Bachelor of Science/Master of Nursing

The Bachelor of Science/Master of Nursing provides for students who wish to develop a deeper understanding of an area of interest in the sciences and relate it to health care. This might include pharmacology, psychology, physiology or biomedical science. This study will enhance the career and employment choices of students.

In addition to a more traditional nursing career, the combination of science and nursing allows students to consider positions in the new areas of biotechnology and treatments that shape health care. Careers in research and product development, pharmaceutical use and misuse are also available.

Course overview

The combined degrees consist of a total of 192 credit points comprising 96 credit points toward the bachelor's degree and 96 credit points for the Master of Nursing. In most cases, units of study are worth six credit points; however, there are some units in Health Sciences that are worth three credit points.

In the first year, study is exclusively in the bachelor's degree. Years 2 and 3 are a combination of undergraduate and postgraduate studies and Year 4 is entirely postgraduate. All students must complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree before continuing to the fourth and final year of their combined degree.

Generally students are not permitted to continue their enrolment in the combined degree if they do not have a credit average at the end of Year 1. If you are not successful in attaining a credit average in Year 1 then you may complete the undergraduate degree before commencing study in the Master of Nursing. This pathway would require an additional year of study.

Details of the units and the order in which they must be studied for Health Sciences and the Master of Nursing are shown below. For units of study in Arts and Science and for further information about faculty requirements for all combined degrees you should refer to the handbooks for those faculties. Choice of units for combined degrees in Arts or Science will largely depend upon the major you wish to study.

You should discuss your options and their availability with the relevant Academic Advisor from Sydney Nursing School. While we try to minimise the lease note that some units may not be available due to clashes in the timetable in the Master of Nursing.

Admission

Admission is open to all students who meet the University requirements for enrolment in the following undergraduate degrees:

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Bachelor of Science

If you wish to study this degree you should apply through the University Admissions Centre (UAC). There is an application deadline and you should check with UAC for the exact date.

International students who have not completed Year 12 in Australia should apply through the International Office.

Students who have undertaken previous undergraduate study are welcome to apply for credit. You should contact the relevant Academic Advisor from Sydney Nursing School for further information.

Workload

Study in this course is taken over four years full time (pro rata part time).You are required to complete 96 credit points in the bachelor€™s degree and 96 credit points in the Master of Nursing to graduate.

The total number of units studied will vary depending upon the course you choose. In terms of workload, most six credit point units of study consist of attendance and lectures, tutorials and/or lab sessions on a regular basis. There are also pre-reading and assessment items equating to approximately 10 hours per week.

Study patterns for all combined degrees including relevant unit of study rules are outlined below. This course consists of lectures, tutorials and laboratory work. All clinical units associated with the Master of Nursing have clinical placement experiences that are generally conducted outside the normal semester times. Please refer to the Master of Nursing clinical placement information for more details.

Units of study

Unit of study	Credit points	A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition	Session
Bachelor of Science/Master of Nursing GH021
Year 1, Semesters 1 and 2
48 credit points of Science units (refer to the Science handbook for requirements)
Year 2, Semester 1
12 credit points of Science units (refer to the Science handbook for requirements) and the following Nursing subjects:
NURS5081 Introduction to Nursing Practice	6		Semester 1
NURS5083 Human Bioscience in Health	6	N BIOL1003	Semester 1
Year 2, Semester 2
12 credit points of Science units (refer to the Science handbook for requirements) and the following Nursing subjects:
NURS5006 Illness Experience and Nursing Care	6	P NURS5081	Semester 2
NURS5086 Drug Therapy, Disease & Nursing Practice	6	P NURS5083 or BIOL1003	Semester 2
Year 3, Semester 1
12 credit points of Science units (refer to the Science handbook for requirements) and the following Nursing subjects:
NURS5002 Social Contexts of Health	6		Semester 1
NURS5082 Developing Nursing Practice	6	C NURS5081	Semester 1
Year 3, Semester 2
12 credit points of Science units (refer to the Science handbook for requirements) and the following Nursing subjects:
NURS5084 Nursing the Acutely Ill Person	6	P NURS5082 or NURS5004	Semester 2
NURS5085 Mental Health Nursing Practice	6	C NURS5084	Semester 2
Year 4, Semester 1
NURS6004 Nursing and the Politics of Health Care	6	Teaching for this unit of study starts in February before the commencement of the semester. Students will be notified of specific dates during second semester in the year prior.	Semester 1
NURS6008 Inquiry and Research in Nursing	6	Teaching for this unit of study starts in February before the commencement of the semester. Students will be notified of specific dates during second semester in the year prior.	Semester 1
NURS6018 Care and Chronic Conditions	6	P NURS5084, NURS5085, NURS5081	Semester 1
NURS6019 High Acuity Nursing	6	P NURS5084, NURS5081	Semester 1
Year 4, Semester 2
NURS6022 Community Health Nursing	6	P NURS6018 and NURS6019	Semester 2
NURS6023 Professional Practice of Nursing	6		Semester 2
NURS6024 Global Health and Nursing	6	P NURS5002	Semester 2
and one of the following options:
NURS6025 Nursing Practice (Mental Health Option)	6	P NURS6018 and NURS6019 and NURS5085 Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
NURS6026 Nursing Practice (Paediatric Option)	6	P NURS6018 and NURS6019 Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
NURS6027 Nursing Practice (High Acuity Option)	6	P NURS6018 and NURS6019 Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
NURS6028 Nursing Practice (Clinical Nursing Opt)	6	P NURS5084 and NURS6018 Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2

