Navigating the UCLA School of Nursing: Programs, Requirements, and Curriculum

The UCLA School of Nursing (SON) is dedicated to fostering a foundation of knowledge that underpins the nursing profession. Its programs are designed to cultivate nurse scientists capable of conducting research and developing theories that consider the impact of biological, psychosocial, and physical environments on health and healthcare. This article provides a detailed overview of the various programs offered at the UCLA School of Nursing, along with their respective requirements and curriculum structures.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The UCLA School of Nursing offers a prelicensure baccalaureate program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. The program emphasizes clinical leadership and critical thinking skills, preparing entry-level nurses to provide patient care.

Program Overview

The BS Prelicensure program is a traditional four-year program designed to prepare students for professional nursing practice, beginning in the freshman year. A limited number of transfer students are accepted annually. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as registered nurses (RN) and may apply for the Public Health Nursing Certificate from the California Board of Registered Nursing. The BS program is a UCLA-certified capstone major, where students plan and implement a clinically-based Scholarly Project to improve patient care during their final clinical course.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must complete the UC Application and a supplemental application. They should possess 90 to 105 quarter units (60 to 70 semester units) of transferable coursework, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all transferable courses, and have fulfilled the University's American History and Institutions requirement. Applicants from a California Community College must provide IGETC certification upon entrance.

Transfer applicants must complete all IGETC (General Education) requirements and the equivalent of all seven non-nursing preparation courses for the major by the end of the spring semester/quarter. These courses include:

Chemistry 20A, 20B & 30A (General, Inorganic & Organic)
Life Sciences 7A & 7C (Cell and Molecular Biology & Physiology and Human Biology)
Physiological Science 3 & 13 (Human Anatomy & Human Physiology)

The following prerequisite coursework is strongly recommended:

Communications 1 or 10 (Introductory Communication)
Math 3A or 31A (Calculus)
Microbiology (General Microbiology)
Psychology 10 (Introductory Psychology)

UCLA School of Nursing will accept qualified student applicants who have completed relevant military education and experiences, have met the University admission requirements, and who present documented equivalency courses. Once admitted, such individuals are eligible for credit by challenge examination.

Curriculum

The pre-professional curriculum provides students with sufficient information from the social and natural sciences to permit an effective undertaking of the nursing courses as well as of the lower and upper division courses in related disciplines and applied sciences.

The curriculum is structured around nine key domains:

Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Integrates nursing knowledge, liberal arts, and sciences to develop clinical judgment.
Person-Centered Care: Delivers holistic, equitable, and compassionate care using the nursing process.
Population Health: Engages in population health interventions through community partnerships.
Scholarship for Nursing Practice: Synthesizes knowledge and evidence-based interventions to address practice problems and improve health outcomes.
Quality and Safety: Provides quality nursing care based on safety principles and improvement science.
Interprofessional Partnerships: Collaborates with other healthcare professionals to enhance patient care.
Systems-Based Practice: Coordinates resources within complex systems to provide safe and equitable healthcare.
Informatics and HC Technologies: Uses informatics and healthcare technologies to inform decision-making and support patient care.
Professionalism: Develops a professional identity with accountability, collaboration, and ethical behaviors.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The UCLA School of Nursing offers several pathways to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing degree, catering to different educational backgrounds and career goals.

Master's Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN)

This two-year pre-licensure program is designed for individuals with a baccalaureate degree in another discipline who wish to pursue a career in nursing. The program includes summer enrollment between the first and second years. Graduates receive an MSN degree and are eligible to take the NCLEX to become licensed RNs, prepared to practice nursing at the bedside in a hospital setting. They may also apply for a Public Health Nursing Certificate from the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Program

The Advanced Practice Nursing (APRN) Program requires 78-79 units (18 unique courses) to complete. Course requirements vary according to role, focus, and specialty area selected. A total of four units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the total course requirement for the degree. Students must earn a B or better in clinical courses.

The MSN-APRN program offers several specializations:

Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: Focuses on providing primary care to adults across the age spectrum, from late adolescence through older adulthood, including comprehensive end-of-life care. The required theory courses are Nursing 200, 204, 211, 224, 231, 232, 239A, 239B, 239C, 264, N597, and 3-4 units of theory elective.
Adult/Gerontology Acute Care: Covers individuals from adolescence through adulthood and older age who are identified as ill and who have high-intensity nursing and medical needs. A minimum of two years of prior experience in acute care is highly recommended. For those students pursuing the Nurse Practitioner role, 69-70 units (17 courses) are required. The required theory courses are Nursing 200, 204, 216A, 216B, 216C, 224, 231, N264, N597, and three to four units of theory elective. The CNS/NP Dual program requires 92 units (20 unique courses). Students who select the Clinical Nurse Specialist role take Nursing 200, 204, 216A, 216B, 216C, 220, 224, 264, 231, 245, 267, 269, N597, and a 3- or 4-unit nursing theory elective. The laboratory/clinical courses are 440, 444 and 445.
Family Nurse Practitioner: Covers primary health care for individuals throughout the life span, emphasizing collaborative, interdisciplinary practice. The required theory courses are Nursing 200, 204, 211, 212, 224, 231, 236, 239A, 239B, 239C, 264, N597, and three or four units of theory elective.
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: Focuses on the primary health care of children from birth to adolescence. There are 67-68 units (17 courses) required for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner role. The required theory courses are Nursing 200, 204, 212, 223, 224, 231, 237A, 238A, 238B, 264, N597, and three or four units of theory elective.
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Covers children from birth to adolescence who are identified as ill and who have high-intensity nursing and medical needs. There are 77-78 units (20 courses) required for the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner role. The required theory courses are Nursing 200, 204, 212, 223, 224, 231, 237A, 237B, 238A, 238B, 264, N597, and three or four units of theory elective.
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist: There are 82-83 units (19 unique courses) required for the Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist role. The required theory courses are 200, 204, 220, 231, 223, 224, 245, 269, 212, 264, 237A, 237B, 238A, 238B, 597 and a three- or four-unit nursing elective. The required laboratory/clinical courses are 440, 441 and 445.
Pediatric Dual Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: There are 88 units (20 courses) required for the Pediatric Dual Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner role. The required courses are 200, 204, 231, 223, 224, 212, 264, 238A, 238B, 237A, 237B, and N597.
Pediatric Dual Clinical Nurse Specialist and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: There are 102 units (23 courses) required for the Pediatric Dual Clinical Nurse Specialist and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner role. The required courses are 200, 204, 220, 231, 223, 224, 238A, 238B, 245, 269, 237A, 237B, 212, 264, and 597.

Occupational and Environmental Health Subspecialty:

Applicants selecting the Adult/Gerontology Primary Care or Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner focus may also select an additional area of concentration: Occupational and Environmental Health. In addition to the course requirements for the Adult/Gerontology Primary Care and Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner specialties, students seeking the subspecialty in Occupational and Environmental Health also complete the following courses: N213, and 10 units of approved Environmental Health Sciences and/or Epidemiology electives. Students pursuing the Occupational Health subspecialty do not have to take the nursing theory elective.

MSN Curriculum Components

Nursing Core
Integrated Clinical Theory and Practice Courses
Administrative/Leadership Courses
M.S.N. Research Courses
Comprehensive Examination Preparation
Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs) test important nursing skills and are evaluated according to a standard rubric that is available to students for practice in the laboratory during Open Lab hours ahead of the OSCE testing.

Academic Standing and Course Progression

A student is considered in good academic standing when enrolled in at least 8 units each quarter and carrying an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Students in the nursing program acquire knowledge and skills that build upon one another from quarter to quarter. Therefore, nursing courses follow a defined sequence and are usually offered once annually. It is essential that students pass all coursework in order to make satisfactory progress in the program. In the instance when a student does not earn a passing grade, that student may be delayed in their degree completion because many courses are pre-requisite to subsequent courses in the degree program. The student who receives a non-passing grade in a Nursing course would be expected to repeat that course when it is next offered (usually the following academic year). Such a student will meet with the academic faculty adviser and then the Director of Student Services in order to create an alternative plan for completing the degree. Students must earn a B or better in clinical courses.

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Comprehensive Examination

Successful completion of the comprehensive examination is required for all MSN students. The comprehensive examination is based on the coursework taken in the program and is given in written form winter quarter. The comprehensive exam is read by two faculty members and is graded either Pass or Fail.

Post BS (Nursing) - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

This three-year program is designed to prepare registered nurses to become experts and leaders in advanced practice while completing a doctoral degree in nursing. The Post BS-DNP Program provides a pathway for post-baccalaureate nurses who desire the role of a nurse practitioner (NP) with doctoral-level knowledge and skills in advanced nursing practice, organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement and evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, population health, ethics, interprofessional collaboration, and quality and safety of patient care.

Students may choose from four specialities â Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Dual Primary/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner â with the option of adding an Occupational and Environmental Health certificate to two of the tracks.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The UCLA School of Nursing (SON) offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program with the goal in developing the foundation of knowledge upon which the practice of the profession is based. The UCLA SON PhD program aims to develop nurse scientists who can conduct research and generate theory that incorporate the influence of the biologic, psychosocial and physical environments on health and healthcare. Areas of focus and interest include, but are not limited to: health of diverse and vulnerable populations, older adults and persons with chronic and communicable diseases. Doctoral graduates serve as leaders who educate, influence practice, advance science, optimize healthcare delivery and influence healthcare policy worldwide.

