Description | Program of Study | Admission | Upper Division Promotion | Second Degree | Transfer | Advising | Expenses | Student Handbook | Honor Society | Contact Us | FAQs
Description:
The Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) at The University of Alabama offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN.) CCN welcomes freshman, transfer students, and second degree students. The college is also committed to providing accessible educational options for registered nurses who want to return to school.
From the start, at the CCN, students have the opportunity to be mentored by nursing faculty. Students experience individualized attention from instructors in classes, labs, and clinical settings. Networked computers, multi-media classrooms, human patient simulators, and the learning resource center provide state of the art technology needed for a quality nursing education.
The ability to learn and practice nursing skills in a simulated environment is right here – all within the heart of Alabama’s beautiful residential campus. Excellent clinical facilities, from hospitals to home care agencies, health departments to public schools, are available in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding communities. In these settings students will learn to think, act, and practice as a nurse.
Leaders in health care have long recognized the nursing program at The University of Alabama as graduating students with a strong academic background and a well-rounded clinical experience. Students graduate with more than a degree; they have experience – a combination that opens doors to numerous career opportunities. CCN alumni are actively recruited by health care agencies in Alabama and across the nation.
Program of Study:
The BSN curriculum plan consists of lower and upper division courses. During the first four semesters of the curriculum plan, designated as lower division, students take required sciences, humanities, and other courses that help to prepare them to function as a professional nurse. The degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing requires the completion of the courses designated in the following program of study. Elective hours may be used to complete a major portion of the University Core Curriculum; additional courses, however, may be required. Students may choose to enroll in summer session(s) to meet requirements and to adjust the program of study to meet individual needs. Students should also review core curriculum requirements in the Academic Records and General Academic Policies section of this catalog. Bold letters indicate courses that meet specific University core curriculum requirements.
NOTE: The Capstone College of Nursing reserves the right to make modifications in its program and policies as necessary, but every effort will be made to implement the general program for full-time students.
Lower Division Program of Study
Upper Division
The upper division consists of five semesters of nursing courses that make up the professional component of the curriculum, with some that include theory and clinical lab components. Courses focus on providing students with essential knowledge and skills to provide care to persons in a variety of health care settings. Nursing courses are designed to build on preceding semesters; foster the development of critical thinking and progressively independent decision-making; and provide collaborative opportunities for students with other health care providers. Therefore, students must successfully complete all clinical and non-clinical courses in a semester before progressing to the next semester coursework. In addition, a variety of nursing elective courses, including opportunities for independent study, are offered at different times throughout the curriculum.
Students need to keep in mind that deviation from the scheduled program of studies may lengthen time spent in the curriculum. Upon progression to upper division, permission to depart from the clinical sequence must be obtained from the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs. Because of the limitations in clinical course spaces, departure from the sequence for any reason may significantly lengthen the time for program completion.
Students use knowledge gained in the classroom and other methods of learning as they provide nursing care to individuals, families and groups in a variety of health care settings.
Fall Admission Program of Study
Spring Admission Program of Study
Summer Admission Program of Study
For information about the Second Degree Program of Study, contact the Office of Nursing Student Services at (205) 348-6639.
Admission:
Students are admitted to the lower division of the Capstone College of Nursing when they meet The University of Alabama admission requirements and declare nursing as their major. The application for admission to UA is available at http://apply.ua.edu. The degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing requires the completion of the courses presented in the Undergraduate Program of Study. This consists of lower division prerequisite courses taken during the first 2 years of study. Promotion to the upper division, the nursing curriculum, occurs after the sophomore year and is competitive.
Upper Division Promotion:
The Capstone College of Nursing welcomes applications for promotion from current, transfer, and second degree students. CCN accepts students into the upper division three times per year; in the summer, fall, and spring. Promotion to the upper division is competitive, as spaces are limited. The number of students promoted each semester is dependent upon available resources.
