Contact: Bradley Levin, Prenursing Advisor
Office: Donnelly Science Center, Room 278
Telephone: 410-617-2874
Loyola students may pursue a nursing career within the context of a liberal arts education through a special articulation agreement with the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON). The Loyola-Hopkins dual-degree program allows students to earn two degrees over a five-year period. In some cases, students may be able to complete their Loyola degree in four years.
The 3/2 option requires three years in residence at Loyola and 17 months in residence at JHUSON. Students apply for admission to the JHUSON program at the beginning of their third Loyola year. After completing the first year at JHUSON, students who have completed all Loyola degree requirements are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Loyola. After the second year at JHUSON, students who have completed all JHUSON degree requirements are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from JHUSON.
The 3/1 option requires three years at Loyola and 13.5 months of accelerated coursework at JHUSON. Students apply for admission to the JHUSON program at the beginning of their third Loyola year. Upon successful completion of the 13.5 month accelerated option, students who have completed all degree requirements from both institutions are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Loyola and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from JHUSON.
Under the 3/2 and 3/1 options, students must choose a Major in Biology, an Interdisciplinary Major in Biology/Psychology, or a Major in Sociology and complete the first three years of the Loyola program as outlined below. The curriculum for each major includes summer school attendance during at least one of the years. Further summer study may be necessary if students wish to keep their semester course loads at 16 or fewer credit hours. This is especially the case for students majoring in biology or for students whose individual programs of study require more courses than are listed in the typical program. Before enrolling at JHUSON, Loyola students accepted under the 3/2 program must have a Loyola-approved graduation plan, which stipulates the courses that must be taken at JHUSON to complete the student’s course requirements for the Loyola degree.
A 4/2 or 4/1 program of study in nursing is also available. Under either option, students select any Loyola major and follow its four-year typical program, in addition to fulfilling prerequisite requirements for entrance into a nursing program. Students apply for admission to a nursing program at the beginning of their fourth Loyola year. (Detailed information on the various majors offered can be found within the academic chapters of this catalogue.)
The requirements for admission to JHUSON are: completion of the 20-course prerequisite requirement with a grade of B or better in each course; a minimum 3.200 cumulative grade point average; an official transcript from Loyola University Maryland; a resume; and at least three letters of recommendation, as follows: one from the Loyola prenursing advisor, at least one additional academic letter of recommendation, and one which may be from a superior of an appropriate preprofessional experience. An application for admission must be submitted to JHUSON as early as possible during the first semester of the third year. Candidates seeking early admission should apply by November 1 of the third year. Admission is competitive and each application will be reviewed individually.
The JHUSON prerequisite and corresponding Loyola courses used to fulfill it are as follows:
Humanities (3 total)
English Composition (1): Effective Writing (WR100)
English Literature (1): Understanding Literature (EN101)
Philosophy, Foreign Language, Mathematics (Statistics), Religion, Art History, Music History (1): Satisfied by the required Loyola core courses in these areas. Loyola theology courses can be used to fulfill the religion requirement.
Social Sciences (6 total)
Introductory Psychology (1): PY101
Introductory Sociology (1): Self and Society (SC101)
Developmental Psychology (1): Life Span Development (PY244)
Economics, Sociology, Psychology, History, Political Science (3): Satisfied by the regular Loyola core courses and electives.
Natural Sciences (6 total)
General Chemistry and Lab (2): CH101/CH105; CH102/CH106
Human Anatomy and Physiology and Lab (2): BL206/BL207; BL208/BL209
Microbiology and Lab (1): BL332/BL334
Nutrition (1): Introduction to Human Nutrition (BL210)
Statistics (1 total)
Biostatistics (ST265)
General Electives (4 total)
Typically satisfied by the Loyola core and major requirements.
Loyola biology majors pursuing a 3/2 or 3/1 nursing option are required to take BL118, BL119, BL121, BL126, BL201, BL202, and seven upper-level biology electives. Of the seven biology electives, students must take at least one course from each of three categories (see Elective Restrictions under Biology). Selections for the seven biology electives must include BL206/BL207, BL208/BL209, BL210, and BL332/BL334, which the JHUSON requires as prerequisites for its courses.
Of the seven required electives for the biology major BL206/BL207, BL208/BL209, BL210, and BL332/BL334 fulfill the Category B distribution requirement. Additionally, completing NR110.313 (at JHUSON) will satisfy one biology elective course.
An example of a typical program of courses for the 3/2 option follows. Students pursuing a 3/1 option may follow the first three years of this program.
First Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 17
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 17
Second Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 17
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 13-14
Summer Session I
Credit Hours = 7
Summer Session II
Credit Hours = 7
Third Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 21-22
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 16-17
Fourth Year (JHUSON)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 14
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 16
Fifth Year (JHUSON)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 14
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 12
* Terms may be interchanged.
** Clinical component required.
All biology/psychology majors pursing a 3/2 or 3/1 nursing option must take a total of eight psychology courses, eight biology courses, and four additional cognate courses. Psychology courses include PY101, PY244, PY261 or PY325, PY291, PY292, NR110.312 (taken at the JHUSON; fulfills a PY requirement), one PY advanced topic (Group I) course, and one psychology elective (chosen with advisor assistance).
Students must also complete a neuroscience requirement by taking one of the following courses: PY331 or PY332 or BL403. PY331, PY332, and PY333 may not be used to fulfill a PY elective. The neuroscience course will count as one of the aforementioned cognate courses, along with ST110 or ST210 or ST265, and two chemistry courses (with labs).
Biology courses include BL118/BL119, BL121/BL126, BL201/BL202, and five upper-level courses. BL206/BL207, BL208/BL209, BL210, and BL332/BL334 are needed as prerequisites for admission to the JHUSON, and these courses can count as biology electives. Additionally, NR110.313 (taken at the JHUSON) will count as one of the five biology electives.
To register for six (3 or 4 credit) courses in the spring semester of freshman year, a student must have achieved a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the first semester of the freshman year.
An example of a typical program of courses for the 3/2 option follows. Students pursuing a 3/1 option may follow the first three years of this program.
First Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 16
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 16
Summer Session
Credit Hours = 3
Second Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 18
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 18
Summer Session I
Credit Hours = 7
Summer Session II
Credit Hours = 7
Third Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 17-19
Note: Psychology Competency Examination must be taken this semester. This exam must be passed. Any remediation for sections not passed must be completed before the end of the spring semester.
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 17
Fourth Year (JHUSON)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 14
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 16
Fifth Year (JHUSON)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 14
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 12
** Clinical component required.
† Terms may not interchanged.
Sociology majors pursuing a 3/2 or 3/1 nursing option are required to take the following courses:
An example of a typical program of courses for the 3/2 option follows. Students pursuing a 3/1 option may follow the first three years of this program.
First Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 16
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 16
Summer Session
Credit Hours = 3
Second Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 16
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 16
Summer Session I
Credit Hours = 7
Summer Session II
Credit Hours = 7
Third Year (Loyola)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 16
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 15
Fourth Year (JHUSON)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 14
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 16
Fifth Year (JHUSON)
Fall Term
Credit Hours = 14
Spring Term
Credit Hours = 12
* Terms may be interchanged.
** Clinical component required.
Loyola course descriptions can be accessed by following the links on this page or by visiting the sponsoring department's chapter within this catalogue. JHUSON course descriptions are available at www.son.jhmi.edu/academics/registrar/coursebook.