Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) (133 credit units)

The College of Nursing offers three years of nursing education that builds upon a pre-professional year leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree. Students in the pre-professional year study courses in the humanities, natural, social and health sciences, all of which are foundational for the nursing program. The complete program is offered at the College of Nursing campuses in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, or through distributed learning at sites in Ile-a-la-Crosse, La Ronge, Lloydminster, and Yorkton.

Part-time study is an option in second and third year, but all courses must be completed within six years of commencing the first nursing course.

For additional information on the B.S.N. and other nursing educational programming, please contact the College of Nursing at 306-966-6221 or visit the College of Nursing website.

In order to be eligible for licensure with the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) graduates must pass a national council licensure examination (NCLEX) and pay the required fees.

Admission and Academic Requirements

For information, please visit the Admissions website.

Indigenous Students

Indigenous Students: https://admissions.usask.ca/indigenous-students.php

Persons with Disabilities

For information, please visit the Access and Equity Services website. 

International Students

For information, please visit the International Students website. 

Pre-Professional Year 1 (30 credit units)

In order to study some university-level courses, you are required to have completed certain high school classes.

FOR EXAMPLE: 

  • to study university-level biology, chemistry or physics, the Grade 12 (senior-level) course of the same subject is required.
  • to study university-level calculus, Grade 12 (senior-level) pre-calculus or a university-level pre-calculus class is required.

The pre-professional year of study at a post-secondary level consists of 30 credit units of courses. A minimum weighted average of 60% in these pre-professional courses is required for admission. Admission to Year 2 of Nursing is competitive. The average for admission to Year 2 is normally higher than 60%. Please contact the College of Nursing for details.

The pre-professional year classes: 60% weighting

Situational Judgement Test Score: 40% weighting

Applicants are ranked according to admission score and the top candidates are selected.

English Language Proficiency: All students whose first language is not English must present evidence of English proficiency. Details on acceptable examinations and minimum requirements that must be attained are available under Information for Students. For information, please visit the English Language Requirements.

After receiving admission to the BSN., the following program requirements must be completed. Please check the following website for completion dates: https://nursing.usask.ca/clinical/health-and-safety.php 

  • HSPnet Consent Form
  • CPR-C Certification with AED
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR) course*
  • N95 Respiratory Protection Fit Testing
  • Immunizations
  • Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search
  • Workers Compensation Board (WCB) form
  • Confidentiality forms
  • Uniforms
  • Other supplies and resources

Please visit the College of Nursing website for more information.

Students who fail to submit proof of the above requirements will be unable to attend clinical placements.

Registration:

Students are responsible for the continuing completeness and accuracy of their registration(s). Note that clinical placements are arranged across the province and students will not always be placed in their place of residence, nor at one site for their whole program.

Students are not usually permitted to register in more than 15 credit units per term. Permission to take an extra course may be given in special situations and is limited to students with a cumulative weighted average of 70% or over.

For the September 2024 intake the required courses for the Pre-Professional year will be changing. Please visit our admissions page for the most up-to-date information on what the required courses will be. 

FThe following University of Saskatchewan courses meet the requirements for the Pre-Professional year in the nursing program. Other educational institutions may offer equivalent courses. Please consult the College of Nursing regarding equivalencies from other institutions.

Register for the following courses (or their equivalents) (21 credit units):

  • BIOL 120.3
  • CHEM 112.3
  • NUTR 120.3* (pre-existing Nutrition credit must have been obtained within the past 10 years)
  • PSY 121.3
  • 3 credit units of English, as follows:
    • ENG 110.6
    • ENG 111.3
    • ENG 112.3
    • ENG 113.3
    • ENG 114.3
    • ENG 120.3
  • 3 credit units of Statistics:
    • STAT 244.3, or equivalent, as follows: 
    • STAT 242.3
    • STAT 245.3
    • STAT 246.3
    • PLSC 214.3
    • COMM 104.3
    • PSY 233.3
    • SOC 225.3
    • GE 210.3

  • 3 credit units of Indigenous Studies, as follows:

Social Science Requirement (3 credit units)

Social Sciences include any 100-400 level of the following:

  • ANTH — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • ARCH — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • ECON — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • INDG — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • LING — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • POLS — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • PSY — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • SOC — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • WGST — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level

Students are encouraged to choose a social science in an area of interest to them.

NOTE: Please ensure the linguistic class is a social science as some linguistic classes are humanities program type.

Electives (6 credit units)

Electives provide students with choice to customize their program. Students are encouraged to take courses that interest them in areas that meet the open elective credit requirements. Some suggested elective courses include: Kinesiology, Women’s and Gender Studies, Anatomy, Medical Terminology, and Interdisciplinary Studies:

  • CLAS 103.3
  • INTS — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • KIN — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level
  • WGST — 100-Level, 200-Level, 300-Level, 400-Level

Please note: Any course for which the University of Saskatchewan gives credit is acceptable except HSC 120.3 or HLTH 100.3. Kinesiology activity courses (KINA) are not acceptable. Students taking electives from the University of Regina should note that most courses offered through the Schools of Human Justice and Social Work are NOT granted credit by the University of Saskatchewan and are NOT acceptable as open electives. KHS 470.3 is not acceptable. If you have already taken one of these University of Regina courses or if you have any questions about whether or not a course is acceptable, particularly for Kinesiology and Health Sciences courses, please consult a college advisor.