Promotion to the upper division requires successful completion of the lower-division courses designated on the Capstone College of Nursing BSN program of study. Students may apply and be considered for promotion to the upper division during the final lower-division semester if they will have completed all courses prior to the semester for which application to the upper division is made. In such instances, promotion to the upper division may be granted conditionally, pending successful completion of all courses required for promotion.
Spaces in the upper division are limited and meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee promotion to the upper division of the nursing curriculum. When the number of students seeking promotion to the upper division exceeds the number of spaces available, the most qualified applicants are granted admission. Those applicants who present the strongest academic records and who show the most promise for success in the upper division will be promoted.
Promotion Minimum Requirements and Criteria:
Students applying for promotion must meet all minimum requirements to be considered for promotion to the upper division of the Capstone College of Nursing. These requirements are:
- Admission to the University of Alabama with Nursing as the primary major.
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on required lower division classes.
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of a 2.75 on all required science classes.
- Completion of or current enrollment in all lower division courses at the application deadline.
- Completion of the ATI TEAS admissions assessment with a minimum score of 75.
Applicants meeting the following criteria will be awarded preference for promotion.
- Preference given for Native UA status, defined as those applicants who have completed 32 or more hours of the required lower-division coursework at UA, or through Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Enrollment courses completed in high school.
- Preference given for Alabama residency status
Following a review of the requirements and criteria, interviews will be granted to a portion of the applicant pool. Approximately two times the number of available seats per cohort will receive an interview. Due to limited enrollment and the highly competitive nature of our nursing program, meeting minimum requirements will not guarantee an interview for an applicant.
Interviews will be held on February 22nd, 2020 for summer 2020 applicants. Fall 2020 interviews will be held on May 5th, 2020. An applicant’s interview score will be used for one year, or for 3 promotion cycles.
ATI TEAS Admissions Assessment:
The Capstone College of Nursing requires the ATI TEAS, an admissions assessment, for students applying for the traditional BSN track. The TEAS is a widely used assessment tool that is used to determine readiness for admission to and success in nursing programs across the nation. Its purpose is to evaluate an applicant’s potential for successful program completion.
The assessment will be administered by The University of Alabama’s Testing Services on campus. This computerized exam is timed (approximately 4 hours) and will cost $86. Students must create an account with ATI before registering for the assessment by visiting www.atitesting.com. The campus code is U of AL Tuscaloosa. Once an account has been created, please visit www.testing.ua.edu to register for the ATI TEAS on the University of Alabama campus. The ATI TEAS is given on campus multiple times per admission cycle. The ATI TEAS may be taken twice per academic year (August 1st-July 31st.) Those students who wish to take the ATI TEAS by distance may register for it by clicking the link “Register for TEAS with PSI” at www.atitesting.com. Students who elect to test by distance must request that ATI sends their scores to The University of Alabama.
Applying to the Upper Division:
The Capstone College of Nursing requires an application be submitted for consideration for promotion to the upper division. Applications are submitted securely through a student’s MyBama portal. Students must be admitted to UA in order to access the application. You may apply to the upper division of the Capstone College of Nursing by visiting the CCN online application webpage.
Application deadlines for promotion:
- January 1st– Summer promotion (Application will be available online beginning December 1st)
- April 1st– Fall promotion (Application will be available online beginning March 1st)
- September 1st– Spring promotion (Application will be available online beginning July 15th)
Second Degree:
The Capstone College of Nursing welcomes students with a baccalaureate degree in another field to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
The lower division requirements are limited to those which provide a direct base for the upper division nursing courses. Applicants who complete at least one-half of the required lower-division coursework in residence at UA or those who have previously earned a degree from UA will be given preference for promotion.
Please see Upper Division Promotion for additional information on requirements and deadlines and to apply.
Click here for the Second Degree Program of Study
Transfer:
The Capstone College of Nursing welcomes transfer students to apply to the upper division. Transfer students are defined by CCN as those students who have completed less than 32 hours of the required lower-division coursework at The University of Alabama. Those who have previously been enrolled in another BSN program must provide a letter of good standing at promotion application time. Students requesting a transfer to the upper division of the nursing program from another BSN program must follow the promotion policies outlined in the Upper Division Promotion section. The Capstone College of Nursing does not accept nursing courses from another BSN program.
