South University Orlando Campus: Programs for a Brighter Future

South University's Orlando campus is dedicated to providing accessible and high-quality education to students in the Orlando area. With a convenient location near major expressways and a strong connection to the local community, the campus offers a variety of programs designed to help students achieve their academic and professional goals. South University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees. South University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.

A Campus Designed for Success

The Orlando campus is strategically located near the 417 and 408 expressways, making it easily accessible for busy students in the Orlando area. Situated near Lake Ellenor, the campus provides a conducive environment for learning. Beyond its accessibility, South University, Orlando, fosters a strong sense of community through its connections with organizations like the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce and various professional relationships throughout the Orlando area. The campus is designed to provide busy students in the Orlando area with an accessible location for attending classes and meeting with South University advisors and faculty as they pursue their degree.

Diverse Programs to Meet Your Needs

South University, Orlando, offers a range of programs to suit different academic and career aspirations. The Orlando campus opened in 2023 and offers students a dedicated, high-fidelity mock operating room, an anesthesia skills learning lab, and extensive clinical experience with instruction by engaged and caring faculty. These include the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science programs. Programs, including all Clinical/Medical programs, have a required in-person clinical, practicum, or externship. We cannot guarantee flexibility in these components of the program.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at South University’s Orlando campus provides students the opportunity to earn the education needed to pursue their careers and be more competitive in the job market. The BSN graduate will be able to incorporate the concepts of caring, communication, critical thinking, professionalism, and holism to provide care for individuals, families and communities. The BSN degree program is designed for the non-registered nurse student. The prerequisite courses are completed over a span of six quarters, after which students apply to the professional phase of the nursing program. If accepted, the professional phase of South University’s nursing program is taught over seven quarters.

Admission to the Professional Phase of the BSN Program

Admission into the BSN degree program is a two step process: Students interested in pursuing the BSN degree are eligible for general entry to the Bachelor Science in Nursing Program by meeting requirements for entry into South University. Students must meet all prerequisite requirements to be considered for admission to the professional phase of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Read also: Applying to USF Doctoral Programs

The criteria used to determine admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program include:

Completion of the application for admission.
Completion of 90 quarter hours (QH) of science and general education courses as required for admission to BSN degree program with a grade of C or better. Science courses are not accepted if the courses are older than 7 years at the start date of the professional phase of the program. This includes science courses taken at South University and transfer credits from outside institutions.
A cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 2.75 or better on a 4.0 scale in the nursing pre-requisite courses. Note: South University, Columbia requires a 3.0 or better.
A GPA of 2.75 or better in the following science courses: BIO1011 Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO1012 Anatomy and Physiology I Lab; BO1013 Anatomy and Physiology II and BIO1014 Anatomy and Physiology II Lab; BIO2070 Microbiology and BIO2073 Microbiology Laboratory; CHM1010 General Chemistry; BIO2015 Human Pathophysiology. Note: South University, Columbia requires a 3.0 or better.
A grade of "C" or better in all general education courses.
Entrance test results (TEAS test only - see Assessment Through Standardized Testing section for detailed information).
A completed, approved Level I and Level II background check.
Completed application for admission to the BSN degree program form.
Official transcripts from every college or university attended, including courses taken at South University.
Meet the Core Performance Standards and essential functions related to the profession of nursing as described in this catalog.
Completion of prerequisites courses at South University will be considered in the ranking process.

Provisional admission may be granted if the student is completing prerequisites in the term before matriculation into the nursing program. On the day of matriculation into the nursing, the student must meet the admission criteria as outlined above. Failure to meet requirements of admission will result in rescinding the provisional admission status.

Upon acceptance into the Nursing Program, the student must submit:

Completed current physical examination record with required immunizations, titers, lab results, and tuberculosis assessment.
Urine drug screen
Evidence of health insurance

Laptop computers are required for use in testing. All students are required to have a laptop computer with Internet access that meets university specifications.

The Nursing Program Director may be required to submit written documentation regarding the student status to boards of nursing and clinical agencies as early as receipt of the student's CONPH application. Students may be required to obtain additional background checks as requested by clinical agencies or boards of nursing.

Read also: Supporting South High Students

Achievement Examinations and NCLEX-RN Preparation: The South University Nursing Faculty is committed to assisting students to achieve success on the National Council Licensing Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Successful completion of this examination is required for entry into the practice of professional nursing. In addition to faculty prepared examinations, nursing students take a series of achievement examinations throughout the various courses in the nursing program to prepare for taking the NCLEX-RN. The examinations are used to measure student nursing knowledge, acquired nursing skills and competencies. Students are required to attend NCLEX-RN review courses during the final quarter of the program.

The ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a requirement of the admission process. The TEAS exams is used to determine academic preparedness of pre-licensure nursing students in Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage. Applicants must achieve a “Proficient” level on the most current ATI TEAS exam to be considered for admission to the nursing program. Applicants must wait a minimum of 30 days between testing dates for the TEAS exam and no more than three times in 6 months. TEAS results greater than 14 months prior to admission acceptance into the professional phase will not be considered. If the TEAS exam is taken at another institution or virtually, all exam attempts must be sent electronically through ATI.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

Synthesize current scientific research, theories, and concepts from nursing and other disciplines in the practice of professional nursing.
Collaborates directly with other healthcare professionals using evidence-based resources and technologies in various aspects of the advanced nursing leadership role.
Apply critical thinking skills in establishing priorities, delegating responsibility, formulating decisions, and maintaining accountability in the practice of professional nursing through the application of nursing standards.
Demonstrate proficiency using the nursing process and systematic inquiry to deliver evidenced-based, comprehensive, and holistic nursing care which promotes health and quality of life for diverse populations.
Demonstrate professionalism using ethical and legal standards of practice in the decision-making process to assist with the development of quality improvement in the healthcare setting(s).

The College of Nursing and Public Health admits one or two classes of students per year to each campus-based BSN programs. Application packets and deadlines are available on each campus. Fully completed application materials (including evidence of completion of all prerequisite courses) are due by the posted deadline, usually the first day of the quarter before admission (ex., first day of summer quarter for fall quarter program start). Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science

South University’s Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program offers education and training in current anesthesiology practices and is designed to instill in its students high standards of professionalism and service to patients. The anesthesiologist assistant program prepares you for licensure exams and to pursue work as a member of the anesthesia care team, administering care to patients of all ages, degrees of illness, and across the spectrum of surgical procedures.

The Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science Program at South University, Orlando is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (ARC-AA).

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program requires the completion of 169 credits, divided into nine quarters. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of anesthesia science, with a focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Quarter I (18 Credits): Basic life support certification will be accomplished during Quarter I
Quarter V (20 Credits): Advanced Cardiac Life Support and PALS certification will be obtained during this quarter.
Quarter IX (18 Credits):

A Comprehensive Examination covering the material from the first five quarters will be administered to determine the preparedness of each student to advance to senior clinical year. Failure to successfully master the exam will result in remediation and necessary extension of the student's program by at least one Quarter.

Clinical rotations may involve evenings, nights and weekends during the second year, depending upon the rotation and the clinical site. Clinical sites may require students to take in-house call. When a student, in their second year, participates in daytime operating room assignments and is expected to remain in-house for call or extended clinical opportunities that exceed midnight, the student will have the next 12 hours free of clinical obligations. By official request, special arrangements will be made for students who have religious obligations that may conflict with educational program activities.

Admission Requirements for Anesthesia Science Program

South University has partnered with the Central Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistant (CASAA) to collect and manage applications to each Anesthesiologist Assistant Program. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit their applications as early in the cycle as possible. Interviews are conducted in a rolling manner throughout the cycle, and the class begins to fill. In the final months of the cycle, the class may become full; at this point, applicants may be offered an interview for a position on the waitlist. Students who are offered admission into a South University Anesthesiologist Assistant program are only permitted to accept an admission offer at one campus. Within 14 days of the student signing the admission acceptance form, it is the responsibility of the student to notify any other South University Anesthesiologist Assistant program(s) of their intent to withdraw. Admission acceptance fees are non-refundable, and do not transfer between South University Anesthesiologist Assistant programs or other South University programs of study.

General Admission Requirements include:

Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
Required prerequisite courses are listed in the following table. Excluding English, the most advanced pre-requisite course in each subject area must have been completed within seven years of application date. Pre-requisite course subject areas: Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Math. Prerequisite courses completed prior to the seven-year window will be considered current in the following situations: official MCAT taken within one year of application demonstrating at least 50th percentile scores on each of the four sections (Chemical and Physical, Critical Analysis and Reasoning, Biological and Biochemical, and Psychological and Social Behavior).
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work. South University Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs accept credit for Advanced Placement courses. AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit toward completion of the respective pre-requisite subject. Grades earned in AP courses are not used in the calculation of the applicant’s overall or prerequisite GPA.
Entrance Exams: Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) taken within 5 years of application.
Verification of familiarity with the practice of anesthesia, including the environment in which day-to- day work occurs. Recommended sources of reference include: employers/managers, professors, advisors, or research directors.
CASAA applicant personal statement.

As the admissions process also takes into consideration the personality characteristics deemed essential to becoming an anesthesiologist assistant, material such as a noncognitive or personality assessment may be required. Students wishing to enter the Anesthesiologist Assistant program in the College of Health Professions should be aware that applicants with a prior felony or serious misdemeanor conviction will not be considered. Acceptance into a South University program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain subsequent licensure or certification.

