University of South Carolina Aiken Nursing School Review
The University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken, USCA), a member of the South Carolina higher education system, traces its roots back to 1961. The college caters mainly to undergraduate students, offering thirty-five different undergraduate majors. The majority of students are commuters (almost 80 percent), and residents of South Carolina (over 90 percent).
Approximately 3000 students are enrolled in the University of South Carolina Aiken’s educational programs, including its program in nursing. The undergraduate nursing program, which offers different tracks for incoming students with different levels of education, is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Council (NLNAC) and approved by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Generic Track
The Generic Track of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is designed for incoming freshman. It takes four years of full-time study to complete. The program consists of 125 credits in total, which includes credits for nursing coursework and clinical rotations as well as nursing prerequisites and general education classes required by the University of South Carolina Aiken. A student on the BSN Generic Track will spend the first three semesters focusing solely on the nursing prerequisites and the general education requirements. In the second semester of her second year, she will transition into her first nursing courses, and will spend the remaining five semesters of her time at the University of South Carolina Aiken focusing on nursing coursework. The suggested course sequence is for full-time students, but students do have the option of studying part-time. After completing the general education requirements and nursing prerequisites, a part-time nursing student may take up to three-and-a-half years (seven semesters) to complete the nursing coursework. After she earns her BSN degree, she is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and may begin her nursing career as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Advanced Placement
A graduate of a practical nursing program who is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) may test out of the very first nursing course: Fundamental Skills. This course is worth five credits, and is usually taken in the second semester of the second year of the BSN program. Other than this, the LPN or LVN must complete the BSN program along the Generic Track.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN Completion Track
The University of South Carolina offers a special track for graduates of an associate-degree or diploma program who wish to earn a BSN degree. Before beginning the nursing coursework, an RN must complete most of the general education requirements (at least forty-six credits out of the required fifty-five credits). He may do this as a student at the University of South Carolina Aiken, or he may transfer these credits from another school. He will be awarded thirty-three advanced placement credits on the basis of his prior nursing education, and must complete an additional thirty-two credits of nursing coursework at the University of South Carolina Aiken. After earning 120 credits in total, he will receive a BSN degree. Usually, this will take three semesters (not including the forty-six credits of general education classes) on a full-time basis. The RN to BSN curriculum is offered online and on campus, and starts in the fall.
Contact:
University of South Carolina Aiken
471 University Parkway,
Aiken, SC 29801