The Capstone College of Nursing baccalaureate program is a high demand, limited access program. Due to limited enrollment in the upper division and a large applicant pool, many qualified transfer applicants are unable to be admitted to our upper division courses. The Capstone College of Nursing is unable to provide any predictions regarding the acceptance or denial of any applicant.
Please see Upper Division Promotion for additional information on minimum requirements and criteria, deadlines, and to apply.
Advising:
Lower Division BSN Advising:
Advising is mandatory in the Capstone College of Nursing. Students are not permitted to register for courses until they have met with an advisor. Advising time slots fill very quickly and it is advised for students to call (205)348-6639 early in the semester to make an appointment. Those who do not see a professional advisor in the Office of Nursing Student Services will be required to see a faculty advisor during the mandatory advising period. Students are seen on a first come, first served basis during that time period.
Mandatory advising dates will be sent to lower division students at the beginning of each semester.
Registration Procedures
Check your Crimson email often! Registration times vary. You must confirm your schedule in myBama or it will be dropped. Payments can be made through myBama.
Upper Division BSN Advising:
Upper Division students participate in a pre-registration group advising session facilitated by Undergraduate Clinical Course Leaders/designee during the designated pre-registration advising period in the fall and spring semester. Students are encouraged to talk with an academic adviser during pre-registration each semester to ensure that individual needs and career goals are being met.
Expenses:
In addition to expenses common to all students enrolled at The University of Alabama, there are additional expenses specific to the nursing program. These additional expenses are listed below to help students plan. The expenses of the first and last semesters in upper division are greater than those of intervening semesters.
The upper division consists of five semesters of nursing courses, with some that include theory and clinical lab components. Students provide knowledge gained in the classroom and other methods of learning as they provide nursing care to individuals, families and groups in a variety of health care settings.
|
Type of Expense |
Approximate Cost |
| Health Insurance–Upon promotion to upper division, students must provide evidence of current/active adequate health insurance to cover long-term and emergency treatment. | Variable annual costs |
| Nursing College Fees–College or course fees are additional charges associated with a student’s specific class enrollment for each term. College fees apply to any course offered by a college. Fees are billed to the student by Student Receivables and rates are subject to change without notice. | $20.00 Per course hour |
| Infrastructure Fees–Infrastructure fees are used to meet the instructional needs of full access to the technology required by our students, faculty, and staff and provide a safer campus environment. Fees are billed to the student by Student Receivables and rates are subject to change without notice. | $13.00 Per course hour |
| CPR Certification–Upon promotion to upper division, students are required to submit evidence of American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers that extends through the entire semester is required before a student begins a clinical nursing course and must be renewed annually. Fees charged by certifying agencies for initial certification and annual renewal vary and are the responsibility of the student. | $25.00 (may vary) Annual cost |
| TB Test–Upon promotion to upper division, students are required to submit evidence of a two-step tuberculin skin test or IGRA blood test. If either skin test or blood test is positive, an annual negative chest X-ray is required. A one-step TB skin test or IGRA blood test will be required annually after the initial. Fees charged for the TB test vary by provider and are the responsibility of the student. | Variable annual cost |
| Background Check and Drug Screen–Upon promotion to the upper division, students are required to submit to a drug screen and background check and must be renewed annually. Costs for background check and drug screen are billed directly to the student by Employment Screening Services. | $59.00 (may vary) Annual cost |
| Health Requirements–Upon promotion to upper division, students are required to submit a Nursing Student Health and Physical Exam Form, Nursing Student Immunization Form and Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire completed by a physician or certified registered nurse practitioner. Completed forms are uploaded to the online immunization and record tracking system. Fees charged for the physical, completion of the forms and any needed immunizations vary by provider and are the responsibility of the student. There is a one-time $60.00 charge for the online immunization and record tracking system that is billed directly to the student by Employment Screening Services. | $60.00 One-time cost (plus the cost of immunizations and physical exam) |
