C. The curriculum is logically structured to achieve expected individual and aggregate student outcomes

Semester 2 Course Objective

III- C. The curriculum is logically structured to achieve expected individual and aggregate student outcomes

 The baccalaureate curriculum builds upon a foundation of the arts, sciences, and humanities.

 Master’s curricula build on a foundation comparable to baccalaureate level nursing knowledge.

 DNP curricula build on a baccalaureate and/or master’s foundation, depending on the level of entry of the student.

Elaboration: Baccalaureate program faculty and students articulate how knowledge from courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities is incorporated into nursing practice. Post-baccalaureate entry programs in nursing incorporate the generalist knowledge common to baccalaureate nursing education as delineated in The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN,2008) as well as advanced course work.

Graduate curricula are clearly based on a foundation comparable to a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Graduate programs delineate how students who do not have a baccalaureate degree in nursing acquire the knowledge and competencies comparable to baccalaureate education in nursing as a foundation for advanced nursing education. Accelerated programs that move students from basic nursing preparation (e.g., associate degree or diploma education) to a graduate degree demonstrate how these students acquire baccalaureate level knowledge and competencies

delineated in The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008), even if they do not award a baccalaureate degree in nursing in addition to the graduate degree. DNP programs, whether post-baccalaureate or post-master’s, demonstrate how students acquire doctoral-level competencies delineated in The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006). The program provides a rationale for the sequence of the curriculum for each program.

Program Response:

Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing requires a solid foundation in the arts, sciences and humanities. The 67 credit hour pre-nursing curriculum meets the core requirements of Auburn University Montgomery and the state of Alabama core requirements which can be found at

http://stars.troy.edu/agsc/agsc.htm , http://stars.troy.edu/agsc/what_agsc.htm#AREAS

http://stars.troy.edu/agsc/AreaV/Nursing.htm and constitutes a student’s first two years of study. AUM’s core curriculum can be found at http://www.aum.edu/academics/core-curriculum. AUMSON also strongly embraces AUM’s QEP of Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) which requires all students to take a minimum of five writing intensive courses, including two in the major.

Faculty believe that a foundation in the arts, sciences and humanities is essential in the

development of an educated professional and assists students to think analytically, reason logically and develop a beginning understanding of the patient from both a biological and psychosocial perspective.

These courses foster the continued development of effective verbal and written communication skills and provide students with a wide array of perspectives from which to understand the context of nursing practice.

Natural sciences such as biology (BIOL 1010) and human anatomy and physiology (BIOL 2100 and BIOL 2110) and chemistry (PSCI 1500) assist the student to understand the individual as a

physiological being and provide a baseline for comparing normal physiology with pathophysiological changes in patients with health alterations. General microbiology (BIOL 2010) introduces the student to microorganism identification and fundamental principles of disease spread and control. Knowledge of these principles provides the basis for understanding medical and surgical asepsis, immunity, and causes of infection. Math (MATH 1100) provides the student with principles used to compute correct dosages and lays the groundwork for understanding statistics (MATH 2670). Principles from statistics are applied in evidence based practice and in clinical courses in the professional curriculum. Six hours of English Composition and six hours of Literature studies lay the foundation for college level reading and communication through writing and speaking that are more fully developed in Professional Writing for Nurses (ENGL 3005), in the professional nursing concepts courses or theoretical courses, clinical courses, leadership courses, transitions course and the evidence based practice course. Principles from the

behavioral sciences are the focus of social science courses. With a combination of a history course (HIST 1010 or 1020), a government course (POLS 2020), a psychology course (PSYC 2110), a sociology course (SOCI 2000), an ethics course (PHIL 2100 ), and two additional social science courses, a foundation is provided for understanding humans as social beings in a structured society. These courses also provide a basis for understanding social forces that influence the behavior of humans and the cultural diversities of patients. A nutrition course (BIOL 2000) provides students with an understanding of normal nutrition.

These principles are applied in clinical situations where patients have special nutritional needs.

Developmental psychology (PSYC 3780) focuses on the cognitive, social, and emotional development of human beings across the lifespan and assists students in understanding normal development from

conception to death. Clinical courses continue the lifespan approach. Similar prerequisites are required for EARN students with the exception of nutrition, developmental psychology and professional writing for nurses. To maintain consistency with the advising process, there is a full time academic advisor for all prenursing and EARN students. Standardized advising forms can be found in the resource room. Table III.C includes a list of prerequisite courses for the traditional and EARN programs.

Table III.C. Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite Courses for Traditional Program Credit Hours

ENGL 1010 English Composition I 3

ENGL 1020 English Composition II 3

ENGL 2530, 2570 or 2600 Literature I (English, American or World Literature) 3 ENGL 2540, 2580 or 2610 Literature II (English, American or World Literature) 3 Fine Arts MUSI 2110, VISU 1000, THEA 2040 (Music Appreciation, Art

Appreciation or Theater Appreciation

PHIL 2100 Applied Ethics 3

MATH 1100 Finite Math 3

BIOL 1010 and 1011 Principles of Biology with lab 3 + 1

PSCI 1500 and 1501 Introduction to Chemistry with lab 3 + 1

HIST 1010 or 1020 World History 3

POLS 2020 American National Government 3

PSYC 2110 General Introductory Psychology 3

SOCI 2000 Introduction to Sociology 3

BIOL 2000 Nutrition 3

BIOL 2010 and 2011 Microbiology with lab 3 + 1

BIOL 2100 and 2101 Anatomy and Physiology I 3 + 1

BIOL 2110 and 2111 Anatomy and Physiology II 3 + 1

MATH 2670 Elementary Statistics 3

PSYC 3780 Developmental Psychology 3

ENGL 3005 Professional Writing for Nurses 3

NURS 2020 Professional Nursing: The Foundation of Health Care 2

Prerequisite Courses for EARN Program Credit Hours