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The Decker School of Nursing (DSON) is registered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through June 30, 2029. The Decker School is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Decker School of Nursing undergraduate programs lead to the bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing. These programs prepare graduates to provide high-quality healthcare in complex environments, foster commitment to lifelong learning, the moral and ethical values of nursing, and promote social responsibility through community service.

Graduates of the traditional baccalaureate and Baccalaureate Accelerated Track programs are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become licensed registered nurses (RN). Following successful completion of the NCLEX-RN, graduates are prepared for beginning professional practice in a variety of settings such as hospital, community health and long-term care agencies. These programs, in addition to the RN-BS program, provide the foundation for continuing education at the graduate level.

Program Options

The Decker School of Nursing offers three undergraduate program options: the traditional baccalaureate of science program, the Baccalaureate Accelerated Track (BAT) program, and the registered nurse to bachelor of science (RN-BS) program.

Admission

Detailed admission information, including transfer and re-enrollment guidelines, can be found in the Admissions section of the Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin).

Traditional Program

Decker School of Nursing applications are reviewed for the fall semester only. Traditional nursing applicants are admitted to the first-year or junior class.

Students applying for the junior class must have all prerequisites completed by their intended start date.

BAT Program

Applicants must apply using a transfer application for the fall semester of the year they intend to enroll. Prerequisites and a first bachelor’s degree may be in progress during application review but must be completed prior to the program start date (Summer Session).

RN-BS Program

Applicants must apply using the RN-BS application and are reviewed for multiple start dates per year. Completed prerequisites and proof of RN licensure are required to apply. The prerequisites are:

• Anatomy and Physiology I
• Anatomy and Physiology II
• Microbiology
• Intro to Psychology
• English Composition
• Two additional liberal arts and sciences courses (examples include courses in anthropology, economics, English, history, humanities, mathematics, sociology, and philosophy)

Academic Policies

Students in the Decker School of Nursing are subject to all general regulations listed in the Academic Policies section of this publication. A complete description of the policies pertaining to undergraduate nursing students is contained in the Decker School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook. 

Transfer Coursework

Transfer credit is evaluated by the Decker Division of Advising and Academic Excellence. To be considered for transfer, coursework must be transcripted through an accredited institution.

Credit for select, non-clinical upper-division core nursing coursework can be evaluated on an individual basis by the Undergraduate Admissions and Academic Standards Committee (see Policies and Procedures for Transfer of Upper-Division Nursing Credit).

Grading System

Grades in courses offered by the University are normally recorded as follows: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D and F.

A grade of C- or higher in nursing courses is required for progression in the nursing curriculum. A grade of D or less in a nursing course will require repeating that course.

The grading of all coursework in the upper-division nursing courses is as follows:

Letter	Score (%)
A	93-100
A-	90-92
B+	87-89
B	83-86
B-	80-82
C+	77-79
C	73-76
C-	70-72
D	60-69
F	<60

A cumulative grade-point average is computed for all courses and the following values are assigned to these letter grades as follows:

Letter	GPA Value
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
D	1.0
F	0

Grades of I (Incomplete), W (Withdrawn) and AU (Audit) may be given. These grades are not included in cumulative totals.

Grading for Prerequisites, General Education Courses and Electives

• Prerequisites: Prerequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C- prior to enrolling in upper-division nursing courses. Courses may be taken Pass/Fail but must be repeated to meet the minimum grade of C-.
• General Education Courses: To meet a General Education requirement, courses must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a D or better, unless the only grade option for the course is Pass/Fail.
• Electives: Any additional credits needed to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for graduation (126 for traditional and BAT programs, 120 for RN-BS) may be taken Pass/Fail. Nursing elective credit beyond the required two credits for the traditional and BAT programs may be taken Pass/Fail.

Note: Not all grading options are offered for all courses.

Prerequisites

Traditional and BAT Programs:

The term “prerequisites” refers to the following courses, which must be completed, with a minimum grade of C-, prior to enrolling in upper-division nursing courses:  

• Two Composition (C or J gen ed) courses;
• Statistics;
• Introductory Biology*
• Anatomy and Physiology I**
• Anatomy and Physiology II**
• Microbiology**
• Chemistry I*
• Chemistry II**
• Introductory Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

*waived if Anatomy and Physiology I, II, and Microbiology are completed at another college or university.