Course rules

Bachelor of Science / Master of Nursing

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

Course resolutions

1 Course codes

Code	Course title
GH021	Bachelor of Science / Master of Nursing

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

3 Master's type

The master's degree in these resolutions is a professional master's course, as defined by the Coursework Rule.

4 Cross faculty management

(1)

Candidates will be under the general supervision of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery for the duration of the combined program.

(2)

The Deans of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery and the Faculty of Science shall jointly exercise authority in any matter concerned with the combined course not otherwise dealt with in these resolutions.

5 Admission to candidature

(1)

Admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission policies are found in the Coursework Rule.

(2)

English language requirements for this course are detailed in the faculty resolutions.

(3)

This course requires applicants to have the ability to undertake clinical placements. The faculty's Clinical Policy contains further details of the requirements.

(4)

In addition, this course is not available to applicants who are registered to practise as a nurse in an Australian state or territory.

6 Requirements for award

(1)

The units of study that may be taken for the Bachelor of Science are set out in Table 1 of the Faculty of Science unit of study tables.

(2)

The units of study that may be taken for the Master of Nursing are set out in the Units of Study table for the Master of Nursing.

(3)

To qualify for the award of the combined Bachelor of Science / Master of Nursing, a candidate must complete a total of 192 credit points, including:

(a)

96 credit points from the Bachelor of Science, comprising:

(i)

a major from Table 1; and

(ii)

a maximum of 48 credit points of junior units of study, which must include 12 credit points from the Science subject areas of Mathematics and Statistics and 24 credit points from at least two other Science subject areas; and

(b)

96 credit points from the Master of Nursing, comprising:

(i)

90 credit points of core units of study; and

(ii)

a six credit point elective unit of study.

(4)

Candidates are required to attend clinical simulation and fieldwork as required for the Master of Nursing component. Where appropriate, the faculty may require individual students to undertake further or remedial theoretical, clinical or practical study in addition to the above requirements.

7 Majors

Completion of a major in the Bachelor of Science is a requirement of the course. Units of study counted toward one major may not count toward any other major completed.

8 Progression rules

(1)

Candidates are required to complete their first 48 credit points with an average mark of at least 65 to remain in the combined degree program. Candidates who do not achieve this mark may not continue in the program; however, they may elect to transfer to the single Bachelor of Science degree.

(2)

Candidates may not commence Master of Nursing units of study until satisfactorily completing 48 credits points in the Bachelor of Science component. The Bachelor of Science component must be completed before continuing to the fourth and final year of the combined degree.

(3)

All candidates must successfully complete all Year One Master of Nursing units of study before progressing to Year Two Master of Nursing units of study.

(4)

In exceptional circumstances a candidate may be allowed to progress to the next stage with approval by the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery.

9 Requirements for the Honours degree

Honours is available to meritorious students in Bachelor of Science who complete an additional year of full-time study following completion of the combined program. Admission and award requirements for honours in the Bachelor of Science are listed in the resolutions of the Faculty of Science.

10 Award of the degree

(1)

Candidates will be awarded a separate testamur for each degree completed.

(2)

The Bachelor of Science is awarded in the grades of either Pass or Honours. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First to Third Class according to the rules specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science.

(3)

Candidates for the award of the Honours degree who do not meet the requirements, and who have not already graduated, will be awarded the pass degree.

(4)

The Master of Nursing is awarded at the Pass level only.

11 Time limits

(1)

A full time candidate must complete all the requirements for the combined program within six calendar years of first enrolment, including periods of suspension.

(2)

A part time candidate must complete all the requirements for the combined program within eight calendar years of first enrolment, including periods of suspension.

12 Course transfer

A candidate may abandon the combined degree program and elect to complete the Bachelor of Science in accordance with the resolutions governing that degree. Completion of the Master of Nursing in the future will require a new application for admission to candidature for that course and completion in accordance with the resolutions governing that degree.

13 Credit for previous study

(1)

Credit awarded for previous study at another institution will not exceed 24 credit points and credit awarded for previous study at the University of Sydney will not exceed 96 credit points.

(2)

Credit for nursing units of study will not be granted for recognised prior learning older than five years at the time of first enrolment.

14 Transitional provisions

(1)

These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.

(2)

Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that the requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016. The faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.

University of Sydney Handbooks - 2011 Archive

The University of Sydney - Sydney Nursing School Handbook

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