Required Pre-requisite College Courses (substitutions are not permitted and survey courses or courses for non-science majors are not acceptable):

English or English literature - 1 Semester Required
General Biology (upper level Biology courses will also fulfill this requirement); labs preferred but not required - 2 Semesters Required
General Chemistry; Labs are required - 2 Semesters Required
Organic Chemistry; Labs are required - 1 Semester Required
Biochemistry (upper level); labs preferred but not required - 1 Semester Required
General Physics; labs preferred but not required - 2 Semesters Required
Calculus - 1 Semester Required
Statistics or Biostatistics - 1 Semester Preferred (not required)
Cell and Molecular Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology - Preferred (not required)
Full year of Organic Chemistry Trigonometry or Calculus based Physics

Technical Standards

To undertake and successfully complete the Anesthesiologist Assistant program, as well as to function as an anesthetist after graduation, requires that an individual meet certain fundamental physical, cognitive, and behavioral standards. The requisite technical skills include, but are not limited to the following:

Effectively communicating verbally with patients and their family members and with other healthcare professionals.
Interacting with patients, including obtaining a history and performing a physical examination.
Effectively communicating in writing, and by record keeping, those data and information essential to the practice of anesthesia and the care of patients.
Reading and comprehending written parts of the medical record and other patient care documents in order to safely and effectively participate in the practice of anesthesia.
Having sufficient knowledge, motor skill, and coordination to perform diagnostic and therapeutic tasks, including invasive procedures, on patients in a timely manner so as to ensure the safety and well-being of the patients. These tasks include but are not limited to peripheral and central venous catheterization, arterial puncture and cannulation, breathing bag-and-mask ventilation, laryngeal mask airway insertion and management, endotracheal intubation.
Having sufficient strength, motor skill, and coordination to lift, move, and position patients as required for administration of anesthesia and performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Having sufficient speed and coordination to quickly and safely react to emergent conditions throughout the hospital in order to assure patient safety.
Recognizing and differentiating colors of signals displayed on monitors; being able to work in both light and dark conditions as exist in patient care areas (e.g., operating room, radiology suite, endoscopy suite); being able to recognize details of objects both near and far.
Hearing, processing, and interpreting multiple conversations, monitor signals, alarms, and patient sounds simultaneously in fast-paced patient care settings (e.g., operating room, intensive care unit, emergency room).
Having no impairment that would preclude continuous performance of all of the above activities or any and all of the other activities that are an integral part of an anesthesiologist assistant’s participation in the anesthesia care team.

Applicant Selection

Applicants for admission are considered and ranked using multiple factors as described below:

Academic achievement (overall GPA, prerequisite GPA, and science GPA)
Entrance Exam Scores. Preference will be given to those with GRE scores (Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning) > 50th percentile and MCAT scores > 500
Prerequisite coursework obtained from a four-year college or university designed for science majors
Letters of reference
Direct patient care experience
Personal statement/essay
Anesthesia/shadowing experiences
Community service/volunteer activities
Interview performance
Results of noncognitive/personality assessment

Evidence of an applicant’s interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability, professionalism, motivation, academic potential, communication, and knowledge of the AA profession/health care system are assessed by the Admissions Committee. The committee will determine the degree to which applicants demonstrate alignment with the South University AA Program mission and expectations.

Post-Acceptance Requirements

Prior to matriculation, each person accepted into the Anesthesiologist Assistant program must provide an official transcript indicating degree conferred and show completion of all required course work. Complete transcripts and an official record of undergraduate degree must be on file with the program before registration will be permitted for the first quarter.

A recent medical history, physical examination, and all immunization records required must be maintained in the individual student’s compliance tracking portal from the time of matriculation until graduation. It is the student’s responsibility to keep these records complete and up to date. Students who do not maintain these records as required will be referred to the Progress and Promotions committee for a professionalism standard violation.

Students entering senior year may be required to obtain an updated current history, physical examination, background check and drug screen depending on the rotation site.

Policy on Experiential Learning

No course credit is awarded for experiential learning to applicants of the Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program.

Transfer of Credits Policy

South University Anesthesiologist Assistant Program does not accept transfer of credits from other anesthesiologist assistant programs or provide enrolled students with a waiver of credit (i.e. advanced placement) for any component of the required curricular coursework. Students may not transfer from one South Anesthesiologist Assistant campus to another.

All students must complete each course in the South University Anesthesiologist Assistant curriculum.

Insurance Requirements

Students in the Anesthesiologist Assistant program are required to have continuous health insurance coverage in force for the duration of their enrollment. Documentation of this insurance coverage must be stored and maintained in the student’s compliance tracking account selected by the program. If at any time a student does not have insurance in force and current documentation listed in their compliance tracking account, they will cease participation in clinical education and be referred to the Progress and Promotions committee for a violation of the standards of Professionalism for the Anesthesiologist Assistant program.

Students using private health insurance must ensure that their plan covers treatment and monitoring for needle stick injuries and other documented exposure to blood borne pathogens for all clinical rotation locations. For the student’s own personal safety, it is imperative that they have an adequate health plan or the resources to pay for necessary medical care in the event of a needle stick or exposure to pathogenic organisms.

Flexible Learning Options

South University understands that students have diverse needs and schedules. To accommodate this, some programs are taught entirely online, while others are offered in a traditional, classroom setting. Hybrid options are also available, combining online and in-person instruction. Our clinical programs have in-person practicums and components, so you have the opportunity to gain hands-on practice with your skills. *Although hybrid offered courses are available in-person or online, this program still requires Clinical courses to be conducted in person and on-site.

A Commitment to Student Success

South University is committed to helping its graduates make an impact in their professional and personal lives. The faculty and staff don't just teach in the classroom; they often host workshops and offer mentorship to the wider community. The university applauds its alumni and the difference they make in their communities.

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