Addendum

The following revisions and corrections to the 2013-2014 Undergraduate Bulletin have been approved, effective immediately (unless  noted otherwise), and published in January 2014.

3. Undergraduate Admissions

3.2 Freshman Admission

Dual Credit/Enrollment

1. Students must have complete a minimum of fourteen (14) core high school units;
2. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, or better, on all high school courses, as documented by an official high school transcript; home-schooled students must submit a transcript prepared by a parent, guardian or custodian with a signed, sworn affidavit to meet the requirement of this paragrph; and
3. Students must submit an unconditional written recommendation from their high school principal and/or guidance counselor. A home-schooled student must submit a parent, legal guardian or custodian’s written recommendation to meet this requirement.

Students may be considered for the dual enrollment program who have not completed the minimum for fourteen (14) core high school units if they have a minimum ACT composite score of thirty (30) or the equivalent SAT score and have the required grade point average and recommendations outlined above.

High schools must approve any college credit to be used to satisfy high-school graduation requirements.

3.4 Non-Degree Seeking Student Admission

Students who are 21 or older and who do not meet regular admission requirements may be considered for admission as non-degree-seeking students and register for up to 12 credit hours per semester. Applicants may be required to submit official ACT/SAT scores and/or other supporting documentation for evaluation of admission. Students admitted as non-degree seeking students are not eligible for Title IV Federal Student Assistance until they have been accepted to the University as degree seeking students. Regular admission status may be attained upon completion of 12 semester hours of courses in the General Education Curriculum with a 2.00 GPA, and credit earned while a non-degree seeking student may then be applied toward a degree.

Note: Admission to some academic programs such as nursing or education is separate from admission to the university, and the program requirements may include a satisfactory score on the ACT/SAT. Admission to any academic program requires the successful transition from non-degree seeking to degree seeking status.

3.5 International Student Admission

At Mississippi University for Women, we value the perspectives that international students bring to campus. International students find the MUW environment supportive of their needs.

Applicants for admission must provide either original or certified copies of transcripts, diplomas, or certificates of all previous secondary and post-secondary academic studies. All students are required to provide course descriptions or syllabi so credit can be determined. This documentation must be certified and translated into English through World Education Services, Inc. (website: <www.wes.org> e-mail: <info@WES.ORG>) or another credentialing service approved by MUW. If a student does not meet transfer requirements, then the high school records must be provided and evaluated. Before issuing an I-20 Form (A Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status), the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service demands that all applicants demonstrate an ability to meet the cost of international study. The cost includes non-resident tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, health insurance, and miscellaneous expenses.

Note about Official Transcripts and Test Scores: Certified, attested, or translated copies of academic documents from all secondary and post-secondary schools must be mailed to the Office of Admissions directly from World Education Services, Inc. (WES) or from another credentialing service approved by MUW. There are two types of evaluation services provided: (1) course-by-course (required for transfer students) which lists all subjects and provides a U.S. semester and grade equivalency, and (2) document-by-document (required for entering freshmen) which describes each diploma or certificate and its U.S. equivalency.

7. Academic Policies and Procedures

7.14 Transfer Credit

A student may obtain advanced standing through the transfer of credits from other academic institutions, through the acquisition of military experience, and through the successful completion of standardized and institutional examinations. MUW does not award credit for experiential learning or for noncredit course work except for credit earned for military experience in accordance with guidelines published by the American Council on Education. However, professional credit may be awarded according to standards set by the American Council of Education and the New York Board of Regents.

9. Academic Colleges, Departments, and Programs

9.1 College of Arts and Sciences

Thomas C. Richardson, Dean

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the College of Arts and Sciences is to provide quality classroom instruction, practical learning experiences, and academic and cultural enrichment opportunities that will lead to successful student learning. Through the programs in its seven departments, the College provides students with a focused course of study that will prepare them for graduate or professional schools or employment. The College also provides students with a solid educational foundation in the liberal arts that will prepare them for continued personal and intellectual growth after graduation.

Programs

The College of Arts and Sciences offers academic programs through the departments of Art and Design; Communication; History, Political Science, and Geography; Languages, Literature, and Philosophy; Music; Sciences and Mathematics; and Theatre. Additionally, the College offers minors or courses in American Studies, Film Studies, French, International Studies, Philosophy, Geography, Religious Studies, and Women’s Studies, as well as certificate programs in Teaching English as a Second Language, Public Administration, and Applied and Professional Ethics. For students interested in going to professional schools after MUW, academic advisors help students select the appropriate courses to meet application requirements for medical or dental schools, pharmacy or veterinary medicine programs, law or other professional schools.

