Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Nursing Program

The Bachelor of Nursing program at the University of Calgary is a full-time professional program that combines classroom and clinical experience. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in nursing, preparing them for a career in this field.

Program Structure

The program is structured into four years, with each year building on the previous one. The first year focuses on foundational studies, including anatomy and physiology, English, statistics, and philosophy. The subsequent years focus on core skills, community health, family nursing, acute care, chronic illness, leadership, and knowledge synthesis.

Year One

In the first year, students take compulsory courses that are pivotal to their learning and future nursing practice. These courses include:

• Anatomy and Physiology I
• Anatomy and Physiology II
• Introduction to Nursing
• Indigenous Health Studies
• Junior Statistics Requirement (Statistics 205 recommended)
• Philosophy Requirement (Any PHIL course)
• Junior Arts Option
• Junior Science Option
• Junior Open Option

Year Two

In the second year, students focus on population health across the lifespan and in a variety of communities. The courses include:

• Microbiology & Biochemistry
• Foundations of Relationship
• Care of the Aging Adult
• Care in the Community
• Care of the Aging Adult Practicum
• Health Promotion Practicum
• Nursing Amid Complexity
• Pathophysiology I
• Pharmacology I
• Acute Care Nursing Practicum I

Year Three

In the third year, students focus on individuals and families with serious health challenges and life-threatening illnesses. The courses include:

• Evidence-Informed Nursing
• Pharmacology II
• Consolidated Practicum
• Nursing as Ethical Practice
• Health through Collaboration
• Mental Health & Illness
• Nursing Leadership
• Care in Perinatal
• Care in Pediatrics
• Pathophysiology II
• Pathophysiology III
• Acute Care Nursing Practicum II
• Mental Health Practicum
• Care in Perinatal Practicum
• Care in Pediatrics Practicum

Year Four

In the final year, students focus on integrating their classroom knowledge with their practice, as well as working with concepts of leadership, research, policy development, and ethics. The final term is spent in an offsite practice setting, working one-on-one with a registered nurse preceptor and a faculty advisor.

Bachelor of Nursing (BN) Program

The last admission to the BN program was for Fall 2024. The program is structured into eight terms, with each term building on the previous one. The focus of each term varies, from foundational studies to core skills, community health, family nursing, acute care, chronic illness, leadership, and knowledge synthesis.

Term Schedule by Entry Route

The Spring Session for the Faculty of Nursing does not follow standard University of Calgary dates. All students must attend classes commencing immediately following the Winter examination period (end of April) until the last day of June.

Course Schedule by Term

All Nursing Theory courses are 3 units, and all Nursing Practice courses are 6 units, with the exception of Nursing 599, which is 15 units.

The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place, we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”