BSN Honors FAQs - Curriculum Option
BSN Honors FAQs – Curriculum Option
This is one of two David C. Frederick Honors College’s approved pathways to earn your jointly conferred BSN-H degree. The Honors Curriculum option is designed for students interested in translating existing evidence into practice to drive change at the bedside. Typically, first-year students admitted directly into the Honors College simultaneously with admission to the University of Pittsburgh will participate in a structured program of study that entails completing honors-designated coursework and approved out-of-classroom curriculum. The Honors College admits a limited number of upper-division students into its Honors Curriculum option.
Students in the Honors Curriculum option must complete 18 credits of David C. Frederick Honors College-approved courses, 6 experiential credits, and the Honors Outside of the Classroom Curriculum (Honors OCC). The student must also earn a GPA of 3.250 or higher.
View the BSN Honors Curriculum Requirements (PDF) and Honors Curriculum for additional details.
Students may consider pursuing an Honors Distinction rather than a BSN-H degree. The Honors Distinction offers a lighter credit load than the Honors Curriculum option. Students can declare their intention to pursue an Honors Distinction after completing at least one semester, but no later than beginning their last semester, at Pitt with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.000.
The traditional BSN curriculum covers the core essentials of American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). While not a requirement of the Nursing Honors Curriculum, the Honors Capstone is specifically designed for those pursuing a Nursing Honors Curriculum option jointly conferred BSN-H degree.
The Honors Capstone is comprised of two experiential credit courses, i.e., NUR 1091 Nursing Honors Capstone 1 and NUR 1092 Nursing Honors 2. Nursing Honors Capstone 1 (NUR 1091) provides a mentored research experience to make students well-positioned to complete their project.
Nursing Honors Capstone 2 (NUR 1092) provides an opportunity for the construction and implementation of a research practicum plan in alignment with the mentor’s and student’s interests. The main deliverable of the Honors Capstone is the completion and dissemination of an evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project. Students can complete a Capstone project in their third or fourth years.
First-year students in the Nursing Honors Program take Honors Freshman Seminar (NUR 0005) in their first semester at the School of Nursing. In this seminar, students are oriented to the active research projects underway at the school, as well as the various research hubs in the School of Nursing. With the guidance of the seminar instructor and the various guest speakers, students are matched with potential mentors who can guide them through their journey in the program.
Most evidence-based quality improvement (QI) projects are exempt by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). However, the mentor can help the student determine if an IRB application is needed on a case-by-case basis. If uncertain, students and mentors can consult with IRB staff at askirb@pitt.edu.
Unlike the Honors Thesis, you are not required to do an oral defense of your Capstone project. However, it is expected that you will display and share your work through local and regional research or practice-based conferences or events. Students can display their work at various UPMC training clinical sites (e.g., nursing transitions). Local dissemination opportunities include Sigma Theta Tau Eta Chapter Scholars Night, SON Annual Scholarly Presentation Symposium, and other University of Pittsburgh research symposiums.
No, an ETD (Electronic Thesis or Dissertation) is not required for the Honors Capstone. However, students are encouraged to develop a manuscript or brief communication on their evidence-based QI project for potential publication in a peer-reviewed journal under the discretion of their mentor.
No, this will not affect your ability to graduate. Once you finish the requirements of the traditional BSN program, you will earn your BSN diploma. Completing the Honors Curriculum, however, will allow you to earn a dual degree from the School of Nursing and the David C. Frederick Honors College designated as a BSN-H diploma.