Curriculum Overview
What will I study in the Bachelor of Nursing program at UCalgary?
From your first year through to your final preceptorship, you'll learn by doing. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing curriculum integrates classroom instruction, simulation-based learning, and clinical placements, giving you opportunities to apply your knowledge in real-world settings and prepare for a successful transition into nursing practice.
Emancipatory learning
Preparing students to think critically, navigate complexity, and contribute to positive change in health care.
- Challenge assumptions
- Explore complexity
- Address inequities
- Prepare for real-world practice
Relational learning
Recognizing that relationships are at the heart of nursing education and practice.
- Learn through connection
- Build strong professional relationships
- Engage in safe and brave learning spaces
- Develop as a compassionate nursing professional
NRSG 203 Anatomy and Physiology I
NRSG 204 Anatomy and Physiology II
ACWR 303 Academic Writing
NRSG 201 Introduction to Nursing
NRSG 202 Indigenous Health Studies
Statistics Requirement
Philosophy Requirement
Junior Arts Option
Junior Science Option
Junior Open Option
Junior Open Option
NRSG 305 Microbiology & Biochemistry
NRSG 310 Foundations of Relationship
NRSG 320 Care of the Aging Adult
NRSG 321 Care in the Community
NRSG 350 Care of the Aging Adult Practicum
NRSG 351 Health Promotion Practicum
NRSG 330 Nursing Amid Complexity
NRSG 331 Pathophysiology I
NRSG 332 Pharmacology I
NRSG 352 Acute Care Nursing Practicum I
NRSG 401 Evidence-Informed Nursing
NRSG 430 Pharmacology II
NRSG 450 Consolidated Practicum
NRSG 410 Nursing as Ethical Practice
NRSG 420 Health through Collaboration
NRSG 421 Mental Health & Illness
NRSG 501 Nursing Leadership
NRSG 520 Care in Perinatal
NRSG 521 Care in Pediatrics
NRSG 530 Pathophysiology II
NRSG 531 Pathophysiology III
NRSG 550 Acute Care Nursing Practicum II
NRSG 551 Mental Health Practicum
NRSG 552 Care in Perinatal Practicum
NRSG 553 Care in Pediatrics Practicum
Rural route students will take NRSG 454 Acute and Community Care in Rural Communities and NRSG 554 Acute and Community Care in Rural Communities II in place of NRSG 550, 551, 552, and 553.
NRSG 510 Resilience in Practice
NRSG 560 Final Preceptorship Practicum
Students complete their final practicum in either the Fall or Spring term. During this experience, you'll work closely with a registered nurse preceptor while preparing for the transition to professional nursing practice.
Learning Through Experience
Throughout the program, you'll apply classroom knowledge through simulation and clinical learning experiences that increase in complexity each year.
Foundations of Practice
↓
Simulation Learning
↓
Community & Health Promotion Practicums
↓
Acute Care Practice
↓
Specialty Practicums (Mental Health, Pediatrics, Perinatal)
↓
Final Preceptorship
Indigenous learning throughout the program
Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing are woven throughout the BScN curriculum through the Four Elements Indigenous Framework.
NRSG 201 – Introduction to Nursing
An introduction to the ways of knowing, history of nursing, nursing identity, and diverse contexts for nursing practice.
NRSG 202 – Indigenous Health Studies
Enhance awareness of and relationship to Indigenous ways of knowing, being, doing, and connecting. Develop foundational knowledge of the ongoing impacts of colonial violence, structures, and systems that influence Indigenous peoples' health in Canada.
NRSG 203 – Anatomy and Physiology I
An introduction to foundational anatomy and physiology. Topics to be covered include general cell physiology and the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal, nervous and muscular systems. Emphasis will be on the integration of body systems to regulate physiological function and homeostasis. Includes laboratory and simulation learning.
NRSG 204 – Anatomy and Physiology II
An introduction to anatomy and physiology of systems. Topics to be covered include the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, endocrine, reproductive, renal, and gastrointestinal systems. Emphasis will be on the integration of body systems to regulate physiological function and homeostasis. Includes laboratory and simulation learning.
NRSG 305 – Microbiology and Biochemistry
The application of biochemistry to defined health problems and establishes the foundations of microbiology and biochemistry for nursing practice.
NRSG 310 – Foundations of Relationship
An introduction to foundational concepts associated with the practice of registered nurses including caring science and caring practice, the scope of professional practice, professional communication, reflective practice, introduction to ethics, compassion, foundations of nursing knowledge, introduction to the nursing process and assessment, foundations of patient as partner, family centred care/family nursing, practicing amid difference and managing complexity.
NRSG 320 – Care of the Aging Adult
An introduction to the relationship between health and aging, the physiology of aging, and care of the aging adult.
