, Mills College, Oakland, and
Saint Mary’s College of California, Moraga. This new program
allows students multiple options to secure the liberal learning
and science courses required as the foundation for professional
nursing education. Admission to the Samuel Merritt College BSN
program (2+2 option) is dependent upon successful completion
of the previous course work with a “B” average (3.0 GPA) or
better, the attainment of a score at or above the national average
on the Nurse Entrance Test (NET), and successfully completing a
criminal background check. Prospective students should consult
the catalogs of these respective colleges for admission requirements
and courses to be taken.
Transfer Students
Transfer students may be enrolled in the program. Students who
desire to transfer into the 2+2 Pre-Nursing program must meet
all of the same requirements as expected from the colleges and
the university named above. Prospective students are asked to
check the Samuel Merritt College website (www.samuelmerritt.
edu) for updates on admission requirements and ability to be
admitted as a transfer student to the 2+2.
2+2 BSN Curriculum Overview
Junior Year—31 Units
Junior One
Nursing 037 Introduction to Nursing 3.0
Nursing 125 Health Assessment I 4.0
Nursing 119 Pathophysiology 3.0
Nursing 129 Mental Health Nursing 5.0
General Education TBA 3.0
Total 18.0
Junior Two
Nursing 118 Pharmacology 3.0
Nursing 120 Managing Care of the Adult I 5.0
Nursing 128 Healthy Aging 2.0
Nursing 136 Managing Care of the Adult II 5.0
Total 15.0
Senior Year—32 Units
Senior One
Nursing 108 Nursing Research 2.0
Nursing 144 Maternity Nursing 5.0
Nursing 154 Care of Infants, Children, and Youth 5.0
Nursing 164 Managing Care of Adults III 5.0
Total 17.0
Senior Two
Nursing 160 Leadership 3.0
Nursing 170 Community Health 5.0
Nursing 190 Synthesis 6.0
General Education Course II (TBA) 3.0
Total 17.0
Total Units 67 units
After Graduation
The BSN degree is the starting point of a rewarding career in nursing. Your BSN degree assures your employer that you have the best preparation for your new position, including leadership and critical thinking skills. Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing are found in many different health care settings. They are prepared to practice in hospitals in intensive care units, pediatrics, maternity, emergency rooms, and medical-surgical units. Additionally, many practice in rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, ambulatory care clinics, community health, home care, schools, occupational health, and industry.
BSN nurses have more opportunity for advancement into supervisory positions and other positions of responsibility because of their preparation. Our graduates can be found as leaders in case management, education, and practice. Many graduates have completed master's degrees as clinical specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse educators, nurse anesthestists, and administrators. Graduates have also completed their doctoral degrees and serve as nursing faculty. Our graduates are leaders in the profession and can be found practicing throughout the Bay Area, nationally, and abroad.