Students will be considered for admission with one deficiency in either three credit units of a Social Science, Nutrition, Statistics or Indigenous Studies. A grade of 50% will be assigned to this deficient course for purposes of calculating an admission average. Proof the deficiency is cleared must be submitted to the University by January 31st of the academic year the student was admitted.

Nursing Year 2 (37 credit units)

Fall Term (16 credit units)

  • MCIM 223.3*
  • NURS 200.3
  • NURS 202.3
  • NURS 204.3
  • NURS 206.1
  • NURS 207.3

*Students who have taken other courses that meet the requirements for MCIM 223.3, or NURS 207.3 and NURS 208.3 must have a minimum weighted average of 60% and the course(s) must be less than ten years old from the time of admission.

Please note: The MCIM 223.3 requirement can be met by the following courses: MCIM 224.3, BMSC 210.3; FABS 212.3 (formerly FAMS 212)

Winter Term (15 credit units)

  • NURS 201.3
  • NURS 203.3
  • NURS 208.3
  • NURS 220.3
  • PHAR 250.3*

*Students who have taken other courses that meet the requirement for PHAR 250.3 must have a minimum weighted average of 60% and the course(s) must be less than 5 years old from the time of admission.

Spring Term (6 credit units)

  • NURS 205.3
  • NURS 221.3*

*Students are expected to have at least one clinical experience outside of the city in which they study.

Nursing Year 3 (36 credit units)

Terms 1, 2, 3 (36 credit units)

  • NURS 304.3
  • NURS 306.3
  • NURS 311.3
  • NURS 312.3
  • NURS 321.3
  • NURS 322.3

And one of the following pairs each semester:

  • NURS 330.3 and NURS 331.3*
  • NURS 332.3 and NURS 333.3*
  • NURS 307.3 and NURS 308.3*

*Students are expected to have at least one clinical experience outside of the city in which they study.

Nursing Year 4 (30 credit units)

  • NURS 422.3
  • NURS 430.3
  • NURS 431.6*
  • NURS 440.3
  • NURS 441.3
  • NURS 450.9*

  • Restricted elective (3 credit units). Students will choose one of the eligible electives from the Restricted Electives List below. Students must complete the Restricted Elective at the same time or before NURS 431.6 and NURS 450.9

*Students are expected to have at least one clinical experience outside of the city in which they study.

Restricted Electives List

To receive credit for a restricted elective, the course must have been completed within the last 6 years from the date of admission to the program. A grade of 60% will be required to receive credit from courses taken outside the College of Nursing.

  • AGMD 800.3 
  • ARCH 472.3 
  • CHEP 402.3
  • CHEP 403.3 
  • COMM 306.3
  • COMM 384.3 
  • EFDT 301.3 
  • EFDT 435.3 
  • EFDT 335.3 
  • ENVS 401.3 
  • EPSE 302.3 
  • INDG 230.3 
  • INDG 264.3 
  • INDG 265.3 
  • KIN 232.3  
  • KIN 423.3 
  • KIN 424.3 
  • KIN 426.3 
  • NURS 405.3
  • NURS 410.3
  • NURS 478.3 
  • NURS 486.3 
  • NUTR 310.3  
  • PHIL 224.3 
  • PHIL 231.3 
  • PHIL 234.3 
  • PHIL 293.3 
  • POLS 222.3 
  • POLS 262.3 
  • PSY 207.3 
  • PSY 213.3 
  • PSY 214.3 
  • PSY 216.3 
  • PSY 222.3 
  • PSY 223.3 
  • PSY 226.3 
  • PSY 227.3 
  • PSY 230.3 
  • PSY 246.3 
  • PSY 253.3 
  • PSY 260.3 
  • RLST 282.3 
  • SOC 203.3 
  • SOC 204.3 
  • SOC 205.3 
  • SOC 214.3 
  • SOC 227.6 
  • SOC 219.3 
  • SOC 235.3 
  • SOC 238.3 
  • SOC 242.3 
  • SOC 415.3 
  • TOX 402.3
  • WGST 201.3 
  • WGST 210.3

  • NURS 322
  • PHIL 335 (transfers to PHIL 234.3 at U of S)
  • SOCI 331 Environmental Influences on Development and Aging Across the Life Course

  • LEAD 180 Leadership and Group Dynamics
  • NURS 010 Pain Management for Nursing Professionals

  • KHS 325
  • KIN 110 (transfers to KIN 232.3 at U of S)
  • PHIL 273 (transfers to PHIL 234.3 at U of S)
  • PSYC 230 (transfers as PSY Senior at U of S)
  • PSYC 310 (transfers to PSY 213.3 at U of S)
  • PSYC 311 (transfers to PSY 214.3 at U of S)
  • PSYC 321
  • PSYC 333 (transfers to PSY 223.3 at U of S)
  • SOC 208 (transfers as SOC Senior at U of S)
  • SOC 211 (transfers to SOC 205.3 at U of S)
  • SOC 212 (transfers to SOC 242.3 at U of S)
  • SOC 217 (transfers to SOC 204.3 at U of S)
  • SOC 222 (transfers to SOC 238.3 at U of S)
  • SOC 325 Science and Technology
  • PSYC 356 Human Neuropsychology
  • WGST 200 Feminist Theories and Knowledge