10. Academic Program Requirements

Nursing Major, Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option, BSN

(Effective May 2014)

The following is only one source of information regarding a student’s program of study in seeking a BSN degree. Note: Some courses required in the major will also fulfill requirements for the University General Education Curriculum. Students should always confer with a faculty advisor for information on course scheduling, rotation, and selection and for planning an effective and efficient program of study.

RN Track

Registered Nurses who are graduates of Associate of Science in Nursing and diploma programs with a current unencumbered license are eligible for advanced placement in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program when they have satisfactorily completed all but 12 hours of the prerequisite courses. NU 360, NU 361, NU 362, and NU 363, the professional transition sequence, is offered in the fall semester. Upon completion of the full sequence, the RN will have validated 24 hours of credit in nursing and would then enter the senior year.

ADN Track

The Dual Enrollment RN to BSN Program is designed for students currently enrolled in an Associate Degree Nursing Program who would like to work on their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while studying to obtain their Registered Nurse License.

In order to participate the students must:

1. Meet MUW and BSN Program admission requirements
2. Have an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher (all required prenursing and nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C)
3. Have completed a minimum of 50 hours of prerequisites for the MUW BSN program
4. Have successfully completed one semester of ADN coursework
5. Have a documented ACT
6. Have a letter of support from the Associate Degree Program Director

Students must take the courses in the following sequence:

• First semester — spring — NU 360*
• Second semester — summer — NU 361*
• Third semester — fall — NU 362
• Fourth semester — spring — NU 363

Progression from one course to another is based on completion of the previous course(s) with a minimum grade of C AND continued enrollment in an accredited Associate Degree Nursing Program. A letter of good standing from the ADN program director is required at the beginning of each semester along with an official transcript that can validate completion of the required ADN coursework.

*If summer scheduling permits, students might be considered to take NU 360 and NU 361 with ASN program recommendation.

If a student is unsuccessful in any of the MUW dual enrollment courses, he/she is ineligible for dual enrollment but may apply for regular admission to the RN to BSN APO program if qualified. There is a 3 year limit in regard to the dual enrollment coursework that would apply toward the MUW BSN degree.

For Dual Enrollment Students to be admitted to the RN to BSN Advance Placement Option Senior year, they must:

1. Have successfully completed NU 360, NU 361, NU 362, and NU 363 with a minimum grade of C
2. Obtained an unencumbered Registered Nurse License
3. Met all MUW and general program admission requirements (admission is not guaranteed unless both admission requirements are met.)

General Education Curriculum (39-40 Semester Hours)

See General Education Curriculum Requirements 

Major Courses

Enrollment in the NU 360-363 sequence is restricted to students who have been admitted into the RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option. Students enrolled in the regular RN to BSN APO Program will take the courses at the same time. Students enrolled in the Dual Enrollment RN to BSN Program will take NU 360, NU 361, then NU 362, then NU 363 in that order. Each course (NU 360, NU 361, NU 362, and NU 363) carries 3 credit hours for tuition and other account purposes. On successful completetion of NU 360, NU 361, NU 362, and NU 363 the student is given validation credit for 24 hours of junior level course work. (NU 301/ 3 hrs., NU 325/ 3 hrs., NU 328/ 3 hrs., NU 329/ 3 hrs., NU 330/ 3 hrs., NU 352/ 3 hrs., NU 355/ 3 hrs., NU 356/ 3 hrs.)

(Minimum grade of C or above required.)

• NU 360 - Introduction to Scholarly Activity for the Professional Nurse
• NU 361 - Comprehensive Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
• NU 362 - Introduction to Health Promotion
• NU 363 - Introduction to Professional Nursing Concepts in Leadership and Management
• NU 459 - Theory, Research and Evidenced Based Practice for the Professional Nurse I
• NU 464 - Theory, Research, and Evidenced Based Practice for the Professional Nurse II
• NU 465 - Professional Perspectives: Dimensions of Community Nursing Practice
• NU 467 - Professional Perspectives: Leadership and Management in the Health Care System
• NU 469 - Professional Perspectives: Complex Health Alterations and Threats to Health
• NU 471 - Advanced Nursing Concepts for the Professional Nurse

Other Required Courses

(Minimum grade of C or above required.)