**must be completed within 10 years of enrolling in the Decker School of Nursing.

RN-BS Program:

The term “prerequisites” refers to the following courses, which must be completed prior to applying:

• Anatomy and Physiology I
• Anatomy and Physiology II
• Microbiology
• Introductory Psychology
• English composition
• Two additional liberal arts or sciences (LAS) course

Incomplete Grades

A notation of Incomplete (I), rather than a grade, may be reported by the instructor when a student has made substantial progress but has not been able to complete a course due to justifiable circumstances. The issues of substantial progress, potential to pass the course and the reason for the request are decided by the instructor. 

A grade of Incomplete must be removed and replaced with a permanent grade no later than the last day of classes of the semester following the one in which it was received; however, an instructor may set an earlier date for completion of the work. If the grade is not removed by the applicable date, and an extension has not been granted, the grade of "I" automatically becomes a grade of "F".

The student is responsible for initiating a request for an extension and obtaining appropriate approval from their instructor.

Academic Standing

A cumulative grade-point average of at least a 2.0 is required to be in good academic standing.

Warning: Academic warning occurs when a student's term GPA falls below 2.0, but the student's cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher. (First-semester students who fail to achieve a 2.0 will be placed on warning.)

Probation: Academic probation occurs when a student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. Probation will continue if the student's term GPA is 2.0 or higher, but his/her cumulative GPA is below 2.0.

Suspension: Academic suspension occurs when a student on academic probation fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in the next semester. Suspension prevents enrollment in all University courses for a period of one major semester.

Repeating a Course

Students may repeat a General Education course or elective course if they receive a Withdrawn (W) or Failed (F).

Nursing Prerequisites

Students must repeat a nursing prerequisite if they receive a D, F, or W.

• Failure to achieve the minimum passing grade or withdrawal in any combination of two nursing prerequisites will result in dismissal.
• Failure to achieve the minimum passing grade or withdrawal from the same nursing prerequisite twice will result in dismissal. 

Core Nursing Courses

Students must repeat a core nursing course if they receive a D, F, or W.

For students in the traditional and BAT programs only:

• Failure to achieve the minimum passing grade or withdrawal from any combination of two core nursing courses will result in dismissal.
• Failure to achieve the minimum passing grade or withdrawal from the same core nursing course twice will result in dismissal. 

Independent Study

An independent study is used to accommodate students who wish to pursue individual study under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The ability to study independently is determined by the faculty of record.

Process for Taking an Independent Study:

• Independent study may be taken for 1, 2, 3, or 4 credits. Nursing elective credit requires a minimum of 2 credit hours and a letter grade option (A, B, C, D, F). General elective credit may be taken Pass/Fail.
• The student needs to find a Decker faculty to serve as faculty of record for the independent study based on the interest and expertise of the potential faculty in relation to the student's topic.
• The student prepares a plan of study that is presented to the faculty. Collaboration occurs, and the student and faculty reach a mutually agreed upon plan of study that includes a timeline for consultation and assessment of progress.
• The student and faculty of record must complete the independent study form and submit it to the appropriate DSON program office prior to the add/drop deadline.

Independent Study Notes:

• All independent study research involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by ������ϲ�����'s Institutional Review Board prior to initiating any research (Human Subject Review).
• Students wishing to earn academic credit for internship or externship experiences should review the on the Fleishman Center for Career Development's website.

Class and Laboratory Attendance

The Decker School of Nursing adheres to University policy pertaining to attendance in class. In addition, attendance for all laboratory experiences is mandatory. Students must notify their instructors if they are unable to meet this commitment because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control. All course-related assignments must be completed as indicated in course syllabi unless prior arrangements are made with course faculty.

Clinical Laboratory Requirements

There are a number of requirements Decker School of Nursing students must fulfill prior to beginning required nursing courses as noted in the Decker School of Nursing Requirements section of the Decker School of Nursing website. 

The Decker School of Nursing will not provide clinical experiences for students who fail to meet the requirements/responsibilities as outlined in the Decker School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook (Section 4: Clinical/Laboratory Policies and Procedures).

Transportation

The University assumes no responsibility for providing transportation from campus to the clinical health agencies used for student clinical experiences. Students arrange their own transportation to clinical agencies and affiliated sites. Some clinical experiences require students to travel a distance of up to 150 miles from campus. There may be parking costs at some clinical agencies.