Upon admission, students are assigned doctoral advisers recommended by the Student Affairs Committee and the PhD Program Director, to provide individual supervision and to guide selection of a suitable program of study. Students meet with their doctoral advisers at least once each quarter to determine course work for the following quarter. Studentsâ doctoral advisers may become their dissertation mentor. Students are encouraged to identify their dissertation mentor by the time they complete required course work.

Required Courses

The following courses are required of students in the Ph.D. program:

Nursing 202, 205A, 206A, 206B, 207, 210A, 210B, 299A
In addition, students proposing a dissertation using qualitative methods take Nursing 205B, 205C, and 299B concurrently with 596. The N299B/N596 pair of courses should be taken at least once.
Students proposing a dissertation using quantitative methods take N299B along with N596 at least twice.
Statistics: Nursing 291A and 291B. Students proposing a dissertation using quantitative methods also take Nursing 291C.
Cognates: Minimum of 12 units, three courses in related field relevant to area of research, outside of the School of Nursing.
Dissertation Preparation: 596 before advancing to candidacy and 599 after advancing to candidacy.
Professional Development: Although not required, students may elect to take Nursing 209, and the Teaching Theory and Practicum 299D and 495.

Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy.

Written Qualifying Examination: The written qualifying examination is usually taken after completion of the following courses: Nursing 202, 205A, 206A, 206B, 207, 210A, 210B, 299A, and Statistics Nursing 291A and B. The examination is submitted in July. The written qualifying examination will be graded independently by two readers. The candidate needs to receive a passing score by the two independent readers. If one score is passing and the other is failing, the exam will be scored by a third reader.

Oral Qualifying Examination: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, taken after completing the course requirements and successfully passing the written qualifying examination, evaluates studentsâ dissertation proposals. The initial step is selection of a doctoral committee. Students are responsible for obtaining the consent of four or more faculty members to serve on the committee as certifying members.

Academic Disqualification

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. Students who do not achieve a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA each quarter will be granted one quarter of academic probation in which they will be expected to bring their cumulative GPA up to a 3.0 by the end of the designated quarter. Students on academic probation are required to meet with their faculty advisers and course faculty to develop an individualized improvement plan. Subsequently, if a studentâs cumulative GPA remains below a 3.0, the student will be recommended to the Graduate Division for academic disqualification from the program. In addition to all criteria and reasons listed in the previous four paragraphs regarding minimum scholarship, a PhD student may be specifically recommended for academic disqualification for failure of the written or oral qualifying examination a second time or if three or more Unsatisfactory grades are earned in independent study course work in preparation for the dissertation.

Financial Support

PhD students are guaranteed full in-state tuition support funding for the first four years of their program. A non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST) fee grant is offered to non-resident students in the first year only. Additionally, there are funding opportunities that can provide up to $30,000 in annual financial support to be allocated towards room, board, and ordinary living expenses, in addition to full tuition and fee coverage. Nursing PhD students are prioritized for graduate housing at UCLA.

UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

The UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program curriculum is competency-based and aligned with the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) core and population specific competencies which include: scientific foundations, leadership, quality, practice inquiry, technology and information literacy, policy, health delivery system and ethics. The curriculum is built upon a framework which supports trainee knowledge, skills and attitude for development of the PMHNP role. This is supported through didactic content and a workplace-based clinical internship.

The curricular framework and descriptions are:

PMHNP role development: To build excellence in practice as a PMHNP
Interprofessional collaboration: To support communication and collaboration across professions
Structural competency: To create healthcare professionals who understand the effect of social inequity, racism and limited access to mental healthcare on individuals and communities
Self-reflective practice: To gain awareness of self, others and situation in the context of professional identity and role development

UCLA Extension Programs

UCLA Extension offers a variety of programs designed to support individuals pursuing a career in nursing.

Post-Baccalaureate in Pre-Nursing Studies

The UCLA Extension Post-Baccalaureate in Pre-Nursing Studies is designed to provide foundational classes for students planning on applying to entry-level masterâs programs or accelerated bachelorâs programs in nursing. The Certificate is a rigorous full-service offering geared toward working adults; curriculum courses in math and the sciences may fulfill nursing school prerequisites.

Other Certificate Programs

Substance Use Disorder Counseling
Behavior Health Paraprofessional for LGBTQ+ Clients
Infection Prevention and Control
Pediatric Medicine

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the UCLA School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. All programs of study are approved by the Academic Senate of the University of California and the California Board of Registered Nursing.

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