• NU 296 - Introduction to Pathophysiology for Nursing
• Or
• BSB 255 - Pathophysiology
   
• BSB 141 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BSB 142 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• BSM 131 - General Microbiology
• BSM 131L - General Microbiology Laboratory
• FN 225 - Nutrition
• MA 123 - Statistics
• PSY 101 - General Psychology

• Electives (11 semester hours)

Validation Courses

On successful completion of NU 360, 361, 362, and 363 the student is given validation credit for 24 hours of junior level coursework as follows:

• NU 301 - Introduction to Basic Nursing Skills
• NU 325 - Concepts Utilized in Professional Nursing I
• NU 328 - Nursing Therapeutic Interventions: Health Assessment across the Life Span
• NU 329 - Nursing Therapeutic Interventions: Care of Individuals
• NU 330 - Clinical Practicum for NU 329
• NU 352 - Nursing Therapeutic Interventions: Concepts of Care Concerning Women and Children: Developing Families
• NU 355 - Sociocultural Responsibility in a Global Society
• NU 356 - Clinical Practicum for NU 352

Total Hours Required for a B.S.N. Degree: 128 Semester Hours 

11. Courses

ED 302 - Art and Science of Teaching

Credits: 3
Prerequisite/Corequisite: ED 300
This course focuses on preparing students to use the INTASC (Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium) Core Standards as the basis for planning meaningful instruction, managing the classroom environment, and meeting needs of diverse learners. Candidates will practice selecting appropriate teaching methods, developing lesson plans, and using technology in the classroom.
Note: 10 hours of field experience required; no exemptions will be granted

ED 304 - Principles of Early Childhood Learning

Credits: 3
Prerequisite/Corequisite: Corequisite ED 300
A survey of contemporary approaches, practices, and issues in early childhood education including the background history, philosophy and theory of their origins. The basics of physical, social and cognitive development will be addressed along with the increasingly diverse student population found in today’s schools. Emphasis will also be placed on the interrelationship of home and community in the development of the young child.
Note: 5 hours of field experience required; no exemptions will be granted

ED 306 - Introduction to Exceptional Learners

Credits: 3
Prerequisite/Corequisite: ED 300
This course includes concepts, perspectives, and guiding principles that are basic to an understanding of human exceptionality. Individual areas of exceptionality will be explored as well as issues relative to ethnic diversity.
Note: 10 hours of field experience required; no exemptions will be granted

NU 359 - Professional Transition — Deleted and replaced with NU 360, NU 361, NU 362, and NU 363 (Effective May 2014)

NU 360 - Introduction to Scholarly Activity for the Professional Nurse (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 3
45 contact hours
Prerequisite:
1. Admission to the RN/BSN Advanced Placement Option for the regular student
2. For the Associate Degree Nursing Student, acceptance as a “Dual Enrollment” Student

Corequisite:
1. For the regular APO student NU 361, 362, and 363 are corequisites.
2. For the “Dual Enrollment” student there are no corequisite courses.

This course is designed as a component of the transition into baccalaureate nursing curriculum for the registered nurse. Building on the registered nurse’s previous education and clinical experiences, this course offers knowledge based on AACN’s The Essentials for Baccalaureate Education for the Professional Nursing Practice, which will facilitate transition into the senior year of curriculum. Scholarly writing, information management skills, evidence-based practice, nursing research and nursing theory are introduced as the student explores, discovers, retrieves and utilizes information from a variety of sources.

NU 361 - Comprehensive Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 3
Theory (2) 30 contact hours; Clinical (1) 45 clinical hours
Prerequisite:
1. Admission to the RN/BSN Advanced Placement Option for the regular student
2. For the Associate Degree Nursing Student, acceptance as a “Dual Enrollment” Student

Corequisite:
1. For the regular APO student NU 360, 362, and 363 are corequisites.
2. For the “Dual Enrollment” student there are no corequisite courses.

This course is designed as a component of the transition into baccalaureate nursing curriculum for the registered nurse. Building on the registered nurse’s previous education and clinical experiences, this course serves as a basis for entry into the junior year of the curriculum. The student is introduced to AACN’s The Essentials for Baccalaureate Education for the Professional Nursing Practice. Nursing research, evidence-based practice and evidence-based practice and information management skills are utilized as the student explores, discovers, and retrieves information from a variety of sources in the completion of a health assessment. Content related to ANA standards, nursing history, critical thinking/clinical reasoning and health assessment enhance professional role development.

NU 362 - Introduction to Health Promotion (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 3
45 contact hours
Prerequisite:
1. Admission to the RN/BSN Advanced Placement Option for the regular student
2. For the Associate Degree Nursing Student, NU 360 and 361

Corequisites:
1. For the regular APO student NU 360, 361, and 363 are corequisites.
2. For the “Dual Enrollment” student there are no corequisite courses.

