Curriculum Overview

What will I study in the Bachelor of Nursing program at UCalgary?

The curriculum combines classroom and clinical experience. Course-work comprises lectures and projects with hands-on learning in the faculty’s Clinical Simulation Learning Centre and practicum placements in community care facilities.

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Bachelor of Nursing Curriculum Themes

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Term schedule by entry route - Bachelor of Nursing

Spring Session for the Faculty of Nursing does not follow standard University of Calgary dates. All students must attend classes commencing immediately following the Winter examination period (end of April) until the last day of June.

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Course schedule by term - Bachelor of Nursing

All Nursing Theory courses are 3 units. All Nursing Practice courses are 6 units with the exception of Nursing 599 which is 15 units.

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Year One

If you’re entering the program directly from high-school, you complete Terms 1-8.


Term 1 and 2 - Foundational Year (High-school students only)

The focus is on making you comfortable with university life through foundational studies. You take compulsory courses pivotal to your learning and future nursing practice (Anatomy and Physiology, English, Statistics and Philosophy) as well as options so you can explore your interests.

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Year Two

If you’re a post-secondary transfer or degree-holder student, you complete Terms 3-8.


Term 3 - Core Skills/Community Health

The focus is on population health across the lifespan and in a variety of communities.

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Term 4 - Family Nursing

The focus is on developing your knowledge and skills with individuals and families across the lifespan in a variety of community settings.

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Year Three


Term 5 - Acute Care

The focus is on individuals and families with serious health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

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Term 6 - Chronic Illness

The focus is on chronic illness in individuals and families.

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Year Four


Term 7 - Leadership

The focus is on integrating your classroom knowledge with your practice as well as working with concepts of leadership, research policy development and ethics.

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Term 8 - Knowledge Synthesis

The focus is on your transition to the role of a registered nurse. You'll spend the majority of this final term in an offsite practice setting working 1:1 with a registered nurse preceptor and your faculty advisor.

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