| Clinical Uniforms–Upon promotion to upper division, students are required to purchase items comprising the clinical uniform, which have been approved by the College. These items will be used throughout the professional component of the curriculum and include two uniforms purchased from the vendor on contract. The cost of these two uniforms ranges from $145.00 to $160.00. A warm-up style lab coat with cuffs, all white leather shoes (sneaker or nursing), and a watch with sweep second hand are also required as well as a polo-type shirt that will be worn with scrub pants in certain clinical situations as specified by course faculty. Approximate cost for the polo is $37.00 and will be ordered through JNJ Apparel. Approximate cost for the lab coat is $45.00 and can be purchased from the vendor on contract or any nursing uniform store. Cost of the shoes and watch varies with personal preference. | $145.00-$250.00 One-time variable cost (plus the cost of shoes and watch) |
| Physical Assessment Equipment–Upon promotion to upper division students must purchase a complete set of physical assessment equipment/supplies. The set includes: stethoscope with bell and diaphragm, percussion hammer, retractable tape measurer, Snellen eye chart, pen light, bandage scissors, clear metric ruler, blood pressure cuff, tuning fork, china marking pen, transparent metric ruler, eye protection glasses, EKG ruler, and digital thermometer. Assessment Kits are purchased through the University Supply Store. | $140.00 One-time cost |
| Mobile Devices and Required Software–In the second semester of Upper Division, students at the Capstone College of Nursing are required to purchase Davis’ Drug Guide software for their mobile device to be used in their coursework, clinicals and throughout the curriculum. | $40.00 (may vary) Annual cost |
| Travel Expenses–Nursing students assume individual responsibility for their transportation to health care agencies. The amount of travel varies with each clinical course, and the cost increases when the students’ assignments are in rural areas or outside Tuscaloosa County. | Cost varies per semester |
| Textbooks and Packets–Each nursing course has a listing of required and recommended textbooks. Students are expected to have in their possession all books listed as required, and access to books identified as recommended. | Cost varies per semester |
| Standard Assessment Tests–Proctored standardized tests are required periodically throughout the curriculum. Examination costs are billed to the student by Student Receivables. | $65.00 per semester |
| Student Review Materials–In order to enhance student outcomes, specialized educational tools and resources are used throughout the curriculum. These include content based assessments, skills improvement & remediation, and live review. Review costs are billed to the student by Student Receivables. | $105.00 per semester |
| Student Clinical Materials–Clinical experience plays a key role in any nursing program. The more clinical experience a student has, the better prepared they are to enter the nursing field. Placement shortages, budget cuts and restrictions make clinical hours and experience difficult, leaving students without the training they need. In order to ensure students get the clinical experience they need to develop their clinical judgement, master key nursing skills, learn effective communication and become practice-ready nurses, a suite of nursing tools is required that includes Real Life Clinical Reasoning Scenarios, Video Case Studies and Skills Modules. Clinical costs are billed to the student directly from Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. | $206.55 per semester |
Graduation Expenses–During the senior year, students need to plan for extra expenses related to graduation and application for the licensure examination for registered nurses. Expenses typically include the following:
|
One-time cost $480 – $533 |
AfterCollege™
AfterCollege™ is a network for college students and recent grads who are looking for entry level jobs, internships, and other opportunities.
The AfterCollege™ link is external to UA and a partnership of The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Scholarship and employment opportunities can be found at this link, http://www.aftercollege.com.
Job Resource Center
http://www.aftercollege.com/groups/ccenter.asp?fct=1&ID=887723345
Alumni Directory
http://www.aftercollege.com/groups/alumni.asp?fct=3&ID=887723345
AfterCollege/AACN Nursing Scholarship Fund
http://www.aftercollege.com/groups/aacn.asp?id=887723345
Blue Book: Nursing Career Manual
http://www.aftercollege.com/groups/bluebook.asp?pid=1&id=887723345