This course is designed as a component of the transition into the baccalaureate nursing curriculum for the registered nurse. Building on the registered nurse’s previous education and clinical experiences, this course serves as a basis for entry into the senior year of the curriculum. The student is introduced to AACN’s The Essentials for Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. Clinical prevention and population health concepts are introduced through principles of epidemiology, statistical data searches, cultural implications of clinical prevention and health promotion information and disease prevention. Content related to ANA standards, nursing history, ethics, values, critical thinking/clinical reasoning, and health assessment enhance professional role development.

NU 363 - Introduction to Professional Nursing Concepts in Leadership and Management (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 3
45 contact hours
Prerequisite:
1. Admission to the RN/BSN Advanced Placement Option for the regular student
2. For the Associate Degree Nursing Student, NU 360, 361, and 362

Corequisites:
1. For the regular APO student NU 360, 361, and 362 are corequisites.
2. For the “Dual Enrollment” student there are no corequisite courses.

This course is designed as a component of the transition into the baccalaureate nursing curriculum for the registered nurse. Building on the registered nurse’s previous education and clinical experiences, this course serves as a basis for entry into the senior year of the curriculum. The student is introduced to AACN’s The Essentials for Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. Content includes professional nursing concepts, professional nursing values, decision making, ethical reasoning, role development, legal/regulatory/liability issues, and quality and safety in healthcare.

NU 459 - Theory, Research and Evidenced Based Practice for the Professional Nurse I (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 3
45 contact hours
Prerequisite: NU 359 or 363; concurrent enrollment NU 465, 467
The purpose of this course is to introduce nursing theory as well as teach the reason and structure of nursing research and integrate both with Evidence-Based practice for professional nurses.

NU 464 - Theory, Research, and Evidenced Based Practice for the Professional Nurse II (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 3
45 contact hours
Prerequisite: NU 359 or 363, NU 459, 465, and 467; concurrent enrollment: NU 469, 471
The purpose of this course is to introduce additional nursing theories, and integrate an understanding of Evidence-Based Practice with the research areas of collection, analysis, discussion and presentation.

NU 465 - Professional Perspectives: Dimensions of Community Nursing Practice (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 6
Theory (4) 60 contact hours; Clinical (2) 90 clinical hours
Prerequisite: NU 359 or 363; concurrent enrollment: NU 459, 467
This courses is designed to provide students with opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills related to partnering with families, aggregates, and communities that are experiencing a multiplicity of actual or potential stressors. Emphasis is placed on measures that promote health and prevent disease, the role of the nurse, the inter-relatedness of health care systems with the environment, life-style factors, and the process of effecting change for the purpose of health care improvements through partnerships developed in the community. Experiences are designed to enhance skills in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies.

NU 467 - Professional Perspectives: Leadership and Management in the Health Care System

Credits: 6
Theory (6), 90 Contact Hours
Prerequisite: NU 360, 361, 362, and 363; concurrent enrollment: NU 459, 465
This course introduces the student to leadership theory and the management functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling. The content enhances nursing role development by concentrating on the integration of leadership roles and management functions into nursing practice. The content refines skills that are necessary to enhance the student’s ability to be a provider, designer, manager and coordinator of patient care. This course will allow the student to realize the impact of a career development plan and identify driving forces for professional nursing organizations and legislative issues.

NU 469 - Professional Perspectives: Complex Health Alterations and Threats to Health (Effective May 2014)

Credits: 6
Theory (4) 60 contact hours; Clinical (2) 90 clinical hours
Prerequisite: NU 359 or 363, NU 459, 465, and 467; concurrent enrollment: NU 464, 471.
This course is offered the last semester of the senior year. The focus in this course is on the application of nursing concepts to complex client situations in a variety of health care settings. Learning activities provide students with opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge in the nursing roles of provider, collaborator, and manager of care, as well as those of change agent and patient advocate.

NU 471 - Advanced Nursing Concepts for the Professional Nurse

Credits: 6
Theory (6), 90 Contact Hours
Prerequisite: NU 359 or 363, NU 459, 465, 467.
Concurrent enrollment: NU 464, 469.
This course provides opportunities for the student to function within complex healthcare systems, An immersion experience allows the student to utilize clinical reasoning, management, and evaluation skills while functioning in the roles of provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, and member of a profession. This course integrates nursing experience and synthesizes RN/BSN program coursework through completion of a care management project, refinement of a professional nursing perspective, and reflective journaling.