NRSG 321 – Health Promotion
An introduction to population health trends and health promotion practices.
NRSG 330 – Nursing Amid Complexity
Explores the multi-dimensional influences on health.
NRSG 331 – Pathophysiology I
First in a sequence of three pathophysiology courses that cover processes associated with disease or injury.
NRSG 332 – Pharmacology I
An introduction to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
NRSG 350 – Care of the Aging Adult Practicum
A focus on care of the aging adult in continuing care. Experiential learning for care of aging adults. Introduction to nursing interventions pertinent to this patient population.
NRSG 351 – Health Promotion Practicum
Emphasizing health promotion across diverse community contexts. Students participate in a practicum that highlights lived experiences, service learning, and collaboration with communities. Applying nursing knowledge in practice, students collaborate with groups, organizations, and/or communities to shape strategies that promote health, foster reciprocal learning, and strengthen community connections.
NRSG 352 – Acute Care Nursing Practicum I
An introduction to the context of acute care, with a focus on tertiary care of the adult population. Experiential learning that focuses on building students' abilities to conduct assessment. Introduction to nursing process, developing clinical reasoning, and skills pertinent to practice in an acute care context.
NRSG 401 – Evidence Informed Nursing
An exploration of forms of evidence for nursing practice with a focus on evidence appraisal and utilization. Introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methods, knowledge translation, and knowledge mobilization in nursing and healthcare.
NRSG 430 – Pharmacology II
To further develop understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
NRSG 450 – Consolidated Practicum
An introduction to the context of acute care, with a focus on tertiary care of the adult population. Experiential learning that supports students to consolidate their development in assessment, intervention, skill development, and developing clinical reasoning abilities.
NRSG 410 – Nursing as Ethical Practice
An introduction to foundational theory for nursing practice. Focus on health law and ethics, the code of ethics for registered nurses, principles of and practices associated with patient advocacy.
NRSG 420 – Health through Collaboration
An opportunity to collaborate with others to advance health.
NRSG 421 – Mental Health and Illness
An introduction to the care of patients who experience mental illness.
NRSG 454 – Acute and Community Care in Rural Communities I
Examines rural health nursing practice with a focus on the role of the rural nurse as a generalist. Students explore the scope of practice required in rural contexts, emphasizing comprehensive assessment, clinical judgment, and management of common and emergent health concerns across the lifespan.
NRSG 501 – Nursing Leadership
An exploration of the knowledge, characteristics, and practices associated with nursing leadership in healthcare systems.
NRSG 520 – Care in Perinatal
A focus on nursing practice with maternal and newborn populations. Includes content associated with maternal care, perinatal care, and postpartum.
NRSG 521 – Care in Pediatrics
A focus on care of the pediatric population. Includes content associated with pediatric health and illness, the relationship between human development, brain, behaviour, and health.
NRSG 530 – Pathophysiology II
Building understanding of pathophysiology as it informs nursing care.
NRSG 531 – Pathophysiology III
Continuation of pathophysiology as it informs nursing care.
NRSG 550 – Acute Care Nursing Practicum II
Building knowledge, skills, and attributes to care for adult patients in the context of tertiary care. Experiential learning that builds upon knowledge and skills associated with nursing practice with adults in acute care.
NRSG 551 – Mental Health Practicum
An introduction to to nursing practice with people experiencing mental illness in various contexts. Experiential learning introducing knowledge and skills for nursing practice with people who experience mental illness.
NRSG 552 – Care in Perinatal Practicum
Experiential learning introducing knowledge and skills for nursing practice with maternal and newborn populations.
NRSG 553 – Care in Pediatrics Practicum
Experiential learning introducing knowledge and skills for nursing practice with pediatric populations.
NRSG 554 – Acute and Community Care in Rural Communities II
Building on rural health nursing practice with a focus on the role of the rural nurse as a change agent and advocate. Students explore the scope of practice required in rural contexts, emphasizing comprehensive assessment, clinical judgment, and management of complex and challenging health concerns across the lifespan. Attention is given to interprofessional collaboration within diverse rural settings.
NRSG 510 – Resilience in Practice
Prepares students for the transition to professional practice. Strategies for addressing moral and ethical challenges of practice; role and transition shock; working and learning within a preceptorship model; identifying and meeting ongoing learning and support needs; supporting and mentoring others.
NRSG 560 – Final Preceptorship Practicum
Preparation for entry to practice through supporting consolidation, integration, and application of students' nursing knowledge, skills, and attributes. Opportunity to refine and enact complex communication and relationship building skills, high-level assessment and clinical reasoning, nursing care planning, implementation, and evaluation.