Additional Expenses

Students in the nursing program should expect to incur costs for additional items related to clinical practice and preparation. These costs are in addition to the standard University tuition and fees. Included are fees for:

• Insurance fee for clinical practice of $12
• Simulation fee of $330 charged only once per semester when enrolled in any of the following clinical courses. (NURS 321, NURS 352, NURS 353, NURS 362, NURS 363 and NURS 471).
• Clinical Learning Support Fee of $220 charged only once per semester when enrolled in any of the following clinical courses (NURS 321, NURS 352, NURS 353, NURS 362, NURS 363 and NURS 471).

Professional Ethics and Academic Honesty

Students are expected to comply with the University Rules for Student Conduct and the policies related to professional ethics and academic honesty as stated in the undergraduate student handbook.    

Academic Honors

Dean's List

Decker School of Nursing has a Dean's List for all students who have an outstanding academic record. To qualify for inclusion in the Dean's List for that semester, students must meet the following criteria:

• be matriculated in Decker School of Nursing
• have a minimum GPA of 3.5
• have completed at least eight credits for that semester
• have a complete transcript with no Missing Grade (MG) or Incomplete (I) grades on their transcript.

Dean's List is noted on the student's official transcript for each semester it is achieved.

Graduation with Honors

Students with outstanding academic records receive college-wide honors upon graduation. To qualify, students must meet the cumulative grade-point averages specified below, have at least 48 graded ������ϲ����� credits (27 graded ������ϲ����� credits for RN-BS students), and have no Missing Grade (MG) or Incomplete (I) grades on their transcript.

Honors are awarded as follows:

3.50-3.69 GPA: cum laude
3.70-3.84 GPA: magna cum laude
3.85-4.00 GPA: summa cum laude

The appropriate graduation honors are indicated on the diploma and on the final transcript.

Sigma Theta Tau International

Sigma Theta Tau International, the International Honor Society of Nursing, recognizes outstanding graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and practitioners of nursing. Candidates for membership in the Zeta Iota chapter of ������ϲ����� must have demonstrated:

• superior scholastic achievement;
• academic integrity; and
• professional leadership potential and/or marked achievement in the field of nursing.

Eligibility for membership in the Zeta Iota chapter is by invitation to students who have completed at least half of the courses in the nursing major, have a GPA of 3.0 and above and rank in the top 35% of their class in scholarship.

Degree Requirements

A Bachelor of Science degree with the major in nursing requires:

• a minimum of 126 credit hours if enrolled in the traditional or BAT program or 120 credit hours if enrolled in the RN-BS program; 
  
  • prerequisites
  • General Education requirements (waived for students with a previous bachelor’s degree)
  • required nursing courses
  • general electives
• 45 upper-division credits (300-level or above)
• 60 liberal arts and sciences (LAS) credits
• thirty (30) credits in residence if enrolled in the traditional or BAT program or twenty-seven (27) credits in residence if enrolled in the RN-BS program
• cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better;
• satisfactory payment of fees and bills;

In addition, the student must:

• not be under any disciplinary action;
• be duly recommended by the University Faculty;
• have been admitted to the degree by formal action by the State University Trustees.

Major Requirements

Traditional and BAT Programs:

The following upper-division nursing courses are required:

• NURS 320 Socialization I: Introduction to Professional Nursing
• NURS 321 Nursing Assessment of Clients
• NURS 322 The Client System of Nursing
• NURS 351 Pathophysiology I  
• NURS 352 Practice of Nursing I
• NURS 353 Practice of Nursing II
• NURS 360 Socialization II: Nursing Research  
• NURS 361 Pathophysiology II
• NURS 362 Practice of Nursing III
• NURS 363 Practice of Nursing IV
• NURS 365 Pharmacology in Nursing  
• NURS 470 Socialization III: Professional Issues
• NURS 471 Practice of Nursing V  
• Nursing elective

RN-BS Program:

The following upper-division courses are required:

• NURS Z380 Professional Role Development: Transitions
• HSCI Z381 Health & Illness Across the Lifespan
• NURS Z382 Population Health: Promotion and Prevention
• HSCI Z383 Inquiry & Research in Healthcare
• NURS Z384 Population Health: Chronic Illness
• NURS Z386 Assessment Across the Lifespan
• HSCI Z388 Health Care Policy & Health Disparities
• NURS Z483 Professional Issues in Nursing Leadership
• NURS Z484 Leadership and Management

Sample Curriculum for the Traditional Baccalaureate Program:

First Year/Fall	Credits
C or J: Composition I	4
CHEM 101: Chemistry I	4
PSYC 111: General Psychology	4
General Education/Elective	4
Total	16
First Year/Spring	Credits
BIOL 113: Intro to Cell & Molecular Biology	4
CHEM 102:  Chem II	4
PSYC 220:  Dev Psychology	4
General Education/Elective	4
Total	16
Second Year/Fall	Credits
HSCI 200	4
MATH 147/PSYC 243:  Statistics	4
C or J:  Composition II	4
General Education/Elective	4
Total	16
Second Year/Spring	Credits
HSCI 201	4
BIOL 319:  Pre-Health Microbiology	4
BIOL 329:  Pre-Health Microbiology Lab (Optional)	0-2
General Education/Elective	4
General Education/Elective	0-4
Total	12-18
Third Year/Fall	Credits
NURS 320:  Socialization I: Introduction to Professional Nursing	4
NURS 321:  Nursing Assessment of Clients	4
NURS 322:  The Client System of Nursing	4
NURS 351:  Pathophysiology I	2
Nursing Elective	2-4
Total	16-18
Third Year/Spring	Credits
NURS 352:  Practice of Nursing I	4
NURS 353:  Practice of Nursing II	4
NURS 361:  Pathophysiology II	4
General Education/Elective	0-4
Total	12-16
Fourth Year/Fall	Credits
NURS 360:  Socialization II: Nursing Research	2
NURS 362:  Practice of Nursing III	4
NURS 363:  Practice of Nursing IV	4
NURS 365:  Pharmacology in Nursing	2
General Education/Elective	0-4
Total	12-16
Fourth Year/Spring	Credits
NURS 470:  Socialization III: Professional Issues	4
NURS 471:  Practice of Nursing V	8
Total	12

Sample Curriculum Plan for the Baccalaureate Accelerated Track (BAT) Program

Summer Session Term I (May–July)	Credits
NURS 320:  Socialization I: Introduction to Professional Nursing	4
NURS 351:  Pathophysiology I	2
Summer Session Term II (July–August)
NURS 360:  Socialization II:  Nursing Research	2
NURS 361:  Pathophysiology II	4
Summer Session Term III (May– August)
NURS 321: Nursing Assessment of Clients (continued) July–August)	4
Total	16
Fall Semester	Credits
NURS 322:  The Client System of Nursing	4
NURS 352:  Practice of Nursing I  (1/2 semester course)	4
NURS 353:  Practice of Nursing II (1/2 semester course)	4
NURS 362:  Practice of Nursing III (1/2 semester course)	4
NURS 365:  Pharmacology in Nursing	2
Total	18
Winter Semester	Credits
NURS 363: Practice of Nursing IV	4
Total	4
Spring Semester	Credits
NURS 470: Socialization III: Professional Issues	4
NURS 471: Practice of Nursing V	8
Nursing Elective	2
Total	14

Curriculum plan for RN-BS program

Students enrolled in the RN-BS program are provided a custom program plan based on their previous coursework and outstanding requirements. The required upper-division coursework is taught on a rotational model that provides the students the opportunity to start at different times throughout the year. There is not one set program plan for students enrolled in this program. 

Community Agencies for Clinical Practice

The nursing curriculum places its focus on knowledge and theory drawn from health science and the related disciplines. Students apply this knowledge and theory in a number of clinical settings, giving them an opportunity to develop skills in clinical practice, critical thinking, problem solving and leadership. The Decker School of Nursing places students in the traditional and BAT programs in local agencies throughout New York State, and Pennsylvania. Included among nearly 400 clinical affiliations are the following:

Listing of Hospital and Clinical Affiliations

• Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Elmira, N.Y.
• Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, N.Y.
• ������ϲ����� City Schools, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• ������ϲ����� General Hospital, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• Broome County Health Department, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, N.Y.
• Community General Hospital, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Delaware County Public Nursing Service, Delhi, N.Y.
• Elizabeth Church Manor, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• Good Shepherd Fairview Home, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• Greater ������ϲ����� Health Center, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• Guthrie Healthcare, Sayre, P.A.
• Ideal Senior Living Center, Endicott, N.Y.
• Lourdes Hospital, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• Lourdes At Home, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• St. Joseph's Hospital, Elmira, N.Y.
• St. Joseph's Health, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Susquehanna Nursing Center, ������ϲ�����, N.Y.
• Tioga County Health Department, Owego, N.Y.
• Twin Tier Home Health, Vestal, N.Y.
• United Health Services, Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center, Johnson
• City, N.Y.
• United Medical Associates, Johnson City, N.Y.
• University Hospital, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Vestal Park Nursing Center, Vestal, N.Y.
• Willow Point Nursing Home, Vestal, N.Y.

