Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Nursing: V-CARE B.S.N.


TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study

The Veteran to BSN (V-CARE) major allows service members and veterans with medical training experience as medics and corpsmen the opportunity to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The V-CARE major is typically completed in consecutive semesters (after prerequisites, Foreign Language, and General Education requirements). Graduates may then take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to earn their RN license. Prerequisites can be completed at an institution accredited by either the Higher Learning Commission, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the New England Commission of Higher Education, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or the WASC Senior College and University Commission with completion of nursing coursework at the Tampa campus.

Specialized Admissions


THIS MAJOR HAS ADDITIONAL ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS AS LISTED IN THIS SECTION.

This is a full-time, specialized admissions program, as mandated by the state, and is structured sequentially. Admission is competitive.

Admission Requirements

  • Admission to the University of South Florida (Tampa campus) as a degree seeking undergraduate student.
  • Completed application to the College of Nursing prior to the published deadline for the intended term of entry.
  • Applicants must have U.S. Army Medic, U.S. Air Force Medic, or U.S. Navy Corpsman training and experience to be a candidate for the V-CARE major.
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on all undergraduate coursework.
  • Completion of the Nursing prerequisite courses by the published application deadline for the intended term of entry.
    • Students who do not have all prerequisite courses completed by the intended term of entry may be eligible for conditional admission.
    • Note: Any outstanding Nursing prerequisite courses must be completed by the program start date, with a C or better, while maintaining a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0.  
  • Completion of English Composition I, English Composition II and State General Education Mathematics requirement by the published application deadline.
  • Participation in a formal interview with College of Nursing faculty, if selected.
  • Completion of the University’s foreign language entrance requirement (FLENT) and University General Education requirements.
  • Submission of a professional resume.

University Admissions - College of Nursing


Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

Progression Requirements - College of Nursing


Please refer to the USF College of Nursing Student Handbook for grade and progression requirements.

Transferring to USF Nursing


The University’s Enhanced General Education requirements and College of Nursing’s prerequisite/support courses may be completed through the A.A. degree from a Florida College System institution. If a student wishes to transfer without an A.A. degree and has fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the student must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements. The A.A. degree satisfies admission requirements only if courses are carefully selected and include the required major prerequisite/support courses.

Required Courses: (94 credit hours)


State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites (27 credit hours)


The state-mandated nursing common pre-requisites are required to be completed before the published application deadline for the intended term of entry. A grade of ‘C’ or better is required while maintaining a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 3.0.

The College of Nursing requires certain courses within the Enhanced General Education requirement for the natural, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics. Students must complete the prerequisite courses listed below prior to being admitted to the V-CARE major. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.

All courses not approved by the Florida State Course Numbering System (includes all Florida public colleges, universities, and College System institutions) used to satisfy these prerequisite requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.

  • BSC X085C OR (BSC X085 AND BSC X085L) OR BSC X093C OR (BSC X093 AND BSC X093L) - 4 credit hours
  • BSC X086C OR (BSC X086 AND BSC X086L) OR BSC X094C OR (BSC X094 AND BSC X094L) - 4 credit hours
  • CHM X000-X999 OR BCH X000-X999 OR BSC X000-X999 OR PCB X000-X999 OR PHY X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
  • DEP X004 OR DEP X054 OR DEP X000 - 3 credit hours
  • HUN X201 - 3 credit hours
  • MCB X010C OR (MCB X010 AND MCB X010L) OR MCB X013C OR (MCB X000 AND MCB X000L) OR (MCB X004 AND MCB X004L) - 4 credit hours
  • PSY X000-X999 OR SOP X000-X999 OR SYG X000-X999 - 3 credit hours
  • STA X014 OR STA X023 OR STA X122 - 3 credit hours

NOTE: Epidemiology (3 credits) is recommended but not required.

State Mathematics Pathway – College of Nursing (6 Credit Hours)*


The College of Nursing uses the Statistical Reasoning Mathematics Pathway with the following requirements:

  • STA 2023 - Introductory Statistics I  Credit(s): 3**
  • Three (3) credits in any other mathematics course for which STA 2023 is a prerequisite or any additional math course necessary for the degree

* Mathematics Pathway courses count towards the State Common Prerequisite math courses and are not additional credits.
** Any of the STA X014 or STA X023 or STA X122 courses taken for state common prerequisites can meet this statistics requirement.

Major Core Courses: 24 courses; 64 Credit Hours


Note: Up to 4 hours will be awarded for military medic or corpsman experience. Please consult with a College of Nursing Academic Advisor for your path of study within this program.

Additional Information- Nursing: V-CARE B.S.N.


Grading Requirements


All Nursing courses must be passed with a C or better in didactic and an S in clinical.

Research Opportunities - College of Nursing


Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914   course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research (HIPUR) is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - College of Nursing


USF students can schedule advising appointments online through USF Archivum Platform.  Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to discuss course planning, degree progression, and career preparation.