Students enrolled in the RN-BS program are responsible for identifying their own clinical sites. Prior to enrolling in clinical courses, RN-BS students must:

• Complete all health and clinical practice requirements
• Identify a site and preceptor that meet course objectives
• Get approval for the site and preceptor from the course instructor

Minors in the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Students enrolled in the Decker School of Nursing may pursue a minor from any of the undergraduate schools at ������ϲ����� (view full list). It is the student's responsibility to monitor completion of the minor and contact the associated department with any questions. The Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers three minors: health and wellness studies, forensic health, and speech and hearing science.    

Health and Wellness Studies (HWS) Minor

See the Health and Wellness Studies section of the Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin) for information.

Forensic Health Minor

Open to any undergraduate at ������ϲ�����, the forensic health minor is particularly well suited for students majoring in fields with forensic applications (nursing, biology, chemistry, anthropology, psychology, sociology, social work, public health) who are considering careers in healthcare, forensic sciences or the law.

Requirements:

The minor requires 24 credit hours — 16 credits of core courses and two adjunct courses (eight credits). To graduate with the minor, a student must have a grade of C- or higher in all courses taken for the minor; repeating coursework is not permitted. Course descriptions are below

Successful completion of 16 credit hours from the following core courses:

Course	Credits
NURS 335 Forensic Health Essentials	2-3
NURS 335B Forensic Health of Victims	2-3
NURS 335C Forensic Health of Offenders	2-3
NURS 335D Forensic Pediatrics	2-3
NURS 335F Medicolegal Death Investigation	2-3
NURS 337 Forensic Health: Sexual Offending and Victimization	2-3
NURS 370 Disaster Preparedness	3
NURS 455 Correctional Health	3
Total	16-17

The Nursing Honors Program may be substituted as an alternate for NURS 335D, NURS 335F, NURS 455 or NURS 370 if focused on a topic that is integral to forensic health and approved by the forensic health coordinator.

Anthropology forensic health minor students may use ANTH 245 Bones, Bugs & Forensic Science in place of any 3-credit forensic course. 

Successful completion of two of the following adjunct courses for total of eight credits (no more than two may count toward minor):

Adjunct Courses (must complete 8 credits)	Credits
PSYC 111 Introduction to Psychology	4
PSYC 220 Developmental Psychology	4
PSYC 330 Drugs & Behavior	4
HDEV 200 Introduction to Human Development	4
HDEV 400 Social Justice	4
HWS 340 Substance Abuse in Contemporary Society	4
Adjunct Courses Total	8
Total Credits Required for Minor	24

Speech and Hearing Science Minor

The Division of Speech Language Pathology offers an undergraduate minor in speech and hearing science, which provides students with the groundwork for developing foundational knowledge in normal and disordered processes of speech, language and swallowing. This minor will not allow students to practice or be licensed as a speech and language pathologist. This coursework can be taken by students in any major to supplement their program of study. Completion of this minor will prepare students to apply to a graduate program in speech and language. The coursework is open to all students, whether or not they apply for the minor, and can complement many different majors at ������ϲ����� University. The total number of credits required for the minor is 24.

Minor Requirements

All of the following courses are required:

• SLP 408: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech, Language and Hearing (4 Credits)
• SLP 409: Speech and Hearing Science (2 Credits)
• SLP 414: Introduction to Communication Disorders (4 Credits)
• SLP 415: Normal and Abnormal Speech and Language Development (4 Credits)
• SLP 418: Clinical Phonetics (4 Credits)
• SLP 420: Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation (4 Credits)
• SLP 435: Clinical Methods (2 Credits)

The following course can be taken as an elective (instructor approval required)

• SLP 495: Internship in Speech, Language and Hearing (1 Credit)

Total credits required for minor--24

Academic Policies

Students enrolled in the minor in speech and hearing science are subject to all of the rules and regulations listed in the Academic Policies section of the Bulletin.

List of Faculty

Addendum: Simulation Fee updated, 08/01/2023